Taxi drivers have added their voice to the calls for a diesel scrappage scheme to help tackle the air pollution crisis across the UK. The Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) was among the signatories of a letter sent to chancellor Philip Hammond ahead of the 2017 Spring Budget.
The letter supported proposals put forward by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, asking for the government to create a fund to financially compensate motorists for switching from diesel to more environmentally friendly options. The LTDA has added its name to the broad coalition of business organisations, environmental groups and doctors, which says a scrappage programme is vital to help tackle the major problem of air pollution.
Despite the increasing support for the diesel scrappage scheme and rumours it would be announced, it was not mentioned during the Spring Budget. However, on the issue of tackling air quality, Hammond did state that the government would continue to work to address problems and would consider a new “tax treatment for diesel vehicles” that could be announced in the Autumn Budget.
Tackling Toxic Air Across the UK
Last year, a cross-party committee of MPs branded air pollution a “public health emergency.” Government data shows that air pollution is believed to be responsible for between 40,000-50,000 early deaths in the UK each year. Nitrogen dioxide is held primarily responsible as the deadly culprit, with large quantities of this toxic gas being emitted by diesel cars on our roads.
In the first five days of 2017, London exceeded its annual legal limit for air pollution. But it’s not just the nation’s capital that is affected. Toxic air is impacting on towns and cities across the UK, with figures showing that 40% of councils are breaching legal air pollution limits, including Greater Manchester which has exceeded them every year since 2011.
High Court Challenge
The issue of air pollution is considered particularly bad in the UK, which has been accused of failing to act quickly enough on reducing emissions. In November 2016, ClientEarth won its High Court challenge against the government’s air pollution policies. The court ruled that the government was not doing enough to combat air pollution and was not meeting European Union legislation on improving air quality and nitrogen dioxide limits.
The government now has until April 2017 to come up with a draft plan to tackle the issue and until 31 July 2017 to deliver a final plan.
Hiking Costs for Diesel Taxi Drivers
In a bid to challenge the problems associated with diesel use, and to encourage drivers to look for cleaner options, several other initiatives are also planned or are already underway. These include:
- The Breathe Liverpool campaign, backed by Mayor Joe Anderson, which has announced plans to restrict diesel cars from entering the city centre by 2022.
- In a pilot scheme to be introduced on 3 April 2017, Westminster City Council will charge diesel vehicles 4p per minute (or £2.40 an hour) more to park than other vehicles.
- From 23 October 2017, older, dirtier cars will have to pay an extra £10 charge a day to drive in central London. The T-Charge affects both diesel and petrol cars that do not meet Euro 4 emissions standards for nitrogen oxide (NO2), which is mostly vehicles manufactured before 2005.