Glasgow private hire drivers "forced into debt" to meet new Low Emission Zone rules

Private hire drivers in Glasgow are warning there could be even fewer taxis on the road when the city's Low Emission Zone comes into force in June.

A rule change means the heaviest polluting petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned from coming into the centre to try to make the air cleaner.

It states that vehicles registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before 2006 will be slapped with a £60 fine if they enter the Low Emission Zone.

"This really feels like another tax on drivers"

Asiem Ahmad drives a 2014 plate diesel Vauxhall Zafira and claims he could be forced into debt buying a newer car just to keep his job.

He told Clyde 1: "My car has passed its MOT with flying colours over the last 7 years as well as passing the council's MOT.

"I will have to find tens of thousands of pounds to get a new car just to be able to keep working and I am also worried it may affect my mortgage application because I am trying to buy a bigger house for my family.

"The second hand car market is still pretty expensive and I've been looking for 4 months now.

"I will have to take a business loan out or get this new car on finance, unfortunately.

"This really feels like another tax on drivers."

Neil Schofield recently spent thousands of pounds upgrading to a hybrid vehicle to ensure he can continue to ferry passengers around the city.

"They have a duty to help people like me comply"

He claims many other drivers cannot afford to do the same.

"I had no choice except to purchase a new car as I really need it for my livelihood.

"The cost was far more than what I paid for my previous car and if it had not been for the dealership when I bought it then I probably would not have been aware of what the LEZ entailed.

"I really think Glasgow City need to communicate with the public about what this LEZ means for them.

"Popping signs up around the centre is all well and good, but they have a duty to help people like me comply."

A Glasgow City Council spokeswoman said: “This year is a key milestone in our work to reduce levels of air pollution, with the full roll-out of our Low Emission Zone to include all vehicles to maximise the air quality benefits it can deliver.

“Whilst we understand that this has been a challenging time for the trade which is still recovering from the impact of the pandemic, this public health policy is an essential measure if Glasgow is to tackle the harmful air pollution that has dogged parts of the city centre for decades.

“Financial support for private hire drivers is also available from Transport Scotland subject to eligibility.

"This includes vehicle disposal grants, and interest-free loans for the purpose of purchasing an electric vehicle for use as a private hire car, although it should be stressed that an electric vehicle is not a mandatory requirement for entry into Glasgow’s LEZ.

"It is also possible to replace a non-compliant private hire vehicle with one which meets LEZ emission standards, whether the vehicle is new or second hand, subject to the Licensing Authority’s requirements for replacing a licensed private hire car."

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