Council responds to Bristol taxi protest
Taxis have brought parts of Bristol to a complete standstill this morning.
Last updated 7th Apr 2021
The Bear Pit in Bristol was brought to a complete standstill this morning as many of Bristol's Blue Taxis took part in a protest.
They are disputing the upcoming Clean Air Zone, Covid grants and removal of the hippodrome taxi rank.
A spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: “We have worked with the trade representatives to install an evening/late night rank with a new shelter and improved signage 50 meters away from the Hippodrome.
"A new larger rank with shelter and signage opposite the Cenotaph has also been installed.
"However, we have been clear that the concerns for public safety and congestion issues outside the Hippodrome make it an unsafe location for a taxi rank.
“Proposals to support those with non-compliant vehicles are included as part of our Clean Air Zone Full Business Case, including help for taxi drivers to upgrade vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards.
"We will share more information about exemptions and the financial support that will be in place to help people switch to a cleaner vehicles once our business case is approved.”
Some drivers though think the removal of the Hippodrome taxi rank alone could cost them their job, even before the Clean Air Zone is introduced.
You can watch a special video report on the Hippodrome issue above.