In 2006 and again in March 2010 the Department
of Transport issued a Best Practice Guide to give Local Authorities and Taxi
Licensing bodies’ guidance as to the regulations that they should operate by.
In this guidance they said with regards to Age Limits ‘‘it is perfectly
possible for an older vehicle to be in good condition. So the setting of an age
limit beyond which an authority will not license vehicles may be arbitrary and
inappropriate’’.
TFL have conducted absolutely no emissions
conformity testing
to show that older taxis are creating more pollution than
newer taxis. As a Public Body they are required by law to make reasonable and
rational decisions. It is not reasonable or rational to just guess that older
taxis are creating more pollution;
TFL should have conducted proper tests on
all ages of taxis to prove that this is the case.
There has actually been independent testing
carried out which shows that the opposite is actually true; older taxis do not
necessarily create more pollution than newer taxis.
In a recent High Court Judicial Review taken by
Taxi Drivers in Newport in Wales
The taxi trade representatives may have conceded
to a 15 year age limit because TFL was trying to impose a 10 year age limit.
This means that they have effectively been coerced into accepting an age limit
by thinking that it was the best option available. The fact is that they should
not have been forced into accepting an age limit at all. This does not
constitute proper consultation.
In addition the taxi trade representatives did
not consult with their members at all. In order for this to have been a proper
consultation the trade representatives should have conducted proper and fair
consultation with their members before accepting any decisions, this was not
done.
We have evidence
of a driver who runs a T Reg TX1,
who had it fitted with the Turbo kit by KPM
around 3 years ago and has used 100% Bio-fuel ever since. After consultation
with a friend from Cambridge
University
Below is an image of the smoke test that was
taken and as you can see, the pass rate needed to be 1.50 or under. His result shows 0.80. The smoke test operator
could not believe how low this figure was as it is better than Euro 4.
The Anderson Shelter would like to take this opportunity
to ask drivers to contact the Ombudsman by printing off this letter:
And sending it to the
address below;
Local Government Ombudsman
30 Millbank
SW1P
4QP
No stamp needed
ReplyDeleteGonna deliver mine by hand and get a signature.
Well done Alan, but also you Jim. As the driver if a TX4 it makes little difference to you but you do this unselfishly for the trade you love, not for personal gain (or Standown payment)
Another knife in our back from the UTG who say they represent our best interest... BS we call it
You won't get any support here because you have asked drivers to do something for themselves.
ReplyDeleteYou only get support when you do all the work.
Other drivers are too busy working to give a shit.
Euro III/IV or V are nothing to do wirh smoke opacity its all to do with emissions of PM10's and N0X, something you cannot test on a smoke/opacity test machine.
ReplyDeleteTfL will run rings around you if you do not have an understanding of the basics!
Anon,
ReplyDeletewe do understand the pros and cons of this argument and have it in hand.
The example of the smoke test was just one aspect that contributes to the myth that Taxis are responsible, according to the Mayors study, for 35% of the air pollution in London.
His science is flawed and he can not back up his claims with anything other than guess's and generalisations.
The smoke test shown came from a completely different source and would not be used as an argument in this case.
Our campaign will be based around the fact that a 15 year age limit is not warranted and will damage the trade by introducing unnecessary financial penalties. This argument is backed up by the DoT
But thank you for thinking of us.
TtT
The fact is that TFL have condcuted absolutely no proper emisisons conformity testing to show that the older taxis create any more pollution than a newer one. It is not for them as a Public Body to just guess that this is the case, they should have condcuted proper testing to prove that what they are doing is legitamte.
ReplyDeleteIt is also the case that TFL themselves have siad that following their previous programme of forcing taxis to have emissions equipment fitted, that all taxis are now Euro 3 compliant.
They have said that they are introducing an age limit to reduce emissions. As a Public Body they are legally required to make fair and consistent decsions. Therefore in order to comply with their legal requirements they would have to scrap ALL Euro 3 taxis becuase the newer Euro 3 TX2 taxis are the same emisssions standard as the older Fairways and TX1s. This is obviously not possible as it would take most London Taxis off the road.
There will be absolutely no redcution in emissions by scrapping taxis. In addition it would take 5 years to offset the carbon footprint of manufacturing a new one to replace it.
The only people who will benefit from the imposition of an age limit is LTI and Eco-city who have both declared that they are expecting increased sales. It therfore begs the question 'What is the motivation for TFL imposing an improper requirement which will not reduce emissions and will give commercial benefit to these companies ? Is there an improper relationship between TFL and these companies?
Having Just Read The Above Post (amongst others) about the PM10 & Nox Levels Having Nothing to do with Euro 3...4...or even 5 Emissions, The Current (Today's) TFL requirements for the forthcoming LEZ Zone on January 3rd 2012, It Clearly states "Euro Level Parameters" so that is tied down as a requisite Level...Euro 3 (Certain Land rover Etc) And Euro 4 For Larger bus's Vans Etc, It Should also be noted that there is an Online "Low Emission zone Compliance checker" Whereby you can enter your own registration to see in your vehicle complies with the Yardstick...I did & guess what?... It Passed!!
ReplyDeleteIt clearly is a travesty that taxi's who have already made costly efforts to improve (by TFL directive) to Level Euro 3 are now being told that an age limit is now being forced upon the taxi drivers who complied, Yet private individuals who own more polluting vehicles at present are allowed to fit the same retro equipment we did..and at the same euro 3 level to pass the emission parameter set...clear double standards..and unfair.(Also Described by TFL as "Early Adopters"
This raises a serious question of bullying by a elected member of a local governing authority (Mr Boris Johnson of TFL)and Standards for England (see the website) I believe have a duty to act as their code covers all elected members of local authorities on bullying.
There Is A clear attempt to financially undermine our trade and the well being of the drivers with this decision and it is predetermination or bias in making this decision on licenced taxi drivers alone As private or trade vehicles outside the remit of TFL do not carry age limits.
"Mayor Introduces Age Limit for London taxi's in bid to improve Air quality" this is the story in local Government Lawyer (Licensing) dated 21st December 2010.
A Judge Has Already Commented in documented argument "Even when a vehicle is over 15 years old, The Owner could have maintained it to an exceptional standard whereas some younger vehicles were not maintained to an acceptable standard and may not be in such good condition" and he went on to suggest the licensing authority should conduct more rigorous on street checking/testing.
The world is in a financial meltdown... Pensions are being quartered, the majority of drivers who will be on the sharp end of this unfair decision are on the tip of retiring.. and nothing is being done by the largest unions to oppose this outragous move... it tells you what to do..go to a union who will and never forget it!!
If Radio circuits want newer cabs on their curcuits...they should only accept them from the start and change their own rules..thet have far to much say in the lives of the self employed cab driver, And should mind their own business.
The More drivers that make the complaint to every channel at out disposal.. the better it will be for us..oh and by the way I DO NOT have an old vehicle affected by these rules...at the moment..but then neither do many cabdrivers/owners fall in to this Category ....YET!