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Posted on the 21st May 2025 in PHTM News
EDINBURGH CABS GET REPRIEVE AGE AND EMISSIONS DEADLINE EXTENDED AMID COMPLIANCE STRUGGLES
Taxi drivers in Edinburgh have been granted a one-year waiver on strict age and emissions limits for their vehicles, offering a temporary reprieve from potentially having to sell off older cabs.
City councillors voted on Monday 19 May, to approve the extension, allowing taxis older than a decade to continue operating on city streets.
Under existing regulations, introduced in 2021, petrol taxis and private hire vehicles were originally required to be 10 years old or less and meet Euro 6 emissions standards, or be Euro 5 and retrofitted.
However, the council has consistently approved extensions since 2020, effectively raising the maximum age limit to 14 years. Vehicles exceeding ten years old are subjected to bi-annual inspections to ensure compliance.
The decision to extend the deadline comes as a report to councillors highlighted the difficulties some taxi operators face in sourcing vehicles that meet the current age and emissions criteria. SNP Councillor Norman Work questioned the ongoing nature of these extensions, asking council officer Andrew Mitchell: "Was there any sort of timescale for this? There have been these extensions. Was there any idea how long it would go on for?"
Mr. Mitchell explained that while the initial target for Euro 6 compliance was 2021: "The pandemic intervened, and the committee quite rightly gave an adjustment to the timeline. So the final timeline for Euro 6 then became 2023. The vast majority of the fleet has been compliant for quite some time.
"A smaller number [of drivers] have struggled, either for financial reasons or various other reasons."
However, concerns were raised about the high failure rate of older vehicles during inspections. Regulatory Committee convener, Liberal Democrat Councillor Neil Ross, noted that: "Over two thirds [of vehicles over ten years old] have failed their first presentation for testing." He questioned what more could be done to incentivise better compliance.
Another council officer, Catherine Scanlin, shed light on the challenges faced by drivers: "What we’re finding on testing is that it’s wear and tear of the rest of the vehicle. And with the best will in the world, it’s very very difficult, and very expensive in the main, to keep on top of that.
"So when they’re coming for tests, even when the vehicles are prepped, they can’t foresee some of the issues."
She also highlighted a shift in the trade, stating: "Historically, older vehicles were passed down the line to new people coming into the trade. That’s not possible with these vehicles."
The council's report also indicated that a future update on progress towards a 100% wheelchair accessible taxi fleet would be brought before the committee.
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