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Posted on the 29th July 2025 in PHTM News
COVENTRY COUNCIL CONSIDERS U TURN ON TAXI EMISSION RULES AMIDST FLEET SHORTAGE FEARS
Coventry City Council is poised to roll back strict taxi emission regulations and potentially scrap a 15-year age limit on vehicles, citing concerns that current policies could drastically reduce the number of available taxis.
The proposed changes, agreed at a recent cabinet meeting, will now undergo an eight-week public consultation starting August 8th.
Under the new proposals, the deadline for zero-emission capable taxis could be pushed back to 2030, while the age restriction on vehicles might be abolished from January next year.
This comes as the council acknowledges the severe impact on drivers from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Debbie Cahalin-Heath, strategic manager within the council's regulatory services, warned that without these amendments, "over 400 vehicles would be required to be replaced by the taxi licensing trade. The operating fleet would be seriously reduced."
She highlighted the potential disruption to vital services, stating: "That would have an impact on the vehicles able to undertake school contracts within Coventry and Warwickshire."
Furthermore, the changes aim to address a looming shortage of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, as "currently only hackney carriage vehicles are wheelchair accessible." Ms. Cahalin-Heath emphasised that extending the policy "allows sufficient time for the trade to prepare."
The council's report also cited Department for Transport guidelines, which "strongly suggested that the imposition of arbitrary vehicle age limits may be inappropriate and counter-productive, recommending that local authorities focus on condition and standards, including roadworthiness and emissions."
The proposed revisions would also broaden the list of approved vehicle manufacturers, moving beyond the current limited selection of LEVC, Mercedes, and Nissan, to include popular brands such as Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Peugeot, and Volkswagen, offering drivers more choices.
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