A convoy of private hire taxi drivers took to the roads this afternoon to protest a Clean Air Zone charge.
The charge, which could see some minicab drivers having to pay £12.50 a day to drive in the city, does not affect private vehicles or council run taxis.
Here’s what went on.
The council’s full statement is as follows.
“The Council works well with a number of trade organisations which represent the taxi trade and they comply with the rules set out. The Council is under Government directive to introduce a Clean Air Zone and is therefore duty bound to comply.
“We are continuing to have conversations with the trade to support drivers to adapt and have already secured higher levels of grants from the Government for taxi and private hire drivers than other Clean Air Zone local authorities have received.
“We value the district’s taxi drivers as an important part of our public transport service, they have had a very difficult year and we are grateful for all they have done in these challenging times.”
The Clean Air Zone is set to be implemented in January. In the meantime the taxi drivers intend to challenge the decisions and are planning more action in the upcoming weeks.