Southampton City Council are proposing a charge of up to £100 for commercial vehicles when entering the city in a bid to reduce pollution. Southampton are currently under pressure to improve air quality as soon as possible in order to avoid a large EU fine. The city must reduce its nitrogen dioxide level from 42 micrograms per cubic air meter to below 40 by 2020.
However there is strong opposition to the plan from some councillors along with port and taxi bosses due to the potential negative effect this could have on their businesses and the overall economy. Large charges may take trade away from the city, having a huge impact on the docks and even affect local jobs.
Councillors who are unhappy with the plans are asking: is it really necessary? Especially as pollution levels are already falling without such drastic measures. They also argue that this idea is being rushed through without proper consideration so are calling for a consultation to delay the plans.
Follow this link to read the full article:
Southern Daily Echo - Fury over plan to charge lorries up to £100 a day
The Southampton Hackney Association (SHA) was established in 2001 and for the last 17 years, we have promoted and tried to provide for the benefit of the Southampton hackney carriage trade matters of a common interest, which includes consultation and the formulation of policies with Southampton City Council licensing department. Sometimes we have achieved success other times it has been an uphill struggle. But thanks to the different SHA committee members throughout the 17 years, we are of the opinion that we have done our very best!?
Times have changed and so has the trade. Two of us including myself, are now also members of the GMB Taxi and Private Hire Branch. Another member of our committee is also a member of the Southampton Unite Union.
On the 31st May 2018, we held a committee meeting and important decisions were made. Do we cease operating as a taxi association and close down, or do we re-brand ourselves as the Southampton Hackney and Private Hire Association? We have chosen to continue and to support our members as required, however we will not speak on behalf of companies.
Two out of our six committee members have now become private hire owners and drivers for a local company that has been trading for over sixty years. One of them being myself (Ian Hall) We shall continue consultation meetings with the council and other trade representatives. The next meeting planned is June 6th 2018, and at this meeting one of the topics we are raising is alternative fuels for the Southampton trade, this is a matter of common interest that effects both hackney and private hire. Any important matters concerning the docks or predominantly to do with the hackney carriage trade, we will now leave to our committee members who are taxi proprietors/drivers.
The informative blogs we post on the website will be about the trade in general and our association, whereas before we used to post just the Southampton hackney carriage trade.
Some of you might feel aggrieved by our decision and should you be determined to take over the running of the association, you will have to attend meetings with SCC in your own time, cover the day to day financial running and generally be on call when needed.
We trust you agree with the committee's decision relating to the future of this association and unless challenged, we will slightly change some of the clauses in the constitution of the association.
Ian Hall on behalf of the Committee and the new Association.
