HYNDBURN Council in Lancashire is set to encourage taxi drivers take up hybrid or electric vehicles with new longer licenses.
The new policy is a part of the Council’s pledge to make the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2030.
The Council declared a climate emergency last year and all areas of the Council were asked to look at ways of reducing their carbon footprint.
Council Leader Miles Parkinson commented on the announcement: “We are happy to back this move towards greener vehicles.
“As a Council we’ve already committed to making the Council’s activities net-zero carbon by 2030 and achieving 100 per cent clean energy across the full range of functions by 2030, and this is a positive step towards our goal.”
Following this, a taxi liaison group, made up of licensing officers, elected members and members of the hackney carriage and private hire trade, agreed that a proposition should be put to Cabinet which would allow greener hybrid and electric cars to be given a licence which would last six months, rather than four months, the current norm.
The new policy also means that the cars only need to be presented for test twice a year, instead of three times.
Cllr Parkinson continued: ”We thank the Taxi Trade for their help with the Borough’s commitment to tackle climate change.
“We hope that this will incentivise applicants to purchase a cleaner Hybrid or electric vehicle as the proposals will save them money, help to reduce carbon emissions in the Borough.”
