Email sent to trade representatives and private hire operators

Transport for Greater Manchester are undertaking a census. This is in relation to the clean air zone and common minimum standards and funding for the private hire and hackney carriage industry.

Please can you share the information and link below with all drivers operating under you operator licence and/or drivers and vehicle owners you represent.

Dear Licensed Driver/Owner/Operator,

As you know, the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities are working together to produce a clean air plan to reduce air pollution and the government have confirmed that Greater Manchester must introduce a category C clean air zone across the region.

This would mean that the registered keeper – the person or business listed as the owner with the DVLA – of any non-compliant licensed hackney carriages or private hire vehicles would pay a daily charge when travelling into, within, or through Greater Manchester.

Since lockdown started, we have seen air pollution falling, however it is likely that these air pollution levels will rise as restrictions are lifted, so the government have confirmed there is still the need to take action.

During lockdown GM confirmed that due to the impact of covid-19 the implementation of a GM clean air zone will be delayed to the Spring of 2022. We also reported that we have secured an initial £10.7m to help the owners of Greater Manchester licensed private hire vehicles to upgrade to compliant vehicles and are working closely with government to secure funding for the hackney carriage vehicles.

A statutory consultation on the clean air zone and proposed financial support to businesses will take place later this year alongside a consultation on the proposed minimum licensing standards. There will be further engagement sessions with the taxi and private hire trade in the run up to these consultations.

We want to make sure that this funding can support as many owners and operators as possible. With this in mind, we would like to know a little about you and your licensed vehicle(s) to further build our case to government.

You can help us by completing the 10 minute survey at https://surveys.tfgm.com/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=158109218862 by midnight on Friday 17 July.

This data request does not form part of the consultation on Greater Manchester’s clean air proposals.

This information is also available on our website at https://www.bolton.gov.uk/taxi-private-hire.

Thank you for your assistance and hope you are all keeping safe and well.