Leeds City council approve over 300 grants for vehicle upgrades ahead of clean air zone implementation

Thursday, 5 March 2020 07:00

Leeds City council has announced that at least 300 grants or loans have so far been given to taxi and private hire drivers in Leeds wanting to upgrade their vehicles before the city's Clean Air Zone is introduced.

The Clean Air Zone was originally due to come into effect by January this year, but has been delayed until July at the earliest.

Plans for the Clean Air Zone would see older models of buses, taxis and HGVs travelling in areas around North Leeds and the city centre pay a congestion charge.

The fees would be administered using a £6m camera network which would identify number plates of cars which don't meet green requirements so drivers could be charged.

Taxi and private hire drivers are currently able to apply for a grant of up to £1,500 to go towards buying a hybrid car and up to £3,000 to purchase a full electric vehicle.

Leeds City Council’s taxi and private hire licensing manager Andrew White revealed that over 300 loans and grants had been successfully awarded.

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