Hundreds of fuming folk

MORE than 1,000 people have signed a cabbies’ petition to stop a clean air toll being imposed on Tyneside’s roads.

The Newcastle Hackney Carriage Drivers Association fears council bosses will impose a charge of up to £12.50 a day for vehicles entering the city centre in a bid to cut pollution levels.

Drivers insist any such move would mean a hike in bus and taxi fares, and have urged resident to “fight against the injustice”.

Newcastle, Gateshead, and North Tyneside Councils have until December 31 to put forward proposals for tackling emissions in three hotspots – the Central Motorway between the Tyne Bridge and the 55 Degrees North roundabout, stretches of the A1 past Swalwell, Whickham and Blaydon, and the Coast Road near Wallsend.

Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for transport has reiterated that no decisions have been made over whether a charging zone is needed, how much would be charged, or which vehicles would affected.

Any alternative plans the councils put forward must be as quick and effective in addressing the pollution problem as a charging zone, which would target only the most polluting vehicles – likely to include taxis – and not newer cars.

A change.org petition, started by hackney carriage driver John Hirst after the council wrote to all of the city’s drivers about the plans, states: “If you enter the city centre by vehicle we have been informed you will pay between £9 and £12.50 per day.

“Bus companies will also be charged for entering the congestion charge area but this will be at a greater rate. This will mean it’s extremely likely there will be an increase in bus fares.

“Taxis and private-hire vehicles will also pay the congestion charge. Drivers who are already struggling to make a living in Newcastle will then be expected to pay a further £350 per month. This cannot be justified and fares will increase. The public will, therefore, pay for the increase in fares.

“Lorries will also be charged at much higher rate. This means an increase in food supply costs, meaning the public pay more.” Coun Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport and air quality at Newcastle City Council, said: “At this stage we do not yet know whether we will need to introduce a charging clean air zone, how much it would be or which types of vehicles would be hit by the charges.

“We do know that Government does not expect a potential charge to be implemented before 2021.

“This will cause concern for many private-hire and hackney drivers, whose vehicles are so closely linked to their livelihood.

“With that in mind we took the decision to write to every single licensed driver in Newcastle to make sure they are aware of what Government is making us look at. We will continue to keep private-hire and

Taxi drivers who already struggle to make a living will have to pay a further £350 per month