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Minicabs including Uber to pay London congestion charge Minicabs including Uber to pay London congestion charge
(about 2 hours later)
Private hire vehicles, including Uber and minicabs, will have to pay the Transport for London (TfL) congestion charge.Private hire vehicles, including Uber and minicabs, will have to pay the Transport for London (TfL) congestion charge.
Under new plans by TfL, the vehicles will no longer be exempt from the daily £11.50 rate for driving in central London. Under new plans that will come into force from 8 April, they will no longer be exempt from the daily £11.50 rate for driving in central London.
TfL said the proposals had been drawn up in a bid to improve the capital's air quality. TfL said the proposals would help improve the capital's air quality.
The changes will come into force from 8 April. The Independent Workers Union (IWGB) said the move would "hit workers on poverty wages".
In the first phase, only zero-emission vehicles will still be exempt from paying the congestion charge - which was introduced in 2003.In the first phase, only zero-emission vehicles will still be exempt from paying the congestion charge - which was introduced in 2003.
TfL said since the charge began 15 years ago, the number of vehicles entering central London each day has decreased by about 30%.TfL said since the charge began 15 years ago, the number of vehicles entering central London each day has decreased by about 30%.
The announcement follows a consultation which TfL said received 10,000 responses.The announcement follows a consultation which TfL said received 10,000 responses.
'Filthy air'
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said "toxic air pollution" in the capital was creating "a major public health crisis".Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said "toxic air pollution" in the capital was creating "a major public health crisis".
"We have to make tough decisions to protect the health and wellbeing of Londoners and tackle harmful emissions from the most polluting vehicles."We have to make tough decisions to protect the health and wellbeing of Londoners and tackle harmful emissions from the most polluting vehicles.
"Now we need private hire vehicles and taxis to play their part and help us clean up our filthy air responses.""Now we need private hire vehicles and taxis to play their part and help us clean up our filthy air responses."
TfL said it would consult on proposals to reduce the taxi age limit for the dirtiest vehicles to 12 years by 2022. The IWGB said the plan would hit poorly paid workers while "doing little to address London's air pollution problem".
A spokesman added: "The 15-year age limit would be strictly mandated in 2019, with a proposed reduction in the age limit each year until a 12 year age limit is reached." Abdura Razzak Hadi, chair of a branch of the IWGB's London committee, accused the mayor of "putting the vested interests of global mega-corporations and wealthy London consumers ahead of precarious workers suffering sweatshop conditions".
The London Assembly has also called for the mayor to rethink his plans, calling it a "cynical move" to "raise some of the money he needs to rescue TfL from its dire financial straits".
"This policy would fail significantly to reduce congestion. The mayor's own figures show that the number of PHVs in the Congestion Charge Zone would fall by only 600 a day, or 1%," chairman Tony Arbour said.
TfL said it would also consult on proposals to reduce the taxi age limit for the dirtiest vehicles to 12 years by 2022.
The age limit for Euro 6, LPG and ZEC taxi vehicles is proposed to remain at 15 years.The age limit for Euro 6, LPG and ZEC taxi vehicles is proposed to remain at 15 years.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Tom Edwards, BBC London transport correspondentBy Tom Edwards, BBC London transport correspondent
Broadly what we are seeing here is regulation catching up with the disrupters.Broadly what we are seeing here is regulation catching up with the disrupters.
According to the mayor, the rise of hailing apps like Uber has led to a huge increase in private hire vehicles driving round waiting for work.According to the mayor, the rise of hailing apps like Uber has led to a huge increase in private hire vehicles driving round waiting for work.
Now Sadiq Khan has taken action and will make them pay the congestion charge.Now Sadiq Khan has taken action and will make them pay the congestion charge.
Concerns come from the GMB (union) that this will close minicab offices and cost jobs - the increase could also be passed on to customers.Concerns come from the GMB (union) that this will close minicab offices and cost jobs - the increase could also be passed on to customers.
The black cab trade will also not be happy that the age limit is being reduced. They will fear a huge amount of equity is going to be wiped off the value of their cabs.The black cab trade will also not be happy that the age limit is being reduced. They will fear a huge amount of equity is going to be wiped off the value of their cabs.
But the message from City Hall is clear - first and foremost Londoners want cleaner air and do not want polluting vehicles in their city.But the message from City Hall is clear - first and foremost Londoners want cleaner air and do not want polluting vehicles in their city.