Congestion charges and low emission zones

[hibee]

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I do drive my van as I then head to off to do a gig after the game… you are right my vehicle is the kind ULEZ is aimed at ….small businesses earning a living.

They’re hitting you twice with this one too, if you can’t afford to upgrade now you lose business in town but I’d imagine the value of your van will drop like a stone when this comes in too.

I successfully challenged them on my 2005 car and got it changed to compliant as the figures showed it was but I know they’ll just continue to move the target, it’s alright for me as I don’t visit Edinburgh city centre at all now but trying to make a living must be a nightmare.

[J-C]

I drive a 15 plate Euro 5 black taxi which won't be allowed in June, £10k for a new upgraded exhaust system, £12k to make it LPG or £70k for a new LEV taxi. The owner is just getting rid, also getting shot of his too.

[CropleyWasGod]

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I drive a 15 plate Euro 5 black taxi which won't be allowed in June, £10k for a new upgraded exhaust system, £12k to make it LPG or £70k for a new LEV taxi. The owner is just getting rid, also getting shot of his too.

Is that a common story?

If it is, will the "too many cabs on the road" complaint that is often made... not be a thing anymore?

Or will it push even more passengers to the PHC/Ubers?

[Just Alf]

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Is that a common story?

If it is, will the "too many cabs on the road" complaint that is often made... not be a thing anymore?

Or will it push even more passengers to the PHC/Ubers?

I've heard similar from a few different people.
Was also told the market has dropped through the foor for the resale of taxi plates as so many are leaving the industry (or converting to PHC)

[Ozyhibby]

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I've heard similar from a few different people.
Was also told the market has dropped through the foor for the resale of taxi plates as so many are leaving the industry (or converting to PHC)

Market for plates dropped through the floor at first lock down and never recovered. Plates used to go for about £40k and now change hands for less than £5k. PHC dominating now.


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[overdrive]

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Is that a common story?

If it is, will the "too many cabs on the road" complaint that is often made... not be a thing anymore?

Or will it push even more passengers to the PHC/Ubers?

Don't think they can make that argument anymore. It is a nightmare trying to get a cab these days. Even pre-bookings don't seem to be honoured. I was charged for a pre-booking that showed up hours late that was meant to take me to my own wedding because I booked it through the cab company's app - you are meant to wait indefinitely for it to turn up apparently. A relative had one no-show recently and was told "we prioritise on-street business over pre-bookings"

[Moulin Yarns]

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They’re hitting you twice with this one too, if you can’t afford to upgrade now you lose business in town but I’d imagine the value of your van will drop like a stone when this comes in too.

I successfully challenged them on my 2005 car and got it changed to compliant as the figures showed it was but I know they’ll just continue to move the target, it’s alright for me as I don’t visit Edinburgh city centre at all now but trying to make a living must be a nightmare.

Simple solution


Is leasing a vehicle tax deductable?
Leasing (or hiring) a car is an allowable expense (ie tax deductable), but CO2 emissions should be carefully considered when you're choosing a vehicle to lease. As explained by HMRC: "In some cases, if you lease or hire a car you cannot claim all of the hire charges or rental payments. For example, if you leased a car on or after 6 April 2020 and the CO2 emissions are more than 110g/km, you must disallow 15% of the hire charge or rental cost."

[J-C]

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Is that a common story?

If it is, will the "too many cabs on the road" complaint that is often made... not be a thing anymore?

Or will it push even more passengers to the PHC/Ubers?

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I've heard similar from a few different people.
Was also told the market has dropped through the foor for the resale of taxi plates as so many are leaving the industry (or converting to PHC)

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Market for plates dropped through the floor at first lock down and never recovered. Plates used to go for about £40k and now change hands for less than £5k. PHC dominating now.


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Don't think they can make that argument anymore. It is a nightmare trying to get a cab these days. Even pre-bookings don't seem to be honoured. I was charged for a pre-booking that showed up hours late that was meant to take me to my own wedding because I booked it through the cab company's app - you are meant to wait indefinitely for it to turn up apparently. A relative had one no-show recently and was told "we prioritise on-street business over pre-bookings"

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Simple solution


Is leasing a vehicle tax deductable?
Leasing (or hiring) a car is an allowable expense (ie tax deductable), but CO2 emissions should be carefully considered when you're choosing a vehicle to lease. As explained by HMRC: "In some cases, if you lease or hire a car you cannot claim all of the hire charges or rental payments. For example, if you leased a car on or after 6 April 2020 and the CO2 emissions are more than 110g/km, you must disallow 15% of the hire charge or rental cost."

I sold up 16 years ago to become a personal trainer, I got £35K for my plate and taxi, unfortunately had to return to the trade when I got arthritis in both hips and needed replaced.

The pandemic has hit the trade hard and the price of the plate has dropped to just a few hundred pounds now, so yes there are less taxis on the road as more guys left to do other jobs and never returned and fewer going through the test.

New LEVC electric taxi is around £66K and a Mercedes Vito around £40K.

Euro 5 engines can be upgraded to a Euro 6 for £10.5K upgraded exhaust system and a TX4 can be changed into LPG vehicle for £12.5K but there is no Government grants for that anymore. Problem with LPG is getting it, not many garages have it now and if you do a long journey you have to know exactly where you can fill up.

The other problem for guys wanting to upgrade is the availability of 2nd hand taxis that are Euro 6, their prices have rocketed due to demand.

The taxi trade is goosed and it won't be long till everyone is driving a normal car using Uber, the problem with them is space with luggage. I was sat at the Caley hotel last week and the Uber couldn't get the passengers and all their luggage into his car, the concierge called me over and I easily put 4 big suitcases, 3 hand luggage and 4 people into the taxi and had them at the airport in 20mins.

[Berwickhibby]

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I sold up 16 years ago to become a personal trainer, I got £35K for my plate and taxi, unfortunately had to return to the trade when I got arthritis in both hips and needed replaced.

The pandemic has hit the trade hard and the price of the plate has dropped to just a few hundred pounds now, so yes there are less taxis on the road as more guys left to do other jobs and never returned and fewer going through the test.

New LEVC electric taxi is around £66K and a Mercedes Vito around £40K.

Euro 5 engines can be upgraded to a Euro 6 for £10.5K upgraded exhaust system and a TX4 can be changed into LPG vehicle for £12.5K but there is no Government grants for that anymore. Problem with LPG is getting it, not many garages have it now and if you do a long journey you have to know exactly where you can fill up.

The other problem for guys wanting to upgrade is the availability of 2nd hand taxis that are Euro 6, their prices have rocketed due to demand.

The taxi trade is goosed and it won't be long till everyone is driving a normal car using Uber, the problem with them is space with luggage. I was sat at the Caley hotel last week and the Uber couldn't get the passengers and all their luggage into his car, the concierge called me over and I easily put 4 big suitcases, 3 hand luggage and 4 people into the taxi and had them at the airport in 20mins.

But come June that will no longer be an option you can provide

[J-C]

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But come June that will no longer be an option you can provide

Exactly, that's the point of my post, the cost to upgrade because of this ridiculous rule is extortionate, either buy an overly expensive vehicle or buy a excessively priced 2nd hand vehicle that complies, this council is brutal. They create congestion and emission problem than complain about the problems they've actually created, couldn't make it up.

[Berwickhibby]

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Exactly, that's the point of my post, the cost to upgrade because of this ridiculous rule is extortionate, either buy an overly expensive vehicle or buy a excessively priced 2nd hand vehicle that complies, this council is brutal. They create congestion and emission problem than complain about the problems they've actually created, couldn't make it up.

As I tried to highlight in my previous posts this absolute draconian legislation which will effect small businesses who require to enter the city centre.

[Moulin Yarns]

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As I tried to highlight in my previous posts this absolute draconian legislation which will effect small businesses who require to enter the city centre.

Except it's not just small businesses, it is everyone who has had their head in the sand for over 20 years since this legislation was first talked about!!

[Berwickhibby]

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Except it's not just small businesses, it is everyone who has had their head in the sand for over 20 years since this legislation was first talked about!!

Brutal legislation…. With absolute no flexibility… unlike the other major UK cities outside Scotland

[Stairway 2 7]

Middle classes will sneer and say just get on with it and spend the money. This is the same with electric cars and heat pumps. Some people are toiling in the cost of living crisis thousands of pounds are just not available.

If we're all in it together surely the more well off would pay a tax to get everyone effected to upgrade by way of a full grant or don't they care about the kids dying ect.

This disproportionately effects those who can afford it the least

[Ozyhibby]

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Middle classes will sneer and say just get on with it and spend the money. This is the same with electric cars and heat pumps. Some people are toiling in the cost of living crisis thousands of pounds are just not available.

If we're all in it together surely the more well off would pay a tax to get everyone effected to upgrade by way of a full grant or don't they care about the kids dying ect.

This disproportionately effects those who can afford it the least

Life disproportionately affects those who can afford it least. That will never change.


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[Stairway 2 7]

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Life disproportionately affects those who can afford it least. That will never change.


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That's on the government. There is a green tax on our fuel bills we could have green tax or we could just use what we do better. Everyone regardless of wealth can use various green grants we should be focusing on the people who are effected if we really care. If someone is toiling to pay their bills sneering isn't going to change their non compliant van.

I'm also dubious if it's better for the environment scrapping a working car and producing a new car. Most people I know say they will just drive round it. We should just have a rule that effects everyone equally like a car free centre bar public transport and disabilities

[Ozyhibby]

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That's on the government. There is a green tax on our fuel bills we could have green tax or we could just use what we do better. Everyone regardless of wealth can use various green grants we should be focusing on the people who are effected if we really care. If someone is toiling to pay their bills sneering isn't going to change their non compliant van.

I'm also dubious if it's better for the environment scrapping a working car and producing a new car. Most people I know say they will just drive round it. We should just have a rule that effects everyone equally like a car free centre bar public transport and disabilities

I would say that a car free centre is not far away.
There are def better ways to go about doing what we need to do but we have a govt who are not really interested in the issue.


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[Just Alf]

Re BH's predicament, it does seem contrary to reducing waste overalk to not have some sort of permit system allowing occasionally going into the ULEZ for work with a non compliant van.

Surely, looking at the big picture BH getting a permit for his van 7-8 times a year , as an example, is better than forcing said prefectly operational van to be put off the road and scrapped with all the waste that entails?

[Ozyhibby]

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Re BH's predicament, it does seem contrary to reducing waste overalk to not have some sort of permit system allowing occasionally going into the ULEZ for work with a non compliant van.

Surely, looking at the big picture BH getting a permit for his van 7-8 times a year , as an example, is better than forcing said prefectly operational van to be put off the road and scrapped with all the waste that entails?

The problem with that is that everyone will have an exception that they should be allowed. The cost of the scheme then goes through the roof.
This is much the same as the smoking ban when there were constant complaints from business owners that their business was a special case and they should be given an exemption. In the end it was implemented and I doubt anyone would wish to go back.
Fumes from non compliant vehicles are harming people’s health right now. Is that fair on pedestrians in the city centre? Is it just a case of tough, I’ve got money to make?


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[Berwickhibby]

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The problem with that is that everyone will have an exception that they should be allowed. The cost of the scheme then goes through the roof.
This is much the same as the smoking ban when there were constant complaints from business owners that their business was a special case and they should be given an exemption. In the end it was implemented and I doubt anyone would wish to go back.
Fumes from non compliant vehicles are harming people’s health right now. Is that fair on pedestrians in the city centre? Is it just a case of tough, I’ve got money to make?


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Yet the other major cities in England and Wales offer a scheme where you pay to enter if your vehicle is non compliant, not huge fines like Scotland

[greenlex]

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Yet the other major cities in England and Wales offer a scheme where you pay to enter if your vehicle is non compliant, not huge fines like Scotland

Think of the fines as payment and jobs a good un.

[Berwickhibby]

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Think of the fines as payment and jobs a good un.

Aye £12 for London ..up to £480 for after the third visit….great value

[lapsedhibee]

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Yet the other major cities in England and Wales offer a scheme where you pay to enter if your vehicle is non compliant, not huge fines like Scotland

Have some sympathy with your plight but am not convinced that we should do something just because that's what they do dan sarf. Do believe there are some people down there who don't give a stuff about the health of the hoi polloi.

[greenlex]

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Aye £12 for London ..up to £480 for after the third visit….great value

Great deterrent. At £12 a pop it’s just a money making exercise ( not a very good one it has to be said) rather than actually having an effect. It’ll be chalked up as a business expense.

[Berwickhibby]

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Great deterrent. At £12 a pop it’s just a money making exercise ( nit Avery good one it has to be said) rather than actually having an effect.

Fantastic …. Killing the city centre, pricing it that only the wealthy can use it.

[Ozyhibby]

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Fantastic …. Killing the city centre, pricing it that only the wealthy can use it.

Only the wealthy can use it?


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[SteveHFC]

Major roads through the centre of Edinburgh will be closed to through traffic under blueprint to cut car use in the capital. Council also want to look at the possiblity of charging drivers to use certain roads as part of efforts to cut out congestion.

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...centre-4495063

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/...u-drive-plans/

[Ozyhibby]

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Major roads through the centre of Edinburgh will be closed to through traffic under blueprint to cut car use in the capital. Council also want to look at the possiblity of charging drivers to use certain roads as part of efforts to cut out congestion.

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...centre-4495063

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/...u-drive-plans/

Bring in a congestion charge and make buses and trams free. Would change behaviour massively and really open up the city centre for people again.


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[Berwickhibby]

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Major roads through the centre of Edinburgh will be closed to through traffic under blueprint to cut car use in the capital. Council also want to look at the possiblity of charging drivers to use certain roads as part of efforts to cut out congestion.

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.c...centre-4495063

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/...u-drive-plans/

God help wedding venues and hotels etc getting vendors in Edinburgh

[Moulin Yarns]

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Good help wedding venues and hotels etc getting vendors in Edinburgh

It might well do. 😉