Another go-slow protest is being planned by black cab drivers in Birmingham.
More than 20 cabbies joined a go-slow protest around Holloway Circus then parked up their taxis in Smallbrook Queensway tunnel on Thursday evening, causing severe congestion across the city centre at rush hour.
Commuters desperately trying to get home endured delays of more than an hour as a result.
The protests are because taxi drivers are angry about Birmingham City Council proposals to make them comply with the new clean air zone .
A second go-slow protest was planned for Friday's rush hour but it was cancelled at the last minute.
Now, another protest is planned and commuters are being warned to prepare for delays.
Next go-slow protest
The next protest will affect morning commuters trying to get into work in Birmingham city centre .
It's scheduled for Wednesday March 13 from 8am to 1pm.
Raja Amin, president of the Rail and Maritime and Transport (RMT) union for the Midlands region, said: "The next one is scheduled for March 13 from 8am to 1pm. It’s going to be around the city centre and surrounding streets.
“We like to apologise to the public for any inconvenience caused because they are asking us to spend £60,000 to £70,000 on new electric cars.
“They are not giving us any serious incentive or a time frame.”
Why taxi drivers are protesting
Cabbies are angry about the cost implications for taxi drivers when the Birmingham Clean Air Zone is introduced.
According to city council figures, only 72 of the 1,265 Hackney Carriages licensed to operate in the city will be compliant with the new emission standards being imposed by the pollution charge from January 2020.
The union claims the council is ignoring concerns about cost implications for drivers.
Birmingham city council's response
A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said: “We recognise that the introduction of a Clean Air Zone will have an impact on everyone driving the most polluting vehicles.
“We have applied to the Government for funding for a range of measures to support Hackney carriage and private hire drivers in making the switch to compliant vehicles or upgrading their existing vehicles.
“We have also consulted with the general public and the taxi and private hire trade to prepare licensing policies in readiness for the Clean Air Zone and, as a result of feedback received from almost 1,400 individuals and organisations, have made a number of changes to our proposals."
He added: “These include replacing the emission standard due to take effect from 1 January 2020 with a vehicle age policy, as well as changes to the conditions under which a Hackney carriage could have an LPG conversion.
“A report on these updated proposals is due to be considered by the council’s Licensing and Public Protection Committee on 13 March. In the meantime, we remain open to discussions with representatives from the taxi trade about any concerns they might have.”
