The Accessible Transport Service at Camden Town Hall are contemplating a
scheme where Dial-a-Cab taxi drivers working in central London and whose taxi
has at least 3 years of use, will be eligible to apply for a one-off grant
funding to have their taxi converted to LPG gas fuel. The only cost to the
driver will be the VAT. Experiments are currently underway.
One of the major issues facing London at the moment is that of
vehicle emission pollution and many consider that licensed taxis, as regular
users through the Central London area, can be seen as one of the major
contributors. Indeed, several DaC clients ask in their Tender application
notices what this Society is doing in the 'green' area.
High on Mayor of London Ken Livingstone's agenda, is that of the
reduction of traffic pollution.
Transport for London is also looking at ways to target emissions in Central
London and Camden Council is now committed to bringing about a real change to
all environmental concerns that will be achieved through a range of innovative
above is one of them.
In partnership with TransportAction and with the support of the Public Carriage
Office, Camden has introduced a
pilot scheme to assist Taxi
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Is LPG future for taxis?
operators to contribute to improving the environment. by financially
assisting drivers to convert their vehicle to Liquefied Petroleum Gas
(LPG) fuel. This is a much greener fuel and can be seen to reduce the
air-borne particulates present in diesel fuel emissions as well as showing
a decrease in Nitrogen Oxide pollutants.
The scheme, if it goes ahead, will give a grant of 100% for
the conversion of the taxi to run on LPG fuel with the vehicle owner being
responsible for VAT payment (around £600). There is also provision to pay
the drivers some compensation for the time that their vehicle is off the
road while fitting takes place.
According to Camden Transport Planner Matthew Prince, the scheme would demonstrate to clients
that DaC have a positive stance on environmental issues as in addition to
being cleaner, along with the conversion comes a much quieter vehicle (a
10 decibel reduction in noise). This means that drivers will be working in
a much more
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pleasant environment, that customers would be able to hear in
the cab and of course, LPG is substantially cheaper than diesel.
Currently, Camden is experimenting with a short list of drivers living in
the WC1, WC2 and W1 areas. If successful, Camden hopes that the scheme
will be offered to all DaC drivers.
CALL SIGN PICTURE VIEW
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Following another large entry, the
winner of the March issue Picture View was Eddie Lambert (V27).
His winning caption was: So that's why Cecil wasn't at the AGM...!
There were some very amusing captions with many
similar to the one sent in by M.Whiting (D34) whose caption said:
"We're going to have to start having our wages paid by cheque!"
Or Steve Brown's (D67): I wondered where they kept
Mountview's quarter of a million quid!
Then there was Call Sign's Leigh Briden who has Brian
asking: "Look Alan, are you sure this is the only way to get id
of 'Er Indoors?"
We couldn't possibly allow Brian Spiro's caption to
win! He has Brian saying: "I'll be pleased when the Boardroom
toilet's fixed, Alan..." Yuk...!
In the end, we came down to Eddie Lambert, so well done
Eddie.
Next issue, one lucky Call Sign reader will win the latest,
greatest games consul in history, the XBOX... |
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