Call Sign January 2003 - Page 26 - Brian Rice At Westminister ECO-Mark Launch

Dial-a-Cab Chairman Brian Rice was at London's Covent Garden Piazza in late November to witness the launch of Westminster City Council's new eco-mark scheme that involved the council, working with Government, business and those producing vehicles running on alternative fuels to help provide a cleaner environment. The idea behind the day was to present the first eco-mark badges to the owners of the gas and electric vehicles on display at the launch. Westminster Council's Cabinet Member for Street Environment, Ms Judith Warner told Call Sign that Westminster Council would do everything it possibly could in order to bring about cleaner air in the capital. She went on to add: "This splendid initiative is further evidence of our commitment to improving air quality over London. We hope that the presentation of Eco-Marks will raise public awareness of the efforts being made by some operators to minimise pollution caused by their vehicles. It is Westminster's seal of approval focusing on the cleanest gas and electric vehicles." Vehicles eligible for the eco-mark must be listed on Transport Energy's Powershift	BRIAN RICE AT WESTMINSTER ECO-MARK LAUNCH Brian Rice At The ECO-Mark Launch In Convent Garden.
	approved Register. The cleanest vehicles on the register are eligible to apply for a 100% discount from congestion changing, while in addition, electric vehicles can also enjoy free meter parking in Westminster, free parking in Masterpark Car Parks and discounted Westminster residents' parking permits. LPG powered vehicles are eligible for discounted residents' parking permits. John Mumford, the Director of BP Oil UK presented the eco-mark awards. He told Call Sign that vehicles fuelled by LPG or CNG Autogas produces significantly lower tailpipe emissions than the same vehicle would when fuelled by petrol or diesel.	The inference of the awards suggest that Westminster City Council - who have been stopping taxis to check emission levels - are going to become even stricter on their clean air policy. Dial-a-Cab driver Stanley Roth (Y53) who has been driving gas-powered taxis for many years, was also at the launch. He described how quiet taxis running on gas were, the lack of vibration when stuck in traffic and the low cost of gas fuels. Brian Rice told Call Sign: "I was delighted to be invited to attend the launch. Dial-a-Cab supports the clean air policy wholeheartedly, after all, who doesn't want cleaner air over our City?"