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Turn-round for cabbies

18/ 7/2008

ALL cabs will be exempt from the proposed congestion charge following a u-turn by transport chiefs.

It was originally planned that private-hire vehicles should pay the peak hour charge of up to £10 a day while their black cab counterparts escaped the fee.

But chiefs have changed their minds and decided private-hire vehicles should also be exempt.

The news received a big thumbs up from local firms whose pockets would have been hit hard by the original proposals.

Brett Palin, owner of Avenue Apple Cars, on Victoria Avenue, Blackley, said: "Finally, someone's seen a bit of sense. They made a swift decision, but it's the right one.

"The private hire sector in London doesn't have to pay the congestion charge, so we shouldn't have to either.

"This is good news for all concerned."

Owner of Eastlands UK Cars on Ashton Old Road, Rob Frost, felt the change of heart was inevitable.

He said: "They had to make a u-turn really. If you're a lorry driver for instance, you can work around the charge and go when it's not in effect, but if you're driving a taxi and you've got to be in Piccadilly Gardens to make a pick up during peak times, you've got to be there. It would be an unfair tax.

"I think something does need to be done about congestion, but it should be a tax on those who don't really need to use a vehicle at those times."

The u-turn came as the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, a coalition of the region's ten councils, began 14 weeks of consultation to decide whether to introduce the charge in exchange for £3bn of public transport improvements - £300m to set up and run the charge, the rest on the upgrades.