Leeds City Council has asked the UK government for permission to delay the launch of its planned clean air charging zone until January 2021 at the earliest, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are asking for more time – it’s not appropriate at the moment to move forward with the current timetable,” said Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake.
The council said it is still accepting applications for, and continuing to pay, grant payments for Leeds-licensed taxi and private hire owners who have switched to a compliant vehicle.
Repayments for taxi and private hire owners who have received an interest-free clean air charging zone loan have been suspended from April 1 until further notice.
The council also said it is continuing to pay grant payments for operators of non-scheduled buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles who have switched to, or are still intending to switch to, a compliant vehicle before the zone goes live.
However, the council is not accepting new applications for large vehicle grants at this time.
Furthermore, the Leeds taxi and private hire office is automatically extending all taxi and private hire driver, vehicle and operator licences that are due to expire before the end of June.
The situation will be reviewed before the end of June and may be extended further.
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