Second City Taxi protest called off as council say they are willing to talk about low emissions zone

A Birmingham hackney carriage taxi protest that had been planned for Wednesday's rush hour has been called off as the council have said they are willing to talk about the low emissions zone fee proposals. Taxi union RMT postponed the planned protest for Wednesday's which would of followed last week's demonstration that gridlocked the city centre causing long delays for commuters.

Black Taxi drivers parked in the Smallbrook Queensway tunnel on Thursday (March 7) over fears their trade will be 'decimated' by the new Clean Air Zone.

According to a report in the Birmingham Live, the RMT now says it has called off this week's protest after Birmingham City Council agreed to withdraw their emission policy proposals.

Under new proposals, taxi and minicab drivers were being ordered to switch to electric or low emission vehicles by 2020 or risk losing their licences. But according to city council figures, only 72 of the 1,265 Hackney Carriages licensed to operate in the city would've been compliant with the emission standards.

They are reportedly now in talks to hold detailed negotiations around RMT's proposals.