‘Massive shipment’ of face masks for London taxi drivers from Government arrives on ‘Freedom Day’
Taxi drivers in London have been handed a ‘massive shipment’ of face masks from Government on ‘Freedom Day’ according to taxi trade representatives.
In England, taxi industry specific support from the Government has been few and far between. Taxi drivers have had to rely on eligibility for generic Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) grants and go through the lottery of local authority funding to financially survive the pandemic.
Despite the legal requirement of face masks no longer applicable, some taxi and private hire licensing authorities have retained the right to carry on the use of face coverings past ‘Freedom Day’ on 19 July.
Transport for London (TfL) is one of those authorities to have announced that all customers must continue to wear a face covering on TfL services for the duration of their journey unless they are exempt.
The transport regulators also state they expect and recommend the continued use of face coverings in taxis and private hire vehicles by both drivers and passengers unless they are exempt.
In an ironic message posted on social media by the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association (LTDA), availability of face masks on a ‘massive’ scale has now been provided to the capital’s taxi drivers.
A spokesperson from the LTDA said via social media: “On Freedom Day, and just as the legal requirement to wear masks is rescinded we have been supplied with a massive shipment of masks from Government!
“If you are passing Taxi House in SE1 please pop in to collect your supply.”
