Have your say on emissions policy for taxis and private hire vehicles

09 Mar 2026

A public consultation on a new emissions policy for taxis and private hire vehicles in West Suffolk, has opened.

West Suffolk Council is proposing to scrap its existing requirement for new taxis and private hire vehicles to be less than five years old.

The existing policy which aimed to keep higher polluting vehicles out of the fleet of taxis and private hire vehicle, has been in place since 2022.

But since then, the government has issued guidance stating that vehicle emissions rather than vehicle age should be the determining factor for licensing authorities such as West Suffolk.

Now the council is consulting on introducing a requirement for new taxis and private hire vehicles to meet at least EU 6 – a recognised emissions standard for vehicles in the UK and across Europe. The EU 6 standard limits the release of pollutants like Nitrogen Dioxide and particulates. The proposed West Suffolk policy would also allow for the higher EU 7 standard which has recently been introduced.

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulatory said: “We have seen lots of progress in car manufacturing in recent years in lowering nitrogen dioxide emissions from vehicles. This is important for improving air quality and reducing the impact that air pollution has on the public health of residents living in our area. This proposal is about ensuring we have an effective requirement for the fleet of taxis and private hire vehicles that support the West Suffolk economy and the everyday needs of residents in our communities.”

The council has written to drivers and operators in West Suffolk and is also encouraging the public to have their say through a short online survey https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/FJHRWK

The consultation is open until 5pm on 6 April 2026. Anyone who has trouble accessing the online consultation should contact licensing@westsuffolk.gov.uk or phone 01284 758050.
 

---