GREENER taxis are set to become a more regular sight on York’s streets as council bosses hope to cut pollution.

City of York Council’s low emission taxi incentive plan – the first in the UK – aims to increase the number of hybrid and electric taxis and minicabs by offering hackney and private hire drivers £3,000 towards their cost through its Local Sustainable Transport Fund, set up through Government funding.

One of the first hybrid taxis was unveiled yesterday when Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for transport and sustainability, said: “They are part of our longer-term objective to improve air quality and reduce emissions which are so damaging to public health.

“We are determined to address traffic-related air quality problems in York and this incentive is an innovative step forward. We need to move as quickly as possible to introduce less-polluting vehicle technology, and taxis are a key group given their number in the city.”

Coun Barbara Boyce, who chairs the council’s licensing committee, said the authority was also offering half-price licences for drivers of new low-emission vehicles, with four drivers having signed up to this in the last month.

She said: “We look forward to many more licensed vehicle owners taking advantage of this initiative, which will save them money through reduced fuel costs longer-term.”