Taxi drivers took their cabs to the City Chambers to protest over the Low Emission Zone due to be introduced this summer.

Dozens parked up outside in George Square demanding the scheme be delayed stating it will force hundreds out of business.

The drivers protested before a bid to delay the LEZ was rejected by the council.

SNP and Green councillors voted down a Conservative, and Labour amended, motion to delay the LEZ by one year.

Drivers said the outcome will be “chaos”.

Steven Grant, branch secretary, of Unite the union cab section, said the simplest outcome would have been to delay by one year.

He said the council has given a verbal assurance that if drivers register to retrofit they will have a one-year exemption.

However, he said until that is in writing and in practice it is not certain, adding: “We don’t trust the information coming out.”

He said: “It won’t be until it comes in, they will see the chaos that will ensue.”

He added for some vehicles retrofitting is not justified because of the lifespan of the technology.

He said there will be cabs lost in June.

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The drivers’ rep said there are issues with retrofitting stating there is only one firm doing the work, and they said it will take two years to get through the 60 orders on their books.

Inside the council chambers, there was an at times angry debate with SNP and Green councillors accusing Labour and Tories of spreading misinformation.

While Tory and Labour members, calling for a delay, asked 'if there was no problem why were dozens of drivers outside protesting?'

Taxi driver Joe McGeough, 66, has driven a cab for more than 30 years.

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He said: “Nobody is against the LEZ. It is the timing.

“We had two years of the pandemic, then trying to get back on our feet then hit with the cost of living crisis.”

The driver said the councillors taking the decisions are not listening to the drivers.

He added: “It is a fanatical agenda they have, and it will put us out of business.”

Fellow driver, William Anderson, said:  “We can’t buy a new taxi just for a couple of years, because finance firms won’t touch us.”

Conservative councillor, John Daly, had his bid to delay the scheme defeated by the SNP and Greens.

He said: “Scotland's other LEZs are not due to start enforcement until June 1, 2024 and May 30, 2024 in Dundee.

“And reflecting the significant challenges facing many small and medium businesses at the moment, it would be prudent to align the full enforcement of Glasgow's LEZ with these other schemes.”

He added: “The full enforcement of Phase 2 should be delayed until 1st June 2024.”

Labour Councillor Jill Pidgeon, said: “ The LEZ is an important and necessary measure.”

However, she added funding for taxis has not been sufficient and said it should be delayed until June 2024.

Susan Aitken, SNP council leader, said: “Guidance is being issued. No taxi driver who has started the process of applying will be forced off the road on June 1.”

Angus Millar SNP councillor and transport convenor, said: “The introduction of a Low Emission Zone is an urgent public health intervention required to address Glasgow’s longstanding air pollution crisis.”

He said operators who can prove they don’t have access to a funded retrofitted solution have until June 2024.