Calls for Uber ban in the Cotswolds
It comes amid cabbies’ fears over out-of-area drivers
There are calls for the Uber app to be blocked from working in the Cotswolds as licensed taxi drivers claim they face competition from drivers licensed as a far away as Wolverhampton.
Cabbies who are licensed to work in the Cotswold District say Uber drivers who are licensed elsewhere in the UK are working in the area.
They claim they Uber drivers are plying for trade in towns such as Cirencester and Moreton-in-Marsh.
Taxi drivers attended the Cotswold District Council (CDC) meeting on November 26 to air their concerns.
Ahead of the meeting they told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that since Uber has been operating in the Cotswold district they have been losing thousands of pounds.
Robert Miller, acted as their spokesperson at the meeting and called for the Uber app to be cut off in the district.
He asked council leaders to ensure local residents are kept safe while travelling in local private hire vehicles and taxis.
“Uber does not have a CDC licence to operate in the Cotswolds,” he said.
“That means that cars that are coming into the area, and we have quite a number of them, are operating outside of the regulations.”
He said local authorities have the responsibility for regulation of taxis and private hire trading in their district, according to the Department for Transport issued guidance.
“If this isn’t important, why does CDC check my licence and all the licences of the drivers who have accumulated in the back on a monthly basis to ensure I’m a fit and proper person to do the job?”
Mr Miller said the north of the Cotswolds was overrun by out of area private hires in the summer.
He said there were an estimated ten to 15 drivers from out of area and licensed in places such as South Gloucestershire, Wolverhampton, Swindon, Dudley.
“They are coming into our area and working without a CDC licence,” he said.
“Technology has overtaken the regulations, for fares, our work, that we pay the council a considerable amount of money to have the privilege to do,” he said.
“If it isn’t important, why did Gloucestershire police run a sting operation in 2018 at Cheltenham races to catch out hawkers on the side of the road.”
He asked the council to “direct licensing to effectively geo fence the Cotswolds”.
“That is to cut off the Uber app in our area so that we can effectively get on and do what we are required to do.”
Environment and regulatory services cabinet member Andrew Pellegram (LD, Chesterton) said the council is going to undertake a consultation and she is willing to meet with the taxi drivers.
“You want us to cut off the Uber app, I suspect we are not able to do that,” she said.
“I’m going to have to do some research on this.
“We can have a meeting and discuss all of your concerns and see if there’s anything we can do.”
Private hire drivers licensed in England and Wales can legally pick up and drop off passengers anywhere as long as the trip is pre-booked and the driver, vehicle, and operator all have all been issued licenses by the same licensing authority.
Uber said every driver who uses their app has been licensed by a council.
An Uber spokesperson said: “Uber operates according to the high standards set across the industry and abides by the same regulations as all other private hire operators. We engage closely with councils across the country and are happy to discuss any issues.”