UBER UPDATE


CUMBRIAN TAXI BOSS FEARS FOR FUTURE AS COUNCIL GRANTS UBER LICENCE


A local taxi firm owner in Cumbria is voicing serious concerns for the future of his business after Westmorland and Furness Council granted a licence to Uber. The decision to allow Uber to operate directly in the south Cumbria area, has been met with anger from independent operators. Allan Hamilton, who owns Able &


Station Taxis in Penrith, believes the move could be the end for him, adding that the council’s decision was “disgusting” and made with “no consultation.” He claims the council is “giving our work away to Uber which is basically a middle man.” The council’s regulatory com- mittee approved the PH operator licence after a meeting on 11


September. The council said while it permits PH operator licences for up to five years, it would grant a three-year licence to Uber “to allow for local oversight”. It also imposed conditions on the licence, including a complaints protocol and relevant staff training, but for local cabbies like Hamilton, the threat to their livelihood remains.


UBER APPLICATION TO OPERATE IN SOUTHEND SPARKS DEBATE OVER LOCAL DRIVER IMPACT


Southend could soon see Uber operating there after the company submitted a new licensing application, seven years after it was banned in 2018 for safety concerns. The application was confirmed by council leader Daniel Cowan at a full council meeting on September 11. The news has ignited a debate, with some local figures raising alarms about the potential impact on traditional cabbies.


Simon Shepherd, a former long- serving cabbie, stated that local taxi companies would be “absolutely slaughtered.” He believes Uber will “flood the area with cars” and use “discounts” and “vouchers” to quickly attract customers, a strategy he claims would make it impossible for local cabbies to compete. He warned that this could put “an awful lot of people out of work.” However, Martin Terry, councillor


for community safety, noted that previous issues with the Met regarding access to driver records have been resolved, and “it’s no longer an issue.” He added that Uber “offers competition and flexibility” and that if the service is now considered safe, “then we should welcome them.” The council confirmed it will now process the application through the appropriate channels.


HIGH PEAK TAXI ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON UNLICENSED UBER DRIVERS


High Peak Taxi Trade Association is urging High Peak BC to take “urgent action” against Uber drivers they claim are operating illegally in the borough without a local operator’s licence. The association argues that the presence of these drivers, licensed outside the area, creates an “unfair and unsafe environment” for both local drivers and passengers. According to the association, local


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drivers who adhere to High Peak’s licensing standards are being excluded from the Uber platform within their own community. The association’s spokesperson stated: “We’re not asking for special treatment, we’re asking for fairness.” They argue that if Uber wants to operate in the High Peak, it should hold a local operator’s licence “like every other firm,” ensuring that “all vehicles are properly vetted” and


the company is “accountable to local standards.” The association claims its repeated complaints to the licensing team have gone unheeded. In response, High Peak BC’s executive councillor for licensing, Fiona Sloman, stated that the issue “has only just been brought to the council’s attention so we will need time to investigate before we’re able to provide a fuller response.”


OCTOBER 2025 PHTM


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