Taxi Driver Online

Predictably, the headline is bollocks, but the legal situation is actually outlined in the piece. Somewhere.

But to the average reader of the Buxton Advertiser, in technical legal terms this piece is just a jumble of stuff, and wouldn't make sense

Makes a change for local drivers to be calling for Uber to get a local operator's licence so they can join in the fun, though


Crackdown needed on unlicensed Uber drivers, says High Peak Taxi Trade Association

https://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news ... on-5298642

The High Peak Taxi Trade Association is calling on High Peak Borough Council to take ‘urgent action’ over Uber drivers operating in the borough without a local operator’s licence.

Local licensed Hackney Carriage and private hire drivers say the situation has created an unfair and unsafe environment.

The association says Uber drivers licensed outside the borough are working in the High Peak.

Local drivers, who meet High Peak’s licensing standards, are excluded from the Uber platform in their own community.

Passengers are entering vehicles not vetted or regulated by High Peak Borough Council, raising safeguarding and accountability concerns.

A spokesperson for the High Peak Taxi Trade Association said: “We’re not asking for special treatment — we’re asking for fairness.

“If Uber wants to operate in High Peak, it should hold a High Peak operator’s licence like every other firm.

“That way, local drivers could join, Uber would be accountable to local standards, and the public would know all vehicles are properly vetted.”

The association says repeated complaints to High Peak’s licensing team have been ignored.

The solution, they say, is simply to require Uber to obtain a High Peak private hire operator’s licence.

The spokesperson for the association said: “Drivers who play by the rules are being squeezed out. High Peak Borough Council must act to protect both local livelihoods and passenger safety.”

High Peak Borough Council’s executive councillor for licensing, Fiona Sloman, said: “This 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 to the concerns raised by the association.”

A spokesperson for Uber said: “Uber operates according to high standards set across the industry and abides by the same regulations as other private hire operators. We engage closely with councils across the country and are happy to discuss any issues.”

The company elaborated and said 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, they said every driver who uses the app has been licensed by a local council and Uber engages closely with council's across the country regardless of if Uber is licensed as an operator.

Probably because there's nothing they can do about it

But later the council says it's the first they've heard about it all, so someone's spouting BS as per usual

Yet another case that cries out for a set of national standards and conditions. It's not rocket science and works well for the bus industry.