Chelmsford taxi boss accuses Uber drivers of not playing by the rules over V Festival fares
A respected Chelmsford cabby has accused controversial transportation firm Uber of not playing by the rules after claiming several drivers picked up V Festival revellers.
Ian Vernon, 55, a former chair of the Chelmsford Taxi Association, said there were claims Uber drivers were loitering in side streets near Hylands Park at the weekend.
He explained this was "against the rules" because private taxi hire companies are only allowed to pick up customers who have pre-booked a fare in advance.
"The only people allowed to queue in taxi ranks are Hackney carriages. If a driver working for a private hire company does it, that person is breaking the law," said Ian, a taxi driver of 15 years.
"I'm not saying Uber drivers were doing that, but they can afford to exploit certain loopholes and take advantage of certain opportunities.
"The answer is all about enforcement. If someone has made a legitimate booking, that is fine, but it's when private hire companies sit on the side of the road waiting for pick-ups that we get frustrated.
"They loiter in the street. Our livelihoods are being threatened. It's up to the licensing authorities to sort this out but I don't know how much manpower the council has or how big their budget is."
Uber is essentially an app that connects drivers with passengers directly, instead of through a centralised booking service or just hailing a car in the street.
The app, available on Android and iOS, pitches itself as a safe and reliable way to get on-demand rides in most of the world's major cities – including London.
Using GPS technology, it detects a customer's location and connects you with the nearest driver.
But it has courted controversy because Uber drivers can significantly undercut taxi and Hackney Carriage drivers as they do not have the same regulations and fees imposed on them.
Uber is established in several cities in the UK, including London, while Chelmsford taxi firm Happicabs has produced a similar app.
"We feel under threat because some companies aren't playing by the rules," Ian added.
"When V is on, because of the magnitude of it, it is like a magnet to drivers because they can double their money in a night.
"Chelmsford taxis can't venture into Basildon, for example, because we're not licensed there. So it's unfair when people from London start coming into our territory."
The potential completion with Uber comes almost a year after Chelmsford taxi bosses complained about the city council dumbing down its entry exam for aspiring cabbies.
The test can take three months to pass and costs around £300, with applicants asked to identify streets or landmarks in Baddow, Danbury, South Woodham Ferrers and the city centre without referring to a map, much like London's famous knowledge exam.
An Uber spokesman said: "Uber is not currently planning to launch in Chelmsford, but we are always looking for opportunities if the demand is there and people want to use our services.
"There may well have been some cars in the area this weekend due to the V Festival, however, all trips are pre-booked."
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