Guildford cabbies hit out at Uber drivers 'using taxi rank at railway station'Mark Rostron, Guildford Hackney Association secretary, claims Uber drivers are not licenced to pick up passengers in the borough and says it is upsetting taxi drivers
Guildford taxi drivers have hit out at drivers booked through the Uber mobile phone app operating in the town, saying their ability to provide for their families is being affected.
Mark Rostron, Guildford Hackney Association secretary, believes that Uber drivers have been picking up pre-booked passengers in the town as well as using the taxi rank at Guildford railway station without a permit, something he says they are not allowed to do.
However Uber has responded saying their drivers are operating within the law.
Uber operates a phone app through which customers can book a car to collect them. Drivers are currently engaged in a legal dispute about whether they are classed as employed by the company or self employed.
Mr Rostron claims that as Uber drivers are not licenced to operate in Guildford by the borough council, they are not able to pick up passengers within the borough.
He said: “Some of them [taxi drivers] are very upset about it because they are seeing Uber drivers ranking up at the pick up bay at the train station. It is taking money straight out of drivers pockets and obviously they are upset about that.
“The drivers are family people, they have got families, often with young children. They have got people they are supporting through university. Taxi drivers do not earn a lot of money at the best of times and we have got this to deal with.
“This also comes at a time when Guildford Borough Council (GBC) is threatening to reduce our fares by 16%, so it is a terrible squeeze on taxi drivers.”
A spokesman for Uber denied Mr Rostron’s claims saying drivers operating in Guildford was ‘above board’ but said the company would act to stop drivers using the taxi rank at the station.
“Licensed private hire drivers who use the Uber app are free to log into the app when and where they choose,” the spokesman said. “We will remind the drivers that have carried out pre-booked trips from Guildford station of their obligations when it comes to where they are able to park when picking up their passengers.”
Ben Simmonds, a Guildford taxi driver with a young family, said: “The amount of work has substantially reduced forcing me to work longer hours which means less time to rest and I’m spending less time with my family.
“My earnings have dropped by 25% over the weekend.”
Kim Lamport, also a taxi driver in the town, said she recently witnessed around 20 Uber drivers coming into the station as well as seeing them parked around the town centre.
“I’m now struggling to support my daughter in her final year of university and pay my own living expenses,” she said.
A spokesman for Guildford Borough Council said it was legal for Uber vehicles to pick up fares in Guildford as long as the booking is made on the Uber app, which is based in London and licenced by Transport for London (TFL). The vehicle and driver must also be licensed by TFL.
The spokesman added: “It is settled law that provided all three licences are issued by TfL and the booking is accepted in London, the journey may begin and end anywhere in the country.
“The increasing operation of Uber does not appear to be an issue unique to Guildford and whilst we understand the concerns of the trade, the legislation has not kept pace with technology and allows this operation.
“We have gone to great lengths to drive up standards, such as the recent BTEC qualification requirement so that the public can receive a better service.
“Naturally we and the Guildford trade, who must abide by these standards, are concerned that residents and visitors are able to use vehicles not licensed by Guildford easily and legally.
“These vehicles may not reach the same high standards we require, if the driver has not had the same high standard of training.”
The spokesman said that its licensing officers are regularly out in the town making sure that Uber and other vehicles are not plying for hire, which only Guildford licensed taxis are permitted to do.
source:
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey- ... r-12162137
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