Taxi Driver Online

TAXI drivers have warned that Uber is set for a fiery welcome from existing cab firms when it starts operating in Lewes.

The app-based company has been granted a licence by councillors though Uber has said it is too early to say when it will start working in the town.

The company’s arrival in Brighton and Hove in October was met with strong opposition from city taxi firms and Lewes drivers have warned of a similar reaction.

Uber is already operating in more than 20 UK towns and cities and has been granted more than 60 operator licences since first becoming established in London more than four years ago.


An application for a one- year private hire operator’s licence was submitted by Uber Britannia UK to Lewes District Council in November and agreed earlier this month.

In their report, council officers warned the application was likely to cause concern to existing taxi companies in the Lewes district because the ways in which Uber works are different from current practices.

In Brighton and Hove, the firm was given a licence on the condition that it used drivers licensed in the city but Lewes District Council’s licensing committee has granted one without similar special conditions.

The appearance of Uber drivers from elsewhere in the country in Brighton and Hove and alleged licence breaches, including attempts to pick up customers from taxi ranks, have led to confrontations between Uber and hackney carriage drivers.

Sam Hasan, of Lewes Station Cars, said: “I’m sure Uber’s arrival will be met with some animosity. One extra driver means taking one extra job away for someone else.

“I think there is going to be an impact on the companies that operate in the evenings from pubs and clubs and who do the short-term journeys but I know there are Lewes taxi drivers who are signing up to Uber to see how it goes.

“I think one of the main things is how it’s going to be legislated but as long as the requirements are met then I absolutely believe that competition is a good thing and that customers will only come back if they receive a good service.”


An Uber spokeswoman said setting up an operation in Lewes was still at a very early stage with no confirmed dates when it would start in the town.

She added: “Uber has already proved popular in Brighton and more than 25 town and cities across the UK and we look forward to offering a safe and affordable option for people in Lewes.

“This licence also means we’re able to open the app to Lewes licensed private-hire drivers who want to use Uber to become their own boss – choosing when and where they want to drive

Is this a back door route into Brighton because I have never known uber to target a smaller town like lewes

over to you sussex

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

This is exactly what they did in South Wales.

There wasn't enough take up for them by Cardiff drivers, so after encouraging and offering cash incentives to hackneys from all the surrounding councils to come and work Cardiff for them, they then got themselves an operating license in Newport.

They recruited private hires from Newport from day one of getting there operator license, and sent them down to Cardiff to work.

After about 4 months a few of us Cardiff drivers emailed Newport licensing and enquired why they had been recruiting for the last 4 months and not launched in Newport, stating we believed they only got a license there to recruit private hires to work in Cardiff, and had no interest in launching in Newport, to which they replied they would contact them regarding launching.

That very Friday they launched in Newport, no media attention, no promo codes, no big launch as in most cities, and to this day there are no Uber's ever in Newport, but Cardiff is full of Newport licensed cars, along with Bristol and London private hires.

Vile company.

If anyone catches sight of a hackney carriage working under the uber banner take the plate number and report the time and place to the licensing authority as they will definitely be breaching the licensing conditions and BY-LAWS due to ubers fare structure.

unless as in my licensing area they can set their own fares

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

The understanding I've got is that hackneys can work anywhere in the U.K. as a private hire vehicle?

provided the meter is set to the fare scale displayed however as long as the fare charged is below that i don't think you can be prosecuted for not sticking to it

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Outside thier LA meter dont count....surely?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

More chance of seeing God than of a Uber Lewes car working Lewes.

They will work B&H, in the same way dozens of Lewes car do now.

My personal view, not one shared by many of my mates, is if mug punters want to use Uber, and get a non local car and driver, then f*** em.

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IDFIMH