Posted on the 2nd September 2025 in PHTM News

HIGH PEAK TAXI ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON UNLICENSED UBER DRIVERS

The High Peak Taxi Trade Association is urging High Peak Borough Council 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, who are licensed outside the area, creates an "unfair and unsafe environment" for both local drivers and passengers.

According to the association, local 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 council's licensing team have gone unheeded. The solution, they say, is to simply require Uber to obtain a High Peak private hire operator's licence.

"Drivers who play by the rules are being squeezed out. High Peak Borough Council must act to protect both local livelihoods and passenger safety," the spokesperson added.

In response, High Peak Borough Council'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."

A spokesperson for Uber countered that the company "operates according to high standards set across the industry and abides by the same regulations as other private hire operators."

They clarified that drivers licensed in England and Wales are legally permitted to pick up and drop off passengers anywhere, provided the journey is pre-booked and the driver, vehicle, and operator are all licensed by the same authority.

The company also stated that every driver on its app is licensed by a local council and that they "engage closely with councils across the country regardless of if Uber is licensed as an operator."


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