Posted on the 16th September 2025 in PHTM News
CUMBRIAN TAXI BOSS FEARS FOR FUTURE AS COUNCIL GRANTS UBER LICENCE
A local taxi firm owner in Cumbria is voicing serious concerns for the future of his business after Westmorland and Furness Council granted a licence to ride-sharing giant Uber.
Although Uber has already been able to take passengers in Westmorland and Furness through licences held with other authorities, this new approval means the company is now directly licensed within the district.
The decision, which will allow Uber to operate directly in the south Cumbria area, has been met with anger from independent operators.
Allan Hamilton, who owns Able & Station Taxis in Penrith, believes the move could be the end for him. "I can probably see myself going out of business," Hamilton said, adding that the council's decision was "disgusting" and made with "no consultation."
He claims the council is "just giving our work away to Uber which is basically a middle man."
The council’s regulatory committee approved the private hire operator licence after a meeting on Thursday 11 September.
The council stated that its role is to "apply licensing laws consistently and fairly to all operators" and that Uber's application met "the required standards."
An Uber representative gave the meeting no upper ceiling on the number of drivers but said the company was "consistently trying to grow the marketplace, but in a balanced way".
As part of the application, it was revealed that Uber had asked to base their operations in the Ulverston Business Centre on Market Street.
The number of staff in the office would also be "based on level of demand", the representative said.
Despite the council's assertion that it had "listened carefully" to its licensing team, Hamilton remains unconvinced.
He argues that local drivers possess invaluable "local knowledge, know the short way around places and everything," which builds trust with customers.
The council said while it permits private hire operator licences for up to five years, it would grant a three-year licence to Uber "to allow for local oversight".
It also imposed conditions on the licence, including a complaints protocol and relevant staff training, but for local cabbies like Hamilton, the threat to their livelihood remains.
Read another story
- INDEPENDENT CAB DRIVERS' PETITION AGAINST PROPOSED BOURNEMOUTH STATION TAXI RANK LEASE
The Bournemouth Taxi Rank Association, representing around 100 hackney drivers, has launched a petition against South Western Railway in response to the reported plan.
- PUBLIC TO HAVE A SAY IN DERBY PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE AGE LIMIT
The 12-week consultation was approved by the city council's licensing committee following pushback from private hire drivers over a "too strict" new policy.
- BOLTON COUNCIL REVOKES TAXI DRIVER'S LICENCE CITING PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS
The committee was presented with a history of misconduct, including a recent assault charge involving the driver’s daughter.
- NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL BANS TAXI DRIVER OVER TERRIFYING INCIDENT WITH VULNERABLE GIRL
The girl, Lottie Turner, was a passenger in an A1 Cars taxi on Wednesday, September 10, when the driver made an unauthorised stop to pick up a second, "vulnerable" man.
- KIRKLEES CABBIES DEMAND ANSWERS AS MILLIONS OF POUNDS UNACCOUNTED FOR
The issue was brought to a head during a September 15 meeting of Kirklees Council’s Licensing and Safety Committee, which was set to vote on a fee increase for hackney and private hire licences.
- BLACKPOOL MP DEMANDS URGENT LICENSING REFORM TO PROTECT LOCAL DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SAFETY
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, September 11, Chris Webb MP highlighted the negative impact on the local economy and the livelihoods of taxi drivers.
- STAFFORD COUNCIL APPROVES BLACK COLOURED CABS PLUS INTRODUCES NEW WAV RULES
Stafford Borough Council has updated its taxi licensing policy to permit black hackney carriages in the area, ending its long-standing rule that only white vehicles could be used.
- MONKEY DUST USER JAILED FOR STEALING CABBIES CAR IN STOKE-ON-TRENT BURGLARY
Geraldine Grocott, 39, pleaded guilty to burglary, theft, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.
- ENFIELD CAB DRIVER HAILED AS HERO FOR DARING MANOEUVRE TO AVOID FALLING TREE
Terry Williams, who has driven for Oakwood Cars for about ten years, was transporting two women on a rural road in Buckinghamshire when a tree began to fall in front of them.
- UBER APPLICATION TO OPERATE IN SOUTHEND SPARKS DEBATE OVER LOCAL DRIVER IMPACT
This comes seven years after the popular ride-hailing service was banned in 2018 due to safety concerns.
- NORFOLK WOMAN AVOIDS JAIL AFTER £10K EURO PET TAXI FRAUD
Jane Mollett, 49, of Gorleston, admitted to seven counts of fraud at Norwich Crown Court.
- A GREAT SEND OFF FOR THE MAGICAL TAXI TOUR WHICH IS NOW IN ITS 30TH YEAR
The Magical Taxi Tour sees a convoy of licensed London taxis take over 200 children, suffering from a range of debilitating illnesses, on a three-day trip of a lifetime to Disney Paris.
- HERFLEET: NEW FEMALE LED PH COMPANY PIONEERS SAFETY AND INNOVATION IN MILTON KEYNES
HerFleet is set to officially launch with a special event. The launch marks a pivotal moment for the city, championing a new era of safe, professional, and innovative transport.
- BLACKPOOL CABBIE CALLS FOR PROTECTION FROM OUT OF AREA UBER DRIVERS
Neil Charnock, a cabbie with 23 years of experience, is urging the council to support a national campaign led by GM Mayor Andy Burnham to close a legislative loophole that allows the practice.
- REPORT REVEALS DRAMATIC RISE IN CABBIES LEAVING WILTSHIRE TRADE
The county has lost around 200 drivers - a 10% drop - with numbers falling from 1,050 in April 2020 to fewer than 850 in July 2025.
- POLICE INVESTIGATE ALLEGED RACIALLY MOTIVATED ATTACK ON YORK TAXI
The incident took place on Saturday, September 6, between 9:30pm and 9:40pm outside the Tomahawk restaurant on Lendal.
- DENBIGHSHIRE HACKNEY CARRIAGE FARES SET TO INCREASE
The approved changes will see the standard rate, Tariff 1, rise from £2.50 to £3 per mile, while Tariff 3, used during peak times, will increase from £3.75 to £4.50 per mile.
- BRADFORD UBER DRIVER TO PAY £1,640 FOR REFUSING PASSENGER WITH GUIDE DOG
Yasar Rehman Butt, 48, admitted to the charge of "being a PHV operator who failed to accept a booking by a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog."
- BURY COUNCIL SUBMITS EVIDENCE TO GOVERNMENT INQUIRY TO BAN OUT OF AREA TAXIS
The council, alongside Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the nine other Greater Manchester licensing authorities, is urging for an end to the practice.
- DAVENTRY TAXI DRIVERS STRIKE OVER 'LIFE-CHANGING' LICENSING RULE
The drivers gathered outside the town’s Taxi Licensing Office opposing a rule that will require all Daventry taxis to be wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) by January 1, 2026.
All content Copyright © 2025
Private Hire and Taxi Monthly Limited