Posted on the 21st September 2026 in PHTM News

UBER ROSYTH BOOKING OFFICE LICENCE BID FACES 431 OBJECTIONS AHEAD OF DECISION

Fife councillors will decide on Tuesday, 22 September, whether to grant Uber Scot Limited a private hire booking office licence at Rosyth Business Centre on Cromarty Campus after 431 objections were lodged.

Local operators, drivers, and the East Fife Taxi Association warned that market entry could harm existing trade with drivers already facing difficult trading conditions.

The East Fife Taxi Association submitted a detailed objection arguing the committee should consider issues around public safety, management arrangements, suitability of the premises and whether the company is a “fit and proper” licence holder.

It added: “There is a real question as to whether the booking office would in practice be operated locally, or whether it is effectively a remote dispatch hub controlled elsewhere, with nominal premises within Fife.”

Fife Council transport procurement manager, Gary Moyes, stopped short of a formal objection but highlighted concerns that Uber could affect the viability of existing taxi operators.

“I believe committee should be aware of the potential impact of Uber entering the Fife marketplace, in terms of a knock-on effect on Fife Council contract work for School and Social Work journeys,” he stated.

“There is no doubt that the arrival of Uber in any area is seen as a major disruptor. This is not necessarily a bad thing as it has increased competition and choice for passengers.

“However, either by generating new drivers or poaching existing taxi/PHC drivers and their vehicles, this has an impact on existing operators who are chasing a finite number of customers and journey bookings.

“If Uber manages to pull such commercial taxi and PHC business away from existing operators, this is likely to impact their income, which, in turn, could force them to downsize. Others may find the competition is unsustainable.

“A smaller pool of operators, vehicles and drivers may have an impact on the council’s ability to secure school taxi journeys (£6M per year) and social work journeys (£1.5M per year). There is a worry that contract prices could increase as a result.”

Members of Fife Council’s Regulations and Licensing Committee meet this Tuesday to review the application.


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