Posted on the 25th September 2026 in PHTM News
UBER GRANTED CONTROVERSIAL FIFE LICENCE AFTER HUNDREDS OF OBJECTIONS THROWN OUT ON TECHNICALITY
Uber has successfully secured a 24/7 private hire operating licence for a booking office at Rosyth Business Park after Fife Council’s Regulation and Licensing Committee approved the bid on Tuesday 22 September.
The decision went through unopposed following a dramatic procedural intervention that dismissed all 431 public and industry objections.
The controversy unfolded when Kevin Clancy, a solicitor acting for Uber, pointed out that none of the published objections met the strict legal requirements because they lacked a hand or electronic signature.
Council solicitor Kimberley Langley confirmed this legal shortcoming, leading committee convener Councillor Tom Adams to rule the representations invalid.
Consequently, 25 local taxi operators who had been invited to speak - including representatives from St Andrews Taxis and Magnum Taxis - were silenced before they could voice their concerns regarding public safety, driver verification, and safeguarding requirements.
Local trade figures expressed fury over the handling of the process. Linda Holt of St Andrews Taxis branded the outcome “rank incompetence,” stating: “Hundreds of objections to the application were accepted by Fife Council as legitimate.
"They invited 25 of us to speak but before we got the chance, Uber’s solicitor stood up and said the objections were not valid because they were not signed.”
Sam Green of Magnum Taxis added that objectors were initially told emails would suffice, noting: “They shouldn’t have said that if they didn’t know. They should have checked.”
Councillor Carol Lindsay also raised serious concerns regarding administrative transparency and whether councillors were given enough factual information and time to handle such a massive volume of submissions.
Committee convener Tom Adams defended the ruling, explaining that legal advice left them no choice but to dismiss the unsigned objections, stating: “That meant I had to move we couldn’t take the objections and there was no point in us hearing any further.”
Lindsay Thomson, Fife Council’s head of legal and democratic services, acknowledged that the licensing team would reflect on whether procedural changes are needed for the future.
Meanwhile, an Uber spokesperson welcomed the decision, stating: “We are pleased to have been given this licence to operate by Fife Council and we’re currently working on our plans to launch in the area.”
The company emphasised that the service will meet strong local demand, offer a safe and affordable option for residents, and provide new earning opportunities with worker rights, holiday entitlement, a pension scheme, and GMB Union representation for local drivers.
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