FRESH QUESTIONS OVER FIFE COUNCIL'S HANDLING OF UBER OBJECTIONS

New evidence has raised further questions over Fife Council's handling of objections to Uber's Fife booking office licence.

As previously reported, Uber Scot Ltd had applied for a licence for a taxi operating office at the Rosyth Business Centre on the Cromarty Campus.

It attracted a total of 431 objections with taxi operators and drivers from across the Kingdom raising concerns that Uber’s arrival could damage existing taxi firms, which are already facing difficult trading conditions.

The bid was approved.

Fife Council later apologised to the members of the public who had their objections to the Uber taxi office rejected.

However, East Fife Taxi Association records show 635 template objections were submitted on time.

Only 431 were dealt with at the licensing hearing, leaving an apparent discrepancy of 204 objections.

Separately, correspondence has emerged showing Fife Council's head of licensing telling an objector in February that he was “happy to accept your digital signature”.

Months later, the objections were disregarded following Uber's argument that they had not been properly signed.

Kevin Hopgood of Coastal Cabs in Kirkcaldy said: “There are straightforward questions that need answered.

“What happened to the other 204 objections, and why were objections rejected over signatures when Fife's own head of licensing had already confirmed a digital signature was acceptable?

"The records should provide the answers.”

Lindsay Thomson, head of legal and democratic services said: "There were 431 communications designated as objections for the committee to consider.

“We understand there may have been an objection petition, which might account for the discrepancy. However, a petition cannot be counted as an objection.

"We are still reviewing the process we had in place, and we acknowledge that members of the local taxi drivers associations feel that they have not had their concerns taken into account."

Read another story

SHAME ON THIS WOMAN - IS TWO YEARS REALLY JUSTICE?

In the early hours of 18 April 2022, Rachael Jones, 38, was thrown out of a cab in Cheshire after arguing with the driver.

LIVERPOOL THUG WHO LEFT CABBIE BLIND IN ONE EYE THINKS HIS SENTENCE IS BULLS**T

Paul Pollard booked a ride to visit his kids but ended up hitting the driver in the face with a wheel brace after a dispute over the £9.50 fare.

NORWICH TAXI COMPANY USING PORSCHE TAYCAN FOR EXECUTIVE AIRPORT WORK

An all-electric Porsche Taycan worth £135,0O0 is now part of the A2B Taxis Norwich fleet, serving passengers to and from Norwich Airport.

PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER FINED AFTER ILLEGAL PICK UP AFTER MANCHESTER UNITED MATCH

Abdul Kayum Talukdar, 47, from Ashton-under-Lyne, was parked on double yellow lines after Manchester United’s match with Brighton on 25 October 2025.

PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER LOSES LICENCE AFTER ILLEGALLY PLYING FOR HIRE IN LONDON

A private hire driver licensed by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has had his licence revoked after a DBS check revealed four convictions connected with illegally plying in London.

UBER DRIVER ACCUSED OF MURDERING PASSENGER AFTER ROW OVER VOMIT IN CAR

Basildon Crown Court heard that Michael Ashton, 28, pictured, had been out with his partner before the couple took an Uber home and an argument broke out with the driver, Hayadulla Turkmani, 53.

CHILDREN RELUCTANT TO USE SEND SCHOOL TAXIS IN ESSEX

"I don't want to put my children in the school transport taxi, but how else do I get them to school?" asks Donna.

OVER 250 TAXIS AND PHVS CHECKED IN MAJOR POLICE OPERATION ACROSS LANCASHIRE

The checks took place on 2 & 3 October as part of Lancashire Constabulary’s ongoing NightSafe campaign, aimed at keeping passengers safe and ensuring vehicles and drivers meet the required standards.

UNLICENSED IPSWICH PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER FINED £1,124 AFTER RUNNING RED LIGHT

Ionel-Adrian Sandu, from Ipswich, was driving a vehicle licensed by Ipswich Borough Council along the A6005 in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, on 12 April when he went through a red light.

BOLT LOSES SUPREME COURT VAT APPEAL BID - MAJOR RULING FOR PRIVATE HIRE INDUSTRY

Will this bring greater clarity and a more level playing field across the trade?

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE TRADE REP CHALLENGES COUNCIL OVER HUMAN COST OF LICENSING DECISIONS

In an email addressed to senior council officers and Councillor Kirk Harrison, Neil raises concerns about medical assessment procedures, knowledge testing, vehicle requirements and oversight of out-of-area private hire o

OXFORD TAXIS KEIGHLEY MAKES PLEA TO PARENTS OF UNRULY KIDS AFTER CAR EGGED

The message below was shared on the firms Facebook page: “The two pictures you see here were taken just days apart, and they are both the same vehicle..."

GLASGOW HACKNEY DRIVER SITTING ON RANK HOURS AFTER BEING SUSPENDED

A Glasgow taxi driver who returned to work just hours after being suspended has been handed a further four-week suspension.

MESSAGE TO ALL OPERATORS FROM THE TAXI AND VEHICLE POLICY TEAM AT THE DFT

We wanted to make you aware of changes to the Home Office’s Right to Work [RTW] Scheme that came into effect on 1 October 2026.

CAMPAIGNER SHARES HIS CONCERNS ABOUT BRUTAL ATTACK ON WAKEFIELD CABBIE

A taxi driver was reportedly seriously assaulted very recently in Eastmoor, Wakefield, sustaining injuries including a broken nose.

BOURNEMOUTH TAXI DRIVERS WELCOME FAIRER STATION RANK ARRANGEMENTS

South Western Railway (SWR) plans to reopen its online permit portal from 1 December, allowing eligible drivers to apply for permits and make payments directly.

BE WARNED: 25 BRADFORD DRIVERS LOSE LICENCES OVER MOBILE PHONE OFFENCES

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request reveal that 25 Bradford-licensed drivers have had their licences revoked for mobile phone offences since 2024.

ADCU BACKS CALL FOR TFL TO HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER DRIVERLESS VEHICLES

ADCU has consistently argued that autonomous vehicle policy must not be driven solely by commercial interests, but should prioritise public safety, democratic accountability and the livelihoods of workers.

ADDISON LEE FOUNDER SIR JOHN GRIFFIN LOSES £20.5 MILLION DOMICILE FIGHT WITH HMRC

The case highlights the complicated - and often absurd - arguments created by Britain’s old non-domiciled ("non-dom") tax system, which the government finally scrapped in April 2025.

YORK TAXI DRIVER RACIALLY ABUSED AS POLICE SEEK MAN