Cheltenham taxi drivers bracing themselves for cross border Uber drivers licensed in Gloucester

Cheltenham's taxi trade are facing up to a new challenge as Uber secures a private hire operator’s licence with Gloucester City Council. The development is expected to increase Uber's presence in the area, raising concerns among local hackney carriage and private hire drivers.

Cheltenham Borough Council has acknowledged these concerns via their newsletter ‘Trade Times’, and clarified the legal framework. When a Cheltenham resident books an Uber, provided the vehicle and driver are appropriately licensed, the job, most likely, remains legal. The council used the example of it being akin to booking a Gloucester private hire vehicle via traditional methods.

The council confirmed complaints from the public regarding taxi services have surged, partly due to an influx of licensed private hire vehicles from other areas. The council reassured drivers that it will continue to investigate legitimate complaints about illegal activities, provided there is sufficient evidence.

For effective enforcement, the council urges the public and drivers to provide detailed and prompt information when making complaints. Anonymous or poorly substantiated complaints are unlikely to be actioned due to limited resources.

Licensing approval in Gloucester marks Uber's renewed presence in the region. This comes after the discontinuation of Uber’s ‘Local Cab’ feature in late 2023, which had previously integrated local private hire operators into its app in both Gloucester and Cheltenham.

The cessation of this service on 11 December 2023 was seen to have left a gap in demand for many regional ride-hailing offerings. Uber has been launching extensively in new cities across the UK as a result in 2024.