A SWINDON councillor booked himself a ride in an Uber taxi during a discussion of taxi licensing in town.

Jim Robbins had raised the issue of taxi drivers who specialise in longer journeys like airport trips, not being able to accept a job carrying someone back if it was through a different taxi company.

The council’s licensing manager Kathryn Ashton told the scrutiny meeting: “We have a policy of one driver, one company.” The council says drivers must display the door sign of their company for safety, so passengers know they have the right vehicle and operator.

The number of drivers a company has on its books also affects the fee it pays to the council for its licence.

As part of the discussion, Ms Ashton said app-based Uber have not had a licence in Swindon since last year. Minutes later Coun Robbins said: “I’ve just booked an Uber. He’s going to be here in three minutes” before quickly cancelling the ride."

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Ms Ashton said: “That’s possible, but it would not be licensed in Swindon. Uber are licensed in Bath, Bristol and South Gloucestershire and if the driver is nearby they can accept a fare in Swindon.”

Coun Robbins said: “I was surprised to hear at the scrutiny meeting that uber aren’t operating in Swindon. A quick check on my phone in the meeting allowed me to book an Uber to pick me up at the council’s offices just three minutes later. The driver is quite correctly registered with South Gloucestershire council but can operate in the town. I have subsequently discovered we have a taxi driver living in the town who is registered in Blackburn and Darwen, some 190 miles away.

“All this was in response to a question about why we can’t be more open to those taxi drivers in the town who want to be free to work for more operators to maximise their earnings and stop having to have journeys back from the airports with no passengers.

“If we can accommodate Blackburn’s taxi drivers, I see no reason why we can’t be more supportive to those who live in the town.”