Stratford-on-Avon District Council conducts joint compliance check on UBER drivers in the District

A joint operation recently took place between Stratford-on-Avon District Council's Licensing team and the City of Wolverhampton's Compliance Department following concerns about UBER operators in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Licensed drivers in Stratford-on-Avon District had raised concerns with Licensing Officers from the District Council about the increased number of UBER operators in the town.

The joint inspection was carried out on the evening of Saturday 15 July in Stratford-upon-Avon town centre, where 15 private hire vehicles licensed by the City of Wolverhampton Council were recorded.

Four were reported for re-inspection and two stopped and given appropriate advice about breaching Wolverhampton's vehicle licence conditions.

Cllr Lorraine Grocott, Environmental and Neighbourhood Services Portfolio at the District Council said: "Public safety is of paramount importance, and this partnership working with other licensing authorities shows our commitment to ensure drivers and vehicles that are licensed maintain the highest standards.

"It's not illegal for vehicles, licensed by other authorities to operate across our District and although the District Council doesn't license any UBERs operating in the District, they operate as private hire vehicles, which must be pre-booked via the vehicle's operators with an agreed price. Failure to be pre-booked invalidates the driver's insurance.

"All Hackney Carriage vehicles licensed by the District Council are wheelchair accessible. They are the only vehicles that can use the authorised taxi rank spacing within Stratford town centre. They are also fitted with a taxi meter which calculates the appropriate fare at the beginning of the passenger's journey.

"Taxis are a vital service and are a huge support to the night-time economy. Stratford-on-Avon District Council's standard of vehicle and driver is high and with a robust system of licensing and checks keeps it at the standard required by this authority."

Councillor Craig Collingswood, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: "Public Safety is of paramount importance to us. Partnership working with our Licensing colleagues and other agencies shows our commitment to upholding our responsibilities; we expect drivers and vehicles licensed by us to always maintain the highest standards. This is irrespective of the administrative boundary within which they are operating at any particular time. City of Wolverhampton Council takes its enforcement responsibilities seriously and our officers are out across the country, every Friday and Saturday night, working to protect the public."