A taxi driver leading a nationwide call for the government to think again about regulation rules for Uber has said it is already badly affecting the livelihoods of drivers in his native Blackpool.
Neil Charnock, 59, has spent two decades as a private-hire driver.
He has set up a petition calling for the government to step in over 'cross-border hiring of private hire vehicles'.
Last week it was confirmed Blackpool Council had taken the decision to grant licences to Uber.
In 2015 private-hire taxis were deregulated to mean they were able to operate anywhere in England and Wales with a local authority licence.
More than 1,300 people have signed Neil's petition which he set up in July - having seen the growing impact of Uber in Blackpool - which calls on the Department for Transport and Wolverhampton Council to take action.
He told The Blackpool Lead: "We're seeing our takings down by more than a third because of Uber.
"The way they operate and the pricing means it is just impossible to compete. It's a race to the bottom.
"You have to be concerned too about safety. How do the councils know who these drivers are? How can there be hundreds of thousands set to Wolverhampton Council and operating not just here in Blackpool but up and down the country.
"There's no way they can be checking those cars and drivers to ensure they are safe."
Neil says the system is needed to bring back locally controlled private-hire regulation which stops 'poaching' as he calls it - where a driver may pick up in another local authority area.
He said: "You've got hundreds of vehicles coming into Blackpool on a weekend and offering cheap fares.
"They are also not adhering to where taxi ranks are and causing safety issues.
"It seems ludicrous you can see there's issues with these vehicles, lights out and other defects, but because they are regulated by Wolverhampton - hundreds of miles away - then the local council and licensing there's nothing they can do."
Bringing Uber under council eyes
Blackpool Council has defended its decision to allow licences to Uber drivers - saying it gives them more control over checking the vehicles and drivers.
Councillor Paula Burdess, cabinet member for community safety, street scene and neighbourhoods, said: “The issues raised by local taxi drivers about drivers licensed outside of the area could not lawfully be considered in relation to this application. This application was purely about Uber’s suitability to hold an operator’s licence.
“I know that the arrival of Uber in Blackpool is worrying for the existing taxi trade. Independent retailers and hoteliers have faced the same concerns over the years when national and international companies have started operating here.
“There is nothing we can do, or should do, to stop businesses coming to Blackpool if they are legally allowed to and are operating within the law.
“The presence of Uber as an operator in the town means that vehicles and drivers licensed in Blackpool can be regulated by us, giving us greater control to tackle the issues that have been mentioned.”
Uber decision process questioned
Blackpool has seen protests in recent months by taxi drivers - doing a go-slow bringing the town centre to a halt.
Bill Lewtas, secretary of the Blackpool Taxi Association, has challenged how the council decided the Uber licensing application.
The decision was decided by licensing officers using delegated powers - rather than go before the Public Protection sub-committee.
Mr Lewtas said in a statement issued in response to the council: “I read with interest the explanation from Blackpool Council about the way in which the Uber operators license was issued. What was not mentioned was the complaints made against Uber drivers this year and last.
“In June 2023, we were asked to send in details and footage of wrongdoing by out-of-town taxi drivers. This message was repeated again in April 2024, at a meeting attended by numerous taxi drivers and companies. Obviously, drivers had to be careful not to inflame a difficult situation. Enforcement is not something taxi drivers are trained to do.
“The council gave little or no feedback on this and what action, if any, was taken. But it was evident from taxi driver social media pages the number of complaints was considerable. It is our view these complaints should have been considered as part of the decision-making. This would normally involve the Public Protection Sub-Committee.
“Whilst we understand that a taxi operator’s request for an operator’s license would not normally require a decision by the Public Protection Sub-Committee, this is different because of the complaints.”
Mr Lewtas also said concerns had been raised about a lack of enforcement against out-of-town taxi drivers.
He added: “The statement made about the way in which operators licenses have been issued to other operators is not relevant. The majority of these are one-man airport specialists, for whom there are no complaints.
“Clearly, there is no need for these to be considered by the committee. However, the public protection sub-committee has been used to determine operators licenses in Blackpool in the past.”
Mr Lewtas also questioned why no details of where Uber would be based in Blackpool were revealed, when taxi policy states licences will not be granted for an operating base outside of Blackpool.
The council said the Uber application was treated in the same way as previous applications made by the 27 private hire operators currently licensed in Blackpool.
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