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Posted on the 14th February 2025 in PHTM News
WINDSOR AND MAIDENHEAD TAXI DRIVERS FEAR UBER IMPACT AS LICENCE FEES RISE
Taxi drivers in Windsor and Maidenhead are raising concerns about competition from out-of-town Uber drivers as they face an increase in their own licence fees.
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) has approved a switch from annual £100 licences to three-year licences costing £336, a £12 annual increase.
The council cites rising licensing service costs as the reason for the increase, stating a projected £23,000 shortfall in 2025/26.
At a licensing panel meeting, taxi drivers criticised the council for not applying similar charges to Uber drivers operating in the borough but licensed elsewhere, such as with Transport for London (TfL).
Sultan Jaffri, a taxi driver representative, argued that the council's revenue loss stemmed from TfL-licensed Uber vehicles working within the borough, not from local drivers. "The main loss of revenue to the council is having TfL operated vehicles in the borough working for Uber – not having the vehicle licensed by RBWM,” Jaffri stated.
He urged the council to consider the impact of such decisions on local taxi drivers. Jaffri further suggested that more drivers would apply for local private hire licences if out-of-town Uber drivers were subject to the same regulations.
RBWM Trading Standards and Licensing Manager, Greg Nelson, acknowledged the competition but stated the council could not prevent Uber drivers licensed elsewhere from operating in the borough.
Councillor Jack Douglas expressed sympathy for the drivers' concerns, noting the challenges they face with rising costs and competition from outside operators. "I do want to express some sympathy towards Mr Jaffri and what he’s saying that times are hard for drivers, costs are going up and you’re getting bitter competition from operators who are undercutting you from outside the borough," Douglas commented.
The panel also agreed to extend the penalty point accumulation period for drivers from one year to the three-year licence term.
Drivers accrue points for offences such as parking violations and disrespectful customer service, facing review after accumulating 12 points which.
While taxi driver representatives deemed the previous one-year limit “unfair,” Councillor Gurch Singh defended the new policy, stating: "What this policy will do effectively is keep the drivers on their toes and will allow residents to know we take drivers’ standard and driver behaviour very seriously.”
He also praised the high standard of drivers in the borough.
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