Uber coming to Wiltshire
Uber is an online company, with its headquarters in San Francisco. The Uber smartphone application allows consumers to submit a trip request which is then routed to the drivers signed by Uber. These drivers use their own cars and are all licensed private hire drivers.
Wiltshire Council, as the local authority, has a legal responsibility to regulate all hackney carriage and private hire licensing, and anyone who makes provision for the invitation or acceptance of bookings for a private hire vehicle must hold an operator's licence.
Uber have advised that it is their intention to apply for a Private Hire Operators Licence in Wiltshire. Records of bookings will be made available to the council's compliance officers on request.
Uber is currently operating in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon Borough, Bristol and Portsmouth administrative areas along with other locations throughout the United Kingdom and worldwide.
The Council's Taxi Compliance team have spoken to BANES and Swindon BC regarding their involvement with Uber.
No application has yet been received.