Ride-share company Uber applies for new licence

Uber is in the process of applying for a licence to allow it to operate in Reading

Ride-share company Uber could be permitted to operate in a town for the first time.

The company could begin services in Reading, Berkshire. It already operates in several areas of the UK including in Wokingham, Oxford, Fareham and Southampton.

The app functions as a private hire taxi operator, linking passengers with drivers via a phone app.

An Uber spokesperson said: "We are in the process of applying for a licence to operate in Reading and hope the council will welcome this opportunity."

The company does not have a licence to operate in the Reading Borough Council area.

An anonymous group of private hire drivers have recently asked for Uber to be allowed to operate in Reading, and a Change.org petition from 2022 calling for Uber to come to the town received 363 signatures.

The spokesperson added: "Uber will boost earning opportunities for local drivers, provide passengers with greater transport options across the city and support the local economy."

The amount Uber must pay for a licence is based on the number of vehicles used.

For example, a licence for 41-100 vehicles over a five-year period would cost £15,241, whilst operating with 101 plus vehicles over the same period would cost £18,851, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Uber was previously refused permission to operate when it applied in 2016 as it failed to meet the council's licensing conditions.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Uber applied for and was refused a Private Hire Operator Licence in 2016 based on it not being able to fulfil all the conditions attached to a private hire operator licence issued by the council in Reading.

"Primarily, Uber refused to have a staffed office in Reading to deal with customer bookings and complaints, and inspection and enforcement visits from Council enforcement officers.

"Uber did not appeal the decision at the time."