Council approves Uber licence to operate in town

Uber journeys are booked through an app and drivers will be able to sign up with Darlington Borough Council

Uber has been granted a licence to operate in a Teesside town.

Darlington Borough Council approved the private hire company's application, with a licensing condition ordering all drivers to undergo the same training as those from other companies.

It comes after local cabbies warned they could struggle to compete with the influx of new drivers and urged the local authority to ensure they sign up to the same regulations.

Uber said it followed local authority standards to make sure all vehicles were fit for purpose and safe to transport passengers.

One taxi driver had previously said Uber's heavily discounted fares are pricing out cabbies.

Harry Smith said: "As soon as Uber comes here permanently they're going to flood the town with daft amounts of taxis from outside the area. That is going to force us out."

Colin Dobson, the council's licensing manager, said Uber would work under the same framework as its current licensed vehicles.

He added: "They're licensed by the same standards and policy. It's really business as usual and it's no different to any other private operator that comes into Darlington."

More identifiable

Despite not having a licence in the town, Uber drivers from elsewhere have been allowed to operate legally using licences granted in Newcastle, Durham, Stockton, and Middlesbrough.

The meeting heard how some Uber cars are more identifiable than others because of the amount of clear signage due to differing conditions within each local authority, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Labour's Sonia Kane said it was a "shame" that Uber had no plans to allow people to book by phone, but the committee voted to approve the application.

She said: "We're happy to grant the licence with one condition: all Uber drivers undergo the same training, that way we can assure they're all on the same page."