The leading ride-share company Uber could finally be permitted to operate in Reading.permitted
The household name company has operated in several areas of the UK since 2021.
The app functions as a private hire taxi operator, easily linking passengers with drivers.
Near Reading, Uber has approval to operate in Wokingham, Oxford, Fareham and Southampton.
However, it does not have a licence to operate in the Reading Borough Council area, even though a loophole allows passengers to book rides.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) was able to view a journey from Christchurch Road to Reading train station for a fee of between £5.55-£7.47.
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.
Uber is now in the process of applying for a licence to allow it to operate in Reading once and for all.
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. 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 scaled based on the number of vehicles used.
For example, a licence for 41-100 vehicles over a five-year period would cost £15,241.
Operating with 101 plus vehicles over the same period would cost £18,851.
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 explained: “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.
“In contrast, Ola complied with the council’s conditions and was granted a five-year licence, which expired on March 11.
“Reading council has adopted a clear set of private hire operator conditions that any prospective applicant is required to adhere to if they wish to be licensed in the town.
“This includes the requirement for staffed offices in Reading.
“Having private hire businesses operate remotely and without staffed offices results in the council being unable to efficiently carry out on-site compliance checks or investigate complaints and incidents as they happen.
“Officers would instead be wholly reliant on private hire operators to provide information at their own discretion and convenience, which can lead to significant delays and inefficiencies.
“Uber, or indeed any private hire operator, can reapply for a private hire operator licence at any time and all applications will be treated on their own merits.”
