Anger as Uber drivers 'invade for summer'

Taxi drivers in Cornwall have raised concerns about Uber drivers "invading" from other parts of the country, claiming they are breaking licensing rules during the summer period.

Brett Bennett, owner of KXR Cars in Perranporth claimed drivers travelled to the county, parked on taxi ranks and charged prices "we can't compete with".

Cornwall Council said it had "no legal power" to prevent drivers licensed in other areas operating in the county.

Uber said it had been granted a licence to operate in Cornwall in May and followed the "same high standards and regulations as all private hire operators".

Independent taxi driver Andrew Lehuray, who operates in Newquay and Truro, said more pressure should be put on the government to change the rules when it came to Uber.

"Because of the way the legislation stands, we're now getting invaders from outside coming in and taking all our work away.

"Until the government sorts it out, the council can't do anything about it apart from stepping up checks and making sure they stick religiously to the rules.

"For big events like Boardmasters, Uber are sending cars down here and that's where the problem lies."

Uber drivers can only pick up passengers who book and pay through the Uber app. It operates through private hire licences, while taxis using ranks must have a hackney licence, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Bennett said local drivers had "become victims" of Uber's dynamic pricing, meaning they could charge less than local rates and then increase the tariff massively.

Bennett urged Cornwall Council to "regulate the prices and regulate meters".

He said complaints had been put to the council about Uber drivers picking up on licensed taxi ranks.

Cornwall Council said "all taxi drivers in England and Wales are permitted to operate outside the area in which they are licensed, but when doing so they cannot ply for trade or use taxi ranks."

It said private hire vehicles, such as Uber, were "not permitted to ply for trade or use taxi ranks at any time, regardless of where they are operating".

The authority said the council was "legally obliged" to grant a Private Hire Operator's Licence if the applicant met the criteria set out in the relevant legislation and policies.

Uber added: "Private hire drivers licensed in England and Wales can legally pick up and drop off passengers anywhere as long as the trip is pre-booked and the driver, vehicle and operator have all been issued licences by the same licensing authority.

"We work closely with licensing authorities across the country to ensure drivers meet high standards and we encourage riders to report any issues to us."

Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.