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Taxi app company Uber has been given licences to operate by Wirral and Knowsley councils.

It follows the decision by Sefton council to give the controversial company a licence earlier this year.

The move expands the number of taxi drivers who will be able to work for the company, although so far no licence has been given by Liverpool city council.

Neil McGonigle, Uber general manager for Merseyside said: “Uber is delighted to now be able to offer the same opportunity to licensed private-hire drivers in Knowsley and the Wirral.

“This includes the advantages that the Uber app can offer in terms of safety, flexibility and economic opportunity.

“This licensing approval comes at an ideal time as we enter the busy festive season, and will help Uber better serve the thousands of riders that are signing up to use Uber in Merseyside every week.”

In Merseyside established taxi drivers have been unhappy about the company coming to the local market which they have said is already saturated and that many local firms already offer app-based private hire services.

Uber has also hit headlines around the world over concerns about how it ensures passenger safety, its charging system and claims it is forcing traditional cab drivers out of business.

However, in October Uber claimed it was being treated unfairly after a decision on their bid to operate in Liverpool was again put off.

At the time the city council’s licensing committee instead began a consultation on changes to their conditions for allowing private hire companies to work in the city.

City councillors put a halt on granting “current or future” applications from “App-based private hire operators” until that consultation was completed.

Following the decisions by Knowsley and Wirral councils Mr McGonigle said: “Unfortunately, we are still unable to accept Liverpool licensed private-hire drivers on the Uber app. We are currently waiting for Liverpool City Council to update their conditions before they will further consider our operator’s license.

“We are looking forward to working with the council in the New Year to make progress on our application and in the meantime we are supporting Liverpool licensed drivers who want to switch their badges to have access to the same opportunities that are available to their Sefton, Knowsley and Wirral counterparts.”