A CONTROVERSIAL taxi firm will no longer operate in York after councillors refused to renew its licence.

Huge cheers from Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers greeted City of York Council’s Gambling, Licensing and Regulatory Committee’s decision tonight (Tuesday, December 12) to refuse Uber a new licence to operate in the city after a 12 month certificate was granted last year.

Uber bosses said it was disappointing move for both the company's drivers and users and it would reveiw the details of the decision.

Councillors heard from nine objectors to the company and decided to kick the firm out of York after listening to concerns from drivers, which included the number of complaints the authority had received about the company and question marks over how Uber handled a cyber attack in October 2016 when the data of 57 million users and drivers was hacked and it was not disclosed for 13 months.

Saf Din, chairman of the York Hackney Carriage Drivers' Association, who led a protest of around 50 non-Uber drivers before the meeting, said the committee should reject the application because he claimed drivers from the company were ‘plying for trade’ by picking-up customers without them making a booking first, waiting on yellow lines for passengers, and using drivers who do not know the city’s roads.

Taxi driver Wendy Loveday said the company had failed to employ enough drivers in York and had resorted to using others from outside the city who do not know the area.

Lynn Brook, an organiser for the GMB union, claimed the company did not “properly regulate” its drivers, but Uber, which has been used 28,000 times in York, argued this is done by the local authority.

Ms Brook added: “The visitors to this great city are its lifeblood and they should be taken to their destinations by drivers who use the shortest, safest and cheapest route.”

Cllr Dave Taylor, who was one of seven councillors to refuse the company a licence, following in the footsteps of Sheffield and London, said: “I always consider York taxi drivers to be the foremost ambassadors for our city and they are the first people visitors will meet. I think we expect a high standard from all taxi drivers and it’s difficult if these standards can be undermined and under cut by out of town drivers.”

Neil McGonigle, general manager for Uber in York, said: “This is a disappointing vote for the riders and drivers who use our app in the city.

"More choice and competition is a good thing for both consumers and licensed drivers in the area. Passengers tell us they love being able to track their car on a live map, pay without cash and get a receipt with their fare and the route taken.

"Licensed drivers partner with us because with Uber they can choose if, when and where they drive. We will review the details of the decision once we receive the formal notice from the council.”