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10
Sept
Harrogate's biggest taxi firm calls for action on Uber
The chairman of Harrogate’s biggest taxi firm has called for a clampdown on Uber cars operating in the area.
Garry Sadler-Simpson, of Mainline Taxis on Lower Station Parade, raised the issue at a meeting last night (September 9).
The Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce meeting gave businesses the chance to quiz David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and Tim Forber, chief constable of North Yorkshire Police.
Mr Sadler-Simpson said there had been “an influx of Uber cars operating with impunity” in the Harrogate district in recent years.
He added:
We have complained continuously to North Yorkshire Council to take action, and they seem reluctant to do so.
Mr Skaith said he would raise the issue with the council, which is responsible for taxi licensing, and Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Tom Gordon, who he was due to meet next week.
Mr Sadler-Simpson, whose private hire firm operates 120 cars, went on to call for taxi firms to be better consulted on transport issues affecting the Harrogate district. He said:
We used to have meetings with Harrogate Borough Council every two months. All that’s stopped. There’s no communication between the council and the trade now.
Central Taxis owner Kevin O’Boyle supported the call for better consultation later in the meeting when he raised concerns about council plans to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles, as reported here and here by the Stray Ferret.
Mr O’Boyle said the council was “in denial” about the problems its new approach would cause and needed to communicate better with taxi firms, which played a key role in local transport provision.
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