A short report from GloucestershireLive says some Cotswolds taxi drivers want the Uber app blocked locally, claiming the area is being flooded with PHV drivers licensed as far away as Wolverhampton.
DM News Commentary
The frustration in the Cotswolds mirrors what we’re seeing across the entire UK: rural and small-town operators feel overwhelmed by the steady flow of out-of-area private hire vehicles working under licences obtained hundreds of miles away.
For drivers who have invested heavily in local licensing standards, higher fees, stricter checks and tougher enforcement, it’s no surprise they’re questioning why app-based platforms can operate without matching local expectations.
The Cotswolds is a perfect example of a place where tourism, rural events and seasonal peaks create valuable but limited work. When a surge of out-of-area cars arrives — often from licensing authorities known for lower costs and faster processing — it immediately changes the balance of supply and demand for local drivers.
The call to ban or geo-block Uber in the region highlights a wider industry issue: the cross-border loophole is no longer just a city problem. Villages and rural districts are starting to feel the pressure too.
Many drivers now argue that only a true national licensing standard — or strict geo-fencing for app-based work — can fix the imbalance. Until then, local tensions like those in the Cotswolds will only continue to flare up.
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