Uber withdraws application to operate in Sandwell

The firm had lodged an application to become a private operator in Sandwell two years ago.

But yesterday a spokesman said the bid had been dropped.

It marks a U-turn for the company which had said it wanted to operate across the whole of the Black Country.

It already has licences to work in Dudley, Wolverhampton and Walsall.

The decision announcement comes as the company appeals a decision by Transport for London to refuse a new licence.

The transport authority said at the time that it determined Uber not to be 'fit and proper to hold a private hire operator licence'.

The Local Government Association has since asked a series of questions of the company over its operation.

Yesterday, Uber spokesman Harry Porter said: "We were in the process [of applying for a private operator licence at Sandwell Council] for two years - and things weren't progressing.

"There were also enough cars in the area to meet rider demand. So Sandwell was no longer needed.

"We will of course revisit this should things change."

Mr Porter said applications for private operator licences took 'usually a few months'.

When asked why the application for a licence at Sandwell Council had taken so long, he said: "The question is for the council sadly."

Councillor Steve Eling, leader of Sandwell Council said: "Uber made the decision to withdraw its application for a private hire operator licence in Sandwell."

Mr Porter said Uber had licences from more than 80 councils.

He said: "Over the last year a small number of licence applications lapsed while we focused on other areas and we’ve withdrawn from some, such as Sandwell, as they were no longer necessary.

“On rare occasions we’ve not pursued applications as proposed conditions didn’t fit with how our app works, such as in Bournemouth where operators are unable to set the fares.

"While we had hoped this could be amended it became clear we needed to pause our application and have further conversations with the council.”

Uber works by people using a mobile phone app to book a taxi.

GPS is used to put passengers in touch with the closest drivers to the pick-up location.

Fouzan Ali, Uber's general manager, said he was 'confident' of getting a licence to operate in Sandwell.