Guildford's taxi industry is facing an increasingly difficult landscape, with long-standing drivers struggling to make ends meet due to heightened competition and regulatory challenges.
Paul Pearson, a veteran hackney carriage driver with 30 years of experience, has voiced his frustrations, shedding light on the harsh realities of the profession.
Pearson highlighted the growing presence of Transport for London (TfL)-licensed Uber drivers in Guildford, a phenomenon made possible by a legal loophole known as "cross-border hiring." He expressed concerns about the influx of non-local private hire vehicles taking fares while local drivers endure long waiting times at ranks.
“After 30 years of driving a taxi in Guildford, I'm beginning to wonder why I still do it. I spend so many hours sitting on North Street Rank doing nothing for hours on end, watching Transport for London Ubers picking up fares all the time.”
Adding to the struggles, Guildford Borough Council (GBC) has continued to issue new taxi licenses despite declining demand, exacerbating the competition among local drivers.
The number of station permits, which allow drivers to pick up passengers at Guildford Station, has also been significantly reduced.
Plummeting Earnings and Extended Working Hours
Pearson's personal experiences paint a bleak picture of the industry's financial viability. He reported earning just £30.30 for 6.5 hours of work on January 27, with minimal improvement in the days following.
“I pulled onto North Street Rank at 16:15 behind six other taxis and sat until 17:25 for my first job.”
On January 28, he earned £70.70, though he described it as still unsustainable for a full day’s work.
"I went home after sitting at North Street until about 22:30 without a fare." The situation deteriorated further on January 29, when he worked for eight hours but earned only £36.10.
Comparing figures from the previous year, Pearson revealed that in January 2023, he had completed 67 fares. By the end of January 2024, he had managed only 38, covering fewer than 400 miles. The stark decline underscores the impact of increased competition and regulatory changes on Guildford’s taxi drivers.
The Controversy Surrounding Cross-Border Hiring
A significant factor affecting local taxi drivers is the legal framework that allows London-licensed Uber drivers to operate in Guildford. Under UK law, private hire drivers must be licensed by a local authority but can legally pick up passengers anywhere as long as the booking is made through a licensed operator.
This practice, known as "cross-border hiring," enables TfL-licensed Uber drivers to work in Guildford without adhering to local regulations. Here’s the revised text with the embedded link in Markdown format:
Recently, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham has urged authorities to put an end to the cross-border taxi hiring practice, advocating for standardized private hire licensing to address regulatory inconsistencies.
The decline in business has been exacerbated by Guildford Borough Council (GBC), which has made it relatively easy to obtain a taxi license, leading to a surge in licensed taxis.
In contrast, at Guildford Station, the number of permits issued for taxis has decreased. Last year, 105 permits were granted, but this year, only 70 were issued—each costing over £1,000 per year.
With fewer station permits available, many drivers have been forced to work at alternative ranks in Guildford town centre, such as North Street and M&S.
Paul Pearson says, this has resulted in longer waiting times and, in some cases, no work at all.
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