Uber to appeal Brighton and Hove licence decision

Council lawyers and the three members of the licensing panel at Hove Town Hall last week

The local authority’s decision was announced on May 2 following a licensing panel hearing on Monday, April 23.

The council said Uber was not ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence in the city, and added it had concerns over the company’s data breach and its lack of commitment’ to use only Brighton and Hove licensed drivers.

Uber had 21 days to appeal the decision.

Representatives from Uber speaking at the licensing panel

On Friday (May 18), an Uber spokesperson said: “We have today filed our appeal at Brighton Magistrates’ Court. We want to continue providing more choice and competition for both private hire drivers and passengers in the city.”

The company - which allows people to book drivers through a phone app - also faces an appeal hearing in June over Transport for London’s decision not to renew its licence.

On hearing the decision from Brighton and Hove City Council, Andy Peters, secretary for the GMB union’s Brighton and Hove Taxi Section, said: “The Disrupter has been disrupted.”

Uber refused licence in Brighton and Hove

Uber hopes to renew licence in Brighton and Hove