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A cap on the number of private hire taxis and cars - including Uber - is to be investigated in Edinburgh following a unanimous decision by council members.
The call for change comes after union reps from the taxi trade raised concerns of passengers being picked up illegally and an over influx of drivers, meaning it was becoming ever increasingly harder to earn a living in the trade.
Edinburgh Greens tweeted earlier today, 24 October, that: "Green councillor @susan4leithwalk today secured council backing to investigate capping of the number of private hire cars in city."
Delighted with the decision, Unite the Union Edinburgh Cab Section said: "We would like to thank all councillors in Edinburgh City for agreeing on @susan4leithwalk motion on capping private hire licences and the addendum by the coalition led by @LezleyMCameron and seconded by @cathyfullerton we look forward in working with you all in this."
Glasgow City Council became the first local authority in Scotland to introduce a cap on private hire car and taxi licences in April 2019 and now Edinburgh could be set to follow.
A consultation conducted by Local Transport Projects on behalf of Glasgow City Council showed a dramatic rise in the number of private hire vehicles working in the city. Between 2008 to 2013 the number of private hire vehicles registered in Glasgow had reduced from 2,805 to 2,638, but has since risen to 3,759 as of last year.
Members of the council’s licensing committee agreed to cap the number of taxis and private hire vehicles licensed, despite some concerns that the public may have to wait longer for a cab during peak periods.
Glasgow already limit the number of taxis allowed to be licensed to 1,420, but have introduced an upper limit of 1,420 and and a lower limit of 1,278 taxis. The council also agreed an upper limit of 3,759 and lower limit of 3,383 for private hire cars.
