THE SWINDON taxi market could soon change forever with smartphone-based firm UBER set to arrive in town.

It has emerged the controversial company has been granted a licence to operate in Swindon as it seeks to grow in the UK.

The San-Francisco based company first launched in 2009 and has seen massive expansion in recent years.

Instead of calling for a taxi in a traditional way, UBER customers use an app to book a car and a nearby driver will pick up the call.

Operating in hundreds of cites around the world, the company has seen its popularity increase with users praising its convenience.

The fee is set in advance and can be split between different people. The car can be easily tracked using GPS and a photo of the driver is included with the booking so the customer knows who to look for.

However, many people have questioned the safety of the system, arguing the drivers do not have to undergo the same level of scrutiny before getting a job.

Black cab drivers in London have held a number of protests at UBER’s arrival in the capital and while the company was not available for comment on its Swindon move, it maintains rigorous checks are carried out.

But several Swindon firms have concerns about the impact it will have on the local market, as drivers do not necessarily need to come from the Swindon area.

Ramin Pahlavan, a co-owner at United Radio Cars, said: “We do have some concerns. People like their drivers to know the area but UBER drivers do not have to come from Swindon.

“This means any driver from anywhere can pick up in Swindon. Also, the drivers often do not realise the costs which UBER charge.

“This will lead to money leaving the local economy. As it stands, someone using a Swindon taxi firm pays a Swindon driver and a Swindon firm. This is not the case with UBER.”

UBER also use a process known as surge pricing, which means the cost of travelling during peak periods rises to reflect demand.

The company justifies this by saying it is seeking to ensure those willing to pay more get a better service.

But some companies fear this will lead to customers suffering.

A spokesman for V Cars said: “Competition is a good thing and we are confident of taking UBER on. But if UBER put their prices up between say 7am and 9am, drivers will understandably go and work for them to get a higher price.

“This will mean no other company can respond during this period so the customer ends up paying more.”

All drivers in Swindon must have full criminal record checks and while there have also been concerns elsewhere about UBER drivers, the council says all will abide by the same laws.

A council spokesman said: “Uber will be required to abide by the same regulations and security checks that all other taxi operators in the Borough are subject to, and Uber have agreed to that. They and their drivers will be treated in exactly the same way as every other taxi business.”

The Adver tried to contact UBER but did not get a response.

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 A CAMBRIDGESHIRE woman was raped as she slept in a taxi cab on her way home after a night out in London, a court heard.

The private hire cab driver has been put behind bars for eight years after being convicted of rape.

Siddiq Muzumder, 33, picked up the victim following a night out with friends in London at Pasha nightclub on April 26, 2014.

Detective Constable Clare Daniel said: “This was a monstrous crime, where the private hire car driver was entrusted to deliver the young woman home. He abused this position.

“The victim has been very strong during the process and has co-operated with every police procedure. A key element to securing this conviction was early reporting of the crime, which enabled us to secure forensic evidence.

“It is this evidence that helped us secure the conviction due to the victim having no memory of the event.”

Cambridge Crown Court heard that at about 1am Muzumder pulled over on the hard shoulder of the M11, about 10 minutes away from the victim’s home, and raped the woman, who was either asleep or unconscious.

He then dropped her off close to her home.

The victim reported the incident the following morning and investigations identified the private hire car firm that the victim had used, which lead to Muzumder’s arrest.

Muzumder, of Roman Road, London, denied rape but was found guilty, by a unanimous verdict, on Tuesday November 10 (2015) and was thi smonth handed his sentence from a judge sitting at Norwich Crown Court.

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