Green light for cab firm
GLASGOW is set to welcome a new Uber-style cab firm.
App-based company AppsGo will be operating with 10 drivers and a 24-hour helpline throughout the city.
A year-long licence has been granted.
A NEW Uber-style cab firm has been given the go-ahead to operate in Glasgow.
AppsGo, run by businessman Younglin Pan, will be based in Broad Street with 10 drivers and a 24-hour helpline.
Like Uber, the firm will operate an app-based model where customers can search for a cab and will be able to see who is picking them up on their phone.
But the company insists the only difference is that they will have a 24-hours-aday helpline.
The firm, formerly known as Scott Taxi Ltd, was turned down initially in April because it had the word ‘taxi’ in its name.
Glasgow’s licensing rules mean that the names of firms must be displayed on cabs and booking offices, but private hire firms are not allowed to describe themselves as ‘taxis’.
It was also revealed that drivers who are caught pirating – picking people up without a prior booking – would be sacked immediately.
Shiraz Ahmed, the agent working on behalf of the company, said: “The plan is to start off with 10 drivers and based on the success of the business they may decide to expand the staff or the drivers.
“There will be two members of staff at the office at all times. The telephones, the app and the email address will be monitored 24-hours a day.”
Members of the licensing committee had raised concerns about data protection and whether the police and enforcement officers
would be able to get access to files when needed.
Mr Ahmed continued: “The information will be stored by another, nationally recognised company. It will only be accessed when required by Police Scotland or the council’s enforcement team.”
Despite those assurances, a Police Scotland spokesman said: “Until it goes live we’ll not see the proof about whether the security measures are in place. We couldn’t say we are fully comfortable with it until it goes live.
“There is no police objection to the applicant but regarding how the booking office will be run the owners were invited to London Road police office.
“The manager shared that the technology provider is run by a high profile company which service a number of companies of the UK and give 24-hour help and support.
“We were informed that all cars would be fitted with a dashcam and were informed that customers will know the registration details of the car picking them up.”
Members of the committee granted the booking office licence for a restricted period of one year.