Action call over Uber drivers’ lay-by behaviour

UBER drivers waiting to pick up customers on a route near Birmingham Airport are being hit with £100 fines after reports of illegal manoeuvres, littering and even using a lay-by as a toilet.

Locals are angry over the constant chaos on the red route close to the airport caused by the private-hire taxis.

Queues of cars are constantly parked dangerously on the A45 between Damson Parkway and Goodway Road, blocking access for motorists as well as bus passengers.

Solihull Council confirmed it had visited the site 417 times, issuing 91 penalty-charge notices since Christmas.

Police have been patrolling the area since January, issuing on-thespot £100 charges.

A Solihull resident provided pictures of incidents from January, and said: “People were struggling to get off the buses and the taxis were stopping on main carriageways, causing us to brake heavily. They park on the road to the left of Coventry Road, too.” Elmdon ward councillors Yvonne Clements (Con) and Laura McCarthy (Lib Dem) spoke of safety concerns caused by drivers parked illegally on verges.

Cllr Yvonne Clements said: “The most blatant has been the privatehire taxi drivers parking on the A45 between Damson Parkway and Goodway Road. I have been working with the council and the police on ways to halt this anti-social behaviour.

“It is an offence to park on a red route or in a bus stop. Unfortunately, vehicle drivers have been seen to use the lay-by as a toilet and continually leave litter behind.”

She added: “There’s nothing wrong with earning a living and many of us have the need to use a taxi from time to time, however it cannot be to the detriment of the wider public and a cause of concern to public health.”

West Midlands Police said they were running extra patrols.

An Uber spokesman said: “The safety of customers, drivers and the general public is a top priority for Uber and we are working on a technical change to help address this issue.” A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: “Birmingham Airport’s official on-site black cab provision is easily accessible 24 hours a day, directly outside of the terminal building. Private-hire drivers in the area are not just for Birmingham Airport. However, for those serving Birmingham Airport customers we have an on-site holding area which all Uber drivers have to use in order to be allocated airport pick-ups. This is in agreement with our Uber partner.”