THE owner of a taxi firm has said he would welcome Uber remaining in the city as long as they play by the same rules as the taxi trade.

Andy Cheesman, owns Southern Taxis which runs Brighton and Hove City Cabs, South Coast Taxis and Premier Taxis.

He told The Argus: “I would like Uber to get its house in order and to run as we have to run.”

On Tuesday, the city council’s licensing panel announced it had found Uber Britannia Ltd was not a fit and proper person to hold a licence for private hire vehicles in Brighton and Hove.

Yesterday Mr Cheesman said: “Tuesday’s decision was very good for the local drivers.

“It was a very fair and open and transparent meeting by the councillors and the officers, which allowed everyone to have their say good and bad.

“All we’re asking for is a level playing field.

“We have to commit to the licensing conditions in Brighton and Hove’s Blue Book or we’re not allowed to work.

“Uber came along and said we’re not going to have CCTV, we don’t care about your rules and regulations, we’ll use Brighton cars when we can but when we can’t we’ll use them from anywhere.”

“I would like Uber to get its house in order and to run as we have to run.

“And if they’re going to run the same as we run, then I’ve got no problem with that.

“I own Buddies restaurant, I’ve got a Burger King just up the road.

“I’ve got no problem with competition.

“But if the restaurant next door can open from nine til midnight and I can only open for a few hours, that’s unfair.

“We want a level playing field.

“The other thing people don’t realise is the council sets the taxi fares, to give a fair living wage.

They take into account fuel, insurance, the cost of buying and maintaining a car, they put it all in and it comes out how much a taxi drivers should earn at X hours a week with Y jobs.

“And that gives them a living wage which people in Brighton say they want people to have.

“Brighton cabs aren’t allowed to change their pricing model, we’re regulated.”

An Uber spokesman said: “Uber abides by the same rules and regulations as all other private hire operators.”

The licensing panel’s decision was criticised yesterday by an industry expert who accused one councillor of a “staggering confusion” over elements of the testimony related to data security.

Uber will appeal against the decision.

While they do so, Uber drivers licensed in the city can still ply their trade.

After the appeal concludes, Uber drivers licensed elsewhere will still be allowed to work in Brighton and Hove.