Hire cars go head-to-head over taxi ads

MINICAB firms could soon win the right to advertise on their vehicles for the first time – a move likely to put them on a collision course with the black cab trade.

One private hire company has asked the city council's permission to display its name and phone number on 116 of its vehicles.

Should the move win the backing of licensing chiefs, it would bring Edinburgh into line with other Scottish cities.

However, it is likely to upset the Capital's taxi trade, which is understood to be growing increasingly concerned about the role of private hire firms, which rely on phone bookings and cannot be hailed on the street.

Minicab firm Edinburgh City Private Hire has asked licensing bosses for permission to display its logo and telephone number.

The council's regulatory committee is set to discuss the plans at a meeting today. However, moves to allow private hire cars to display rooftop signs have been ruled out due to concerns that they may confuse the public that the vehicles are for hire on the street.

Councillor Colin Keir, who chairs the council's regulatory committee, said there remained concerns about "seagulling", where private hire cars illegally tout for business on the street.