Taxi drivers could be made to accept card payments

A public consultation on the proposed changes will start in August

Taxi drivers licensed by a council in West Sussex may soon have to allow customers to pay by card.

During a meeting of Mid Sussex District Council's licensing committee on Monday, members were told 21 complaints had been received in the last 12 months about drivers only accepting cash.

Concerns from drivers include not being able to connect to the payment system when in more rural areas, and cash flow problems when waiting for payments to arrive in their accounts.

But committee members agreed the council’s hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy needed to be changed.

'An absolute must-have'

A report to the committee said: “Recent complaints received raise significant concerns around public safety.

"There have been reported instances where lone females late at night have been unable to get a licensed vehicle as their only payment method is by card.”

Councillor Gary Marsh said the council was not saying drivers cannot accept cash, just that cards should also be accepted.

“This is an absolute must-have and it should have happened yesterday,” he added.

An eight-week public consultation about the proposed changes will start on 5 August.

It could then be recommended to the full council for adoption on 11 December, at which point drivers would have two months to have card machines in their vehicles.