Jersey sports centres could reintroduce cash payments

Sites, including Les Quennevais, have only offered digital or card payments since 2020

A deputy wants to reverse a cashless payment system for States-run sports centres in Jersey which was introduced during the pandemic.

Deputy Lucy Stephenson said only offering payments via bank card or direct debit caused accessibility issues for those who only used cash.

The cashless system was introduced in 2020.

Ms Stephenson said savings should not be "at the expense of fairness and accessibility".

"This proposition acknowledges that such cases have not been reported in high numbers and that in the increasingly digital world the vast majority of people have no problem with paying by card or on their phones," she said.

"There are, however, still those in our community who need or want to use cash.

"This proposition does not seek to reintroduce layers of costly bureaucracy unnecessarily, but it does seek to ensure that no islanders are prevented, or discouraged, from accessing important public services because of cashless policies introduced during a pandemic which has long since passed."

Ms Stephenson said there would be "some cost associated" with the reintroduction, but a "much cheaper and reasonable solution" could be found to balance the "likely limited demand".

The proposition will be debated in March.