Taxi and private hire trade information
Traffic Regulation Order - Railway Approach and Victoria Road, Worthing
7th September 2023
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) proposes to make a permanent Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) that will amend parking restrictions in Worthing as follows:
- Railway Approach: The proposed Order enacts changes to the kerb-lines and general layout of Railway Approach east of its junction with Oxford Road, moving the taxi rank to the south side of the road and introducing a short stay ‘drop off bay’ on the north side of the road. All other parking bays on the north side of the road will be for: Pay and Display up to 2 hours and Residents & Visitors Permit Holders 9am to 6pm Mon to Sat Except Bank Holidays’ with a Pay and Display charging rate of £0.90 per hour.
The Order also prohibits waiting, loading and unloading at any time on the south side of the road, along the frontage of the recently constructed office building at this location. - Victoria Road: The proposed Order changes the restriction applying to the parking bays on the eastern side of the road from permitting waiting for 2 hours to: Waiting Limited to 1 hour, no return within 1 hour 9am to 6pm Mon to Sat, except Bank Holidays.
Below is a link to the TRO consultation web page on the WSCC website, containing plans showing the new restriction, the public notice, statement of reasons for proposing the Order, and the draft Order itself. I should be grateful if you could accept this message as the formal consultation on the proposed new Order. If you wish to make any comments or objections to the scheme, please make them to me by e-mail before 28th September 2023.
Taxi Trade Liaison Group (and meetings)
Important notice for all taxi and private hire licence holders: The Taxi Licensing Team has permanently relocated to the councils' site at 9 Commerce Way, Lancing Business Park, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8TA. All contact details remain unchanged.
Vehicle licence inspections, enquiries and applications: will be processed at Commerce Way, Lancing.
Driver and operator licence enquiries and applications: will continue to be processed in the normal manner.
Commerce Way appointments: if you are attending an appointment:
- you enter through the site gates, at the end of the road, and must reverse park in the visitor bays on the right of the gate entrance
- you can stay in your vehicle and telephone the licensing office on 01273 263144
- an officer will meet you at the vehicle to deal with your application/enquiry or you can go to the main reception and use the buzzer on the reception desk to notify the taxi team that you are there. An officer will attend as soon as possible
- there is a manned reception (9am to 5pm) but taxi officers work on a strict appointment only basis. Callers without an appointment are unlikely to be seen by a taxi licensing officer.
- Find the Adur & Worthing Taxi Offices in Commerce Way, Lancing - on Google Maps
If you have any questions or require an appointment: then do not hesitate to contact the licensing office at:
- taxi.licensing@adur-worthing.gov.uk
- or phone: 01273 263146
Trade meetings
The councils' licensing unit regularly holds meetings with both the Adur and Worthing hackney carriage and private hire trades.
Discussions at these meetings can range from changes in legislation to local communication between the councils, trade and public. Recent discussions have included congestion, air pollution, wheelchair accessible vehicles, a disabled user's charter and unlicensed activity.
All licensed drivers, proprietors and operators are invited. Guests at meetings may include local councillors, trade union representatives, the Highways Agency and other organisations.
A date for the next meeting is to be announced.
Transport for the South East: Transport strategy
Transport for the South East is the sub-national transport body for the south east of England. Its purpose is to determine what investment is needed to transform our region's transport system and drive economic growth. Transport for the South East was established to determine what transport infrastructure is needed to boost the region's economy.
The partnership is made up of:
- 16 local authorities
- five local enterprise partnerships
- plus representatives of district and borough authorities, protected landscapes and national delivery agencies
The transport strategy for a more connected, productive and sustainable south east can be found on the:
Department for Transport: taxi and private hire statistics
The Department for Transport releases the official taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) statistics each year that give some interesting insights into the hackney carriage and private hire industry.
The 2022 report can be accessed at:
Decarbonising transport
HM Government's new plans for decarbonisation of transport in Britain can be found at:
Safer travel at night - advice for drivers
Adur & Worthing Councils are working closely with the police to keep people safe when they are travelling, and to crack down on any illegal taxi and private hire activity that puts passengers at risk.
The trade is well aware of the dangers to the public posed by unlicensed vehicles and un-booked private hire vehicles. Our licensing officers work alongside the police to carry out vehicle and driver licensing checks, visit private hire operators, engage with the public and undertake other activities to detect drivers who are breaking the law.
The councils, when possible, will emphasis to the public the risks of using an un-booked private hire vehicle - including unlicensed bogus cabs and licensed private hire drivers who are touting or illegally plying for hire.
Un-booked private hire vehicles are illegal, not insured to carry passengers, and pose a serious risk to their passengers - including serious crimes such as robbery, rape and serious sexual offences.
The annual 'Getting Home Safely' campaign provides information on the rules for using taxi and private hire vehicles and encourages the public to use taxis or booked, licensed private hire vehicles.
As a licensed taxi or private hire driver you have a responsibility for ensuring that your passengers are safe when travelling in your vehicle. The way you interact with your customers affects the way that a customer feels about the journey they make with you. We expect the highest standards of conduct from licensed taxi and private hire drivers.
No form of sexual conduct between a licensed driver and a passenger is ever acceptable, even if it is consensual. Avoid any behaviour that could be considered to be of a sexual nature, no matter how well intentioned or harmless you think it is, as it will not be tolerated. This includes commenting on someone's appearance or looking at a passenger in a way that could make them feel uncomfortable.
We take this issue extremely seriously:
- all complaints and reports to us or the police will be fully investigated and appropriate action will be taken
- a driver will lose their licence if they are found to have acted in an inappropriate way towards a passenger
If you see or hear of any inappropriate driver behaviour, you can report it by:
- calling our customer complaint line on 01273 263144
- or email us on taxi.licensing@adur-worthing.gov.uk
If you feel a customer may be in immediate danger, call 999.
Badges and driver IDs
Please remember that taxi drivers must wear their badge, and private hire drivers must wear their driver ID, at all times while working. This is a public safety issue as it is an important way for members of the public to identify you as a licensed driver.
The councils will take action against drivers who do not clearly display their badge or driver ID. If you are found to be working without your badge or driver ID, this breach of compliance may be subject to penalties and may lead to licensing action.
Cross-border hiring
Currently, private hire vehicles (PHVs) can undertake bookings anywhere in England and Wales, provided:
- the vehicle, driver and operator are licensed by the same licensing authority
- the booking is accepted by the operator within this authority, regardless of where the driver and vehicle are physically located
This is commonly referred to as the 'triple licensing requirement' and could cause significant issues with enforcement, congestion, emissions and parking, as well as creating issues in neighbouring licensing authority areas.
A national change is required to address issues of cross-border hiring which will otherwise further contribute to enforcement, congestion, pollution and parking issues.
The councils do not have powers to restrict this type of cross-border operation and are currently raising these concerns with government to ensure we have appropriate controls.
Hate crime - report it!
What is a hate crime?
A hate crime is any crime that is targeted at a person because of a hostility or prejudice towards that person because of:
- religion or belief
- disability
- race
- sexual orientation
- trans or gender reassignment, or
- alternative sub-culture
Drivers and the public should not have to tolerate hate crime. You can report an incident online:
- Report hate crime - on the West Sussex County Council website
- Report hate crime - on the Sussex Police website
Please always ring 999 in an emergency.
CCTV
There is now a compulsory requirement for all Adur and Worthing hackney carriages and private hire vehicles to have CCTV fitted. Both councils' licensing committees having resolved that in the interest of public safety CCTV should be compulsory in all licensed vehicles.
Proprietors should be aware that replacement vehicles and vehicles being licensed for the first time will need to have had CCTV fitted at time of presentation for licensing.
All CCTV equipment needs to be installed by a registered and approved CCTV installation specialist. A list of installers approved by Adur & Worthing Councils is provided here:
Need assistance with this service?
Get in touch:
Taxi Licensing, Public Health & Regulation
01273 263144
Email this service (taxi.licensing@adur-worthing.gov.uk)
Full contact details (Taxi Licensing, Public Health & Regulation)
Page last updated: 28 June 2024