Crawley Borough Council Licensing Committee voted on 5 March 2026 to keep the current limit on the number of hackney carriage (taxi) vehicle licences allowed to work in the town. This decision means the maximum number of taxi licences in Crawley, West Sussex, will remain at 123 to help manage service levels and local traffic.
This cap on licences has been used in the borough since 2011 to control how many vehicles can wait at local taxi ranks. A study completed in 2022 found that the current number of cabs is enough to meet the needs of residents and visitors without creating too much congestion.
Councillor Yasmin Khan, the cabinet member for public protection, said the decision aims to support local taxi drivers while making sure passengers are looked after. By keeping the numbers steady, the council hopes to provide a stable environment for drivers and a reliable service for the community.
The council also agreed to wait until 2028 before it carries out its next review of taxi demand. This change follows new national advice that suggests checking these limits every five years instead of every three years to give the industry more certainty.
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