Slough Council taxi drivers petition council to delay diesel ban after review failure
- Perry Richardson
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
A petition calling on Slough Borough Council to delay its planned diesel taxi ban has attracted more than 1,500 signatures, with drivers and operators arguing the authority has failed to carry out a promised policy review or provide adequate transition support.
The ePetition, which closed on 25 December, urges the council to postpone the diesel vehicle cut-off date of 1 January 2026 until a full review is completed, including a formal consultation with the taxi trade. It also calls for the establishment of a working group involving drivers, operators, officers and councillors, and for greater transparency around financial support.
According to the petition text, Slough had committed to reviewing its diesel policy in October 2025, but that review was cancelled. As a result, petition organisers say the real-world impact on licensed drivers has not been assessed despite the policy’s financial implications.
Drivers argue they are being required to replace vehicles at significant cost without clarity on what assistance is available. The petition states that the council received £370,035 in grant funding to support the transition to low-emission vehicles, but says there has been no public accounting of how that funding has been used or how it has directly supported diesel taxi drivers.
More than 1,500 sign call for pause on 2026 cut-off as council accused of cancelling promised review and consultation
Concerns are also raised about competitiveness across council borders. The petition claims Slough’s diesel cut-off is stricter and more expensive than those in neighbouring licensing authorities, increasing the risk that drivers will either leave the local trade or seek licences elsewhere, reducing the effectiveness of local regulation.
In addition to delaying the ban, signatories are asking the council to review licensing fees, vehicle age limits and support mechanisms to ensure what they describe as a fairer and more sustainable approach. The petition warns that without changes, livelihoods could be put at risk.
The ePetition ran from 27 November to 25 December 2025 and was signed by 1,517 people. The council has not yet published a formal response setting out whether the petition will trigger a debate or review under its petitions scheme.
