Petition calls for delay to Slough’s diesel taxi cut-off

A petition calling on Slough Borough Council to delay the diesel vehicle cut-off for taxis has gathered more than 600 signatures.

Back in 2021, Slough was awarded £370,035 from the Government’s £5million Air Quality Grant.

At the time, the council said this money would be invested in a project looking to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by taxi drivers and private hire vehicle operators.

In 2023, a vehicle age policy was also adopted to work towards this initiative and reduce air pollution from vehicle emissions in Slough.

Last year, Slough’s Air Quality Action Plan, which runs until 2028, was put in place to tackle roadside nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations.

Around 10 per cent of such NO2 vehicle emissions come from taxis, according to the council.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDR), a Slough council spokesperson said: “Any currently licensed diesel vehicle will have its licence renewed until the vehicle reaches nine years old, as per the current published policy.

“From 1 January 2026, the only difference will be that any new [grant] applications to licence a vehicle will need to be an alternative fuel to diesel.”

But a petition was launched on November 27 and has quickly gained 611 signatures since then, calling on the council to delay the diesel cut-off for vehicles.

It asked that a ‘robust consultation’ should start before a ban can be implemented on older vehicles because Slough’s cut-off is ‘stricter and more costly’ than neighbouring local authorities.

The petition page added that drivers and taxi operators will be asked to ‘bear high costs’ in order to upgrade their vehicles.

But a council spokesperson argued that although taxi drivers and private hire operators need to have a licence approved by the local authority, they are free to set their own fees depending on their ‘business needs’.

A public consultation did not take place, but a review was carried out in November this year.

The results of this review will be shared with industry representatives at a ‘round table’ discussion due to take place this week.

This ‘alternative to diesel’ initiative, which will still allow petrol, hybrid or electric vehicles, was due to start in January this year.

The council’s licensing authority moved this back to January 2026 instead.

A council spokesperson said this gave drivers more time before they had to consider an alternative to diesel when they needed to renew a vehicle.

The change will reduce ‘the most significant’ forms of pollution, which include vehicle emissions, in an attempt to get Slough to meet net zero targets.

The spokesperson added: “We know that air pollution contributes to worse health outcomes in Slough, especially among vulnerable groups, including children and pregnant women.

“There is no safe level of air pollution – many children in Slough may be exposed to higher-than-ideal pollution levels — potentially increasing their risk of respiratory illness, asthma, and other health consequences.”

From January 2027, this rule will change, requesting taxi drivers to replace their vehicles once they hit the nine-year mark with a full hybrid or electric vehicle.

Slough residents, taxi and private hire operators can sign the petition until December 25.