Posted on the 11th November 2026 in PHTM News

READING CABBIES SET FOR RELIEF AS COUNCIL MOVES TO EASE EMISSIONS AND AGE RULES

Taxi drivers in Reading are set to receive some relief from strict council rules governing vehicle emissions and age limits following concerns over cost and practical availability. 

Reading Borough Council had previously introduced measures requiring all newly licensed vehicles to be ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV) and under five years old, while mandating a Euro 6 emissions rating for all new vehicles from October 2028. 

However, drivers fought back, arguing that a longer transition period was essential.

Local drivers voiced major objections to the policy during the summer, highlighting serious practical hurdles. Azad Asghar, a private hire driver, warned that even some popular hybrid cars like older Toyota Prius models would fail to meet the standards, while pointing out that charging infrastructure is not ready for a full shift to electric vehicles. 

He stated: “The emissions limit they have set is way too low. I mean, not even a normal Prius would be eligible for a licence.” Highlighting battery range limitations for larger vehicles, he added, “Purely electric minibuses can only do 120 miles. It would just get me to Gatwick and back, that's it. If I have back-to-back bookings, I have to charge up and wait half an hour to 40 minutes to charge, then I'll lose out on my next job, so that's exactly what the problem is.”

Drivers working in home-to-school transport also raised concerns about being held to the same standards as full-time operators. Nazneen Ali explained that school transport drivers operate completely differently and earn less, saying: “We've got the issues of licensing not accepting Euro 6 and the fact that we need electric vehicles. We don't work like the private hires. We don't work 24 hours round the clock.”

She stressed that many drivers in the sector are older or balancing family commitments, adding: “You can't ask them to shift back into full-time work.”

In response to trade feedback, Clyde Masson, the council's principal licensing enforcement officer, submitted a report acknowledging the severe shortage and high cost of larger compliant vehicles, such as seven-seat minivans and WAVs. Mr Masson noted that discussions highlighted how the limited availability of these larger options “was causing problems for private hire operators, especially those that provide home-to-school transport,” and recognised that the lack of suitable options was “creating supply difficulties and potential economic disadvantage.”

To resolve the issue, Mr Masson proposed pausing the strict vehicle emissions policy, allowing existing licensed vehicles to stay on the road while requiring any newly added vehicles to meet a minimum Euro 5b standard. 

Members of Reading Borough Council’s licensing applications committee approved the proposed policy changes on Thursday, November 5, officially launching a six-week public consultation on the relaxed rules.


Read another story