![Reading Festival has laid out its Look Out For The Planet pledge ahead of its return next week, bringing measures set to promote sustainability. Picture: Luke Dyson [LukeDyson.com]](https://wokingham.today/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Img1871502-360x180.jpg)
In our Borough many people rely on their car day in day out, not as a luxury but as a costly necessity.
Our Borough is made up of small towns and villages. While some people live close to bus stops or train stations, others live in more rural areas where it is not safe or practical to walk to the nearest public transport. Wokingham Borough has a high proportion of older residents and while many will lead active lives well into old age others can’t and need a car to get about.
Wokingham Borough is popular with families. Where possible, it’s beneficial for children to walk or cycle to school. But for some families with multiple school or nursery drop offs, sports kit and packed lunches to transport it’s just not practical.
Conservatives want to enable residents to make the right decisions for them, whether that’s by supporting safer walking and cycling routes, public transport or by keeping the cost of motoring down.
In Government, Conservatives first froze fuel duty in 2011, where it remained frozen for 15 years. In 2022, the previous Government also introduced a 5p cut when prices rose after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In Autumn Budget in 2025, the Chancellor announced that the 5p cut would be slowly reduced, with motorists facing a 1p increase in September, 2p increase in December and another 2p increase in March.
At 53p per litre, the UK already has the fourth highest duty on diesel and the tenth highest duty on petrol compared to our European neighbours – and almost double the rate of Malta.
Tax on fuel, including fuel duty and VAT, accounts for 57 per cent of the price of a litre of petrol, and 54 per cent of the price of a litre of diesel.
The Government plans to hike Fuel Duty for the first time in 15 years at the worst possible moment.
Just a couple of weeks ago at the Spring Statement, the Chancellor knew global instability was pushing oil prices up again. Instead of helping families and businesses, she chose to do nothing. Now motorists across the country face the double hit of rising petrol prices and higher fuel tax.
This is always Labour’s instinct – higher taxes. Conservatives are calling on the Government to axe the Fuel Duty tax hike.
One of the first things the Liberal Democrats, supported by Labour, did on coming to power in Wokingham Borough was to more than double car parking charges. Despite 4,000 residents opposing the increase, the Liberal Democrats refused to back down when Conservative councillors demanded a rethink. Instead, they continue to increase parking charges each year.
The Liberal Democrats have also ignored residents on 20mph speed limits in Woodley. While some roads should certainly have 20mph speed limits, like those near schools, widespread use of low-speed limits can increase journey times, contributing to congestion.
We would like to see more effort going into ensuring that drivers adhere to the current speed limits rather than see blanket 20mph zones.
Both nationally and locally Conservatives want to support motorists.
We know that you are in the best position to make decisions for you and your family. We want you to be able to choose how you go about your life however you want to get about.
By Cllr Pauline Jorgensen, leader of Wokingham Conservatives
