The Bristol Rovers-inspired number plate was bought in 1997 by football fans John and Jackie Cooke
John and Jackie Cooke have found a new home for the number plate the DVLA told them they could never use again as it could be deemed to be ‘offensive'(Image: John and Jackie Cooke)
The Bristol couple who were told they could no longer use the registration number they had bought some 30 years ago because it was deemed ‘offensive’ by the DVLA, are now displaying it in their garden.
Jackie and John Cooke, from Frampton Cotterell in North Bristol, purchased the registration number ‘N14GAS’ in 1997 from the DVLA to show off their love for their favourite football team, Bristol Rovers.
As lifelong supporters, the numbers symbolised ‘Number one for the Gas’, the Gas being the nickname of their favourite footie team, however the DVLA has now withdrawn this number as it could be read as a racial slur.
Back in February, BristolLive reported how, after two months of conversations between the couple and the DVLA, the authority told them they would never be able to use that number plate again.
After initially wondering where to keep their pride and joy, (there was even talk of it being framed in the living room), they’ve now shared a photo with BristolLive to show their beloved number plate’s new home in their back garden.
Jackie said: “We have found a place to exhibit our N14 GAS number plate – pride of place on our garden shed.”
Bristol Rovers fans Jackie and John Cooke have had this number plate since 1997 – it symbolises ‘Number one for the Gas’, the Gas being the football club’s nickname(Image: Jackie and John Cooke)
The couple initially received a letter from the DVLA to say that their number plate had been withdrawn, and the couple tried to appeal the DVLA’s decision after they were told they needed to use a replacement registration number, something they had hoped would be a temporary measure.
They bought a replacement, and were awaiting the promised refund of the £36 fee they had to pay to do so, however on April 14, they say this has only just been issued to them.
BristolLive has contacted the DVLA for comment.
The couple say that they have received ‘lots of correspondence‘ regarding their N14 GAS number plate since the BristolLive story was first published in January, with many people now concerned postcodes could now be deemed offensive too.
The couple says “by the same criteria these postcodes would be deemed offensive”. This affects areas in Enfield and parts of London with postcodes beginning N14, for example N14 6AS, and N14 4AA.
Click here to join our WhatsApp groupPrivacy Notice