A Bristol Rovers-loving couple from Frampton Cotterell, North Bristol, has lost their cherished custom number plate after the DVLA ruled it offensive. Jackie and John Cooke, who bought “N14GAS” in 1997 to celebrate their devotion to the football club—nicknamed “The Gas”—have been told they can no longer use it, despite a two-month appeal effort.
For the Cookes, the plate symbolized “Number one for the Gas,” a nod to their team. But the DVLA, alerted to its potential to be misread as a racial slur, withdrew it late last year. The decision first surfaced in a letter just before Christmas, prompting the couple to switch to a replacement registration they hoped would be temporary. Their fight to keep “N14GAS” hit a dead end with a follow-up letter dated February 10, seen by BristolLive.
The DVLA’s response apologized for any confusion but stood firm: “We withhold registration numbers that offend due to political, racial, or religious sensitivities, or simply poor taste. This combination was flagged for racial insensitivity and has been permanently withdrawn. We recognize your sentimental attachment and that you meant no harm, but our stance remains.” The agency also refunded the £36 fee for the replacement plates.
The Cookes, outraged, told BristolLive: “It’s absurd. It’s only offensive if you twist the numbers into letters and go looking for trouble that isn’t there. We’re the ones offended by this ruling!” They plan to frame the banned plate for their home and, once the refund arrives, intend to send the DVLA a piece of their mind. “They should focus on illegal plates, not hassle law-abiding pensioners,” they added.
Since BristolLive first covered their story in January, the couple has received widespread support, with many raising a new worry: could postcodes like N14 6AS or N14 4AA—used in areas like Enfield and London—face similar scrutiny? “If our plate’s offensive, what about these?” they ask, noting Royal Mail and councils oversee such codes. “What’s next?”
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