We’re being swallowed by London: The city being compelled to pay extra to dwell… and there is nothing they’ll do about it

Residents of a once thriving enclave are outraged by proposals to merge it into the capital – despite claims it could yet revive the place dubbed Britain’s ‘ugliest’ and ‘most miserable’ town.

In plans set forward by well-meaning councillors, Slough could merge with a borough in West London or become part of Greater London.

But locals are fuming at the thought such a move by Slough Borough Council could have negative impacts – by making house prices and living costs unaffordable.

One resident said she had preemptively sold her car on the basis that if Slough were to become part of London it might be added to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

Emma Stuart told MailOnline: ‘I have just traded my car in for a new one due to ULEZ. Why should people have to do that?’

And Ms Stuart is not the only one worried that London car restrictions will be imposed on Slough.

Data collector Terry Jones, 65, said it was ‘stupid’ to merge Slough into London.

He said: ‘I work here and I travel here. The merger would be the worse thing they ever did.

‘For starters the congestion charge is a massive issue. I’ve got three vehicles, two are (congestion safe), one isn’t and I can’t always use it.

‘Parking is atrocious in Slough anyway.

‘It’s a stupid idea, leave it as it is or get people who know what they’re doing to modernise Slough.’

Slough Councillor Iftakhar Ahmed said he believed the town would ‘boom’ if it were to become part of London, but understood people’s worries.

He said: ‘ULEZ is definitely a cause for concern for many, because not everybody is well off and that is a cause for concern for some residents.

‘Some sort of mitigation needs to be found for that and that is a genuine concern many people have spoken to me about ULEZ.’

The potential mergers are a response to the government’s new English Devolution Policy, which seeks to decentralise government power and increase the number of large authorities in England.

The legislation introduced in December aims to streamline areas with a two-tier system of district/borough and county councils into one authority, it will create more directly elected mayors with greater decision-making powers.

Slough Borough Council believes that the six small Berkshire unitary authorities will be expected to develop Devolution proposals.

In their latest cabinet meeting, they outlined five options to join a strategic authority, including the Greater London Authority (GLA) and five options to become part of new larger unitary authorities, including merging with west London boroughs.

It is unclear when a decision will be made.

Councillor Ahmed added: ‘I think overall it will be beneficial to Slough, a better transport system, a bus system as it operates in London and economically I think we will boom.

‘Ideally, I think the vast majority of people want to remain in Berkshire as part of a smaller unitary authority, but these are early days.’

Florence Chidiebele, 69, is a resident who would much rather Slough remain part of Berkshire.

She told MailOnline: ‘Honestly, I wouldn’t like for us to be a part of London, because if you drive at a certain point you have to pay more.

‘I want us to be connected to Windsor and Maidenhead instead because it’s closer to home. They’re just next door. Why can’t we just be one?

‘Let London be by themselves and let us be Berkshire. I don’t think it’s right. Everything is going to be like London, but we’re not London we’re Slough.’

Several Slough-based estate agents advised that if Slough gains a London postcode, house prices will increase. 

Amy James, a senior sales negotiator for Move Estate Agents Slough, said: ‘When I first started working here three years ago I found many that were buying properties in Slough were from West London – they were coming here because the house prices were cheaper.

‘So I believe we’ll lose that portion of buyers, because the house prices will start to match west London. 

‘I think Slough will become unaffordable for people and at the moment Slough is affordable and commutable. 

‘In regards to rental price, people are starting to rent out here, because they can get to work in London and pay a little bit less, and we’ll lose a proportion of buyers because the rental prices will match the house prices.’

Bob Odin, senior manager at Move Estate Agents Slough agreed, he said: ‘House prices and rent has gone up massively and if it does go into the London boroughs it will be at the point where it’s almost unaffordable for first time buyers to buy.’    

John Cooper, 74, is extremely worried about a potential rise in Slough house prices, he said: ‘We’re outside the M25 so we’re outside of London. But London postcodes mean they’re gonna put prices up.’

Margaret Creighton, 81, however was more concerned by the incompatible nature of the two areas, adamant that Slough and London have nothing in common.

She said: ‘I don’t want it to. I think we should be separate. 

‘I wouldn’t mind merging with Windsor, because then we’d come under the Royal borough.

‘I wouldn’t want to live in London I was born here it’s my hometown, everyone says we’ve got nothing in Slough now which is true there’s no clothes shops like there used to be, but it’s still my home and I’m not one for change.’

Once known as the ‘Golden Mile’, Slough had a thriving high street, but over the past decade more and more shops have been boarded up with the majority of units lying vacant.

In 2021, the council declared itself bankrupt having racked up a £760million debt.

An independent review later found the then Labour-run council had made the blackhole through ‘several years of mismanagement of funds’.

And the now Conservative-run council is looking at further budget cuts which could affect local services.

But some residents are still holding out hope that Slough could return to its former glory and believe merging with London could be the key.

Christine Palmer, 63, told MailOnline: ‘I was born in Slough, only ever worked in Slough and I walk through Slough today and it makes me want to cry.

‘The fact it will merge with London I think it will get better. People used to come from London to shop here. It was known as the Golden Mile.

‘Something needs to happen. |There needs to be an overhaul and if it could get people from London to come here that would be great.’

Home to Europe’s largest trading estate and just a 20-minute train rise from London, Paddington, on paper Slough sounds like an ideal place to live.

But last year it was voted Britain’s most miserable town, landing at the bottom of a 2024 happiness index.

And Slough is a far cry from the leafy west London suburbs the council want to merge with. 

Tom Hawes, 36, who owns an independent coffee van situated outside of Slough station also believes the potentially merger could revamp the area. 

He said: ‘Slough Council has driven the area into the ground it used to be one of the biggest trading estates in the country all the businesses have left.

‘I think it will be positive for the area and hopefully bring investment. There’s so much land around the station that could be developed. It should be one of the most booming towns because it’s so close to London, but it’s dead.’

Thames Valley Police and the Metropolitan Police declined to comment.

Slough Borough Council refused to comment.