Slough’s e-scooter hire scheme is still out of action more than eight weeks after issues were first reported. But operators Zipp Mobility have declined to say why – and can’t say when the e-scooters be working again.

The e-scooter hire scheme was launched for a trial run on May 28 this year. But the scooters have been ‘unavailable to hire’ since at least June '24.

Charlie Wilson, UK country manager for Zipp Mobility, told the Observer the company hoped to bring the scooters back ‘as quickly as possible'. He said: “As you have noticed our scooters are still off the roads and are unavailable for hire.

“We are working closely with Slough council and other affected areas on a solution that will bring e-scooters back to Slough as quickly as possible. We should be in a position to update on this soon.”

The issues have also put similar hire schemes out of action in Buckinghamshire and Somerset. A statement from Somerset Council issued in July said the scheme there was halted ‘due to an unexpected supplier issue'.

Mr Wilson did not respond to requests for further information on the unexpected problem. But he said the scheme was run ‘at no cost to Slough Council'.