It's all over the news today that the UK Government is considering introducing charging to use roads on top of the Car Tax and Fuel Duty drivers already pay. I pray that this will not come about.
I have to drive 35 miles every day to work along some very busy roads. I didn't choose to do this. I would prefer not to have to spend 2 1/2 hours every day in my car. The fact is, I have no choice.
I cannot find a job for which I am qualified nearer to where I live. I also cannot afford to live nearer to where I work. I'm trapped.
I am a VAT Consultant. I am qualified for no other industry than VAT Advice.
The nature of the work means I have to work for the professional services sector; accountants, solicitors etc... (I actually work for an independent provider of services to these firms but you get the idea). These firms are all located in major city centres and I therefore have to travel there.
I am the only bread winner in my family. Sharon is a full-time mother of 3 and is likely to remain so for the next 3 to 4 years. We cannot therefore afford to live even remotely close to a major city centre because of the extortionate house prices.
A house equivalent to our current 3 bed semi within a half hour drive of work would cost between 2 and 3 times as much. And we're pushing our finances to afford our current mortgage.
To put it simply, if I had to pay much more than I do now to travel to work it would not be economically viable. The Government would price me out of my own career.
I pray that they see sense before taking this step.
I was absolutely horrified on reading this story this morning, god forbid it should ever come about, speaking as a retired couple who do need our cars and no real cash coming in....I did at first wonder whether this measure would replace the current excise licence and fuel tax, but I imagine not, this sneaky goverment (they are all the same) would not dream of reducing their chances of a "fast buck" and lets face it, that's just what the british motorist is.
I have been working a few things out... just roughly. My last job was 13 miles from home, so 1 hour of slow moving queues each way. My weekly costs were £25 petrol with £2 road tax.
If the plans to charge per mile are REPLACING fuel duty and road tax then those costs would come down to £7 petrol, meaning that the charges would have to be 6.5p per mile for me to break even !
The charges would be (as reported) from 2p per mile in rural areas upto £1.34 per mile in busier areas I presume to mean city centres etc. Now using my route as an example again, it is an extreemly busy route through rural areas, stretching between two busy town centres. The route's road markings and traffic signals etc are constantly being changed and tweaked to try and reduce congestion so I presume that this would be classified as a middle of the range kind of route ? ... lets be generous and say that it is in the bottom 1/4 of the league, meaning a charge of 33p per mile and here comes the shocker ... £42.90 per week plus your £7 duty-free petrol that's a difference of £22.90 per week ! £80 a month !!! ararrrgghhh
So recap...(weekly)
£27 taxed petrol & Road Tax
OR £49.90 in toll charges & duty-free petrol with no R/Tax
OR £69.90 if the road tolls were to be in addition to fuel duty
*******remember this is based on an estimation!***************************
Scary isn't it !!!
Check out Assoc. British drivers' website on http://www.abd.org.uk for more info on fuel duty and thier campaigns etc
This is just another form of 'Guaranteed' taxation aimed at the motorist. Let's not deceive ourselves in believing that the government of the day will abolish both the Road Tax and tax on fuel!! My personal thoughts are, that this country is gradually turning into a communist state! We need to stand firmly together on this issue - what do you think?
Comments made by sarah (above)are quite disturbing.
This is just another form of 'Guaranteed' taxation aimed at the motorist. Let's not deceive ourselves in believing that the government of the day will abolish both the Road Tax and tax on fuel!! My personal thoughts are, that this country is gradually turning into a communist state! We need to stand firmly together on this issue - what do you think?
Comments made by sarah (above)are quite disturbing.
Not only will this cost more but the trackers will probably be used to check speeds. There's no hiding from big brother if this comes in more money from the driver in taxes and speeding fines.
im just a normal person, not particularly interested in politics just one of those people trying to get on in life like the majority of us.
I put petrol in my car, which is taxed, so i can go to work so the government can tax me again, or i go to the shops to buy the essentials which have already been taxed.
after a hard week at work, i like to go and see my family, am i to be stripped of this luxury?
i think not mr blair! i would rather move abroad and take my tax paying family with me than be subject to this proposal.
so take heed those in government - you want to reduce congestion, and you might just do that as the country grinds to a halt under your latest hairbrain idea, i am beginning to think this country is run by idiots.
so tax me gordon and tony, see how far you get, im tempted to quit my career and have 3 kids and live off the state, im sure i would be better off.
emma
