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Prime Ministers response email on road pricing
Boggert:
I guess they are all as bad as each other?? but that e-mail is all about spin!
datalas:
The key problem is that they are attempting to tackle what is quite rightly a serious issue using the only trick they actually know, which is taxation.
Charging people more for a service only works as a persuasive measure while there is a viable alternative, and that cost is the only factor involved.
The principle question should be not how it is possible to tackle congestion by making driving more expensive, but instead to address the problem of why congestion occurs in the first place. It is not simply a case of "driving is cheaper", since it arguably isn't anyhow, not to mention that no matter how much additional weight is placed on the cost factor people still do it.
Even if the intentions behind any such scheme are whiter than white, when it is always an "additional" charge, people are generally unable to see quite how it is to address a problem. If the charges levied for driving down uncongested roads don't reduce (which they probably won't) then people will assume that it's just another get rich quick scheme.
Range Rover Blues:
Well as I got the e-mail myself I follwed the link to Thursdays live debate, whilst we are all at work!
Quite frankly whilst the only tool the gov't uses is tax they will not solve the problem. I don't see why more people can't work from home other than the bums on seats mentallity of manuy employers.
lundon congestion could be solved overnight by taxing businesses out of the city centre rather than hammering commuters for being unfortunate enough to have to work there.
But a pro-active approach to road congestion wouldn't pay for the war in Iraq would it :?
Hammerman:
There are 6 million more vehicles on the road now than in 1997, and predictions are that this trend will continue.
so that means that 6 million x £192 for car tax =£1152000000 taken last year then :o then theres the tax on the fuel! any one want to work that out then
And thats for 1 year
V8MoneyPit:
--- Quote from: "Hammerman" ---There are 6 million more vehicles on the road now than in 1997, and predictions are that this trend will continue.
so that means that 6 million x £192 for car tax =£1152000000 taken last year then :o then theres the tax on the fuel! any one want to work that out then
And thats for 1 year
--- End quote ---
You are not suggesting the government have a conflict of interests are you???? :roll: :lol:
I do wonder about the costs the government quote. Can it really cost £30m to build 1 mile of motorway? Or is the governement being ripped off by the contractors? I know it used to happen in the civilian sector of military equipment design/manufacture. I would amazed if it didn't happen in other industries too.
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