Plan to charge drivers £350 to park at the office is slammed as a 'tax on work'[UK]

Daily Mail ^ | 12 Dec 2008 | Ray Massey

[BGHater]

A controversial blueprint for taxing people around £350 a year to park at work was unveiled yesterday by the Government.

But it was immediately condemned by employers as a 'stealth tax' and by motoring groups as a 'tax on work'.

The AA also suspected that ministers were using the workplace parking plan as a 'plan B' in case - as is expected - Manchester votes against a local congestion charge, killing off the idea for many other cities.

The motoring group fears the workplace parking tax will give cash to hungry councils an alternative weapon with which to wage war on drivers.

Yesterday ministers took the final step to allow councils to charge businesses for parking places they provide to staff. Companies have already warned they will have to pass the charge on to employees.

A 12-week consultation on regulations to govern so-called 'workplace parking levy' schemes has been set up and will report in March next year, junior transport minister Paul Clark said.

The powers for councils to make businesses pay for providing parking places - intended to encourage car-sharing and use of public transport - were included in the Transport Act 2000.

But regulations relating to fines and disputes were left out and no schemes can be brought in until the details are finalised.

Nottingham City Council has announced plans to introduce a workplace levy scheme from April 2010, though Mr Clark said the consultation 'should not be interpreted as implying that a decision on the Nottingham scheme has been taken'.

In a written ministerial statement, he added: 'Nottingham City Council has designed a workplace parking levy scheme and made and published a scheme order.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Parking fees are a tax on work? And they oppose a tax on work? Does that mean they oppose income taxes, payroll taxes, etc. which are all taxes on work?

Interesting concept if we want to get rid of taxes on work...........

[Lancey Howard]

Yeah, this is really confusing.... Why are these people jumping up and down and hollering about this particular tax? These people voted for socialism long, long ago. Didn’t they ever listen to George Harrison?

Let me tell you how it will be,
There’s one for you, nineteen for me,
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.
Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don’t take it all.
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah yeah, I’m the Taxman.

If you drive a car car, I’ll tax the street,
If you try to sit sit, I’ll tax your seat,
If you get too cold cold, I’ll tax the heat,
If you take a walk walk, I’ll tax your feet.
Taxman.

‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.
Don’t ask me what I want it for
(Ah Ah! Mister Wilson!)
If you don’t want to pay some more
(Ah Ah! Mister Heath!),
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeeeah, I’m the Taxman.

Now my advice for those who die,
Declare the pennies on your eyes,
‘Cos I’m the Taxman,
Yeah, I’m the Taxman.
And you’re working for no-one but me.

[freekitty]

The UK citizens seriously need to look at these idiots that are making the rules.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

The left hates people who go to work regularly, bust their arse and come home late and tired. But it loves their money!

[purplelobster]

In 2008 Cars are the new Cigarettes. I imagine that Fast Food is on Barry and Rahm’s list of things to demonize in 2009. The Brits shouldn’t put up with a parking tax. This sort of thing happens in the U.S. too. Mike Bloomberg in NYC was trying to tax driving under his “congestion pricing” last year.

[Winniesboy]

So your solution to urban single-occupant vehicle gridlock would be?