Tram tax letter a waste of money
A few days ago my small business received a letter and double sided glossy sheet from Nottingham City Council about the Workplace Parking Levy – which I prefer to call the Tram Scam Tax.
It was all about whether my business would have to pay and emphasised that the "chances are you won't have to pay". Well, they are right, I won't have to pay because we don't have enough parking spaces – but surely the council has a very good idea which businesses will have to pay. Why not simply write to them and save money by only writing to the 20% of businesses that will have to pay.
The letter from Coun Urquhart says: "In response to calls from the business community to improve public transport in Nottingham, the WPL will help pay for a package of benefits..."
Whatever anyone in business in Nottingham said about public transport I am certain they did not say it would be a good idea to have a special tax only for businesses to help pay for an extra bit of their tram set. I certainly didn't.
The letter and glossy seem to be to be an example of the worst kinds of self-justifying stupidity we get from politicians and are a complete waste of money.
The letter should have said the council wants to pay for an extra bit of its tram set and is too afraid to put up council tax so is going to sting business instead.
The glossy information could have been put on the website where any business large enough to have to pay the tram scam tax could go and look if they wanted to.
Ian Hale Cavendish Crescent North The Park Nottingham
4 Comments
by m, gedling
Monday, September 28 2009, 3:53PM
“mr sensible i am firm believer in subsidies for public transport, look at how well Spain's public transport system is working after the EU paid for it (mainly by us but thats a different story).
my problem is the way the council decided the car owning workers of Nottingham should pay for it.
at least the whole of the working classes paid for Spains system.
The big difference is that companies will still make huge profits from the public services while us taxpayers will fund the losses that will be conveniently set aside from the day to day running of the tram.”
by Mrs. Sensible, The Old Folks Home
Monday, September 28 2009, 1:54PM
“Come along now Mr. Sensible the Doctor is here to administer your daily tranquiliser. This should stop your wild tram hallucinations for a while. We can then watch one of your faviourite Countdown videos. If you are good we can even watch your very favourite - you know - the one where Carol mixes up her vowels with her consanants much to the amusement of Bob.”
by Mr. Sensible, The Real World
Monday, September 28 2009, 12:41PM
“More anti-tram nonsense.
I suppose you say we should make public transport less affordable by putting fairs up?
Well, motorists, who will ultimately pay this charge are actually investing in a less congested road network with this.”
by m, gedling
Monday, September 28 2009, 11:24AM
“you wont have to pay yet but make sure you fill the forms in with detailed information, that way the city wont have to send you another form when they decide to change the tram scam tax to one parking space instead of ten.”