Election: Lib dems would raise on average by £25 a year

If the Liberal Democrats gain power Car tax will increase on average by £25 a year by 2017/18, with drivers of gas guzzlers facing even higher bills!

Figures released by the party in a pre-manifesto briefing show an extra £485 million will be raised by the rebanding in 2016/17 and £850
million in 2017/18.

At a central London press conference, Mr Clegg rejected the assertion that the tax hike amounted to a new "war on motorists", insisting the measure was to maintain the "status quo" on the revenue raised.

He said: "It's a revenue retention measure - we simply want to maintain the same amount of money from the overall vehicle duty system as we set out in 2010.

"This is just to make sure as the system shifts around because people are buying lower emission vehicles, we still generate the same revenue."

Under current VED rates, petrol and diesel cars which emit less than 100g of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilometre pay no tax, while the dirtiest vehicles with emissions of more than 255g per kilometre pay £505.

An aide to the Lib Dem leader said: "In 2010 we put out a projection of how much we thought we would get from VED.

"The take-up of fuel-efficient cars has been faster than the Government expected, which means that the overall revenue has fallen, so that is restoring it.

"What we have said we will do, this is exactly as has been done before, is we will work with the automotive industry to work out the next setting and banding, continuing to incentivise lower carbon-emitting cars."

The source said: "Higher emitting cars will pay a little bit more to make sure we get the revenue we want."

The exact impact on individual models will be the subject of a consultation with the motor industry.

But the source said: "There are around 32 million cars on UK roads. Under the revenue raised by 2017/18 that will be an average of an increase by £25 a year.

"But of course that would depend on your carbon emissions."

Source : home.bt.com

Bristol mayor who fronted 20mph scheme is caught speeding

George Ferguson, the mayor of Bristol who spearheaded a £2.3m project to implement 20mph zones across his city has been caught speeding doing 35mph in a 30mph zone

Ferguson, who usually drives an electric-powered car or rides a bicycle, was behind the wheel of a Bristol city council fleet car at the time. He was clocked speeding on the A4 Portway road by Avon and Somerset police.

In a statement issued through the council, Ferguson described the offence as an inexcusable mistake and said he would be paying the £100 penalty charge.

“I am shocked to have just discovered I exceeded the speed limit on the Portway last month ... on one of the rare occasions when I have had to use a council fleet car.

“It serves as a sharp warning to me and goes to show that I am no exception to the rule. I am only too aware of the dangers of exceeding speed limits and commend the Avon and Somerset police for their vigilance.

“I have blemished an otherwise clean licence and shall be paying the penalty charge willingly from my own pocket.”

Ferguson became Bristol’s first directly elected major in 2012 and is an advocate of a 20mph pilot scheme run by the council.

The council voted in July 2012 to bring in the 20mph speed limit throughout Bristol in a six-phase scheme costing £2.3m. All roads except dual carriageways, 40mph and 50mph roads are considered for the 20mph speed limit, which applies to all motorised vehicles on the road.

Speaking at the time of the rollout, Ferguson said: “The new speed limit is part of a number of measures that we are introducing that will help to promote road safety, improve traffic flow, support sustainable transport and active travel and help to make Bristol a more positive place to live and work.

“We realise that the change in speed limit will take a little getting used to but I know from my own experience how little impact the reduction in speed will have on journey times.”