Taxes & Townies
BBC Radio 4 recently hosted a debate between various worthies on the measures required to reduce our impact on global climate change. One green expert declared the urgent need to hike petrol prices up by £5 a litre. Another suggested taxing 4WD vehicles at treble the rate of ‘more sensible’ modes of transport.   Â
The former suggestion could slap £30 on a shopping trip to Dunoon. The latter would indicate that what, for here, is a vital work horse, is for them a Chelsea tractor to drive young Justin and Tamsin to school, only going off-road when Mummy attempts to park.
Clearly, neither of these posturing urbanites lives but a few steps from a decent transport service. They probably think of the countryside as that green place that Daddy owns, sparsely populated by quaint, forelock tugging peasants who can always eat cake if times get tough.
No one on the programme regarded either proposal as anything but sensible. What this underlined was how vulnerable our already fragile rural communities are. It is doubtful we can look for too much understanding from the metropolitans who fashion the mindset that governs us. Both Edinburgh and Westminster ken fine that they are elected by urban constituences.
Just as our car insurance is predicated by post code (Paisley!), so should be road tax. The closer you are to adequate public transport the more tax you should pay. If, like here, there is little, you pay nothing. Having killed off Tam’s postbus, they should subsidise our cars as the only viable means of transport.
As ever more of the housing stock becomes an expensive enclave for a non-contributing gerontocracy (like me), or somewhere for townies to sport their green wellies for two weeks a year, the pressure on local authorities to provide services, or even to give a damn, diminishes.
We will not generate better services and employment prospects without people to service and employ. We will not attract people to live here without having somewhere for them to live. So, how about doubling council tax on second homes and using the proceeds to establish land banks in our communites on which to build affordable housing for those who would wish to live and work here? We could ask our MSP, MEP or MP for help, but there is more point to booing a goose.
All this serves to point up the urgent need for the Community Development Trust reported on in previous issues. We are presently applying for funds to carry forward an independent survey and analysis of our needs and potential. Your support will prove critical.
Michael Kaufmann
