0 Have your say Seven years after Nottingham first imposed its workplace car levy, Dani Garavelli assesses what the impact of such a policy might be on Scotland “Lots of businesses were trying to work out ways to get round it,” says BBC Nottingham journalist Rebecca Brice, who covered the story. “I spoke to one employer who was talking about painting huge [bays] in the car park so it looked as if there were only 10 spaces [because 10 is the maximum number allowed before a company must start paying].” Under Nottingham’s WPL scheme, businesses with 11 or more spaces must pay an annual tax (currently £415 per space); but an estimated 40 per cent of employers have passed the cost on to their workers. “People were initially outraged because they were paying the money, but not seeing the benefits,” says Brice.Seven years on, however, the city’s WPL scheme is held up as a model and has helped the city win an Ashden … [Read more...] about Insight: Is the workplace car levy a panacea for urban congestion or a poll tax on wheels?
Bristol council tax
Insight: Panacea for urban congestion or poll tax on wheels?
0 Have your say When Nottingham City Council first announced its plans for a workplace parking levy, the backlash was immediate. “Lots of businesses were trying to work out ways to get round it,” says BBC Nottingham journalist Rebecca Brice, who covered the story. “I spoke to one employer who was talking about painting huge [bays] in the car park so it looked as if there were only 10 spaces [because 10 is the maximum number allowed before a company must start paying].” Under Nottingham’s WPL scheme, businesses with 11 or more spaces must pay an annual tax (currently £415 per space); but an estimated 40 per cent of employers have passed the cost on to their workers. “People were initially outraged because they were paying the money, but not seeing the benefits,” says Brice.Seven years on, however, the city’s WPL scheme is held up as a model and has helped the city win an Ashden Award for sustainable travel. … [Read more...] about Insight: Panacea for urban congestion or poll tax on wheels?
Motorists face £1,000-a-year charge to park at work as greedy councils launch ‘Workplace Parking Levies’
A NEW “Poll Tax” is threatening to hit motorists with charges of up to £1,000 a year just to park at their office or school, The Sun can reveal. Greedy councils across the UK are considering new ‘workplace parking levies’ in the latest green blitz against Brits. Councillors in Hounslow, west London will rule in the coming weeks whether to charge firms up to £1,000 a year for every parking space they have. And the town hall concedes the cost will likely be passed on to staff. Oxford, Reading, Bristol and Cambridge and the London Boroughs of Merton and Camden are also considering their own levy. And Glasgow and Edinburgh want the Scottish Parliament to include a WPL scheme in the Transport Bill north of the border. Councils claim the levy is necessary to tackling air pollution and raising millions needed to fund improvements in public transport But the AA last night branded it a “poll tax on wheels” and urged both Chris Grayling and London … [Read more...] about Motorists face £1,000-a-year charge to park at work as greedy councils launch ‘Workplace Parking Levies’
Former Apprentice star Elle Stevenson slams police for closing case on phone mugger who left her ‘almost blind’ as they refused to look at CCTV
A FORMER Apprentice star has slammed police for "refusing" to look at CCTV and closing the case on a phone mugger who left her "almost blind". Elle Stevenson, 25, who appeared in series 11 of the show, was punched in the face by the fiend after a night out with a pal in central London. The 25-year-old needed plastic surgery for her broken cheekbones after she was left covered in blood in the savage robbery on December 16 at Charing Cross station. Elle, from Windsor, Berks, claims police will not be following up on the attack because they don't have the resources to trawl through CCTV that may have captured the thief on camera. She said: "It is horrific. If these men can beat a woman like this - innocent girls on a night out - and get away with it. "They battered me. One man went behind me and pushed me and the next thing I knew my face went forward and was met with two punches. Elle Stevenson's audition video for The Apprentice season 11 in 2015 "I was smacked squarely in the face … [Read more...] about Former Apprentice star Elle Stevenson slams police for closing case on phone mugger who left her ‘almost blind’ as they refused to look at CCTV
Home Secretary Sajid Javid reveals he was victim of racist attack just like teen refugee Jamal
SAJID Javid has revealed he was beaten up by racist thugs as a schoolboy as he let rip at bullies who targeted a young Syrian refugee. The Home Secretary said the video of the horrifying attack on 15-year-old Jamal brought “memories flooding back” about “a very similar” incident after he started comprehensive school in Bristol. Opening up for the first time about his own experience of racism nearly 40 years ago, he revealed he had been “punched to the ground” at school - “because I was Asian”. Mr Javid, the son of a Pakistani immigrant, told the BBC that the ‘waterboarding’ of the 15-year-old left him “absolutely outraged” and said he had written to Jamal inviting him and his family for a “cup of tea”. Mr Javid fumed: “How can this kind of thing still be going on?” He added: "I saw the video like anyone else and part of me I was clearly absolutely outraged and, to be frank, it reminded of an … [Read more...] about Home Secretary Sajid Javid reveals he was victim of racist attack just like teen refugee Jamal