Charges plan will cost votes

Madam, – As I understand it the purpose of the ill thought out – or should that be not at all thought out – proposal to introduce new parking charges at workplaces is to reduce car usage, therefore reducing pollution and congestion.

As far as local authority premises are concerned I have two questions about the policy.

Firstly, will local authority premises be

subjected to the charge and if not why not?

Secondly, if the charge does apply to these premises will the local authority pass it on to employees?

If it doesn’t pass it on the taxpayer will be left to subsidise it and the purpose of the tax will be defeated.

There is also speculation as to who might be exempt. Why should anyone be exempt? Someone’s job does not affect the amount of pollution their car generates or how much it contributes to congestion.

There is no reason that public sector workers should be treated any differently to private sector workers from top to bottom including MSPs, senior local authority executives and managers, company directors et al.

If everyone has to bite this nonsensical bullet, in addition to other Scottish-only tax increases which might be foisted upon us perhaps we might see a shift in voting patterns in the next election.

Donald Lewis. Beech Hill, Gifford.