MPs and Howard Cox, Founder of FairFuelUK respond to yet another leaked predictable rumour that Fuel Duty is to rise in the Budget to pay off the Covid Bill. Despite UK drivers still being the highest taxed in the world (https://fairfueluk.com/Fuel-Tax-EU.png) for average petrol and diesel tax takes, the Chancellor is bullying his Tory MPs to support a rise in Fuel Duty in the Budget. He knows the 10 years duty freeze has reduced the CPI by 6.7% and raised household real incomes, especially those of poorest households, by £24bn. It would be a massive political folly to listen toRead Whole Article

Brighton and Hove’s Left Wing Climate Assembly tackles traffic but ignores any input from respected driver groups Brighton & Hove City Council’s climate assembly has endored reducing city centre traffic but voiced scepticism about road user charging, and expressed mixed views about reducing city centre parking. The council employed Ipsos MORI to design and deliver the assembly, which focused specifically on transport and travel. Invitations were sent to 10,000 households and 700 applied, from which 50 members were selected. Each participant was paid £250. The Sortition Foundation assisted in the selection process.  The assembly was delivered through five online sessionsRead Whole Article

In the myopic minds of transport and Treasury politicos, it is evident that “polluter pays” will unquestionably evolve to “user pays”. That will of course, incense those well-off electric vehicle drivers who bought their characterless zilch emissions vehicles because they qualify for zero taxes and urban charges exemptions. There is a prophetic irony here, to when we were all told to switch to diesel from petrol over 20 years ago. A certain smugness will soon turn to a déjà vu reality. 4 out of 5 fossil fuel drivers, from FairFuelUK’s detailed research, believe it is how much driving that takesRead Whole Article

The award-winning public affairs campaign that has been mainly responsible for securing the 10 years freeze in Fuel Duty responds to the rumours that the Chancellor will increase Fuel Duty 5p, to pay for the extension to Universal Credit and pay off Covid Debt. “Hiking fuel tax is like putting an even bigger hole in a sinking ship. 5p on duty raises only a fraction of the cost of the hike in Universal Credit. It is pure vindictiveness forced by a ill-informed and uncharacteristic Tory green agenda, that the Treasury are lashing out at motorists.”  “It will be disingenuous hittingRead Whole Article

The verdict of air pollution being a contributory factor was made in the absence of measured data, under intense emotional and political pressure  The following is a joint statement about the verdict (1) from the ABD, Howard Cox of FairFuelUK and former MP Lembit Opik who work together as the nascent umbrella group known as Voters for Motors. We make the following points: The inquest and ruling will demonise the UK’s drivers even further. Politically biased and environmental groups will exploit the subjective ruling mercilessly. Anti-driver resentment will run rife fuelled by a plague of opportunistic legal actions.  London MayorRead Whole Article

The tables are based on 11,947 responses received in 48 hours and has been put together in time for the Mail on Sunday. The Survey has been open to all road users including cyclists. The divide between drivers and cyclists is clearly shown in the survey. The full survey results will be published before the end of December 2020. SUPPORT OF LOCATION OF CYCLE LANES ANSWERED YES TOTAL SUPPORT NEW CYCLE LANES BUILT ONTO EXISTING ROADS SUPPORT NEW CYCLE LANES BUILT AWAY FROM EXISTING ROADS CYCLISTs 2012 98% 46% CARS 6119 19% 89% TRUCKS 654 8% 93% VANS 1802 5%Read Whole Article

Howard Cox, Founder of FairFuelUK, Secretary to APPG for Fair Fuel for Motorists and Hauliers said:  “It looks like welcome spending on roads for motorists and hauliers is secure, but there’s no hiding the huge tax gap of up to £80billion to fund the Chancellor’s ‘spending heavy’ plan. Something will have to give. We have been reliably told by Treasury sources that, UK’s drivers will be taking the significant burden to pay the Nation’s way out of the Covid economic crisis. In layman’s speak, Rishi Sunak is paving the way to hit drivers hard in the next Budget! The world’s highestRead Whole Article

..businesses and residents rightly up in arms about madcap ‘trial’ closures under the so-called ‘Emergency Active Travel Scheme’. craig mackinlay mp for south thanet “My latest email inbox filler is from businesses and residents rightly up in arms about madcap ‘trial’ closures under the so-called ‘Emergency Active Travel Scheme’.  These schemes, which have sprung up across the country, have been implemented without consultation and, it would seem, without an ounce of common sense as to how these daft schemes will impact trade, the normal lives of local people or traffic flows. FairFuelUK are absolutely right to highlight local council failingsRead Whole Article

The optimism resulting from Michael Gove’s swift response to the RHA chief executive’s urgent request for a round table meeting to discuss government’s preparedness for transition was at best misplaced. Commenting, Richard Burnett said: “As we understood it the intention was for a small meeting with the key players to discuss just how government intends to implement the many processes and procedures needed to ensure that border crossings are as seamless and as pain-free as possible. That was not the case. The meeting comprised a wide range of stakeholders, all of whom have their own concerns and agendas. “With onlyRead Whole Article

Extract: from the Daily Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/05/grant-shapps-tells-councils-stop-abusing-250m-fund-meant-green/ Grant Shapps has told councils to stop abusing the £250 million fund meant for a green transport revolution by installing pointless one-way systems and barriers that offer “no benefit to anyone”. Writing in The Telegraph, the Secretary of State for Transport says he will personally intervene to scrap the worst examples where local authorities have ruined high streets and residential roads in an attempt to build cycle lanes and promote social distancing for pedestrians. His comments come after a series of petitions attracted thousands of signatures from people across the country who fear councils are pandering to theRead Whole Article