THE COLOUR-BLIND TAXATION

My local council has announced plans to charge higher residential parking fees for "gas guzzling" vehicles, like 4x4s and SUVs. The reasoning, they say, is that these vehicles cause more damage to the environment and thus should be penalised. The residential parking fees will be up to three times as much as those applied to a standard car.

Great theory. Just great.

If the real concern is that these gas guzzling vehicles are contributing to the CO2 emissions by being driven, surely you want to encourage their owners to park them. You don't want to charge higher and higher parking fees - that just sends out the message that these vehicles should be driven, they should never stop and park.

Suggestion to local council - if you want to cut down on emissions charge these vehicles extra for moving.