As I'm not an accountant I can't comment - I just do their tax returns and advise them on tax planning - ie assisting.

With regard to speed cameras in areas you dont know - well common sense to me says that if you are on a road in an unknown area you keep your eyes peeled for repeater signs and if in doubt slow down.  

With regard to Trafford council - aside from the election inspired cleaning (surely an argument for monthly elections!) how was the council run under Labour?  and who has control now?  To a great degree these days, Councils have been neutered as so much of the expenditure is taken "in house" by Central Govt - look at Ken Livingstone - I recall The Guardian saying how he would become the "second most powerful man in Britain"... typical metropolitan hyperbole of course, but to be honest he's hardly in the news, and he's the mayor of London - I suspect that outside bus fares and traffic cones he doesnt really have much power.  Hardly likely to inspire big turn outs for local elections.

I've resurrected this old question cos I just got my Road Tax renewal form.

IMHO we pay too much. It wouldn't be so bad if the monies collected were spent on roads & public transport.

Also there is the issue of those who don't pay road tax - those who evade it, vehicles registered outside UK etc.

IMO it would be fairer if the Tax Disc system was abolished and road tax was transferred onto fuel.
Then everybody driving in the UK would be paying cos they've got to buy fuel and drivers then pay tax in proportion to how much they use the road.
Then instead of displaying a Tax Disc it should become law that you have to display proof of insurance.
Displaying proof of insurance should also apply to any foreign vehicles on uk roads.

what do you think? Do you agree?

Of course the motorist is charged too much.  Only an idiot or one of those looney environmentalist car-hating freaks would argue otherwise.  For the amount of money that the motorist pays into the Treasury, we should have the best roads in the world.  

For the record, I take a bus to work.  I'm lucky as I work within a couple of miles of my home and the buses run virtually every ten minutes or so.  Not everyone is that lucky.  Working in Swindon 3-4 years ago, I worked about 20 miles away and worked irregular hours so I needed the car.  Of course, the other thing that people conveniently tend to forget is that this country is essentially a service economy now and therefore tourism is a major industry in this country in its own right.  Most attractions need an influx of coaches/cars in order to stay afloat.  

Are there people who use the car too much?  Of course.  Doesn't mean we should charge through the roof for it though.  It's almost as if Duncan believes that driving is akin to commiting a crime.  Let's just lock them all up and be done with it.

As to the tax revenue, well that's a problem for good ol' Gordon.  If he hadn't been such a twat in raising tax revenue on everything though we wouldn't have this problem.  He's caught in a catch 22 now.  Look at the anti-smoking laws that are coming.  They can't be too draconian as he'll lose all that lovely tax revenue, but he needs something to appease the anti-smoking lobby.  I know, lets cut their access to the NHS, then we can tax them and make them pay for medical treatment.  While we're at it, lets do the same to overweight people and people who have have more than the prescribed units of alcohol per night.  NHS crisis?  What NHS crisis?

The other vital point that is missed, is the lack of reliable,safe,clean and affordable public transport... with out this in place we are all going to use our cars.
Also, have a think about this.... the goverment make a lot from road tax, and fuel duty... Now if we all drove cars  that did say 100 MPG think how much revenue would be lost Now... also think about congestion charges

Neil, re: Public Transport. From where I now live to where I work the earliest I could get here on public transport is 09:30hrs - bit of a b'stard when I start work at 07:30hrs innit?

I HAVE to use my car - and, for the record, I hate driving but it's a necessary evil at the moment, but this bunch of washed out w@nkers always target the motorist first, then people who drink, eat or smoke.

You know, in years to come, people won't die of car accidents, alcoholism, obesity or smoke related illnesses...... they will all die of boredom... >

Well, I am on a transport commitee, and am doing my little bit to try and help make things better...

Chances are it won't affect where I live though Neil - and in that case, I have to keep using the car....

There is a great lack of alternative transport. Since Beeching raised his axe to the railways in the 60's and the bus services were privatised in the 80's people relied more and more on the car. Also the car enabled people to travel further for work, you might say 'its a victim of its own success'. Public services rely on demand to provide the supply. Hence we need to ban the use of motor cars and force people to use public transport. There will then be a great demand and as many of us are aware at present little supply. If you dont have a car you're limited as to where you can find employment. In the town where I live I'm certain over 50% travel outside to a place of work and likewise there is about the same amount who travel into the town for employment. Maybe every one should move to be near there work.

have to go got a meeting..

Where to start!!!  

Hubby & I both work in fairly specialised legal areas, we can't just work for any old local firm, so we have to do an 80 mile round trip every day (tried living near work - too depressing).  For us to get the train it would cost about £9 in taxis to/from the station, £28 for our return train tickets & £2 return on the tram - £39 a day.  It would take the best part of 2 & 1/2 hours each way & we'd be limited to when the trains ran.  So we have to drive, pay tax, insurance, mot & parking & put up with the horrific depreciation on our car's value.  

The most annoying bit is seeing all these powerful people saying we've got to do something, then seeing the carnage caused by the Labour Party Conference in Manc city centre - dozens of big cars chauffeuring single passengers back & forward, often with police escorts, police vans, cars & bikes sitting with their engines idling over & diversions increasing the distance people have to travel & creating traffic hell - a clear case of "Do as we say, not as we do."  

Yup, this is where it is all wrong in the UK... When I go to Germany, the public transport is clean, affordable, on time and reliable.. Funny thing tho' with public transport in peak time you pay extra to sit in a over crowded train,bus,tram Mnnnnnnn
Look out for our late March leaflet found at http://www.traffordlibdems.org.uk/site/downloadplus.php?lng=en&catid=386