Trucker's plea for tax on Euro rivals
A LOCAL man is lobbying the Government for a change in the laws surrounding European lorry drivers entering the UK – claiming unless action is taken the British haulage industry could "collapse".
Grimsby HGV driver Alan Overton, 44, said that some UK firms were missing out on contracts, as foreign drivers do not have to pay to drive in Britain, and as a result can often undercut local businesses.
-
Truck driver Alan Overton.
He said the situation was compounded by the fact that British drivers have to pay to drive on the continent – forcing up prices and making it increasingly hard for UK firms to compete.
He has already been given the backing of local politicians and today we are calling on you to let us know your thoughts on the issue.
Mr Overton has proposed a system that he says could generate the Government around £525,000 per week and support UK firms.
He said: "My system is a simple one – we charge £15 per day for a European lorry to transit the country."
He claims that without introducing some form of transit tax, British motorists will end up footing the bill for roads damaged by the increased traffic.
He said: "By paying road tax, British motorists are subsidising European haulage companies to use our roads.
"The Europeans do not have to pay road tax to use our roads and the volume from traffic from the Europe on our roads is unbelievable.
"Our companies just cannot compete with them because the Europeans can afford to do it cheaper – they do not have to pay what our companies do.
"This is Europe's food town – if we lose the haulage industry the impact on Grimsby would be huge.
"The EU companies would take on the work from the collapsed UK companies and we would be bombarded by European trucks causing wear and tear to our roads and not paying for it.
"Members of the public would have to foot the bill in terms of paying higher road tax."
For more on this story – and comments from those supporting Mr Overton's drive – see today's Grimsby Telegraph.
You can let us know what you think by commenting on this story, emailing newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk or calling (01472) 372213.
35 Comments
View all
by warrior, Cleethorpes
Monday, January 25 2010, 3:15PM
“Bob,
I'm still waiting for your APOLOGY on the "Immingham probe councillors resign. " thread.
Or are you a wimp and a coward and dare not because you don't like being shown up as an IDIOT?
A 'know it all, and who knows nothing" springs to mind.”
by EH?, Reality
Monday, January 25 2010, 3:11PM
“People can only send benefits to another EU country if they have worked for a least a year in this country, so if they have worked they have paid tax, if they are still working they are still paying tax but obviously they aren't paying tax if they aren't working obviously that means they are unemployed and not taking a 'British' job? Simple really.”
by warrior, Cleethorpes
Monday, January 25 2010, 2:31PM
“Bob,
"... get your facts right please."
Did you about me on the ITC thread? NO.
Practice what you preach.”
by Bernard., Sth Killingholme.
Monday, January 25 2010, 11:30AM
“E.H? Where.?
Don't tell me you haven't heard of the unfair E.U system that gives foreign workers in Britain the right to claim benefits paid for by the British people. Sometimes i have seen reports in the press that some of these E.U. protected citizens claim also for non existent children.
Before any one starts citing British footballers who are paid by foreign countries perhaps you can tell me what comfort this is to out of work British truck drivers children when they see the rediculous ammounts of money that the likes of Beckham and Rooney waste on their spoilt brats.
Another point that someone raised was that it's racist to object to foreigners working here. Does that mean that an English football supporter is racist when he cheers on his national team??”
by EH?, Where?
Sunday, January 24 2010, 7:38PM
“Bernard, how can a Polish driver send child benefits out of this country without working for at least a year in this country and obviously therefore paying tax?”
by The Shunter, Onthedoleskint
Sunday, January 24 2010, 4:53PM
“Good luck Alan with your quest
100% with you.
While your at it could you ask Gornden brown what happened to ...
BRITISH JOBS FOR BRITISH WORKERS...
Time for a change...BNP.. i think”
by Bernard, Sth Killingholme
Saturday, January 23 2010, 6:05PM
“This just gets more stupid .
How many workers jobs will Rooney provide.
ERM??? if your'e not allready on the dole perhaps you would like to think about your job being lost to someone who does not pay taxes in this country and there's a fair chance that these foreign truckers also claim child benefit for children back in Poland. This is not a racist comment it's a patriotic one.”
by Erm, ????
Saturday, January 23 2010, 5:55PM
“Hang on Foreign companies are investing in UK, Won't Wayne Rooney or John Terry be able to spend money in their 'own' country? Some footballers even get more than a tenner an hour, DOH!!”
by Bernard, Sth Killingholme
Saturday, January 23 2010, 5:43PM
“Refinery worker Immingham.
Thats my point, so much has been given away to the other countrys that we have no choice but to buy foreign goods.
Soon the only people who will have any money to buy anything will be overpaid refinery workers.”
by Refinery Worker, Immingham
Saturday, January 23 2010, 5:33PM
“So obviously you disapprove of French and American Oil companies and Scandinavian seafood companies in this region, watch a UK built TV, have a UK built PC, drive a British built car and think British people shouldn't work abroad.”