Shock new plans to discourage 'Chelsea Tractors' revealed
We can exclusively reveal today shock plans by the local Council to impose increased parking permit charges on four wheel drive vehicles. A leaked report on the subject of local transport policy has made a series of recommendations in an attempt to tackle the growing problem of pollution and congestion.
The planned charge scale is alleged to be £140 per vehicle for Chiswick, £100 for Brentford and £50 for the Hounslow area. Local transport expert Avril Amadon said, "The move is clearly aimed at the school run mum but for it to be really effective legislation would need to be passed which makes it illegal for mothers to drive their children to school using these vehicles if they live within a two mile radius of the school."
Local anti-car campaigner Davina Sparte said, "We are absolutely delighted with this development as it shows finally the Council is getting serious about saving the planet. It will force people to use more environmentally friendly forms of transport like buses."
Ms. Sparte, a 22 year old transport adviser for a West London Council said, "I constantly get complaints from selfish mothers who claim just because they have children at different schools they need to drive them there to make it on time. When I advise them that by leaving 45 minutes earlier and walking or travelling on public transport they could easily make it they are always stubbornly unwilling to change their ways and sometimes unnecessarily rude."
One local mum said she felt this latest development was the final straw and plans to trade in her Land Rover Freelander for the new Mercedes 5 series estate. She added, "I know it's not much but everyone must do their bit to improve our environment."
Mayor Ken Livingstone is likely to be pleased at this development having described urban 4x4 drivers as idiots. If it proves to be a success the scheme is likely to be introduced on a London wide basis though there are likely to be exemptions for people who have a genuine need to own such vehicles such as farmers, MPs and premiership footballers.
1st April 2005| Related Links |
| Ken calls school run 4x4 drivers 'idiots' |