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Point councillors condemn “haulage tax” 25/1/12
Point councillors DJ MacSween, Norman M Macleod and Donald Nicholson have strongly
backed the newly established Outer Hebrides Transport Group -
The SNP Government has proposed scrapping the RET scheme for commercial vehicles which campaigners warn will have a devastating impact on the economy of the islands and will lead to vastly increased prices for consumers.
Councillor MacSween, a former vice chair of the council’s transportation committee, was particularly scathing.
He said: ”It’s a disgrace that the SNP Government is even thinking about imposing a 175% increase on commercial traffic to and from the islands.
“We agree with the analysis by the Outer Hebrides Transport Group that this is a tax on every home in the islands.
“Once again our MSP Alasdair Allan is posted missing when a contentious issue arises. He is on the SNP ministerial pay roll, and while he’s prepared to take the money for the privilege of being a Government minister – he should never put Party before People.
“He talks about the SNP Government as if it was a body that he has nothing to do with – yet he is one of its ministers.
“The MSP has to support the islands in reversing this flawed and appalling policy-
The councillors called for the disastrous policy to be abandoned immediately. They insisted it would not be good enough for the SNP government to delay a consultation or review until after the local government elections.