Environment to hold emergency talks with Treasury after width and emissions is scrapped
URGENT talks are being planned between Environment and Treasury after width and emissions taxes were dumped by the States, leaving a multi-million pound black hole in its transport strategy.
Environment minister Yvonne Burford and deputy minister Barry Brehaut were yesterday defiant that its 'integrated' strategy would not be destroyed by the setback, but called for a meeting with Treasury and Resources to address how the major shortfall could be plugged and alternative funding found.
Treasury also withdrew its motion, which would have sent Environment away to look at reintroducing motor tax.
Deputy Burford said despite the narrow 23-21 defeat for Environment's amended first registration duty, the transport strategy had already been passed by the States and would not be overhauled.
'We now need to at the very earliest opportunity meet with Treasury and Resources and see where we go from here,' she said. 'The strategy is approved. We need to go back to the drawing board for what is behind our funding.'
Deputy Burford and Deputy Brehaut, who devised the transport strategy, said the Environment board would be united going forward.
However, opponents of the duty charges, including yesterday's protest organisers, labelled it a 'victory for common sense'.
Deputy Brehaut was shocked the States had not voted through the first registration proposals and believed that some deputies were waiting for Treasury's motor tax motion that never materialised.
'It is an absolute shambles,' he said.
'This is a Sarnian Spring tumbleweed moment. Your jaw drops and what now?'
