Bikers take to the road in tax protest

BIKERS claim plans to scrap road tax in favour of increased duties on fuel will see them out of pocket after just four fill-ups. More than 50 members of the Guernsey Touring Motorcycle Club joined a protest ride across the island on Saturday afternoon to express their opposition to Treasury and Resources' proposals.

The States will on Wednesday debate the possibility of increased duty on fuel of up to 20p a litre.

Motorcyclists currently pay £19.80 a year on road tax.

President Mark Brouard said: 'Even with an increase of 14p a litre, we will have paid more than our tax after four refuels and everything above that is profit for the States.'

He claimed it would more than treble how much any motorcyclist paid.

'We thought the States wanted to encourage more people on to two wheels and abandon their big four by fours, but if this goes through, anyone who uses their bike for commuting will be way out of pocket.'

The rally was arranged at a committee meeting last Monday and Mr Brouard said he was delighted with how many came at such short notice.

The bikers set off from Pembroke at 3pm and headed to Town via Bordeaux and the Bridge. From there, the convoy made its way through St Martin's and Forest before heading to the west coast and ending up at Vazon.

Des Fletcher, 51, who rode his Suzuki Bandit 1,200, said the proposals equated to a stealth tax.

Graham Guilbert, 57, owns three bikes, two cars and two vans and said the proposals would hit him very hard.

'The other consideration is that if road tax is abolished the Traffic Committee will still have to issue a disc to confirm the vehicle is insured,' he said.

'There is talk that this will cost £15 a time and I will have to buy three of them.'

He rode his V-Rod Harley-Davidson.

Mr Brouard, who rides a Honda Goldwing, said most of the members had big bikes because they take them off the island touring. They were not simply to commute around Guernsey.

Deputy John Gollop joined the riders at Pembroke to express his support.

'I am going to vote against the proposals,' he said.

'Personally I think it is unwise to get rid of an indirect tax at a time when the Treasury and Resources Department is saying we need more of them.'

He claimed the change would have far more losers than winners.

'Bikers and boat owners would be particularly hit,' he said.

'The only winners would be garage owners who could put a greater mark-up on fuel, the fuel importers because we still don't have a competition law and owners of big cars who don't use them very much.'