'Green tax is unfair'

PLANS to hit motorists with green taxes are purely revenue-generators, it has been claimed.

Guernsey Motor Trades Association chairman Michael Wager (pictured) said recommendations put forward by the Energy Policy Group to clamp down on CO2 emissions and address local energy usage were targeting the motorist unfairly.

'It says we have the same level of CO2 emissions that we had in 1990 and that the main contributors are energy production and motor vehicles. But how do the States of Guernsey know this? There is no emissions testing carried out in any form so how have they come up with that conclusion.'

The group is recommending investigating a carbon or energy tax that could add 5p per litre to all fuel oils and a vehicle emissions tax that might put £3,125 on the price of a gas-guzzler. This money could be used to fund schemes such as a Guernsey renewable energy commission and energy advice centre.