Take your Chevy to the levy...

...or whatever make of car you drive, if you work in Nottingham or Bristol and you drive to work, you'll have to pay for the privilege of parking there, even if you are on your employer's property.

Thanks to Auto Express for this story highlighting the crime of Bristol Council - and specifically their Lib Dems (who have always been more anti-car than the other parties) - in charging businesses a car-parking tax if they provide 11 or more spaces for their employees. At least that's how it's going to work in Nottingham - who are doing this first. That story is covered here.

The councils expect employers to pass on the tax to their staff - this, they believe will encourage the workers to use public transport. It won't. It'll just annoy everyone.

Where I work, we have 14 parking spaces, including 2 disabled bays. These are used by staff and customers alike. How would that work then? Would we staff subsidise our customers' parking? Would we just park in the streets nearby? Will the side-streets of Nottingham and Bristol fill up with parked cars?

Fortunately, I don't work in Nottingham or Bristol.

I know that if I was going to start up a new business in the UK, then Nottingham and Bristol would be off my list of possible sites - I'd just end up with extra taxes and irritated staff.

One thing for certain, this guy had better watch out...