KHOODEELAAR! noting the evidence of CRASS rail tax causing outrage among Croydon MPs

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/latestnews/Crossrail-tax-slammed-Croydon-MPs/article-625925-detail/article.html

Crossrail tax slammed by Croydon MPs
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, 07:00


Two Croydon MPs have slammed powers being granted to the Greater London Authority (GLA) to force business in the borough to pay for building Crossrail.
Many firms in the borough, backed by Croydon Business, have expressed concern that they will have to have to contribute to the building costs for Crossrail through a supplementary business tax despite the fact the new east-west rail link will bring no direct benefits to Croydon.
Those concerns have now been raised in the House of Commons by Conservative MP for Croydon South, Richard Ottaway and Andrew Pelling, the Independent MP for Croydon Central.
Both expressed concern the extra financial burden on larger Croydon businesses would make it even more difficult for them to cope in the economic slump.
Mr Ottaway said after last week's debate: "I believe it is utterly unfair that the GLA would be able to tax businesses in areas like Coulsdon and Sutton that would derive no benefit from the Crossrail project whatsoever.
%3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF%3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3D0000b139bb3f965200000000/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISCROY/AREA%3DNEWS/SUBAREA%3DLATESTNEWS/ARTICLE%3D625925/acc_random%3D5466466218/pageid%3D/RS%3D%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%22http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/house/1x1.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22Click%20here%21%22%20border%3D0%20style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3E"While I support a business rates supplement power in principle, this should be a matter for the local authority, such as Croydon Council, to decide with local businesses."

Mr Ottaway added: "Money raised from Croydon businesses should be used to benefit those businesses and to boost the local economy."
Mr Pelling claimed government in Greater London was "always about taxing Croydon to take our money elsewhere in London."
He said: "This new extra tax will hit businesses already struggling to survive in Croydon."
Crossrail will run from across London from Maidenhead in the west to Abbey Wood in the east running through Heathrow Airport, Paddington, Liverpool Street and Canary Wharf.
The aim is to help the regeneration of London along its route and improve rail links in the capital.