Parking levy 'stealth taxation' for business start-ups

Date: 12th December 2008

The proposed Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) has been dismissed as stealth taxation by the British Chambers of Commerce (BBC).

Under the plans, councils up and down the country could be able to impose charges on parking spaces provided by firms for their employees.

In response, the BCC has slammed the idea, claiming that it will essentially amount to another form of taxation for business start-ups.

David Frost, director general of the chambers, commented: "Companies are already paying a number of other levies and charges, with more in the pipeline.

"The government must recognise the financial burden businesses are already under and rule out any possibility of councils taking up the scheme."

He added that the proposals were nothing more than another way for local authorities to generate further revenue at the expense of business start-ups.

Earlier this week, the government launched its code of practice for ensuring that larger companies pay small firms on time for their services.