PEOPLE living in the country and dependent on their cars could be driven round the bend by proposed Government charges on motorists, an MP has warned.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has slammed Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott for government plans to give local authorities the power to impose car park taxes and traffic tolls on car owners.

He said the Deputy Prime Minister had declared war on the motorist and critisised him for owning two Jaguars.

He claimed the so-called 'stealth tax' would force the poorest motorists off the road and described the scheme as 'hair-brained.'

Under the proposed new measures, motorists could be taxed for using private company car parks and charged for entering town and city centres.

Mr Evans said: "This is blatant war on the motorist. John Prescott does not seem to understand that, for Ribble Valley residents, driving a vehicle is an essential part of their daily lives. Motorists are already over-taxed and it comes as a bit of a cheek that two-Jags Prescott is the instigator of these new stealth taxes.

"Last year the Government took £32billion from the motorist, but spent only £6billion on transport. The Government must address this anomaly before introducing another tax on the motorist."

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