'How much should petrol cost?' Poll discussion

g24

Jo_F wrote: »

G24, that is only helpful if it's a job that can be done from home, I am sure that my partner would love to work from home, but that doesn't get the truck travelling up and down the country doing pickups and deliveries.

Shops, schools, service industry and many others, they have to be done at the workplace. District nurses, builders etc all have to travel during the course of their work day.

Homeworking jobs include telesales and call centre work, how many call centres that people use are based in the UK? They are offshore as they are cheaper to run that way.

So it's possibly not that people don't want the change, it could well be that they are in a job that demands they do it at the work place.

Obviously there are many people who cannot do their jobs from home - that doesn't really need pointing out... But just because these people don't have a choice doesn't mean the many people who could work at home shouldn't.

There are many jobs beyond telesales for which travelling to an office every day is not necessary. These people could save a huge amount of money on fuel/travel, not to mention saving time, reducing stress, better work-life balance, etc. They can still meet up with their co-workers to chat and collaborate, but they don't need to commute to an office for the 70, 80, 90% of the time they've probably got their head down working alone, or on the phone, or emailing people somewhere else anyway.

Another important point to note: the people who do need to travel would find it easier because the roads and transport networks won't be choked with office drones. Of course the people who do have to travel still need a break on costs and the transport networks still need to improve, but thats all part of a bigger strategy.

louiser123

icklepeach wrote: »

ARGH this sort of sweeping statement does my head in :mad:

My hubby cycles to and from work - he does around 200 miles a week. He can do this because he has a supportive employer who provides showers in the work place and doesn't have to leave his office for meetings.
In my previous job I often had to leave the office for meetings and to organise events. This isn't something I could have done on public transport as my work place was very rural (1 bus an hour) so despite living less than 7 miles from my office driving was the only option.
In order to start and finish work at the appropriate time I dropped my daughter off at school on the way to work - car based school run - CRIME OF THE CENTURY, so shoot me for it.

Things have changed now, I have a second child. We are very very busy people, we walk often to places but I can't carry a weekly (or even half weekly) shop home the 2 miles from the nearest supermarket, nor can I get my daughter to orchestra, or can I afford the luxury of taking an extra 30, 40 or 50 minutes on each journey that I use the car for in order to enjoy the luxury of getting soaked through, rained on, blown sideways by the weather or suburnt ( :rotfl: as if!)

Unless you can show some serious evidence (rural, urban, suburban, motorway all included please) for MOST car journeys being short enough for other modes of transport (oh, and please include ways of taking 2 small kids with you all the time too...) then please avoid making sweeping statements.

I think petrol should be around £1 a litre - 160% tax is bonkers! I wouldn't drive more than I do now if it went back to 2009 prices. Oh, and when is the HMRC milage rate going to change to reflect this mammoth price?!

i agreee, and well the mileage rate has indeed changed today. however it is not compulsary for employers to actually pay that rate. the difference between the hmrc rate and that which employers choose to pay if its not the full rate has to be claimed back each yr from hmrc with your p11d form but it still has to be paid up front by the employee before hand. raising the rate is all well and good but allowing employers to pay what they choose should be brought into line,

kilapot

The railways and many bus companies receive massive public subsidy (i.e. money from me and you as tax payers), and as someone who lives in rural Devon I receive no benefit from this as I have no option but to drive. There are no rail or bus services near me - driving is my only option.

I would mention that most of the country rely on cars, the south east on trains........

George Osborne is virtually a banker ie start it with a w.

kilapot

Unless you can show some serious evidence (rural, urban, suburban, motorway all included please) for MOST car journeys being short enough for other modes of transport (oh, and please include ways of taking 2 small kids with you all the time too...) then please avoid making sweeping statements.

Er order your food shop online.............................. Oh and if kids are too expensive or inconvient don't have them.