DURING the recent blockade of petrol refineries the fundamental question of why petrol taxes are so high was scarcely considered.

Petrol and diesel taxes are so high because the last Conservative and the present Labour governments have deliberately, over a succession of budgets, increased the tax substantially above the rate of inflation.

The original purpose of this punitive tax was to encourage motorists to use their vehicles less because petrol and diesel consumption are now becoming significant contributors to UK emissions of greenhouse gases around 25 per cent of total emissions.

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, are widely believed to be resulting in global climate destabilisation.

These high fuel taxes will only achieve their declared purpose if the revenue raised is re-invested in transport alternatives such as expanded train and bus services and new fuels which do not emit greenhouse gases such as hydrogen and fuel-cell technology.

Alas, both the present and previous governments have failed to use the increased revenue from fuel taxes for these specific purposes and have simply used the revenue to fund general services health, education etc.

Clearly to use fuel taxes as a general instrument of taxation to fund public services is discriminatory.

It hits the poorest hardest, and is a far greater burden on rural communities.

Therefore, it is vital that the revenue raised from high fuel taxes addresses these concerns.

Until the Government explains how the revenue is being re-invested to combat climate destabilisation and how the rural community and the poorest in society are to be compensated, it is inevitable that this tax will fail to command public support.

In the long run, this will mean continued global climate destabilisation which is bad news for everyone.

STEPHEN EADES

Friends of the Earth

North Wiltshire