Re: SER1 UK taxation classes

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Tomas -

I'm surprised that you were allowed to use a LR on a 'Restricted'
licence - if I recall, that was only available to 'working' vehicles
which were only passenger carrying insofar as they had to have a seat
for a driver.  It was intended for tractors that had to cross public
roads in order to get to fields (but not drive hundreds of yards to
reach land in the next parish), fork-lift trucks loading wagons in the
public street etc.

LRs always were a bit of a thorn in the side of the taxation offices as
(by design) they were a new kind of vehicle that wasn't anticipated when
the rules were originally drawn up - they were essentially working
tools, but ones which could also conceivably be used for other duties,
like (heaven forbid) PLEASURE!  Maybe different local offices would
interpret the 'Restricted' category in more liberal ways, and you were
lucky.

I know that we had quite a tussle with the 'Goods' category (see my
previous posting) as it was calculated (if I recall) on the weight of
the vehicle or its carrying capacity - the straightforward 'Goods' rate
for an 88" Series 1 was more than for a 'Private' car, but 'Farmer's
Goods' was cheaper.  We plumped for 'Private & Farmer's Goods' so that
our domestic use was covered, and my wife's farming-associated travels.
We were NOT covered if I put items associated with my business into the
back, because that would have required the full 'Goods' rate.  It was
the development of the hatchback car that eventually put paid to all
this nonsense, and led to the introduction of the 'PLG' ('Private, Light
Goods') class - thank heaven!

As you say, the modern tractor licence (and the use of low-taxed 'red'
diesel) is for a limited radius - enough to tow your cattle trailer to
market, or collect hay and straw from a farm a few miles away.  In
traditional tractors you wouldn't want to go much father anyway, but the
development of High Speed tractors (such as the JCB FastTrak) is causing
problems, because they could conceivably be used to go from one side of
the country to the other.  Currently there are moves to restrict them,
and farming contractors (who often have to travel large distances) are
worried that they fuel bills will rocket to the point where their
businesses are unviable.

Fido's previous owner, Peter Ward (he of Haflinger fame), ran into this
sort of problem years ago with his snow plough contract.  He used an
ex-army 4x4 truck with a diesel engine in it, and ran it on red diesel
(as you are allowed to do with snow ploughs).  He also had an open
container on the back into which he put gravel, both to use as ballast
to give the back wheels some grip, and also as a source of grit if he
got stuck.  This was disallowed as it gave the vehicle 'goods carrying
capacity'.  He had to weld a lid shut on the top of it in order to use
the vehicle at the lower taxation rates, even though it never went on
the road unless the snow was 2 foot deep!

BTW, how's this for modern bureaucratic nonsense? - we have a friend who
is a joiner, and for years we've collected bags of his sawdust to put
down in our henhouse.  We both benefit - he gets rid of the sawdust, and
we get free disposable hen bedding.  Recently it's been decided that
such material is 'Industrial Waste', and so we would need a special
waste material haulier's licence in order to take it away.  Naturally
(he says in a forum that could be read by snoopers) we have complied
immediately with the directive, and NEVER put bags of sawdust into the
back of Fido.

Remind me how you do the 'tongue-in-cheek' smiley?

Regards,
 
GRAEME ALDOUS
South Lane Farm, Moorsholm
SALTBURN, Yorkshire  TS12 3JE,  UK
Phone: +44(0)1287 660515  Fax: +44(0)1287 660255
www.teeafit.co.uk/sxf




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