MOTOR traders want emissions testing introduced if environmental taxes are brought in.

Guernsey Motor Trades Association chairman Mike Wager (pictured) said that if the Environment Department was serious about bringing in taxes to discourage people from buying and using high emission vehicles, it would need a system to check emissions.

‘The GMTA has pushed for emission testing on vehicles for about 13 years. We should be looking at the environmental impact that vehicles have on the island, but we should not be taxing people for using their cars,’ he said.

‘They are taxed already. We had road tax which was replaced with a tax on fuel and that has worked well – the polluter pays.’

But further taxes were wrong, he said.

Environment is asking islanders what they think of using taxes to force people into greener cars and lorries.

‘For me, there should be no additional tax burden on the everyday motorist – an added tax would not be acceptable.’

Mr Wager said that a suggested first registration fee, which could see motorists charged up to £2,000 depending on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted, would not prevent people buying powerful cars.

‘What would happen to the fee and where would it go? With the States the way they are – would it just be a way of raising money?’