Figures released in Parliament show exactly how many vehicles in the region bought between 2001 and 2006 will incur higher amounts of Vehicle Excise Duty.

Under the new system, which will come into effect next year, there will be 13 bands ranging from A to M and based on carbon emissions.

But the reforms have provoked a huge backlash because they will apply retrospectively and hit the pockets of motorists who bought cars up to seven years ago.

Currently, anyone with a car registered before 2006 which emits more than 186g of carbon dioxide per kilometre, pays £210 in VED.

However, from next year they will have to fork out between £260 and £440 in tax.

By 2010, owners of the top band of most polluting cars will pay £455.
This means that some people owning the highest emission cars could be paying up to £245 more in tax within two years.

The new figures show that there were 38,076 cars registered in Lancashire between 2001 and 2006 which emit between 186 g/km and 225 g/km.

These will include family cars like the Citroen C8 and some Renault Clio models, which will next year incur between £300 and £415 in road tax.

Another 21,060 vehicles registered in the region between 2001 and 2006 emit more than 225 g/km.

These will include more fuel-hungry Jaguars, BMWs and Range Rovers, and will next year be charged between £415 and £440 in tax.

Together, this means 59,136 vehicles in Lancashire will be caught in the retrospective tax hike.

Two Lancashire Labour MPs – Chorley's Lindsay Hoyle and David Borrow from South Ribble – have already called on Chancellor Alistair Darling to reconsider the tax increase.

For full story see Monday's Lancashire Evening Post.

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