From: Dave Wetzel <[log in to unmask]>
James Dark ( [log in to unmask] ) is seeking nominations for a
sustainable transport project award.
It's good that sustainable travel schemes are being recognised.
However, as well as ensuring existing travel demand is met in a more
sustainable way we should also be exploring methods of better sustainable
planning that might reduce urban sprawl, improve the efficiencies of our
cities and hence reduce journey lengths and the need for new infrastructure
to serve new and more remote locations.
An annual Land Value Tax (LVT) on ALL land (each site valued for its optimum
permitted use) would discourage land speculators from the holding of empty
buildings and brownfield sites in the expectation of future land price
increases.
When LVT is applied, these sites are brought into use within the urban
fringe and hence meet much of the demand for space for housing, business,
commerce, leisure etc. reducing the demand for new developments in the
surrounding countryside.
Greater densities in towns will provide more paxs for existing transport
infrastructure and justify new bus routes and higher frequencies of services
which assists existing users, the new residents/workers and help attract
more motorists from cars to public transport.
Land is a free gift of nature. Unlike buildings and machinery we need no
utilisation of labour or capital to create land.
Together with population densities, other public services, private services
and natural attributes (views of rivers, green spaces etc.) our transport
systems do much to create land values and it would seem to be only fair that
this value is collected by Governments and utilised to replace taxes on
incomes and sales to pay for essential public services including improved,
efficient and sustainable transport.
I am currently on a 6-week tour of the USA where I have been explaining
these policies in 8 cities at meetings in Universities, conferences, local
communities and on radio.
I would be happy to meet with any UTSG member or attend
any group or seminar to discuss these ideas further.
Dave Wetzel
Intl: +44 208 568 9004
Mobile/Cellphone: +44 7715 32 29 26
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web:
www.LabourLand.org <http://www.labourland.org/>
www.TheIU.org <http://www.theiu.org/>
www.course.earthrights.net
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