Howe about it, Chancellor
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Len Bassett, a director of the Bassett group of companies of Tittensor, Stoke on Trent learned that Sir Geoffrey was talking to a group of Conservatives in a nearby public house. Mr Bassett took one of his 40ft box van trailers and daubed on the side: "After 1983 Budget it cost £2,519 per annum to tax this vehicle. In 1982 it cost £1,600 per annum — a 57 per cent increase — Howe about that?"
He assembled a group of 15 local hauliers and then drove the vehicle down to the pub for Sir Geoffrey and entourage to see.
"Sir Geoffrey did come and talk to us," Mr Bassett said. "He sympathised with us, but said that he wanted to ensure that vehicles paid their track costs Mr Bassett told CM that hoped his protest, along v others made by the transpor1 dustry, would cause the Gov( ment to think more caref about raising vehicle excise c in future Budgets.
"We are very concerned 1 in these times hauliers are fering just as much as any 01 industry," Mr Bassett said.
The company deals in geni road haulage and warehous It feels it is typical of the r and file haulage company t1-1 being penalised so heav "Most of the hauliers awl here operate 32.5 tone vehil and so we have to protes these increases."