Gas-guzzlers needed by horse-loving families

I DRIVE a 1996 three-litre diesel Toyota Land Cruiser. It costs me more than e1,000 a year to tax and only averages 25mpg.

Why do I drive such a monstrosity?

I live in the country and I need to tow two horses from time to time. The combined weight of horses and trailer comes to 2,400kg. Going on recommended maximum safe towing weights, the only vehicle I can use is a large jeep. I would love to buy a modern, environmentally-friendly vehicle, but until someone invents one that can safely carry my family and horses, and that a person on a normal wage can afford, I will be forced to drive my gas-guzzler.

This is as much about the increasing city/country divide, and indeed a rich/ poor divide, as it is about the environment. Most people who drive old cars do so out of economic necessity — not a desire to destroy the planet — and reducing VRT, for example, would not make much difference to that.

I agree we need to do something about CO2 emissions, but the Government should think carefully about the best ways of doing it.

One final point — if I bought a commercial jeep, the road tax would be one-quarter of what I pay now, but the effect on the environment would be the same.

Gary Rudge

Carrigkilter

Ballycotton

Co Cork