This might seem like small beer in the greater scheme of things, but this story illustrates very well how the UK has a long way to go before it becomes a true secular democracy.
The good folks at the National Secular Society have spotted a nasty little piece of religious privilege and are launching a legal challenge against Woking Borough Council. Why? Well, the misguided fools at Woking BC have got a 'Pray & Display' scheme going on that currently only allows free parking to people attending a church on Sunday mornings. The Council has decided that everyone else does not warrant a supernatural-deity-subsidy so they have to Pay & Display in the normal manner. Good luck to the NSS with their important legal case.
'Whilst a number of local authorities have introduced charges for evening and Sunday parking in recent years, some of these authorities are allowing worshippers to park at subsidised rates or without charge whilst concurrently charging others for using the same car park at the same time.
We believe this constitutes unequal treatment; one that arbitrarily favours those wishing to attend a service of worship, whilst costing all taxpayers – regardless of whether they attend religious services or not – money. We argue that allowing free parking for worshippers and not other people amounts to direct discrimination on the grounds of religious belief.' (National Secular Society article).
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