At last nights meeting of the Regulatory Panel the two taxi items were discussed.

On fares the panel were advised that we could not sanction an immediate increase in fares as an interim measure (we need to advertise the proposed fares), but we agreed that the structure would be brought in as soon as the 14 day consultatation period had passed, providing that there were no objections.

On reduced licensing fees for bio-diesel it was agreed that the loss of income had to be agreed by Cabinet, and so it will be passed to them for a decision. This is an out and out cop-out! Although no figures on overall costs to the authority were available at the meeting, it was calculated to be less than £5,000. And that would be for the whole year, we only have 9 months of this authority left. 

I am certain that the supposed loss can be met from balance or from other savings, and in the scheme of things is not a huge amount. But in terms of environment and air quality it is a small price to pay.

And one leading taxi firm who wishes to bring in bio-diesel is left with a possible investment for no return. I hope that he goes ahead and introduces bio-diesel cars anyway , and that the savings in costs will follow, along with the reduction in license fees.

There will be a meeting at the South Beach Residents Association on Monday 9th June, to discuss the Traffic chaos that is Shearwater Way.

I don’t know who called the meeting, but I imagine residents of Shearwater Way who are most affected by the contractors traffic to the school.  If I had been informed of the meeting earlier I could have helped publicise it.

I should be there, and will be trying to contact other district and county councillors to make them aware of the meeting. However we are there to listen to the views expressed, not to defend the County Council or the Academy.

I was horrified to hear on the radio that the Lib Dems propose to introduce motorway usage charges. What? Don’t we pay enough to use cars?

 So I checked into the full story, and found that the full policy includes:-

• Cutting fuel duty and abolishing VED over the next 10 years and introducing a cost-neutral road user pricing scheme on motorways and trunk roads

• Building a high speed rail network paid for by introducing emissions-linked charges on road freight and internal flights

• Introducing rolling contracts for train operating companies to increase long-term investment and improve services

• Give power to control local bus services back to local authorities

• Introducing a new fund for rural transport

• Giving passengers a stronger voice to improve local transport services through a new passenger watchdog

Overall a balanced and radical group of propsals, but so much for balanced reporting. No mention of the cuts in fuel duty or VED. 

As always, it pays to check on the full story, and not rely on broadcasts!!

That was the headline in the Journal, reporting the crash between a contractor’s wagon on the way to the Academy site and a Vauxhall Astra. The accident was at the already bad junction between Fulmar Drive and South Newsham Road.

The article points out that the lorry driver is not believed to have been at fault, but as one resident is quoted “….. it backs our claim that this new school should never have been built in the middle of a residential estate…..”

 Exactly!!