MPs call for parking charge reports

COUNCILS should publish annual parking-charge reports to show where revenue comes from and where it is being used, MPs said today. The use of parking charges and fines specifically to raise revenue was "neither acceptable nor legal" said Louise Ellman, chairman of the House of Commons Transport Committee. Launching a report by her committee into local authority parking enforcement in England, Mrs Ellman said: "There is a deep-rooted public perception that parking enforcement is used as a cash cow, so it's essential that local authorities apply stringent transparency." The committee said local authorities in England had a collective parking surplus in the hundreds of millions of pounds, but that the exact amount was subject to debate.

2012 Mercedes B-Class: Tease and Technical

It's the 2012 Mercedes B-Class in the dark When we get a tease for a new car it’s usually just a shadowy image of the new wonder with all the detail taken away, in case we use Photoshop to bring it to life. Just like the photo (above) we got in of the 2012 Mercedes B-Class. But this teaser photo of the new B-Class is not just a bit of PR frippery, as it comes with a proper raft of detail on how much effort Mercedes has put in to the new B-Class, and just how much is new.

Suzuki Swift SZ-L launched

Suzuki has launched a new Limited Edition Swift - the Suzuki Swift SZ-L The SZ-L is designed to offer a more economical option to the usual 1.5 litre lump, and substitutes it with a 1.3 litre, 93bhp engine from the Swift GL, which delivers 0-60mph in 11.0 seconds, 48.7 mpg and CO2 emissions of 140g/km which isn’t actually too shoddy. To make this limited edition SZ-L, Suzuki are throwing in a few tweaks and some toys to make the package more appealing. You get AirCon, a choice of new metallic colours, some extra chrome bits and an upgrade or two for the interior.