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Call for reform over road repair funding

FUNDING patterns mean most road maintenance is being carried out in "less-efficient, cold and wet" times, a report from a Government spending watchdog has said. The current pattern of funding, combined with the need to spend money within the financial year, means that most maintenance work goes on between September and March, said the report from the National Audit Office (NAO). It went on: "Although this is less disruptive for road users, it is less efficient than carrying out the work at other times of year because materials can be more difficult to handle in cold and wet conditions, and daylight hours are shorter." The report went on: "As a result of the additional funding for emergency repairs, which is made available at the end of the financial year, almost all highways authorities need extra capacity from the market at the same time, which makes it less likely that they will get value for money." The NAO report said there was a "lack of predictability" over road spending adding that historically, local highway authorities spent more revenue on maintenance, but were now carrying out fewer routine activities such as clearing gullies which are essential to preventing water seeping into roads' sub-structure.

Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake revealed

The Mercedes CLS Shooting Break Mercedes has released details of the Mercedes CLS Shooting Break Concept which will appear at the Beijing Motor Show this month. The Mercedes CLS Shooting Break Having effectively created a niche all on its own with the launch of the Mercedes CLS – a four door coupe – back in 2004, Mercedes are certainly taking the next generation of the CLS seriously. Mind you, they need to.

New 2014 Nissan Qashqai revealed in pictures

The new 2014 Nissan Qashqai was unveiled in London on Thursday - giving us the first glance at what will surely become one of the most popular family cars of 2014. Already a perennial favourite with British buyers, the second-generation Qashqai follows a similar recipe to its 2007 predecessor. The new Qashqai remains a chunky crossover, mixing the best bits of a tall SUV with the creature comforts of a family hatch.