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.

JCB begins final shakedown tests for record bid

By Greg Fountain Motor Industry 21 August 2006 10:37 The 1500bhp JCB Dieselmax streamliner will undergo final shakedown tests today, ahead of tomorrow's diesel land speed record attempt. CAR Online will bring you the news as it happens. Our reporter, Greg Fountain, is imbedded with the JCB team in Utah, ready to provide eyewitness accounts.

Electric Renault to take on 2,000-mile Pod Point challenge

A RENAULT Zoe electric car is about to cover 2,000 miles up and down the country to prove that a linked and entirely functional network of electric charging points already exists. The full-electric supermini will take on challenges, attempt to break records and join in for loads of festivities throughout the 17-day grand tour, all using public electric charging points. What's more, Pod Point, the company behind the endeavour, will install more points wherever it thinks they're needed on its route around Great Britain.