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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.

Top Gear in the Middle East: Israel & Jordan &…

Top Gear filming a road trip in Israel & the Middle East As we said back at the end of September when we reported that Top Gear were busy filming for the next series in New York, this is the time of year when Messrs Clarkson, Hammond and May get to travel the world playing at Four-Wheel-Whickers. September was the USA – ending up in NYC – and now the weather’s getting cooler in North America they’ve ventured off to the Middle East. It looks as if Top Gear are busy filming an epic roadtrip across chunks of the Middle East.

MP calls for taxis to have CCTV

HIGH RISK situations for taxi drivers could be mitigated by installing CCTV cameras in all minicabs and taxis, according to a Conservative MP. Bedford MP Richard Fuller said that cameras, which are long overdue, would also help make passengers feel safer. Proposing his Licensed Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles (Closed circuit television) Bill, Mr Fuller said: "In this Bill, I would propose that we should provide for secure and encrypted CCTV." Mr Fuller's Bill would ensure that recordings would only be for police access and only in specific cases.