Chancellor avoids hammering road users, for now!
18/12/06 11:53 Filed in: Granite
Chips
Putting 1.25p on a litre of fuel will
hit businesses and hauliers in the North East very badly, but it
could be seen as road users getting off lightly. Certainly, all the
green campaigners who have been baying for motorists to be squeezed
till their pips squeaked, have been clamouring to get on the media
to tell us so. Read More...
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Airport set for take off!
16/12/06 11:50 Filed in: Granite
Chips
Transport really is making the
headlines recently, now with the news that Aberdeen City
councillors have approved the 300-metre runway extension at
Aberdeen Airport. This clears the way for a massive redevelopment
of the airport to allow it to take transatlantic flights and
possibly even jumbo jets. Read More...
North east road death toll
15/12/06 11:52 Filed in: Granite
Chips
With road fatalities now topping 61
this year in the North East, there should be growing concern not
just from the public but also from the authorities charged with
looking after our roads.
Last night, on the commute home I happened to be the car immediately behind a fortunately minor collision but which could easily have been much more serious.
In the absence of proper roads round Aberdeen (roll on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route - 20 years late is better than not at all) we were travelling on a minor route from the Westhill area across to Blackburn. In front was "white van man" driving his vehicle in a manner that only someone who wants to get home from work can.
Despite being in a modern, four wheel drive vehicle and driving reasonably quickly there was no way I could keep up with the determined white van driver.
The inevitable happened. At a 90 degree left hand bend, the white van lost its grip on the road surface and slid into a car coming the other way.
The driver's fault? Of course. He was not driving within the capabilities of the vehicle and the road conditions.
But, if our authorities provided us with roads fit for purpose it would help. That includes the AWPR, but it also means improving other busy roads and it most certainly means resurfacing roads. Over years, inevitably, the passage of thousands of car tyres polishes off the stones that give road surfaces their grip. Resurfacing the road used to be carried out regularly, to ensure that grippy surface was maintained.
Now, resurfacing is a rarity. And that despite road users handing the authorities £36 billion in taxes every year.
Last night, on the commute home I happened to be the car immediately behind a fortunately minor collision but which could easily have been much more serious.
In the absence of proper roads round Aberdeen (roll on the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route - 20 years late is better than not at all) we were travelling on a minor route from the Westhill area across to Blackburn. In front was "white van man" driving his vehicle in a manner that only someone who wants to get home from work can.
Despite being in a modern, four wheel drive vehicle and driving reasonably quickly there was no way I could keep up with the determined white van driver.
The inevitable happened. At a 90 degree left hand bend, the white van lost its grip on the road surface and slid into a car coming the other way.
The driver's fault? Of course. He was not driving within the capabilities of the vehicle and the road conditions.
But, if our authorities provided us with roads fit for purpose it would help. That includes the AWPR, but it also means improving other busy roads and it most certainly means resurfacing roads. Over years, inevitably, the passage of thousands of car tyres polishes off the stones that give road surfaces their grip. Resurfacing the road used to be carried out regularly, to ensure that grippy surface was maintained.
Now, resurfacing is a rarity. And that despite road users handing the authorities £36 billion in taxes every year.
Transport to the fore
15/12/06 11:51 Filed in: Granite
Chips
The focus in the last few weeks has
been very much on transport, with the Eddington Review, the
National
Transport Strategy in Scotland, the announcement of the
draft orders for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and now the
launch of Nestrans Regional
Transport Strategy for North East Scotland.
Read More...
The new road tax coming to your car...
14/12/06 11:54 Filed in: Granite
Chips
The Eddington Review has been published
and proposes, surprise surprise, a tax per mile for the roads you
use. A satellite receiver in your car will track your every move
and the government will send you a bill for the roads you use. You
can find an e-petition on the
Downing Street website.
Read More...
Read More...
Trump's $1 billion Aberdeen golf plan
27/11/06 11:55 Filed in: Granite
Chips
Donald Trump's organisation has
submitted its plans for what Trump says will be the world's best
golf course on the Menie site just north of Aberdeen.
Read More...
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