BBC NEWS | UK | 'Half of disabled badges illegal': "Half of disabled badges illegal'
A parking bay for disabled drivers
The badges give drivers free and unlimited parking
Up to half of all disabled parking badges in London are being used illegally, according to the Local Government Association (LGA).
It is estimated that badges are now changing hands on the black market for up to �500.
A recent crackdown by spending watchdog the Audit Commission led to nearly 5,500 badges being cancelled in Manchester, Merseyside and London.
The badges allow free and unlimited parking in pay and display bays.
They also allow parking for up to three hours on yellow lines and, in London, holders are exempt from the congestion charge.
The badge does not carry a photograph or car registration number, so they can easily be transferred between vehicles and drivers.
Undercover
In May the Audit Commission revealed nearly 5,500 blue badges in London, Merseyside and Manchester were cancelled after it was discovered they were being used after the holder had died.
Its report also found that a number of blue badges had been reissued in London after the people entitled to them had died.
They included four badges in Wandsworth, which had been used 347 times to avoid paying the congestion charge, ten in Barnet, used 80 times, and two in Camden, used 227 times.
Charges were brought against a solicitor, a bank employee and a care home manager.
According to the Audit Commission badges are now changing hands for around �500 on the back market and the LGA says it believes up to half of the badges in London are being used illegally.
The abuse is widespread in many UK cities and Manchester City Council is so concerned it is now using undercover surveillance to catch badge-abusers.
"
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
Congestion Charge Not Wanted (from News Shopper)
Congestion Charge Not Wanted (from News Shopper): "Congestion charge not wanted
By Simon Bull
Comment | Read Comments (1)
NEWS Shopper voters have expressed strong opposition to the possible introduction of a congestion charge in Greenwich.
One particular person felt so strongly against the idea that they attempted to manipulate News Shopper's voting system to cast 80 'no' votes.
As with all News Shopper polls, the multiple votes were removed from the overall result.
Regardless of the attempted hijacking of the vote, there was still an overwhelmingly negative response to the possibility of a congestion charge being introduced in Greenwich to help reduce traffic.
continued...
Just 24.1 per cent of people who responded to the online poll were in favour, with 73.4 per cent against. The 'don't know' vote was 2.5 per cent."
By Simon Bull
Comment | Read Comments (1)
NEWS Shopper voters have expressed strong opposition to the possible introduction of a congestion charge in Greenwich.
One particular person felt so strongly against the idea that they attempted to manipulate News Shopper's voting system to cast 80 'no' votes.
As with all News Shopper polls, the multiple votes were removed from the overall result.
Regardless of the attempted hijacking of the vote, there was still an overwhelmingly negative response to the possibility of a congestion charge being introduced in Greenwich to help reduce traffic.
continued...
Just 24.1 per cent of people who responded to the online poll were in favour, with 73.4 per cent against. The 'don't know' vote was 2.5 per cent."
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Drivers face massive tax hit | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express
Drivers face massive tax hit | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express: "Drivers face massive tax hit
From 99 pence a litre fuel to �5,000 tax discs. These are the best and worst case scenarios under the Government's plans to tackle congestion and tax UK drivers.
By Mat Watson
08th November 2006
motorway
Best case
Fuel 99p per litre
Road Tax top band �210
London Congestion Charge �8
Resident parking permits up to �100
M1 car share lane for high occupancy vehicles
As Auto Express's motoring Green Gauge shows, the politicians are looking at a huge range of environmental penalties in an unprecedented assault on car numbers, usage and pollution.
The UK is already the most expensive place to run a car in Europe, with an average cost of �4,997 a year. But things could get a lot worse over the next five years, depending on how tough the authorities get.
Possible measures include an annual fuel tax accelerator of five per cent, which will see unleaded rise to �1.27 per litre at today's prices. Sheila Rainger, campaigns manager for the RAC Foundation for Motoring warned: 'There could be tough times ahead for motorists. They are a soft target, and even greater taxation seems to be the plan for the future.
'Richmond Council in Surrey is already planning �300 charges for parking permits, and other boroughs may follow. London mayor Ken Livingstone has suggested the Congestion Charge could rise to �25, while Manchester and Birmingham have been given funding to look into their own tolls.'
An increase in car tax is likely, too. In August, the Environmental Audit Committee called for VED to rise to �1,800, while the Liberal Democrats would like a charge of �2,000. Tory MP Tim Yeo has even suggested a top band of �5,000. Compulsory scrapping of older cars and a new car purchase tax have also been suggested."
From 99 pence a litre fuel to �5,000 tax discs. These are the best and worst case scenarios under the Government's plans to tackle congestion and tax UK drivers.
By Mat Watson
08th November 2006
motorway
Best case
Fuel 99p per litre
Road Tax top band �210
London Congestion Charge �8
Resident parking permits up to �100
M1 car share lane for high occupancy vehicles
As Auto Express's motoring Green Gauge shows, the politicians are looking at a huge range of environmental penalties in an unprecedented assault on car numbers, usage and pollution.
The UK is already the most expensive place to run a car in Europe, with an average cost of �4,997 a year. But things could get a lot worse over the next five years, depending on how tough the authorities get.
Possible measures include an annual fuel tax accelerator of five per cent, which will see unleaded rise to �1.27 per litre at today's prices. Sheila Rainger, campaigns manager for the RAC Foundation for Motoring warned: 'There could be tough times ahead for motorists. They are a soft target, and even greater taxation seems to be the plan for the future.
'Richmond Council in Surrey is already planning �300 charges for parking permits, and other boroughs may follow. London mayor Ken Livingstone has suggested the Congestion Charge could rise to �25, while Manchester and Birmingham have been given funding to look into their own tolls.'
An increase in car tax is likely, too. In August, the Environmental Audit Committee called for VED to rise to �1,800, while the Liberal Democrats would like a charge of �2,000. Tory MP Tim Yeo has even suggested a top band of �5,000. Compulsory scrapping of older cars and a new car purchase tax have also been suggested."
Saturday, November 04, 2006
BBC NEWS | UK | How we are being watched
BBC NEWS | UK | How we are being watched: "CCTV in Britain's streets can trace its genesis back to a limited system set up for the Queen's coronation in 1953. By the 1960s there was permanent CCTV in some London streets. Now there are an estimated four million cameras in the country, viewing us as many as 300 times a day.
CCTV in Westminster
CCTV is everywhere
CCTV cameras in stores monitor shoplifters, those in cash machines look for fraud gangs, those on public transport watch vandals and thugs. But they also watch ordinary people at the same time.
Digital CCTV systems can be configured to use face-recognition and look for criminal suspects.
An estimated �500m of public money has been spent on installing CCTV in the last decade.
AUTOMATIC NUMBER PLATE RECOGNITION
Cameras that could recognises the registration plates on suspect vehicles were first used to track IRA suspects in London. Now the technology is used for speed cameras, traffic enforcement cameras and in London's congestion charging zone."
CCTV in Westminster
CCTV is everywhere
CCTV cameras in stores monitor shoplifters, those in cash machines look for fraud gangs, those on public transport watch vandals and thugs. But they also watch ordinary people at the same time.
Digital CCTV systems can be configured to use face-recognition and look for criminal suspects.
An estimated �500m of public money has been spent on installing CCTV in the last decade.
AUTOMATIC NUMBER PLATE RECOGNITION
Cameras that could recognises the registration plates on suspect vehicles were first used to track IRA suspects in London. Now the technology is used for speed cameras, traffic enforcement cameras and in London's congestion charging zone."
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Sunderland Councillor refuses to quit over 'scandals'
Councillor refuses to quit over 'scandals'
The Journal
Thursday, 2 November 06
By Ross Smith
Conservatives last night failed in a bid to force a leading North councillor to resign over scandals in his city's parking system.
A motion at Sunderland Council calling on executive member for planning and transport Joe Lawson to quit was defeated in a stormy civic centre meeting.
The call came after a series of flaws were uncovered in traffic regulations, forcing the council to pay back more than �30,000 in fines - and a TV documentary which recorded parking attendants making racist comments.
The Tories also called on the council to start proceedings which would see NCP, which runs parking enforcement in the city, stripped of its contract.
Group leader Lee Martin said: 'Either NCP knew what was going on and turned a blind eye, or they didn't have a clue, which is complete failure of management.'
Conservative councillor Margaret Forbes said NCp attendants had been acting like a 'poor grade mafia', adn Coun Lawson displayed 'total ignorance of any problems'.
She said: 'This sorry state of affairs has brought into disrepute the reputation of Sunderland Council, its citizens, NCP and others.'
But with the Labour majority standing staunchily behind Coun Lawson, the motion was defeated by 45 votes to 16.
Sole Liberal Democrat member Paul Dixon voted with Labour, but admitted: 'Heads must roll.'
After the meeting, council leader Bob Symonds said: 'Coun Lawson is very much on top of the situation and we'll take it through step by step. Coun Lawson has my full support, the full support of the rest of the cabinet and the full support of the Labour group.'
A special cabinet meeting later this month will consider 'all options', including finding a new contractor or taking parking enforcement back in house.
Coun Lawson told the meeting: 'Sunderland's decriminalised parking enforcement regime is legally robust, lawful and enforceable.
'I shall not be resigning, I believe and my colleagues believe I am doing a reasonable job.'
Labour criticised the Conservatives for focusing on problems with traffic orders rather than the issue of racism."
The Journal
Thursday, 2 November 06
By Ross Smith
Conservatives last night failed in a bid to force a leading North councillor to resign over scandals in his city's parking system.
A motion at Sunderland Council calling on executive member for planning and transport Joe Lawson to quit was defeated in a stormy civic centre meeting.
The call came after a series of flaws were uncovered in traffic regulations, forcing the council to pay back more than �30,000 in fines - and a TV documentary which recorded parking attendants making racist comments.
The Tories also called on the council to start proceedings which would see NCP, which runs parking enforcement in the city, stripped of its contract.
Group leader Lee Martin said: 'Either NCP knew what was going on and turned a blind eye, or they didn't have a clue, which is complete failure of management.'
Conservative councillor Margaret Forbes said NCp attendants had been acting like a 'poor grade mafia', adn Coun Lawson displayed 'total ignorance of any problems'.
She said: 'This sorry state of affairs has brought into disrepute the reputation of Sunderland Council, its citizens, NCP and others.'
But with the Labour majority standing staunchily behind Coun Lawson, the motion was defeated by 45 votes to 16.
Sole Liberal Democrat member Paul Dixon voted with Labour, but admitted: 'Heads must roll.'
After the meeting, council leader Bob Symonds said: 'Coun Lawson is very much on top of the situation and we'll take it through step by step. Coun Lawson has my full support, the full support of the rest of the cabinet and the full support of the Labour group.'
A special cabinet meeting later this month will consider 'all options', including finding a new contractor or taking parking enforcement back in house.
Coun Lawson told the meeting: 'Sunderland's decriminalised parking enforcement regime is legally robust, lawful and enforceable.
'I shall not be resigning, I believe and my colleagues believe I am doing a reasonable job.'
Labour criticised the Conservatives for focusing on problems with traffic orders rather than the issue of racism."
Stay Tuned for the latest news
Stay Tuned for the latest news
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
APPEALNOW.COM™
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com
where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.
© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved
Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.
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