Backhouse Jones News.
Archive for March , 2009
AMRO call for MoJ reforms
Tuesday 31st March 2009The Association of Medical Reporting Organisations is calling for MRO Agreement processes to be incorporated into pending Ministry of Justice reforms.
Digital tachographs: BST/UTC time change reminder
Wednesday 25th March 2009You are reminded that British Summer Time (BST) begins on Sunday 29 March at 01.00 hrs.
Budget Statement 2008: fuel duty increase
Wednesday 25th March 2009The 1.84 pence per litre increase in diesel and petrol duty planned for 1 April 2009 takes effect next week.
Budget 2009: MPs call for stronger 'green' messages
Wednesday 25th March 2009The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has called on the ChancellorThe House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee has called on the Chancellor to ensure that longer term objectives linked to reducing carbon dioxide emissions are not eclipsed by economic stimulus measures.
Road Transport Working Time Directive (RTD): self employed update
Wednesday 25th March 2009RTD contains provision for bringing self-employed mobile workers in scope of working time rules from 23 March 2009.
Carbon Reduction Commitment
Wednesday 25th March 2009The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published a user guide on the Carbon Reduction Commitment.
Airport operation: Competition Commission orders break-up of BAA
Wednesday 25th March 2009In its final report on BAA's ownership of seven UK airports, the Competition Commission has ordered the airport operator to sell Gatwick and Stansted as well as either Edinburgh or Glasgow within two years.
Country's satnav black spots identified
Tuesday 24th March 2009The country's worst 'sat nav black spots', where lorries and buses routinely get stuck after blindly following directions from the popular navigation devices, have been identified in new research.
Stagecoach to merge with rival New York bus line
Thursday 19th March 2009Stagecoach, the bus and train operator, struck a deal on Wednesday to form New York's biggest sightseeing business.
Budget shortfall could cause TfL fare increases
Thursday 19th March 2009BUS passengers could be hit with a fare increase next year to cover a £600m Transport for London (TfL) budget shortfall.
Stewart Oades announced as new FTA president
Tuesday 17th March 2009Former Christian Salvesen CEO Stewart Oades is to be the new president of the Freight Transport Association.
Cost of Government legislation: FTA launches Every Penny Counts campaign
Tuesday 17th March 2009On Thursday 19 March, FTA launches its Every Penny Counts campaign.
Inspection of towbars on light goods vehicles at annual test: testable item from 27 April 2008
Tuesday 17th March 2009The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has recently issued notice that the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 are being amended to include the inspection of towbars as part of the annual MOT test for vehicle classes III, IV, V, and VII.
February winter snow: 'lessons learnt' review announced
Tuesday 17th March 2009In late February, the House of Commons Transport Committee announced that it was undertaking a short review into the effectiveness of the infrastructure authorities in dealing with the heavy snow which affected much of the UK during February. Secretary of State,
International road freight activity: new data underlines sudden effects of recession
Tuesday 17th March 2009New data from the Department for Transport (DfT) shows that international road freight activity between Great Britain and continental Europe fell dramatically in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Road infrastructure charging: European Parliament reaches agreement on Eurovignette directive
Tuesday 17th March 2009The European Parliament has approved the 'Eurovignette' directive in its plenary session.
Powers to remove vehicles: Extended roles for Traffic Officers in the South East
Tuesday 17th March 2009From 3 March Highways Agency Traffic Officers in the South East started using new powers to order the quick and safe removal of abandoned, broken down and accident-damaged vehicles from the motorway network.
Motorway carriageway lighting: Highways Agency announces trials switch off between midnight and 0500
Tuesday 17th March 2009The Highways Agency has announced plans to trial switching off carriage lights on stretches of the motorway network in the South west of England.
A5117 Deeside Park Junction improvement
Tuesday 17th March 2009The official opening of the £61 million A5117 Deeside Park Junctions Improvement. Work began in October 2006, with traffic using sections of the new road from last Easter.
Road safety for pedestrians and cyclists: NAO study expected in Spring 2009
Tuesday 17th March 2009The National Audit Office (which is responsible for assessing the efficiency and effectiveness with which public money is used)
FTA meets Transport Secretary, Geoff Hoon
Wednesday 11th March 2009Last week FTA's Chief Executive, Theo de Pencier, and Director of Policy and Communications, James Hookham, met with Transport Secretary, Geoff Hoon MP. FTA raised three key issues with the Secretary for State.
Transport Tribunal: climbdown secured over proposed changes
Wednesday 11th March 2009The Tribunal, Courts and Enforcement Act reorganised how tribunals function; creating a two-tier system known as First Tier Tribunals and the Upper Tribunal.
Effects of adverse weather conditions on transport in the United Kingdom: Transport Committee launches new inquiry
Wednesday 11th March 2009The House of Commons Transport Committee has today announced that it will hold public evidence sessions on the level of disruption to transport across the country caused by the snow in early February.
Vehicle height limits in the Republic of Ireland: overall running height of vehicles restricted to 4.65m from November 2013
Wednesday 11th March 2009Legislation has been produced in the Republic of Ireland which will effectively limit the running height of vehicles to 4.65 metres across the country from 2013.
Rail freight: FTA launches Rail Freight Guide for Shippers
Wednesday 11th March 2009FTA has produced a new guide, ‘Making Use of Rail - A Guide for Shippers'.
Economic regulation of airports: Government consultation published
Wednesday 11th March 2009The DfT has issued a consultation on the economic regulation of airports.
Capital confirms bus and tram merger
Friday 6th March 2009Councillors in Edinburgh will be asked next week to press ahead with the planned merger of Lothian Buses and the capital's tram firm pending resolution of the tram construction row, The Scotsman has learned.
Diesel prices: further falls
Tuesday 3rd March 2009UK contract bulk diesel prices fell last week.
Freight trends: industry pessimism continues
Tuesday 3rd March 2009FTA's latest quarterly Transport Activity Survey undertaken during January 2009 shows weakening levels of road and rail freight activity. After a slow Christmas period, business expectations for domestic road freight activity are at a low ebb. Activity is weakest in the construction and retail sectors.
Tax-free overnight subsistence: new rates for 2009
Tuesday 3rd March 2009HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed the following tax-free overnight subsistence rates for 2009
Wearing of seat belts in hgvs: DfT highlights low incidence of use
Tuesday 3rd March 2009The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently pursuing an initiative to highlight the poor wear rate of seat belts in hgvs. Such restraints have been a statutory fitting to all vehicles over 3,500kg since October 2001.
Air quality: Defra seeks views on undershoot of targets
Tuesday 3rd March 2009In 1999, the UK Government agreed with other EU states binding limits on concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants affecting local air quality.
