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Local Issues — Powys
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2007-06-08
Green Guru Invades Powys — In His Car
Green campaigner George Monbiot has single-handedly invaded Powys — in his car.
Mr Monbiot, a long time environmentalist, anti-car campaigner, and Guardian columnist, recently moved from Oxford to Machynlleth. On discovering the poorer provision of public transport he decided he needed a car to get around. I'm sorry did we say a car? Are we sure? Isn't this the guy who described us car drivers as "antisocial bastards"? Couldn't he have bought a horse and cart?
His car of choice is a second hand Renault Clio, prompting Jeremy Clarkson to say:
"I just hope the bonnet doesn’t fly up because he’ll be killed — then where would the world be?"
Monbiot told The Times:
"I still feel pretty awful about it. The car is a last resort and I haven’t even used a tank of petrol yet."
(The Clio is in fact a diesel.)
 
Croeso y Machynlleth
(namyn George Monbiot)
             
Having arrived in Machynlleth, Monbiot has been unable to resist his favourite oocupation — sticking his nose in where it isn't wanted. He has decided that Machynlleth needs speed cameras (apparently local people were incapable of realising that before he turned up).
He has also said that despite his new car purchase, he still believes there is no excuse for buying a 4x4 — an opinion which should make him very popular in rural Wales.
We're sure that the people of Machynlleth will make him feel very welcome.


This inappropriate 40 mph limit near Forden between Welshpool and Montgomery is typical of the way many local authorities are abusing speed limits. Imposing such unnecessarily low limits on what is basically a rural road serves only to incite contempt for speed limits where they are really needed.
 
2007-03-23
We're Not Telling You
Mid and South Wales Safety Camera Partnership are refusing to say how much money they make from each speed camera. The information was requested by the Evening Post after the Thames Valley Partnership were ordered by the Information Commisioner to release such information.
MSWSCP are obviously worried that the amount of money raised by those speed cameras which do nothing to reduce accidents would expose their little racket.
2006-06-22
Anti-Car Nonsense Hits Brecon
Following the construction of the Brecon inner relief road, Powys County Council decided to use it as an excuse to impose anti-car measures on the town in the form of closing Bulwark to all but PCVs (Politically Correct Vehicles). This has resulted in a loss of trade to many businesses. As usual, the council refuse to listen to anyone. The new road took through traffic away from the town centre anyway, there was absolutely no justification to close Bulwark. 2004-01-24
'Intimidatory Policing' Threatens Rally
Max Molsey. President of the FIA, warned that the World Rally Championship could be moved from Wales because of what drivers have called "intimidatory policing". As a result the Wales Rally GB only had a provisional date in the 2004 calendar. During the Monte Carlo Rally, Mosley spoke with many drivers who told him about the way they had been treated by the police.
"It's as though the police in Wales did not want the rally to be there and were doing everything they could to make the competitors feel unwelcome and uncomfortable."

Rally Drivers Exploited by Police
Four top rally drivers, including Briton Kris Meeke, were given driving bans after being caught by some of South Wales finest during the 2002 rally. Others including Colin McRae and Richard Burns have been fined.
BBC — Rally stars given driving bans
The simple question we need to ask is this: If these drivers constitute such a hazard that they need to be banned from our roads in order to protect the general public, then why did the authorities delay prosecution for 12 months, in the full knowledge that to do so would lead to them returning and covering around a thousand miles on Welsh roads at this year's event?
If this were really about road safety then surely they would have ensured that the cases were heard BEFORE this year's event. The only resason for waiting was to create a publicity opportunity — by deliberately and cynically waiting until after the rally to prosecute en mass, the powers that be could be sure of the full attention of the world's press. In all truth any bans imposed will now have no real effect on any of the drivers, and proves beyond all doubt that this is all just about money.

 
 
Volunteers Reduce Car Crime
A car park watch scheme which relies on volunteers and is backed by Dyfed-Powys Police has succeeded in reducing car crime by 50%.
BBC — Car crime slashed in Beacons
 
 
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