Olympics infrastructure plans threaten three months of road blocks and delays.

Plans set out for London’s travel infrastructure during next year’s Olympic & Paralympic Games have led to fears of a hundred days of chaos for the capital’s motorists and other travellers.

Transport for London (TfL) who have initiated the plans are faced with a widespread outcry of the scale of their proposals which include 108 miles of routes classified as no-stopping zones for vehicles and only permitting deliveries in some areas between the hours of midnight and six o’clock in the morning.

The aim is to provide smooth running of the Games with undisturbed access for athletes, the media and other VIPs between various events over a total period of competing lasting around twenty eight days. 

As part of this, Games lanes are also being created which are off limits to non-Olympics traffic, with penalty charge notice fines of up to £100 for those who are caught travelling on these routes without authorisation.

The Olympic Games will take place between 27th July and 12th August 2012 and the Paralympics will follow just over two weeks later, commencing on 29th August and finishing on the 9th September.

However, the logistics involved in organising the two events has meant that TfL has earmarked changes to be commenced well before the Olympic Games opening ceremony in late July and to continue until well after the closing ceremony of the Paralympics in early September.

Looking for your next apprentice? The Good Garage Scheme can help you find the right recruit for you.

This summer will see a fresh influx of school leavers seeking placements either in full-time education or in apprenticeships. With the highly-publicised hike in university admission fees, many may decide to choose apprenticeships over degrees or diplomas. Competition is intense and in order to stay ahead you need to act quickly.

Skillnet are working with the Good Garage Scheme to assist with the recruitment and training of apprentices. A wide variety of apprenticeships are available.

What are the benefits of hiring a new apprentice for your business?

You are giving an opportunity to a young person to become a technician in a highly skilled field. With the increasing complex developments made to vehicles every year, quality technicians are in great demand. Hiring an apprentice can also help you gain profits for your business. The additional revenues and productivity of your business can reap great rewards.

Skillnet seek to match apprentices with your business to help you find the right candidate. They train the recruits in the most up-to-date procedures and innovations. Each potential apprentice is put through a stringent application process.

For sixteen to eighteen year olds, apprenticeships are Government-funded so your only contribution is the apprentice’s wages. If you would like further information on recruiting an apprentice, Skillnet can be contacted directly by telephone on 01923 216165 or on their website.

RAC and Willson urge Government to scrap VAT on electric cars

The Government is being asked to suspend VAT on electric vehicles in an effort to increase demand and therefore stimulate sales of vehicles and aid investment in green motoring. The request has been highlighted by Quentin Willson, formerly of Top Gear and more recently one of the leaders of the Fair Fuel UK campaign, and the RAC.

Mr Willson, in attendance of his Drive the Future Show, located at the 2011 Canary Wharf London Motorexpo this week, said: ‘While the Government gives £5,000 grants for electric vehicles they're still far too expensive. Clawing back thousands of pounds of that grant in VAT isn’t helping. We need to create demand among consumers and confidence for investors.’

Adrian Tink of the RAC added: ‘This is about making green cars more affordable, creating jobs, cleaning our air and giving drivers' confidence to make more fuel-efficient car-buying choices.’

Coupled with the grant, suspension of VAT charges would give potential savings of up to around £10,000 which would bring purchasing costs more in line with vehicles a lot more commonplace in the market.

The Drive the Future show gives visitors the opportunity to drive and ride in a variety of vehicles at no charge. These include environmentally-friendly cars, Electric Vehicles (EVs) and hybrids. Vehicles on display include the Nissan Leaf, the VW Polo BlueMotion and the new Vauxhall Ampera.

For more information on the London Motorexpo, which runs until June 12th, please click here.

Annie Othen discusses trusting garages on BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire

Having taken her car in for an MOT yesterday, Annie Othen raises the question on her programme, “How can we trust a garage when we know so little about cars?” and asks listeners about their experiences at garages.

The Good Garage Scheme was invited by BBC Radio Coventry & Warwickshire to participate in Annie’s programme. Angelo Chillari, representing the Good Garage Scheme, explained why Good Garage Scheme garages can be trusted. They abide by a Code of Conduct and provide customers with a 50 point Industry Standard Checklist when servicing cars. Motorists can have a look at the checklist prior to taking their car in for a service by visiting www.GoodGarageScheme.com and downloading it from the website.

Angelo said, 'It is vital to build a relationship with the garage. Help your garage to build the relationship. Ask for old parts. Good Garage Scheme members won’t mind showing customers the parts because it shows you are interested in your car and interested in finding out how it works.'

He added, 'The Good Garages Scheme’s Code of Conduct is just very good, basic business practice.  It encourages garages to look after their customers.'

Angelo told Annie and her listeners that the best way to learn more about the Good Garage Scheme was to visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com and enter a postcode to “find a garage you can trust”.  There is information on the website to help motorists learn about their cars and when to have a service.

Motorists urged to make vital vehicle checks ahead of potential surge in ‘staycations’

Motorists looking to holiday in the UK this summer because of concerns over ash clouds or flight disruptions are being urged to make vital vehicle checks to avoid ‘staycation’ disasters.

The call has come from the UK-wide Good Garage Scheme ahead of holidaymakers taking to the nation’s roads this summer in vehicles which could leave them stressed and stranded.

The Good Garage Scheme has launched its summer ‘Holiday Check’ campaign with a comprehensive 21-point checklist for over 3000 member garages aimed at ensuring their customers’ cars run as smoothly as possible during the holiday season.

Common problems on unchecked vehicles include failing to check coolant levels to avoid overheating engines and driving on tyres with the wrong pressure to cope with the increased weight of luggage and passengers.

Other checks that can be made before taking to the roads include brakes, clutches and power steering, fluids and oils to help prevent breakdowns on busy roads which could potentially ruin a holiday before it even starts.

Motorists still concerned about what to check on their vehicle can find their nearest Good Garage Scheme member offering a ‘Holiday Check’ by visiting www.goodgaragescheme.com

Phil Dugmore, Good Garage Scheme Technical Manager, said: 'The recent problems with the volcanic ash cloud have prompted many people in the UK to look closer to home for a holiday this summer. For those heading to the coast or other UK holiday hotspots this summer, making sure their cars are in the best condition possible can’t be stressed enough.'

'Power steering fluid and brake fluid are particular areas to look at, especially when you consider how much more work the brakes need to do with the additional weight on board. Statistics have shown that one in three vehicles needs brake fluid changing while around 3.5 million motorists in the UK are driving on illegal tyres. These are all potential problems that can be avoided, making sure motorists are driving safe vehicles that are less likely to wreck their family holidays.'

Reforms introduced to prevent abuse of Blue Badge parking bays applauded by Good Garage Scheme.

Norman Baker, the minister for local transport, has won the support of several major supermarket chains in his quest to prevent parking bays set aside for the disabled being abused by able-bodied motorists.

Reforms announced earlier this year to combat the problem have taken various forms. Most importantly, the badge has been redesigned to make forgery more difficult.

Local authorities have also been given greater powers to control illegal parking. However, as their powers do not extend beyond public highways, support of this scheme by such private land owners as supermarkets, has been vital. Their support of these chains will be provided by methods such as patrols within car parks, announcements on PA systems, and even parking charge notices, which can carry fines of up to £150.

The Blue Badge parking scheme enables disabled motorists to access facilities that would otherwise be out of reach but fraud of this kind is rife. For those whose mobility is impeded, it is a source of increasing frustration.

Mr Baker said: ‘I am delighted to have secured the support of the major supermarket groups and to know that they share my view that abuse of Blue Badge parking bays needs to be tackled, protecting customers who rely on such spaces. I hope other large retailers will now follow suit and consider what action they can take to help their Blue Badge customers.’

The Good Garage Scheme applauds Mr Baker’s efforts and would welcome his dream being realised.

Motorists wise up to better fuel efficiency

With escalating costs of fuel and insurance, we’re all well aware of how expensive the cost of motoring has become. Getting more for your money is becoming increasingly important with better fuel efficiency and keeping vehicles in the best possible condition high on the agenda.

How can I start?

Developing better driving habits is the key to ensuring YOUR vehicle is running as fuel efficiently as possible, including:

•    Staying within speed limits and avoiding driving aggressively
•    Avoiding sharp breaking and accelerating – and save up to 30% in fuel costs
•    Planning journeys to avoid extra mileage if you get lost
•    Removing roof boxes to reduce drag
•    Removing heavy items, such as tools, from your boot to avoid overworking the engine
•    Not overusing air conditioning

What next?

So you’ve started to change your driving habits but you still might not be driving as efficiently as possible. What’s the reason? Skimping on or simply ignoring your regular vehicle service. While you might think you’re making a saving in the short term, driving with the incorrect tyre pressure alone can significantly reduce fuel efficiency and fuel consumption by up to 2%.

Poor wheel alignment can lead to your car pulling to one side, again reducing fuel efficiency while increasing wear and tear on your tyres.

System contamination and increased wear and tear on components can be caused by failure to change the oil. It can all add up to one thing – a potentially hefty repairs bill when problems that could have been avoided start to crop up. STILL think you’re making a saving?

So what do I do?

Look for your nearest UK-wide Good Garage Scheme member at www.goodgaragescheme.com and type in your postcode to find your nearest member garage. A self-regulatory body for independent workshops and MOT centres, the Good Garage Scheme ensures the best industry standards are maintained by its members. It has more than 3,000 members who adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and offer an Industry Standard Service.

The Good Garage Scheme
‘It’s like having a friend in the know’
www.goodgaragescheme.com