malumbu

This goes back to my early comment about the level of ignorance. Car making has long since been a global industry. Whilst since the 80s and governments have run down our manufacturing sector in favour of the service industries, the UK has become more specialist in terms of production hence Ford make most of their diesel engines for Europe in the UK. Coupled to that we weren't very good at mass production of cars in most of the UK's factories which was another factor in relocating. Of course that is a sweeping statement as there are some better run factories nowadays such as Cowley and Sunderland. But if you know better CPR.....

I've just had to leave watching QT on catch up due to the lack of knowledge by most of the panel and by the audience. I don't know why there is so much mass ignorance about net zero. Some brief history. As the UK motoring industry has contracted over recent decades the UK has become more niche, whether it is making Ford engines for much of Europe in Bridgend and Dagenham, or the high tech innovations particularly in the West Midlands. On the latter we have become world leader. We've had the target of no new conventional car sales by 2030 for a good ten years, and this has been well on trajectory. Johnson decided to ban the sales (before this it was all about market conditions) so he could show how much better the UK was that the rest of Europe. He didn't need to do that but he did. Similarly under May we announced how we could do things much better in terms of farming and the natural environment now we were not shackled by EU legislation. Well that proved a great success didn't it.... Four years ago things were looking so positive when government published their Road to Zero Strategy https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739460/road-to-zero.pdf, and we were amongst world leaders in connected and autonomous vehicles, and mobility as a service. I had to pinch myself but this was under May, and at the launch which I attended Secretary's of States were tripping over each other to be part of this. What on earth has happened since? This cannot just be down to Covid. From our net zero ambitions to zero ambition in a few years. And we will lose out in terms of our high tech industries. Back to your hobby horse Rocks. Mayor Khan has the authority to introduce a measure to reduce the number of older polluting cars on the streets. This will never be a popular decision in the outer boroughs. So what? And Starmer could have simply said that this was a local decision, and there are difficult conversations to be had about reducing both emissions of pollutants and carbon. We fundamentally disagree on car ownership Rocks. If it was just about utility then we'd see far more small city cars on our roads and many more would use Zip and other car clubs. It's a dream, the motor industry has been selling a dream well beyond before our lifetime. So if you have the money then why not indulge yourself? Well you are free to but don't pretend that it is essential to have a certain type of car or a car at all. In my 20mph thread I said that a small majority of Welsh live in urban areas, according to various publications over 80% of the UK population live in urban areas, so no, cars are only essential for a minority of the population. Whilst I am peed off on how this will affect technology and innovation in the motoring sector, I'm far more upset on the wider announcements eg phasing out gas boilers. Time for bed. I could go on and likely will.

Hopefully for most not a controversial issue. Wales has introduced 20mph limits on urban roads. Just as we have in most inner boroughs in London. Government has commented that this was cost loads in lost production ignoring that many urban areas in England have it already, which fits in with their love motorists and manufactured culture wars agenda. I listened to the repeat of Any Questions on Saturday so left it too late to comment but the panel were pretty useless and uninformed. Phil Redond sticking up for the motorist said that as Wales in rural they all need cars there. Perhaps your hols stopped in Colwyn Bay Phil but according to the Encyclopedia Britannia four fifths of Welsh people live in urban settlements. 20 mph has to go along with public information campaigns. It can lead to smoother roads and definitely less deaths, ideally without the need for traffic calming that has to be used because so many drivers will just ignore it otherwise.

Saturday Guardian had a not particularly interesting article on air pollution, ULEZ and the like. Too late to write to them but they could have been clearer. Mayor Khan's estimate on 4000 deaths (which are the same that Mayor Johnson also gave) due to air pollution is based on the official government figures loosely scaled down to the population of London, A ten year old could work that out. Shame on Rees-Mogg for saying that only one person has died of air pollution. Deaths are approximate lives saved if we could have air with no toxic pollutants and accounts for other contributing factors.

I think that says it all. We will move from world leaders in electric vehicles to also rans, It does not give a signal to overseas' investors that Britain is the place to do business. Don't just listen to me, this is what the experts in the industry say including Ford and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders say. Ford's UK chair Lisa Brankin criticised the move. She said the original 2030 target "is a vital catalyst to accelerate Ford into a cleaner future", adding the company had already invested £430m in upgrading its UK plants to produce electric cars. "Our business needs three things from the UK government, ambition, commitment, and consistency. A relaxation of 2030 would undermine all three," she said in response to the BBC reporting the prime minister was considering weakening several green commitments, to save money. Stellantis, which owns Vauxhall, Peugeot, Citroen and Fiat, said it was "committed to achieve 100% zero emission new car and van sales in the UK and Europe by 2030", regardless of any delay to the ban. But it added "clarity is required from governments" over such issues. Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufactures and Traders (SMMT), said consumers would be sent an "incredibly confusing" message due to the delay. "The concern now is, does this cause consumers to delay their purchase [of an electric car]?," he told the Today programme. Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC motoring group, said the announcement of the delay risked "slowing down both the momentum the motor industry has built up in switching to electric". My favourite (unattributed personal views from the sector and certainly not published): What an appalling, disingenuous statement… his press conference was delivered like a bedtime story to a large group of children. There’s certainly one thing Britain is world class at: delivering delusional policy announcements. Starmer, please don't follow suit. Just to add I would never have thought I would have wished for Johnson to be back, well on this issue anyway......

Is there a Facebook site? If not worth setting one up. I've joined one for my old primary school, an odd experience connecting with people after all these years

Got loads of veggy cookbooks but tend to go on line in particular BBC

Rather a sweeping statement on underprivileged workers. Comparisons with the 1970s pander to the GB news crowd, it's like comparing a small punch up at a lower division football match with 1000s scrapping at Man U away matches in 1975. A different world and a different scale. Working life in Australia is also very different in the 1970s they called striking the "English disease" where days lost through industrial action down under per worker were higher down under. For many sectors we need stronger worker protection, and better pay and conditions - hospitality, catering and care being great examples. Hands up who orders food to be delivered by someone on zero hours contracts. Rather than government saying over 50s should become delivery riders, better if they said that Deliveroo should make their riders PAYE, give them training, ensure they use lights and night and don't ride illegal bikes (better still provide them).

Action fraud: www.actionfraud.police.uk Cifas - personal registration when you have had ID theft www.cifas.org.uk/pr

I was talking about grey squirrels, someone posted about bats at the same time hence I added another paragraph to clarify. Vermin/invasive species in order of my dislike: Squirels Rats Feral pigeons Canada geese Green squawky things I'd only kill the top two if in the house. I'm nice to house mice, love spiders, tolerate wasps, try not to kiil ants, and depends on how much damage they are doing can live with snails and slugs. At ease with most species that have long since become native such as starlings. And foxes with their supernatural sounds at night don't bother me either.

I got hacked at Xmas. It may have started with the theft in the post of a new card, but they probably got into my emails as well. Most ID crime is on line. Change all your passwords, set up dual whatsitsface authentication, contact all your financial institutions, register on a credit rating agency, and report to the frauduline site. Will post link later. It's horrible and very intrusive. My mobile number was also stolen which alerted me to the likelihood that my banks were being approached. Calling them up to be told that I had already phoned them that day was surreal. Some financial institutions were better than others. Good news was that I wDnit out of pocket - a few £k was taken. Also makes you paranoid that someone is watching you at home. I found that it is relatively easy for them to transfer your number and crack your credit rating.

Don't catch them as by law they have to be killed. Best to get them in a black plastic bag and hit them on the head with a spade. Maximum two hits otherwise it is inhumane. They are an invasive species that have caused serious damage to our ecosystem. Sorry that was about grey squirrels. Went on a lovely bat walk last week at Nunhead cemetery. We occasionally see bats in our street, probably due to proximity to Horniman Gardens

It happens everywhere. I won't go on about my experience both from my school days and those of my family. It's not right but hopefully schools and police do their best to tackle it. What a silly post by the way CPR, hope you are not trying to get this part of the site suspended too

Because One Dulwich pretend to be in favour of action to reduce emissions, heavily caveated, but when asked come up with a load of words ignoring the question. Hmm sounds like some on this forum. Wouldn't energies be better spent campaigning for things to be done rather than stopped? I'll cut and paste some words from them idc, and check the definition of flannel pdq

I contacted One Dulwich to ask them what measures they would introduce. Got a load of flannel back. Let's face it, a single issue group with no alternative options for tackling poor air quality and climate change. Pretending they care about it is just a front.

Crazy Horses, by the Osmonds, decrying gas guzzlers and pollution in 1970s USA. I expect future generations will look at us with the same words "see what they've done"

According to Peter Skellern, lady and man are appropriate gender specific terms. Happy to hear of a gender fluid equivalent to the person on the Clapham Omnibus. Well that probably is the appropriate term.

Cycle racks are not secure Rocks. I've had bikes stolen from them. Cycle hangers can also he broken into but have an extra layer of security. However you see yourself the man or lady on the Clapham Omnibus would see you as pro car and anti bike.

Oh just throw it back with your anti cycling stuff. Cyclists have to pay for secure on street parking. Hopefully money from the CPZ will make cycle parking free.

Earl's made a fair point. Why not debate it with him,/her rather than dismiss it. We've had people in the past use the road as a second hand car lot.

This thread does not seem to be a discussion, worse is when people just post a link without any explanation

I used this as my commute for a few years, returning in the dark in winter and in the occasional post work trip to the pub. Never had any issues or saw anything untoward. Yes I expect from time to time there is some bother but hopefully not frequently enough not to use the route.

Bessemer Grange is also brilliant at getting their kids trained. Everyone should get themselves a free cycle lesson. It's all about sharing the road and reducing hazards

It's good, lots of kids at Bessemer Grange school walk and cycle. Those on faster rides don't wake up in the morning think "let's cycle into a child today' Bessemer Grange is also brilliant at getting their kids trained. Everyone should get themselves a free cycle lesson. It's all about sharing the road and reducing hazards

So no restriction on where we are allowed to drive then? Let's open up all closed roads, make two way one way, get rid of those pesky speed bumps and narrowed sections, and whilst we are at it paint over double yellow lines. Drivers should be trusted to do the right thing. There is loads of evidence to show that if you do this, perhaps in rural Sweden, that driving speeds come down and everybody shares the road with a smile on their face. Ah, I remember, I saw a documentary on this, believe it was called to the Truman Show. So serious question - does society need controls on where and when motorists drive, what they drive and how they drive? For many on this site it appears not. Here's the evidence for you to peruse