Cardiff's yellow box junctions are cash machines for the city council, according to analysis by the RAC, which has been looking at their legal implications. Almost every yellow box junction of 100 analysed in London and Cardiff is bigger than it needs to be to prevent traffic congestion, leading to countless unnecessary fines for drivers, a new study commissioned for the RAC has found. The RAC … [Read more...]
When Mini mastered the Monte – after Welsh debut
Sixty years ago, on 21st January 1964, a BMC Mini Cooper S took the first foreign international rally win on the 33rd edition of the Monte Carlo Rally for what became one of the most versatile and successful competition cars in history. Driven by Paddy Hopkirk and navigated by Henry Liddon, the 1071 cc, 90 bhp Cooper S defeated a top class and truly international entry of 300 cars, including a … [Read more...]
Welsh dealers sweep up KIA retail awards
Welsh dealers with the Kia franchise cleaned up in the brand's retail awards for 2023. For the third consecutive year, Gravells Kia Bridgend was awarded the prestigious ‘Dealer of the Year’ title and Jonathan Gravell (below left) received the trophy from Paul Philpott, President and CEO of Kia UK Limited in the dealer convention in Liverpool. An exceptional hattrick result was achieved by the … [Read more...]
Crash, bang, wallop – it’s National Pothole Day
To mark National Pothole Day, Go.Compare Car Insurance can reveal the top ten counties in England and Wales whose roads are most peppered with potholes today. Topping the peak pothole list was Derbyshire County Council, which reported 215,787 potholes over three years between January 2020 and December 2022. Two more northern counties took the 2nd and 3rd place spots, with Durham and Lancashire … [Read more...]
Public transport is failing Cardiff, says expert
Cardiff's very high levels of congestion is much more than an inconvenience for commuters – it is causing lasting harm to the city as a whole, according to Victoria Winckler, Director The Bevan Foundation. Commenting on a research paper by the Centre for Cities think tank, she said the underlying causes of traffic queues in Cardiff are different to other cities in Wales, the UK and Europe. The … [Read more...]
Wales’ drivers get more out of evs in winter
South and West Wales drivers will suffer less than the north of Britain as winter sweeps in and cuts the mileage from their electric cars and vans. Technical components distributor Distrelec estimates that the ideal climate for an EV is 21°C to get the most miles out of a single charge. Comparatively, EVs tend to achieve more mileage in climates that are milder. Distrelec’s research found Truro … [Read more...]
Newslines 22 September
In Cardiff this weekend, cyclists will be joined by British BMX Flatland Champion Matti Hemmings for a ride starting at PedalPower at 2pm and finishing at Cardiff City Hall. They are part of a global bike ride under the Kidical Mass movement to promote riding and child safety expected to be supported by 100,000 people and Swansea hosted a rideout last weekend. New rail services will be launched … [Read more...]
Best & worst places to buy used cars in UK
The most affordable major UK cities to buy a car between 1 and 5 years old have been revealed, with buyers potentially able to save thousands – if they’re willing to travel. According to data published by CarGurus – a leading online automotive marketplace to shop, buy, and sell used vehicles – the national average price of a 2018-2022 model year used car in Britain is £23,516, however, this can … [Read more...]
Every little helps for Wales ev drivers
Wales' capital city of Cardiff does not figure in the top 100 UK centres providing electric charging points for motorists. The Welsh cities with the most chargers from nationwide research by business services provider Direct365 were Newport, placed 33 overall with 0.2% of the total in Britain, and Swansea came in 58th with 0.1%. Cardiff fell out of the top 100 rankings and Tesco was the store … [Read more...]
Swansea is among cheapest in UK for residents parking
Residents in Swansea have Britain’s cheapest parking outside their homes - it’s free! Only Leeds can match them with nothing charged for residents’ parking permits but Cardiff charges £24 while Newport comes close with a £37 annual fee, but it’s also among the worst in Britain for obtaining a permit. By contrast, the City of London charges residents a hefty £1,543 annually to park outside their … [Read more...]