HM Government

Traffic officers will be at the three-day event next week, organised by BBC Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans in aid of Children in Need, to run a kids’ driving school.

Motorists heading off on long journeys and holidays this summer are being urged to make sure their vehicles are ready for the road in a bid to cut the number of breakdowns.

And Highways England will be challenging both children and their parents at CarFest South to learn what vehicle checks need to be completed before they go on long journeys, to keep them safe.

Highways England chief highways engineer, Mike Wilson, said:

We’re delighted to be supporting the kids’ driving school at this year’s CarFest South event.

It will be a great opportunity for families to meet our traffic officers who provide vital support to the travelling public, keeping our network moving and our customers safe.

We’re also asking motorists heading off on holiday this summer to get their vehicles ready for the road in a bid to cut the number of breakdowns by undertaking a few simple checks focusing on tyres, fuel, water and engine oil.

CarFest South takes place at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire from 25th to 27th August. The brainchild of Chris Evans, it combines cars, food, live music and family entertainment and, in the last five years, the annual events have raised £7.4 million for BBC Children in Need.

Highways England has produced five short instructional videos on how to check tyre pressure, tyre tread, oil and water levels and lights to help prevent needless breakdowns and cut the unnecessary delays they cause.

Almost half of all breakdowns are caused by simple mechanical problems which could be avoided with simple checks and nearly a quarter are caused by tyre problems.

Meanwhile, around 22 motorists broke down each day during July and August last year because they had run out of fuel.

The videos cover:

• checking tyres – prior to setting off on a long/significant journey, check your tyre pressure and the condition of your tyres, including the spare. Look out for cuts or wear and make sure the tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, which is the legal limit
• checking engine oil – use your dipstick to check oil before any long journey, and top up if needed. Take your car back to the garage if you’re topping up more than usual
• checking water – to ensure you have good visibility, always keep your screen wash topped up so you can clear debris or dirt off your windscreen
• checking lights – if your indicators, hazard lights, headlights, fog lights, reverse lights or brake lights are not functioning properly, you are putting yourself and your family at risk. In addition, light malfunctions can be a reason for your vehicle to fail its MOT
• checking fuel – before setting out, check your fuel levels and make sure you have enough to get to your destination.

For more detailed information on how to carry out your vehicle checks, visit the Think campaign page.

Those wishing to find out more about driving on smart motorways can head to guidance on GOV.UK.

Members of the public should contact the Highways England customer contact centre on 0300 123 5000.

Journalists should contact the Highways England press office on 0844 693 1448 and use the menu to speak to the most appropriate press officer.

read more

A Foreign Office spokesman said: Our thoughts are with the victims of these terrible attacks and the people of Spain. We are currently assisting a small number of British people affected and are working to find out if any more need our help. We have … read more

Flags on Whitehall government buildings will fly at half-mast on Friday 18 August 2017, as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives and all others that were affected by the attacks in Barcelona on Thursday. Other organisations and local authori… read more

Qualifications offered by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health are no longer regulated as of 18 August 2017.

read more

• 26 proposals were submitted in response to the call
• Proposals came from spaceports all over the UK, working with vehicle operators from the UK, other European nations and the US
• Multiple proposals have been recommended for further consideration, to ensure any grant funding delivers the best outcome for the UK

The number of responses for government funding to support UK spaceflight has highlighted a strong interest in the UK commercial market for small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight. The UK Space Agency’s call for grant proposals to establish initial launch capability in the UK has now concluded, with a number of options being recommended for consideration.

In total 26 proposals were submitted to the call process, representing potential spaceports all over the UK and a range of launch and sub-orbital fight technologies. These were assessed by a panel of independent experts drawn from academia, industry and government. The panel looked at a range of criteria including technical feasibility, commercial sustainability and benefits to the UK.

Ross James, Deputy CEO of the UK Space Agency, said:

“The fact several proposals have been recommended for consideration reflects the exceptional strength of the field, and the high level of interest in LaunchUK. The funding requested exceeded £10 million, and we believe there may be a case for awarding a number of grants to establish the UK’s first spaceport and launch capabilities. We will now enter into dialogue with the relevant parties to ensure we are getting the best outcome for the UK.”

This is just the start of this exciting new endeavour in the UK, with further opportunities to be a part of the new market for those that missed out on the call. The UK Space Agency will continue to engage with organisations looking to participate in commercial small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight in the UK. Ross James added:

“This funding call is about establishing initial capability in the UK, but our wider ambition remains to grow a strong market, making the UK the best destination in Europe to participate in small satellite launch and sub-orbital flight.

“The proposals we received demonstrated an exciting future of new launch technologies and services. We will continue to engage with all organisations that wish to enter the UK market. We will be holding a second LaunchUK event later this year to bring together this community, and discuss our plans going forward in more detail.”

Final announcements about any awards of grant funding are expected later in this financial year.

read more