Fund for fixing 'extremely dangerous' Calderdale roads praised
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the cash from the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) scheme will be spent on roads and other highway infrastructure.
About £12m of the funding is expected to be spent on carriageway resurfacing, road reconstruction and repairing walls and bridges.In April, an investment of nearly £125m to improve roads in the region was agreed by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.Speaking at a council meeting, the Liberal Democrat councillor said: "I have three roads that are extremely dangerous to the point where [I've] had to put in a claim for damage to my tyre."It's about safety – ensuring that our roads are safe for our constituents to drive on."He added he hoped the cash would be spent "fairly and widely" throughout the whole borough, not just "some" parts of it.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
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The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
No grants available yet on EVs – but Hyundai adds to discounts along with MG, Alfa Romeo and Leapmotor
Two weeks after the government's surprise EV grant went live, there are still no cars listed on the official government website as being available with grant money applied to the list price. However, car makers are jumping in with their own 'EV grants' to avoid a stall in EV sales while car buyers wait to find out which cars are eligible for the government grants. The Electric Car Grant was announced on Monday July 14 and went live on Wednesday July 16. Car makers must apply for the grants, which are available on EVs up to the price of £37,000 and where car makers have signed up to low-carbon Science-Based Targets around manufacturing. Grants of between £1,500 and £3,750 will be available for eligible cars. While the announcement of the EV grant has been broadly welcomed by car makers, it took many of them by surprise, with some learning about the government plan via the media. One car company executive, speaking anonymously to The Independent, also confirmed that dealers were reporting customers cancelling orders until it was clear which cars were, and which weren't, eligible for grants. Hyundai is the latest car maker to offer its own electric grant, with the biggest discount available on Hyundai's smallest model. The Hyundai Inster – recently voted World Electric Car of the Year – gets a £3,750 'grant' bringing the entry-level car's price down to £19,755. There's still an additional £500 off if you go for Hyundai's low-rate PCP finance, too. The rest of the Hyundai electric car range, including models over £37,000, are also getting a £1,500 discount as part of the offer. Buyers of Chinese-made EVs were also left to reconsider their purchases with news that the government wasn't expecting those models to be eligible for the Electric Car Grant. Speaking on Radio Four, Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood, said, 'We don't expect any cars that are assembled in China to be eligible for this scheme. 'The grant is restricted to those manufacturers that reach minimum environmental standards. And, frankly, if you generate a lot of the electricity that powers your factory through coal power stations, then you are not going to be able to access this grant." The Department for Transport told The Independent: 'We expect dozens of models will be eligible but manufacturers will need to apply for the grant before we can confirm eligibility. We have held multiple calls with vehicle manufacturers to explain vehicle eligibility and how to apply for the grant. These discussions will continue to ensure manufacturers have all the information they need. 'All eligible models will be published on once the application has been approved. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis and as quickly as possible.' Chinese car brands have been quick to react by introducing their own 'EV grants' to stimulate demand among private buyers. Leapmotor was first out of the blocks with its Leap Grant, offering £1,500 off the Leapmotor T03, making it Britain's cheapest car at £14,495, while the Leapmotor C10 family SUV gets a £3,750 discount, taking the price down to £32,750. MG followed with its own EV grant, offering a discount of £1,500 off the MG4 and MGS5 EVs on top of existing offers, while another Chinese brand, GWM, has taken the full £3,750 off its GWM ORA 03 models with its Green Grant, bringing the starting price down to £21,245. It's not just Chinese brands applying discounts, though. Alfa Romeo is offering £1,500 off its Alfa Junior Elettrica range, on top of existing zero per cent finance offers and the promise of a free EV home charger with standard installation.
Telegraph
26 minutes ago
- Telegraph
I own six Morris Minors – including the rarest in the world
Car auctions can be nervous affairs at the best of times, especially when your heart is set on a particularly special vehicle. Just when you think the gavel's strike will signify yours is the winning bid, another offer is submitted, increasing the tension. Such see-sawing emotions were certainly part of the experience for Nottinghamshire-based Anna Ellison, 53, before she became the proud owner of a 1949-registered Morris Minor 'Lowlight'. But this isn't any old Morris Minor. It was the seventh example of the popular British classic to leave the production line, carrying serial number 507. With 501 (the first production car) in a museum and no trace of 502-506, Ellison owns not only the second oldest Minor in existence but the oldest in private ownership. Launched as an economy saloon in 1948 for under £400, the Morris Minor became so popular that it remained in production for more than two decades. The earliest model The 'Lowlight' tag instantly identifies this car as one of the earliest MM-Series production cars, which had headlights set low in the grille. Later 'Highlight' models had the lights set much higher, to meet new US regulations. Lowlights are rarer and more valuable than later models. Ellison, a corporate banking manager, spotted the car on Facebook. 'Earlier in the year Damian, my partner, and I had seen the very first Morris Minor ever produced at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon while attending the Morris Minor Owners' Club annual national rally,' she said. 'I loved the car, which was in platinum grey, had a wonderful comfy leather interior, large Bakelite steering wheel, incredibly long gearlever and gorgeous 1940s lines. 'Not long after, I spotted a similar car being auctioned. It was every bit as beautiful as 'Number 1' and I was smitten. I passed the iPad to Damian, saying: 'I think we have to buy this,' tongue in cheek really, because we already had three Morris Minors at that point.' However, the more they discovered about the car's history, the more determined they were to turn the dream into reality. 'Having read about the dedication and attention to detail the previous owner, Phillip Hughes, had shown in restoring and preserving the car, we wanted to ensure it continued to get the same care and attention. The only way to achieve that was to own it,' said Ellison. In tribute to the previous owner, the car is nicknamed Hughie. Nail-biting auction Ellison will never forget the day of the auction. 'A representative was there while Damian and I were on the other end of the phone. After a stressful few minutes, which felt like hours, we were literally jumping around our living room when it was confirmed ours was the winning bid.' They collected the car on the same day. 'The pride I felt when collecting him was immense, and I've felt that ever since.' How does Hughie perform, I wonder? 'He's much slower than other cars, even our Morris 1000s,' admitted Ellison. 'The 918cc side valve engine was only used in Morris Minors for a few years before changing to the 1,098cc A-series engine in 1952. But he's very smooth and feels safe and solid.' Who needs seatbelts? The lack of seatbelts takes some getting used to, according to Ellison. 'Many people fit them retrospectively, but we want to keep the car as original as possible. With the low speeds that we do, combined with limited mileage, we're comfortable with the risk that not having seatbelts represents. 'The interior is comfortable, too. Luxurious leather seats mean it's a pleasure to sit in and drive, viewing the way ahead above the Art Deco-styled dash, gorgeous brown steering wheel and curved bonnet. Of course, there's no air-conditioning, but the quarterlights are a decent alternative.' Ellison, who is the sixth registered owner of Hughie, admits that the car is very cosseted and only driven short distances on occasional dry days, usually to shows. As for its history, it's believed that the car was used as a showroom vehicle by Llantrisant Motors Ltd in Wales before being sold a few months later. 'Phillip Hughes bought the car in 1965 from a neighbour,' said Ellison. 'It had been re-sprayed blue with mod cons added. Realising how early the car was, Phillip restored it to the original condition. He was a real stickler for getting the details right and spent around 20 years searching for the correct rear lights.' The pursuit of happiness Why does Ellison have such a strong predilection for Morris Minors? 'They are 'happy' cars,' she replied. 'You meet so many people who either learnt to drive in one, had one as a first car or whose mum drove one when they were little. They were so popular that most people seem to have some form of connection.' Ellison and Damian have taken part in shows and events home and abroad, courtesy of the Morris Minor Owners' Club. Most recently, they drove to France as part of Minors on Tour. 'Every year, a member or group of members organises an overseas trip, usually to France, Belgium or the Netherlands,' said Ellison. 'Members make their own way, though many arrange to travel in convoy because there is safety in numbers in case of breakdowns and so on. 'This year around 70 Morris Minors gathered in the Loire Valley. It's a great opportunity to meet owners from further afield. Over the years, we've made many friends.' She said that her fascination with Morris Minors started during Covid, although she has always been interested in classic cars. 'My dad bought classic car magazines and I remember working through the classified adverts, circling all the cars I wanted,' she said. 'Fast forward to 2020 and for something to do while stuck at home, Damian and I started watching car auction sites which live-streamed their sales.' The John Noakes connection While watching an Anglian Car Auctions sale, a Morris Minor saloon sold for a reasonable sum. 'I mentioned to Damian how much I liked it and that we could afford one. He replied that the only Morris Minor he'd be interested in was registration plate 284 UPH, the Minor convertible used in the TV series Go With Noakes.' Six series were screened between 1976-80, with the late John Noakes travelling the country with his trusty dog, Shep. Said Ellison: 'John Noakes was Damian's childhood hero. A few days later, unbelievably, 284 UPH appeared on eBay. Some things are just meant to be, so we quickly bought it.' The 1961 Morris Minor 1000 Convertible – christened Nellie by Noakes – is the 'perfect classic car', according to Damian. 'We attended a Morris Minor rally in Wales, and as the parade of cars drove past we were applauded and everyone waved. It was a lovely feeling. Not many cars have that effect on people, perhaps it's because they hark back to happier, more simple times.' Since buying Nellie, five other Minors have joined their collection. Ellison explained: 'We enjoy all the aspects that Morris Minor ownership has provided, particularly the social aspect. We've developed a true passion for the cars. 'Each has its own character and they are a joy to own. We've had such great times because of the cars and feel a responsibility to ensure they will be around for future generations. 'I've fallen in love – hook, line and sinker – with the Morris Minor.' Minor obsession: Anna and Damian's collection Hughie Morris Minor MM Lowlight saloon, registered 1949, platinum grey. Bought at auction in September 2023 for £25,200. Little Richard Morris Minor MM four-door saloon, registered 1952, mist green, partly restored. Bought at auction in April 2023 for about £6,000. Big Dave Morris Minor 1000 Traveller (estate), registered 1966, old English white. Bought at auction in July 2023 for £16,200. Nellie Morris Minor 1000 convertible, registered 1961, old English white. Bought in September 2020 for about £10,000. Anthon Morris Minor MM Lowlight saloon, registered 1949, platinum grey. A barn find and currently unrestored. Bought February 2025 as part of a larger transaction, including spares. Unnamed Morris Minor MM Lowlight saloon, registered 1949, platinum grey. A barn find and currently unrestored. Bought February 2025, as above.
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
Britain's most stolen cars revealed with humble motor topping the list… where does your vehicle rank?
BRITAIN'S most stolen cars have been revealed with a humble motor topping the list from the Government's most recent car theft statistics. The data shows which motors are the most commonly stolen in the UK. Range Rover owners can breathe easy but Hilux owners should be concerned after the sturdy Toyota pick up topped the list. Thefts of the reliable Japanese four-by-four were up 549 per cent in 2024, equating to 584 missing motors in just a year. Overall vehicle thefts were down 4.5 per cent last year but thefts of cars less than three-years-old rose by 6.6 per cent. Land Rover models came out well in the statistics with Range Rover Evoque thefts down a whopping 77 per cent. This brought the brand out of the list of top ten most stolen cars in Britain. The firm has been focused on security improvements with recent models after receiving a slew of theft reports from customers. Amidst the crime wave insuring a Range Rover, especially in the city, was nearly impossible for motorists. In response Land Rover's parent company JLR invested a whopping £1 million to fund proactive policing. This was aimed at tackling the organised crime groups suspected to be targeting the flash motors in the UK. The firm went on to splash out an eye-watering £17 million on updating the security of its motors. Watch moment brazen gang steals car from family driveway in under 20 seconds as thief claims robbing to order is like 'working for Amazon' This included retrospectively upgrading the key systems on 300,000 cars to the latest technology. As a result of the effort there are now no Land Rover models in the top 22 most stolen models for 2024. But car thieves have seemingly pivoted to target another off-road SUV. The near indestructible Toyota Hilux appears to be highly sought after by criminals who nick the motors using electronic bypasses to drive them off without a key. 4 The Hilux has a ready market in foreign countries where its ruggedness is prized and buyers are less concerned about where the motors came from. Richard Billyeald, chief research and operations officer at the insurance industry's Thatcham Research, said: 'Top destinations for stolen UK vehicles include the Democratic Republic of Congo, UAE, Cyprus, Jamaica and Georgia, driven by global shortages of car parts, high vehicle desirability and geopolitical disruption.' With so many Hilux' being stolen police forces across the country have begun issuing warnings to owners. After 11 were nicked overnight Bedfordshire Police urged owners to take extra care. North Yorkshire Police and Nottinghamshire officers have issued similar warnings. Toyota is fighting back though, a spokesman told the Telegraph: 'Toyota GB has invested millions of pounds in a variety of solutions that help protect cars from theft. "These include protective plates, immobilisers, blockers and trackers." BMW retained its second place in the most stolen list of younger cars and Korean brand Kia rose from fifth to third place. Hyundai has claimed that in the market after February 2024 all received the latest hardware and software technology and should be safe from thieves. Thefts by region varied with Greater Manchester seeing a 20 per cent reduction but Bedfordshire, Essex and Warwickshire saw increases. How to protect your car from thieves Wheel clamps are another great option that can prevent your car from being driven away. Again, they are highly visible as they are often sold in bright colours, and may deter opportunistic thieves looking for a quick and easy target. Traditional security measures are also considered when calculating insurance premiums. Rich Morley at Lancaster Insurance explains that, no matter what car you drive, classic or modern, traditional-style security measures can provide extra peace of mind and security for your vehicle, helping to deter thieves in the process. He added: 'When considering a risk profile, we will establish with customers any security measures they have in place to prevent potential theft."
