There is a huge plethora of anti-motorist legislation and rules that are being implemented across the country.
I commit to fiercely oppose all these schemes, particularly if there are plans to implement them in the Havant Constituency.
- The 2030/35 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
- Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)
- 15-minute-cities and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)
- 20mph speed limits in cities, towns and villages
- Speed humps
- Over-taxation of fuel
- HS2 and Smart Motorways
These schemes are designed to put fear into us to make us easier to control. Please remember that the Conservatives demanded the ULEZ extension in London as evidenced by this letter from The Rt Hon Grant Shapps to Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London.
1. The 2030/35 ban on new petrol and diesel cars
I am absolutely opposed to the 2030/35 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles. The difficulties with this plan are: the current far lower range of Electric Vehicles (EVs) than Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars; the poor availability of car chargers; the slowness of EV car chargers; for anyone towing, the range reduction of 50%; and finally, the significantly higher cost of EVs over ICE cars; the inability of drivers who cannot install a car charger at home to benefit from cheap energy. Finally, there is a lack of capacity in the National Grid to power a 100% EV UK.
I believe that as battery technology improves; the National Grid infrastructure is expanded and EV cars get cheaper and better, people will voluntarily move to EVs; I cannot accept that it is right for this proposal to continue.
The Conservatives are now proposing, to change the 2030 date to 2035; what is to stop them from bringing the date forward again? My position is that there should never be a ban on new petrol and diesel cars - let the market decide what cars should be manufactured.
2. Ulta Low Emission Zones (ULEZ)
I am totally opposed to ULEZ whether they be in Portsmouth or London. These schemes have been implemented to raise even more revenue from the motorist, who already pay "Road Tax" to use our roads. Modern cars have become far more fuel efficient, and they release fewer hydrocarbons, meanwhile there is a steady improvement in the MPG of vehicles. Older cars will naturally come off the road following mechanical failure and the result of motorists wanting more modern vehicles and features.
From 29 August 2023, The Labour Party in London extended the ULEZ charging zone to all London Boroughs. If The Labour Party had really wanted to reduce pollution for passengers in London, they would have focused on the pollution in the London Underground system - but that would not have raised revenue from the motorist.
3. 15-minute-cities and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)
This is a scheme where cities and towns are divided into cells with residents only able to drive from one cell to another a limited number of times per year. In Oxford, controlled by the Labour Party, the proposal is six cells with a 100-trip annual allowance and enforcement by CCTV cameras and fines for violations. In Havant, we could see cells for Hayling Island, North Havant and West Havant with the fines revenue going to Havant Borough Council's coffers.
To implement these proposals, roads would be blocked off, moving traffic elsewhere; emergency vehicles would find responding more difficult and the disabled who rely on their cars would be severely impacted. If residents needed to regularly cross into adjacent cells for family, medical or shopping reasons, they would be fined if they broke their trip limit.
I cannot emphasise how much I oppose these 15-minute-city and Low Traffic Neighbourhood schemes.
4. 20mph speed limits in cities, towns and villages
There is a continued drive across the country for blanket 20mph speed limits across large areas of towns and villages. We should trust drivers to drive sensibly and follow sensible maximum speed limit signs, whilst remembering that these are maximum, and not minimum speed limits. There are times in heavy rain, sleet or snow, or when there is much traffic, requires driving at far lower speeds. Meanwhile, driving under 20mph requires a lower gear in a car, causing unnecessary greater emissions and pollution.
Wales has implemented a country-wide 20mph limit in Urban areas, and Labour want this limit across the UK.
I do not want the country employing bureaucrats to review every stretch of road and mandating speed limits. My position is to keep the urban limit at (maximum) 30mph and let's trust the drivers (and prosecute them if they are negligent) to be sensible.
5. Speed humps
There are lengths of highways that require traffic-calming measures to deter motorists from speeding and causing unnecessary danger to others. However, I do not believe speed humps are the answer as they: cause damage to car suspension systems; cause injury to drivers with back problems; cause damage via vibration to nearby properties; and require more road maintenance.
A better method of traffic control is chicanes like this image, which is on a route I often drive on in Hampshire. I, therefore, support the removal of speed humps and their replacement with alternative methods of traffic-calming.
6. Over-taxation of fuel.
The current fuel duty is 52.95p/litre making 63.54p/Litre the value of tax on each litre bought on forecourts. Chancellor Hunt wished to increase fuel duty by a further 23%, but was compelled to back down following dissent for fellow MPs.
High fuel charges have a direct effect on inflation as well as causing our economy to shrink. Howard Cox has for years led the FairFuel campaign, and I urge you to review his website here.
Howard Cox is also opposed to LEZs, ULEZs, and the 2030 ban on new car and diesel vehicle sales. He also exposes the anti-polution lies.
Please support Howard, as Howard is on our side.
7. HS2 and Smart Motorways
HS2 is a white elephant for which no business case exists. The project was originally planned to cost £32.7 billion in 2012, however, costs are now likely to exceed £200 billion. In 2020, the cost was calculated at £307,000,000 per mile of track. This is an outrageous waste of money. The project must be cancelled and future spend committed to improving the regional rail network and our roads. I ask, are there vested interests in making personal money from this project? It stinks!
I am very uncomfortable driving on Smart Motorways, especially the M27 and M3 in Hampshire that I use frequently. There can be no doubt that safety is impaired through the lack of a safer hard shoulder, which allows motorists whose car has failed to easily move to the left, to stop on the hard shoulder, leave their car and telephone for help. You may wish to visit Smart Motorways Kill to read more about the issue. Personally, I always try and avoid the left-hand lane on Smart Motorways, and I am committed to having all Smart Motorways returned to having a permanent hard shoulder to allow easy access to accidents by emergency vehicles and provide a refuge.