LEIGH

Firefighters were called into action last night after a vehicle went up in flames

A crew from Leigh fire station was dispatched to Orrell Road at midnight today (Thursday) after receiving reports of a vehicle fire.

On arrival, they found a Peugeot Partner minibus well alight.

Firefighters revealed the blaze was ignited by a mechanical fault, and there were no suspicious circumstances.

Crews spent 45 minutes dousing the flames, but the vehicle was completely destroyed.

The driver, who was not carrying any passengers at the time of the incident, escaped unharmed and remained at the scene.

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DUNDEE

Taxi drivers who switched to electric cars are switching back to fossil fuel engines ahead of the council introducing fees for charging their cars, it has been claimed.

The Tele understands a number of drivers have either made the switch from electric vehicles (EVs) to traditional diesel-powered cars, or are in the process of doing so.

Frustrated drivers say the added cost of paying for charging means EVs will cost more to own in the long run than conventional cars.

The Tele revealed in January Dundee City Council was set to introduce fees for electric car charging later this year, following similar moves by other councils such as Dumfries and Galloway.

However, the charge plan has been criticised by drivers who bought EVs because of the promise of free charging, which are said to offset the extra costs associated with buying one.

Chris Elder, local Unite the Union taxi representative, claimed drivers would end up spending as much on charging their cars as they would filling up on diesel. As a result, he said, there was no longer an incentive to switch.

“If Dundee charges the same rates as Dumfries and Galloway it would cost drivers £10-12 to charge them up,” Mr Elder said.

“If they’re charging that Saturday and into Sunday they’re looking at possibly £40 in all for charging – plus the cars are more expensive.”

A basic model Nissan Leaf – a popular EV taxi in Dundee – is £27,995, including a £3,500 government grant. However, the diesel Skoda Octavia saloon is £20,000.

Dundee City Council has been persuading locals to buy EVs to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.

It has spent millions on dedicated electric charging hubs across the city and rapid chargers inside its multi-storey car parks.

Because EVs do not produce emissions, they are immediately better for air quality than an equivalent conventionally fuelled car.

Mr Elder insists taxi drivers are awake to the environmental benefits of electric taxis.

He said: “The council has jumped the gun. We should be incentivised to choose low-emission vehicles like hybrids and when the infrastructure is there look at electric vehicles. It is ridiculous they are thinking of charging fees now.”

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DROITWICH

A DRINK driver was caught while moving his car onto his driveway after getting a taxi home, a court heard.

Bradley Birch, aged 27, said he was less than a hundred yards from his property when he was pulled over.

He had been released from police custody just before the offence took place - and had been advised that he was over the limit.

Birch, who was defending himself, said: “I got a taxi to the lane. I drove no more than a hundred yards. It was in the early hours of the morning. I wanted to put the car safely on the drive...because there’s been so many issues around there. I didn’t think anyone would be in danger.”

Birch, of Goldcrest Way, Droitwich, pleaded with the magistrates to allow him to keep his licence, claiming his livelihood depended on it and that he had a mortgage to pay.

He also said he did not believe he was over the limit.

The defendant handed a character reference to the magistrates and also said he had a letter showing that he took a taxi home.

Shafquat Reaz, prosecuting, said the defendant was in police custody for a separate matter, which did not result in any charges, before his drink driving offence.

The court heard that officers advised him he would likely be over the limit when he was released - as he had been drinking.

Mr Reaz added: “He gave them assurances that he would get a taxi. That’s why they parked their vehicle by his address.”

Birch pleaded guilty to drink driving in his silver Range Rover in Goldcrest Way on February 25.

He had a reading of 64 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Worcester Magistrates Court banned him from driving for 17 months and told him to pay a £450 fine, £135 in costs and a £45 victim surcharge, on March 14.

The defendant shook his head as the disqualification was announced.

He said: "I won't have a job now from this day onwards."

The magistrates said they considered whether there were 'special reasons' not to disqualify the defendant, however they decided that the ban was justified as he had been advised not to drive by the police.


They argued that this cancelled out the short distance that Birch drove, while under the influence.

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/17519705.droitwich-drink-driver-caught-after-getting-taxi-home/
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