News

Fast food chain McDonalds is to open a ‘green’ restaurant that uses solar tubes to pipe natural light into the premises, sunflower-seed board and bamboo fittings and a re-charging facility for the drivers of electric vehicles. As the world’s largest franchise, with restaurants in 120 countries and 1.5 million employees, McDonalds’s demand...

The case of a man who has been found to be over the legal alcohol limit while driving on nine occasions should act as a warning to others, a top police officer has said. Chief superintendent Brian Anderson made the comments in reference to John Morrison, who was recently sentenced to eight months in prison for latest of these incidents. The...

Drivers should not cut corners when it comes to car cover, according to the British Insurance Brokers’ Association. Steve Foulsham, technical services manager for the body, commented that there are concerns that people may take this route during the recession. However, he said that those cutting corners on policies may be in for...

The demand for bicycles in Britain has tripled in the past year, leading to shortages of certain models of bike. Bicycle sales are a seasonal affair, but given the slump in high street spending this year it is particularly impressive that annual sales soared in June by more than 20 per cent. A poll this month by the Association of Cycle...

As Spain and the Czech Republic become the latest nations to offer car ‘scrappage’ schemes, Italy is offering its travelling public an altogether greener alternative by becoming the first European country to subsidise the cost of bicycles. The Italian government has made available £8m to subsidise the purchase price of bicycle or electric...

Northern Ireland’s environment minister has warned motorists over the dangers of drink-driving. Edwin Poots was commenting on the issue as a new road safety media campaign is being launched. He pointed out the impairment those who drink alcohol before getting behind the wheel suffer. Mr Poots said: "Drivers who buy and consume a...

Boris Johnson has been urged by Volvo to review the criteria for exemption from the London congestion charge. According to the car maker, the fact that hybrid cars do not have to pay the £8 per day charge is outdated and unfair due to the number of conventionally-powered low-carbon vehicles on the roads that do pay the levy. Stuart Kerr,...

The government’s preoccupation with electric vehicles (EVs) not yet on the market is at the expense of the environment according to Britain’s leading supplier of battery-powered cars and vans. Aixam Mega says that government electric vehicle programmes and incentives focus exclusively on technology that is still a long way from being...

Bus travel in England could become greener thanks to a new government scheme. A £30 million fund is available to councils and bus operators so that they can buy fuel-efficient vehicles. Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, said: “For the sake of our environment and the air quality in our towns and cities it’s important to encourage the...

Police in Grampian have criticised the driving of some young motorists after 28 cases of careless or drink-driving over the last weekend, describing it as ‘madness’. Leslie Harrold, road safety manager for Grampian police, said that it was lucky no one had been killed in these incidents, one of which included a motorist travelling at...