This is just one, recent, example of how dangerous these E-scooters are. Of course they in themselves are not dangerous. It is actually the misuse by individuals that is the danger.
Locally, the only E-Scooters that are legal for use on our roads are those from authorised hire companies. Privately owned E-scooters are illegal.
I don’t understand how the government allows the sale of these scooters in this country. Unlike cars and motorbikes owners are not required to have insurance, wear safety gear i.e. helmets and the vehicles are not even registered.
Frequently they are driven in an unsafe manner. Personally, I once saw one of these scooters veer off the pavement. It moved diagonally across the road directly in front of me. So suddenly that I had to perform an emergency stop. Clearly the rider did not look to see that his way was clear.
I have also seen one of these scooters, three up. i.e. three females hurtling up the centre of the road.
In this case the victim was Raquel Delgado-Calo. She is a veterinary surgeon. She suffered deep lacerations to her forehead which will leave permanent scarring. Raquel also received stitches to her nose and a fractured skull. She spent three days in hospital and three weeks off work followed by a three week phased return. In addition, she has suffered from eight weeks of concussion. She has experienced dizziness, which has caused the cancellation of surgeries at work. And then there is the ongoing anxiety when crossing roads.
In my view, the E-scooter rider, Joseph Pedalty has gotten off way too lightly.
He has been disqualified from roads for eighteen months. He also was handed an eighteen month community order. He was fined £120 plus costs taking his penalty to a total of £319. This includes charges for no insurance, failing to stop after an accident, and failing to stop at a red light.
The law is an ass.
Pedalty has 10 past convictions and had been disqualified from the roads for drink driving in 2021.
How do his fines and convictions possibly balance out the impact that he has had on this woman’s life.
A few years ago this site was the home of Marconi Underwater Systems. The site was closed, and the Marconi buildings and surrounds became derelict. The site has remained an eyesore for many years.
Around 2012 I, as a member of the Waterlooville Residents Forum, attended a presentation on behalf of a potential developer. At that time, per the presentation, the plans were to build a 60 bed hotel and restaurant. They also planned a car showroom and a drive thru restaurant. The developer went to great pains. He assured us that the drive thru was not going to be another McDonald’s.
Outline Application APP/12/00652 was submitted 4th October 2012. The recommendation was that permission be granted for this application. Since that time, the Marconi (BAE) buildings were demolished but the site remained undeveloped.
Until that is, along came Lidl and, yep, McDonald’s. But the remainder of the site remained untouched.
And now the council appear to have given the go ahead for a new KFC, Aldi, and Costa.
It’s not as if our little town doesn’t lack for coffee shops and cafe’s. As for fast food drive thru’s, we are surrounded. Nor are we short of Aldi stores, we actually have seven within a ten mile radius. Costa Coffee is even more pervasive with ten in a four mile radius.
There is a significant amount of residential construction in and around Waterlooville. With all the new residents I would agree that there is a need for eateries. But I would argue that there is a greater need for entertainment centres. Waterlooville residents frequently call for a cinema complex / bowling alley. Sadly nobody hears the call
And so, the construction of these three businesses leaves me disappointed. I feel that we, the residents of Waterlooville, have been let down again.
This is a post that I intended to publish last year. But, as is often the case, time and stuff got in the way. This is from April, 2024.
Last year we were invaded by a contingent from our Australia based rellies. They arrived mid April and we elected to take a trip up to York for a few days.
We spent a lovely few hours in Thirsk, a pretty market town located about a forty minute drive north of York in the Vale of Mowbray. Thirsk is the hometown of renowned vet and author James Herriot. Thirsk is depicted as Darrowby in the TV series.
Clock Tower – Thirsk Market Square
We parked in the market square and were immediately immersed in a friendly, genteel atmosphere harking back to past times. A reflection of rural england at its finest.
We were, however, pulled back to modern times, surrounded as we were by numerous knitted or crocheted “toppers”, a much more historically recent creation.
These toppers are knitted or crocheted. I think they became popular during the Covid pandemic. Initially appearing on top of pillar boxes.
They were originally designed as a tribute to NHS workers.
Subsequently, they have been installed as a form of commemeration, or even just for public enjoyment.
A new name has become popular for the folks that create and install these pieces of art.
They are known as “Yarn Bombers”
Although a couple of years ago a Daily Mail jornalist branded the perpetrators as “Wooly Delinquents”
Personally I think we should embrace them as a bit of fun. They do no harm and some of them are really quite intricate. They truly are works of art.
Per my recent post, on Sunday, 14th April, I had the great pleasure of attending the annual Members Meeting, held at the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit.
This was the 81st Members Meeting. It’s amazing to think that this annual event has been going for so long.
Thankfully, the weather was kind, dry with some sunshine throughout the day, although the temperatures did drop later in the afternoon.
But hey, this post isn’t about the weather. Let’s get on to the main event. It’s all about historic cars, some of which are over one hundred years old, being raced around the Goodwood circuit.
So here are some photos of some fabulous cars, oh and motorcycles.
Getting us started is a fairly modern vehicle by Goodwood standards ….
1972 Alpine A110
This was just one of an array of Alpines lined up to greet us as we arrived.
Alpine Display
Close by there was this fine display of monster Bentleys.
Bentley
On arrival we were just in time for the first race.
Let Get Racing
Here we are on the grid but no sign of the cars.
1954 Kieft-Climax GP, 1953 HWM-Alta F2, “Monoposto”, 1953 Connaught Type A, 1953 AC-Bristol Monoposto1948 Alvis ‘Goodwin Special’1936 ERA B-type R7B
These guys were all lining up to compete in the Parnell Cup, a twenty minute race for Grand Prix, Formula 2 and Voiturette cars. These cars are of a type that raced between 1935 and 1953.
Next up was the Derek Bell Cup. a twenty minute race for 1-litre Formula 3 cars that raced between 1964 and 1970.
1968 Titan-Ford Mk31968 Lotus-Ford 41XAll lined up ready for the off.
Yes, all lined up ready for the off. Unfortunately the race start was delayed for a few minutes.
One of the many stalwart volunteers, without whom events such as this could not go ahead.Red Flag – Race StoppedAmbulance DeployedGrid reformed ready for a restart
Unfortunately, due to a racing incident the race was red flagged, an ambulance was deployed and all the remaining competitors had to return to the grid for the eventual race restart.
For a totally different form of racing we move on to the Sidecar Shootout. Racing sidecars was a first for Goodwood. The shootout featured eight of the quickest pairings from the Sidecar World Championships.
The riders, or is it drivers, and their passengers have to be truly insane. One of the competitor vehicles was clocked at 144 mph.
Steven Kershaw & Ryan Charlwood, LCR-Yamaha YZF-R6Kevin Cable & Charlie Richardson. LCR-Yamaha YZF-R6
Between each racing event, the McLaren cars would come out to play.
Presumably checking that the circuit was clear of any debris prior to the next event.
Which in this case was the Surtees Trophy. The Trophy race is for unlimited sports racing prototypes that raced between 1960 and 1966. The race duration was twenty minutes.
First the formation lap …..
And then they were off.
Charging into the first corner.
Here are a few detail shots …..
1965 Ford GT401965 McClaren-Chevrolet M1B1964 Crossle-Oldsmobile Mk551966 McClaren-Oldsmobile M1B1965 Lola-Chevrolet T70 Spyder1963 Cooper-Ford T61 ‘Monaco’Ford GT 401965 Ford GT 401965 Ford GT40 with the 1963 Monaco hard on his heels1966 Chinook-Chevrolet Mk2 leading the 1966 Atilla-Chevrolet Mk3
As we headed into the afternoon it was time for a Mustang or two, or thirty. Yep, thirty Ford Mustangs headed out onto the grid for the Ken Miles Cup. This forty-five minute race was for first generation Ford Mustangs that raced up to 1966.
Unfortunately, due to a racing incident, the safety car had to be deployed and the track cleared before racing could continue.
And then we were racing again …..
Sadly, this guy didn’t get to the finish line …..
But the Members Meeting isn’t all about racing. Some of the events are demonstration runs. On this occasion there was a real treat in store for motorsport fans, Can-Am. The Can-Am series introduced some of the wildest, most extreme race cars of all time.
Following the Can-Am demo we were treated to a real vintage display. Part 2 of the S.F. Edge Trophy. A five lap race for Edwardian racing cars, and Aero-Engined Specials, from the early 20th Century. Here are a few of my snaps …..
1911 Fiat S76 and 1907 Mercedes 120hp1918 Hudson Super Six Leading The Pack1911 Fiat S761913 Talbot SB1906 Bianchi leading a 1914 Peugeot Indianapolis into the curve1916 Sunbeam Indianapolis1906 Bianchi 28/40hp1913 Theophile Schneider Aero1903 Mercedes Simplex 60hp1913 Monarch GP 100 & 1914 Talbot 25hp Sporting Model1913 Oakland Romano
And now, back to the future. Here we have a Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 “Mule” supercar
Travelling back in time, just a little, we were treated to a demonstration of Niki Lauda’s McLaren MP4/2B……
And then as time was marching on, at around 17:00, we had the final of the Sidecar Shootout.
Steven Kershaw & Ryan Charlwood ready for th off, on their LCR-Yamaha YZF-R6Todd Ellis & Emmanuelle Clement on their LCR-Yamaha YZF-R6
Finally, as we were getting ready to leave the circuit for the day, there was much activity on the grid as Goodwood prepared for the Peter Collins Trophy, a twenty minute race for sports racing cars of a type that would have raced between 1948 and 1955.
We didn’t actually see this race get underway as we were heading to the car park, but all in all we had a fabulous day. Once again Goodwood put on a spectacular event.
Thank you to Goodwood
Thank you to all the competitors and demonstration drivers.
Thank you to all the owners who allow these fabulous machines to driven as they were intended.
I’m of an age that I remember some of these vehicles racing, watching them on a Saturday afternoon, in black and white, on the BBC. Certainly I can’t get enough of them and all being well, I will definitely be back for the 82nd Members Meeting in 2025.
WrAnTz 