The first of our Group Meetings on March 4th at Lostock Parish Centre went very well, we will continue to look at the room layout to see if we can improve it. We had a wonderful surprise at the March meeting, thanks to Ann Baker who came to the meeting with some delicious cake!! Another bonus was that the room is ‘much cosier’ for our use – and much warmer. So good news all round. The next Group meeting is on April 1st, please remember the new arrival time of 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start. As last meeting, we will bring tea and coffee, milk and sugar and there are mugs for us to use.
I have begun to ignore one of the so called modern ‘improvements’ on my cars, having decided to switch off the Automatic handbrake. Why? Well, I think it makes a lazy driver. Look around you at any junction, traffic lights, traffic queues etc and what do you see? Almost every car with brake lights beaming out on 99% of cars, dazzling all the drivers behind them. It’s even worse with modern cars having ultra bright LED brake lights. Do they not realise that the auto handbrake leaves the brake lights ‘on’? If they do and set the parking/hand brake, what was the point of the Automatic handbrake? That is just the same as just setting it manually, as you would have done with a handbrake lever. So I’ve had my fill of ‘auto’ handbrakes and reverted to going ‘manual’ just as a considerate, thinking driver should. Do I have any supporters?
In the January 2025 Chairmans Chat I mentioned the rush-hour chaos which exists at the M61 Junction 5 roundabout, caused by the queue up to Chequerbent. I try to avoid travelling that way during rush-hour, but have needed to do it recently – and it is a real pain! I know hundreds of drivers put up with the queues on a daily basis (often down Hunger Hill to the Beaumont Road traffic lights) but this situation really does demand yellow box junctions at the bottom of the M61 J5 north slip road, and the entry slip road to join M61 south. I hasten to suggest traffic lights, as that is probably a financial non starter, though they do exist at J6 northbound sliproad exit to keep the junction clear. My question is – who should be responsible for this – the local authority or National Highways? Yellow boxes would be a relatively inexpensive solution to keep traffic moving, in particular to prevent queues backing up on the motorway. I hate to think what it will be like if/when the super golf course and houses get built on the Hulton Estate?
In case you haven’t heard, the DVSA have announced that MOT test centres will trial new rules in 2025 in a bid to cut down on garage fraud. Garages will be asked to take images of vehicles when they undertake MOT tests which will act as evidence that a test has really been completed, cutting down on the number of fraudulent ghost MOTs. Ghost MOTs are when someone tries to cheat the system and issue a valid certificate when the car hasn’t even been tested. In the Midlands, these used to be called ‘MOT’s by post’!
Finally, our Secretary holds records of those who have returned a Subs form with their annual payment. However, whilst paying by Bank Transfer is easier, it is important that you also send us your Subs form, particularly if you wish to commence or change your commitment to Gift Aid. At the last count there are around 20 forms outstanding, so if you still have it on your ‘to do’ list, please remember to send it to Gary Whittle..
Roy Sammons