Sunday Variety

 PLEASE NOTE

Today, the fbbs are travelling from Seaton to Llandudno for a short break c/o Daish's Holidays. The company informed them that Wifi was only available in communal rooms in the hotel. In case this presents a problem, fbb has prepared and posted min-blogs to appear from Monday 9th Sept to Friday 13th Sept inclusive.

However, North Waiian matter may be added if practicable.

For the same reason (apparently, according tp Mrs fbb, there was packing to be done) this blog is also slightly curtailed.

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Thinking Of Taking A Test?

What does the above road sign mean and is it one that is legally binding. fbb is quite happy with the meaning, but sometimes it all depends on the location. 

When fbb was just a spotty teen, the Warboys Committee published its report in preparation for the change from UK's anomalous road signs ...

... to those similar to European practice.

fbb rushed (c/o a United Counties 402 bus) into Northampton's Central Library to read a copy of the report,  available in the reference section on the first floor.

It all seemed terribly obvious and straightforward with a few weird exceptions.

So the blue round sign above means that the designated section of road is legally for buses only and, in this particular cases, other vehicles. It is a bus only road, not just a bus lane.

This is what DaFT says the sign means.

Apparently he good folk of Bristol cannot "get" this.

Maybe the guy with the sign on a pole is right. Maybe a "No entry" sign with an extra panel saying "Except buses and taxis" would be clearer.

A man campaigning against a bus gate scheme, which has issued 50,000 fines since it began operating, has successfully appealed three fines.

Latest figures from the bus gate on Cumberland Road, show it has raised £1.6m for Bristol City Council - which has defended the scheme, despite fierce criticism.

The council has insisted the scheme is compliant and explained it is there to reduce air pollution and increase bus travel options, not to generate income.

Matt Sanders, who has spent hours investigating the bus gate, said he expects more appeals to follow.

"I pointed out in May, dozens of problems with all the signage," he said.

"The council's transport designers told the executive officers and the councillors that it was all fine.

"Now these three adjudicators have said the signage isn't correct and so the people who claimed it was correct are now discredited."

Mr Sanders said his winning cases can now be used as a template to help others who also wish to appeal against their fines.

"I can just use exactly the same evidence for the cases that have won," he said.

"The council has made their bus gate unenforcable, because now anybody can appeal on this basis and they're bound to win," he added.

A council spokesperson said the signage installed surrounding the Cumberland Road bus gate is "compliant".

“The bus gate has not been put in place to generate income, 

Yeah, tight! So you'll be giving the 1.6 million to charity, then?

"it is there to help reduce air pollution and increase the number of bus travel options for residents," they said.

"We understand drivers' frustration when, without their realisation, they have accumulated multiple fines before they have received the first letter, and while each appeal is considered on a case by case basis we will continue to be sympathetic to people in this situation.

“Despite winning 31 appeals and an adjudicator confirming that our signage is adequate, we continue to listen to drivers' feedback and make changes to the bus gate signage."

Yeah, right! Of course you do.

Cumberland Road runs alongside the river and has been a quiet road and a useful short cut to parts of the city centre. But drivers are now warned that it is effectively a no through road at the city end.

There are the blue signs as above ...

... which have the words "BUS GATE" on the road, which it is, and Bus lane (black on white sign) which it isn't.

Now a red colour has been added to the road surface on the approaches to the "gate" which might suggest that the (red?) bus lane ends at the blue signs.

The only frequent bus along there is the Metro Bus M2, the Long Ashton Park and Ride service

Seems a lot of clout to protect just a few buses and it could not possibly be a money making scheme, could it?

Better In Bridlington

East Yorkshire has had a re-vamp of their Bridlington Town services. The new publicity material by "you know who" ...

... looks excellent with timetables and maps all included.

fbb has downloaded the former leaflet, map and timetables and hopes to have a detailed look when returning from holiday.

The suspicion is that it might be a clever way of reducing services.

A Fat Rascal?

No, not an epithet used about your noble and aged blogger, but a type of cake made famous by Betty's of Harrogate, the posh caff which everyone wants to try.

The local fruit and veg shop in Seaton ...

... as well as a tempting range of fruit and veg ...

... does dairy and selected bakery items. A chum treated the fbbs to a share of a "Fat Rascal" cake.

it's a bit like a rock cake and very filling. Apparently it doesn't need WD40 to help it go down.

TT120 A-Plemty

Many railway modelling practicers were astounded and slightly discombobulated when Hornby announced a brand new scale of TT120. 

But there are signs that the range is expanding with more and more wagons, coaches and locos from Hornby including some Duchesse class steamers with sound fitted.

Nice if you have got the money. 

For the confused; TT lies part way between OO and N in size and matches the scale and track of the European TT manufacturers. 

How about over £400 for a very tiny model?

Exquisite and Expensive.

But, for starters, a few diecast models might arouse some interest before huge monetary contributions are committed.

The smaller vehicles are £6.95 with the bus and larger items are £9.95.

It is a lot of money but you can get a lot of railway in a smaller space and it is all a bit less fiddly than N gauge.

fbb will stick with second hand OO purchases and bodging and fudging.

It's a lot less financially fraught.

 Next 321 blog : Monday 9th September