Consultation on emmisions

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agnoraan
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Consultation on emmisions

Post by agnoraan »

Seeing that the consultation responses have had 316 views and that the thread re the consultation started by Andy has had 788, I'm just curious as to whether our club members and other enthusiaists in general are really getting behind the need to respond to the consultation.

We have just two weeks to respond up until March 2nd, after that, if too few people took the time to fill in the questionnaire and lobby the various MP's and Government departments, it could be the end of our hobby as we know it. Please, if you haven't done this as yet, don't think it'll go away, or someone else will do it, we need as much support for this as possible.

So far the statistics don't look good. There's only been just over a 1000 people join the "action groups" Facebook page to download information on what to do, and as on here, the groups aims and objectives have been very well publicised trying to get this to the attention of as many people as possible. Unfortunately, if you read other alternative car orientated forums, Facebook groups etc, there's a great apathy amongst people thinking it's all going to be alright and that it's just scaremongering. That doesn't bode well for any of us.

So, if you havent filled in the questionnaire etc, please just take a few minutes of your time and at least try to save the hobby that you're involved with.

I've filled in the questionnaires, lobbied my MP, and sent numerous letters to the people listed on the "Consultation Response" thread, whilst trying to spead the word. Please let us know what you guys have done and hopefully we can see, on this thread, that The 289 Register is an active group who care about the future of alternative car building.

Over to you.....

Nige
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Re: Consultation on emmisions

Post by nikbj68 »

I've done the questionnaire, made contact with my MP's office, and been spreading the message as far and wide as possible,
Haven't actually sent letters yet, but will do soon.
A good idea that I saw yesterday is to contact Shadow ministers, as getting the opposition on board can only be good.
This could be an end to cars like ours being built, so we need to do all that we can, NOW.
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agnoraan
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Re: Consultation on emmisions

Post by agnoraan »

Just had this response from my MP

Dear Mr Pittard,



Thank you for contacting me about the Department for Transport's consultation on improving air quality and safety, in particular with reference to kit cars. I appreciate your interest in this issue and have therefore spoken with Ministerial colleagues to raise your concerns directly.



As you will appreciate, given the recent VW dieselgate scandal and the strong imperative to improve air quality, Ministers are investigating what more can be done. As a part of this, the consultation seeks views on new penalties for vehicle manufacturers supplying vehicles fitted with defeat devices and proposals to implement various safety and environmental rules.



Ministers want to see the UK retain a thriving car industry. This means supporting both the construction and development of new models as well as the restoration of classic cars and the building of new kit cars.



As you mention, the consultation is still ongoing and I would therefore encourage you to respond directly to it to make sure that your views are considered. It is available at the following address: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/road-emissions. As I am sure you can appreciate, I am not able to pre-empt the results of the consultation but please be assured that I will follow all progress on this matter closely.



Thank you once again for taking the time to contact me.



Yours,



Alun





Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP

Vale of Glamorgan



Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP /AS

Vale of Glamorgan / Bro Morgannwg

alun.cairns.mp@parliament.uk

House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

T: 020 7219 7175

Unit 6, BSC2, Hood Road, Barry Waterfront, Vale of Glamorgan CF62 5QL

T: 01446 748 657

www.aluncairns.com



cullis

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peterc
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Re: Consultation on emmisions

Post by peterc »

Aargh. Here goes for the third time!! It keeps disappearing!
Nige,
I have completed the on line questionnaire, posted a letter to the DFT and emailed same letter to them. Also emailed my MP with a different letter together with a copy of that sent to the DFT.
I have also contacted both West Sussex/ Hants and Surrey/ Middlesex local reps of the UK Cobra Club to get them to highlight to their members the info on the subject that you said Kev Davies would post on their forum.
As you said there has been previous apathy and specialist car owners not realising what has been achieved on their behalf in the past.
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Re: Consultation on emmisions

Post by David Large »

I have just completed the online questionnaire - as far as I am able. They appear to be offering derogations to manufacturers building fewer tha 1,000 chassis. Does that not cover the kit car industry?

David
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Re: Consultation on emmisions

Post by peterc »

The only reference to 1000 chassis I thought applied to trucks but perhaps I need to read it again.
Also we need to remember that the likes of Caterham are kit cars. That is to say they supply an entire car in kit form for a home builder to finish. They already supply cars with modern engines with ECU’s and cats.
That’s maybe where the office guys think it’s dead easy for everyone to use a modern engine.
As mentioned in another posting do you want a four cylinder Cobra.
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Re: Consultation on emmisions

Post by David Large »

Peter,

Of course I don't want a 4 cylinder Cobra, that is a strange notion. I am just pointing out that maybe things aren't as bad as being portrayed.

David
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Re: Consultation on emmisions

Post by nikbj68 »

The future would mean any Cobra would have to have EFI & cats, (modern Mustang engine), adding many thousands to the cost of a Hawk build compared to using, for example, a Rover 3.5), which could be devastating for the industry & anyone with a Ford 302 build in progress etc...
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peterc
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Re: Consultation on emmisions

Post by peterc »

The point I was trying to make David was that government bods in offices do not understand the differences in what we build and kit cars generally.
They could easily see that Caterham manages to meet the latest emission specs so what’s the problem.
It’s trying to think of what cars built over the last couple of decades could provide a solution to needing a V8 with catalyst and meet 2018 emissions.
As Nik says it’s going to be a costly option to obtain a newer Ford V8 with a catalyst.
Morgan used BMW V8’s but I can’t believe you will find one of those cheap.
Other options for rear drive V8’s are TVR and Jaguar. Again I can’t see them being easily obtained. I admit that I have not looked into trying to buy any of these options. It will certainly involve Gerry redesigning the chassis etc to accept a different power train.
That’s before you tackle the issue of reprogramming the ECU to work without ABS, airbag etc etc.
So yes it is bad news for the industry.
We do have some members mid build so they will need to get their car finished and IVA’d by end of June.
Peter C
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Re: Consultation on emmisions

Post by DavidA »

Morning All
I have just completed the questionnaire and sent this letter to my MP who has been very helpful on a range of issues in the past

“Dear Sir Vince,

I apologise for bothering you regarding an issue which may be appear less important considering the significant challenges being faced in a number of areas.

The Department of Transport is consulting on legislation which which if enacted would have a devastating affect on on the kit car industry in the U.K.

What is being proposed, newly registered kit cars being subject to subsisting emission standards at the time of their registration, seems logical .However a large proportion of such vehicles are designed to replicate historic vehicles necessarily using older engines which cannot practically be updated to meet modern standards. As a result they will be effectively outlawed resulting in many small businesses having to close as their customers can no longer take part in a harmless interest recycling used vehicle parts .

Currently the requirement is to meet a standard based on the age of the engine - a reasonable compromise which gives kit car builders a sensible standard to meet.

It will be appreciated that while the proportion of overall emissions from kit cars is minuscule this proposal would have far reaching and no doubt unintended ramifications.

I have no financial or other interest in any of the small businesses that would be affected but have some knowledge of the subject having spent 3 years constructing such a vehicle in the 1990s .

Please may I ask you to consider what can be done to change this aspect of the new proposals.

I attach herewith my response to the consultation which should be self explanatory.




Regards and thanks

David Arthur - Teddington Constituent”

Best Wishes DavidA
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