• More than 700 residents of Eltham, South London, gave
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their local MP Peter Bottomley — who also doubles as Roads and Traffic Minister — a hard time at a local meeting in protest over the new Channel tunnel rail link. Not surprisingly, the good people of Eltham adhere fervently to the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) philosophy so beautifully expounded by Nicholas Ridley on our television screens.
The indecision has badly affected house prices in the area, and the Government refuses to pay compensation. What the NIMBYs need is a lobby group as powerful as the National Farmers Union. The Hawk is sure a few million quid would soon pop up if they had.
• Driving licences are being issued in Indiana, USA, to the nearly-blind, provided they use miniature telescopes with their glasses when driving.
The scheme allows the nearly-blind to look over the rim of their glasses into the telescopes to distinguish crucial road signs and the colour of traffic lights. Before, such bad sight would have meant automatic disqualification. More than 25 licences have already been issued.
The new scheme has come under fire from many ophthalmology experts, yet many in the optical world have put forward the alternative of allowing the nearly-blind to drive on minor roads at no more than 561unth (35mph).
• The British truckers' convoy, which was planned to take aid to Armenia this month, has been called off because its assistance was not needed.
HGV driver Rob Howden, who would have been among those making the trip, says Turkish and Russian trucks dropping loads in Western Europe have been transporting aid back to Armenia, making the convoy of British aid trucks unnecessary.
But because of the massive response to the call for volunteer convoy drivers and vehicles, Howden is trying to establish a division of International Rescue for the haulage industry, ready to spring into action if another disaster strikes.
He says: "This is going to take some time to set up as it .has to be registered as an official charity, but I thought it was worth organising, otherwise all the drivers and companies which volunteered for the Armenia trip would go to waste."
As well as organising this latest plan, Howden is trying to find a job. He has an HGV Class 1, an international licence, a National CPC and he also used to fly helicopters. Should anyone wish to contact him, telephone (0533) 760690.
Despite the collapse of the UK Armenian convoy, several transport companies are still doing their bit for the relief effort. Bournemouth company Yellow Buses has donated space in its depot to store supplies before transportation.
TNT Overnite has provided a vehicle and driver to take lorry loads of clothes and blankets to a central London aid collection point. And in the wake of the Lockerbie air disaster, the Scottish district of the Road Haulage Association has estab lished an appeal fund to collect donations from operators for the town's disaster fund.