UK Car Registrations Change Again...

SEPTEMBER 2010 sees a further change to what might at first sight appear to be a random collection of letters and numbers that make up registration plates in UK. But first of all what is the true history and idea behind the collection of letters and numbers that make up British registration plates? The first registration system was introduced in 1904, after the introduction of the 1903 Motor Car Act . This allowed the British government to trace vehicles in the event of accidents, their being used in the execution of crime or their being stolen. This was a sequential numbering system that was first legally required for vehicles to display registrations on British roads. Early number plates consisted of a sequence that had an authority letter code and unique identification numbers. This sequential identification number system ran over 1903 to 1962.

In Scotland and Ireland the system worked a little differently. Registration in those regions began with the letter S in Scotland and I in Ireland. By 1932 the scheme was extended due to the shrinking number of available combinations, with further extensions to the scheme being required in some areas by the 1950's. In 1963 the system changed yet again and became known as suffix number plates. The "Suffix Series" used a combination of issuing authority letter code, unique identification numbers and suffix year letter ran over 1963 to 1982. This system used the last letter of the registration to tell us the year of registration. Ie. XVT909K being 1971 to 1972.

The "Prefix Series" using prefix year letter, unique identification numbers and issuing authority letter code running from 1983 to 2001. This system used the 1st letter of the registration to tell us the year of registration. I.e. K909XVT being 1992 to 1993.

In 2001 the system was altered again to the current style of UK vehicle registration plates called:- "local memory tag". The new system uses a two digit code instead of a single letter allows for many more permutations, extending the useful life of the current scheme. Our new system of registrations is no longer yearly, but now changed to twice a year. The first letter on the current UK number plate scheme identifies the region where your car was first registered, for instance L for London. The second denotes the DVLA office. The final three letters are random. But this September 2010 marked the first adaptation of the last registration plate as the DVLA have ran out of '50' numbers '60' becomes the latest in the line. Looking beyond this, next change will occur in March 2011, when the number will become '11'. September 2011 will see '61' used; '12' in March 2012 and '62' in September 2012. And so on, until we run out of numbers again.

It might look like a random collection of letters and numbers, but there is actually logic behind the number plate on your car.   So what will happen until 2050?   Well, the UK the government has plenty of time to come up with a new system's.

Road Crash Victims Remembered

AN event to remember victims of road crashes is took take place in Liverpool on Tuesday, 31 August 2010, at the Rankin Steps outside Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, St. James Mount. The event was run by RoadPeace NorthWest who invited all those who have been bereaved or injured, together with those who support them, to the special 13th anniversary remembrance of Princess Diana and all road crash victims. The event was also attended by dignitaries, representatives of the emergency services and others who deal with road crashes and support road crash victims. The Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Hazel Williams, spoke at the event, which also had the Lord Mayor of Chester, the Mayors of Wirral, Salford, Cheshire East, West Lancs. and several deputy mayors attending.

ARRIVA INVESTS £300K IN CROSS RIVER SERVICES

ARRIVA North West has invested £300k in increasing the frequency of its Cross River services to Liverpool City Centre.

Since Monday, 6 September 2010, extra drivers and double decker buses has been drafted in because the 437 from West Kirby to Liverpool will now be running every seven minutes, and the 432 and 433 from New Brighton to Liverpool will run to a 10 minute frequency.

Simon Finnie, general manager for Arriva’s Laird Street Depot, said:- “This is great news for customers using these routes because their time waiting at the bus stop will be reduced by up to five minutes. We have also increased the frequency of these services on Sundays and Bank Holidays, with the 437 now running every 15 minutes and the 432 and 433 running every 15 minutes. We are also increasing the frequency of our 403 and 413 services from Liscard to Seacombe Ferry, so that these buses will now run every 20 minutes. Our customers will really notice the difference with this extra investment in our services.”

Arriva North West also has some good news for night owls travelling from the Wirral to Neston. From 11 September 2010 a new night service, the N51, will be running every Saturday night until 4:30am on the Sunday morning.

To find out more about Arriva North West services, please visit:- arrivabus.co.uk.

JAMES COLE STAYS IN THE HUNT FOR F3 NATIONAL CLASS CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
Report by Alison Hill

ON 31 August 2010 the penultimate round of the Cooper Tires British F3 International Series at Snetterton this bank holiday weekend produced three exciting races, with 22 year old James Cole in the thick of the hunt for the National Class championship title. Only four points separate team mate and title rival, Menasheh Idafar, from Cole, with Idafar drawing narrowly ahead at Snetterton.

The weekend began with testing on Saturday and Cole was focused on preparing his car for the challenge of the Norfolk track. Afternoon rain gave Cole a chance to experience the circuit in wetter weather, which was to prove useful for the first race on Sunday. A torrential rain storm just before the race started flooded the track and when Cole set out to line up on the grid in his Dallara Mugen Honda, it was shod with the treaded wet tyre, the choice of all the F3 teams.

In tricky conditions Cole had the better of Idafar at the start but his rival slipped through at the second turn and as the track dried Cole was only able to shadow his team mate. As the race reached its closing stages a dry line gave Cole the opportunity to switch to slick tyres and take a point for fastest National Class lap, a tactic which could prove critical in the final points tally after the final round.

The second of the three races this weekend took place this morning, with the holiday crowd enjoying the feature length race which took place on a wet but drying track, adding to the challenges of the Snetterton track. Cole started second in class, but unable to take the win off his rival, the Merseysider focused on a strong points finish to keep the championship battle alive.

The final race was the first dry race of the weekend and although Cole was lapping at a similar pace to Idafar, he was unable to pass his team mate in similar machinery and once again followed him to the chequered flag. Three second places for Cole dropped him behind Idafar for the first time this season, but with only four points between the two the title battle rages on.

“I always thought the title fight would go to the wire. We’ve been so evenly matched all season that it was perhaps inevitable. I didn’t have the best weekend of my season and felt I didn’t have the car I needed to be winning, but I’m sure I’ll turn it around for Brands Hatch, the final event of the series this season. There’s plenty of pressure on both myself and Idafar, so it’ll be an exciting conclusion to the year. I’m going to do everything in my power to take the title, so it’s total focus from now to the final race now. I’m just concentrating on my fitness, preparing with my engineers and being in peak condition for that final event. Bring it on!” said Cole.

The final event of the British F3 International Series takes place at Brands Hatch circuit, Kent from 25 September to 26 September 2010.

WITNESS APPEAL - ASSAULT AND ROBBERY - LIVERPOOL

MERSEYSIDE Police are appealing for information following a robbery and assault of a 44 year old man in Liverpool city centre on Sunday, 29 August 2010. At around 10pm the 44 year old man was riding his mountain bike along Jamaica Street when he was approached by a man who knocked him off his bike. Whilst the man was on the floor the offender took his bike from him and rode away in the direction of Wapping. The was left uninjured, but very shaken following the incident. The offender is described as being white, aged in his late 20s of stocky build with fair cropped hair. He was wearing a light grey hooded top made or a towelling type of material with matching knee length shorts. The mountain bike is a very distinctive white and green Cube Acid mountain bike. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident or knows of the whereabouts of the mountain bike is asked to contact Police.

Mind Body and Spirit Festival

ON Saturday, 11 September 2010, Pathways Spiritual Centre, Unitarian Church on Portland Street, Southport, are holding a Mind Body and Spirit Festival. Admission on the day is 50p only. The Festival consists of Aura Photography, Crystal stall, Tarot readers various clairvoyant readers from across the north west including Wendy (the spook) Hargreaves resident psychic from Dune FM, A Aloe Vera stall and Support Our Soldiers will be selling merchandise plus taking donations for their shoe box appeal. Refreshments will be available on the day plus a charity raffle with many prizes.