Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2008 | Page 111
MOTORING
Potholes of
gold!
Crumbling roads across the
Island has led to a dramatic
increase in the number of
claims from motorists against
the IW Council for damages.
A report Cabinet said there
were 140 claims in 2005/6
and 176 in 2006/7. However,
the projected costs of these
claims is not directly related
to volume and is currently
estimated at approximately
£134,000 for the 2005/6 claims,
£219,000 for the 2006/7 claims
and £277,000 for the 2007/8
claims.
The rate of repudiation of
claims received has been 83.7
per cent for claims received
in 2005/6; 73.1 per cent for
claims received in 2006/7 and
currently stands at 51.3 per
cent in respect of those claims
received in 2007/8, said the
report which went to Cabinet
in May.
Better news for motorists is
earlier this year the council
won £325 million government
private finance initiative (PFI)
to improve its road network.
IW Council leader Cllr David
Pugh said he was delighted
with the £325 million, as it was
what had been requested.
He said, "residents have
repeatedly told us the need to
improve our roads is a high
priority and we are pleased the
government has recognised our
needs."
"The IW has a road network
of 800km of principal roads
and work is programmed to
start in three years' time.
Transport minister, Rosie
Winterton, said, "Better
-quality roads mean safer and
quicker journeys. This will
benefit all road users, whether
they are motorists, bus users,
pedestrians or cyclists.
"Communities with better
roads also attract significant
new investment, boosting local
economies. What do you think?
email: [email protected]
www.wightfrog.com/islandlife
life
Happy torque
with the
Hyundai i10
You somehow know the
Hyundai i10 is going to be
your friend, even before you
step into it. Of course it
represents amazing value, but
it isn’t that. It looks stylish
without being too precious.
Functional, but you wouldn’t
want to use that word about a
friend.
The i10 has been a runaway
success for Wight Motors in
Sandown since its launch. So
much so that orders are being
taken now for September.
People come for a test drive
because they’ve heard the car
qualifies for road tax at just
£35 a year, that on the Island
gives them free parking in
Council car parks and should
they take it to central London
(and it is raring to go) you’ll
be exempt from the congestion
charge. But it’s not those
things that will sell them the
car.
Compared to other “budget”
cars you get a lot more thrown
in. Air conditioning and disc
breaks are standard: electric
windows, four air bags and
central locking, too. Take it
one stage on, to the i30, and
you miss out on the cheap
road-tax deal but you do get a
sunroof and heated front seats.
It’s nicely laid out inside, the
gear stick in easy reach. Plenty
of cup-holders make for an
easy life and the ashtray, a sort
of lidded beaker, comes out
completely, revealing another
drink-holder.
Get it on the road and
it really is your friend. It