More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Droning on: the never-ending battle to keep Kent’s roads in a decent condition has seen Kent County Council turn to drones.
A trial in which they are being deployed to assess the state of roads is to continue to a “second phase” so don’t panic if you hear the distinctive whirring sound above your head - you are not being spied on.
A press release announcing the news contained a contender for jargon of the year, with a quote explaining how the initiative would support “proactive and smart scheduling of remedial activities to prevent impacts on the infrastructure assets.”
Translated, we think this means KCC will be able to spot problems with deteriorating roads much earlier.
But who knows?
Asylum seekers
The government’s drive to curb the number of asylum seekers landing on Kent’s shores does not seem to be making much progress, despite a handout of £54m to the French authorities to step up their efforts on the other side of the channel.
This week saw the numbers arriving reach new records for a single day. If this trend continues, there will be even more political pressure on the Home Secretary Priti Patel, who is running short of options.
The crisis is more problematic than the previous difficulties of stopping people smuggling themselves onto lorries at Calais.
This was eventually overcome with a huge investment in security measures at the port.
The problem now is that it is impossible to cordon off huge stretches of the French coast; and even if it could be done, the gangs would - as they are already - move to areas not being patrolled by French police.
The Calais MP Pierre-Henri Dumont has warned that this is precisely why spending millions of pounds will be ‘wasted’ on fruitless attempts to stem the numbers of people willing to take the risk of trying to reach the UK from France.
Travel restrictions
Meanwhile the government’s latest shift in travel restrictions has offered would-be holidaymakers a chance of a late getaway. Getting a getaway has not proved easy, however.
The traffic light system has been hard to follow at the best of times. Imagine trying to resolve a rubik’s cube in a dark room with one hand tied behind your back and you get the idea.
Still, at least transport minister Grant Shapps provided a reassurance that “our firm intention is to leave the traffic lights as they are for three weeks.”
Note the word ‘intention’ - giving some wriggle room for engaging reverse gear.
Power
Former energy minister and Kent MP Greg Clark, who introduced the energy cap, has said that there are safeguards in place that will prevent companies ripping off consumers with rises that outstrip actual costs.
But the timing is awkward for the government as bills will rise about the same time as the £20 extra given to families in Universal Credit comes to an end. The two coinciding may prove tricky, especially as several Conservative backbenchers have already voiced their concerns about universal credit.
It is not backbench MPs rebelling the government will be concerned about: it is the possible intervention of Premier League footballers highlighting the rises. And falls.
