The Regal Rentals team had a successful day exhibiting at the British Energy Coast Business Cluster showcase on October 4th.

The BECBC is a business cluster of more than 300 companies with business interests in Cumbria which make up the extended supply chains for the nuclear and energy sectors.

Its Business Support Group Showcase is a popular event which this year saw over 60 exhibition stands showcasing BECBC member firms as well as suppliers.

The Group’s main objective is to keep work within Cumbria and ensure that it is of the highest possible quality.

Regal Rentals was there to advise on fleet management solutions to help ensure that businesses make the best use of their vehicles.

Tony Burns, Regal Rentals’ Commercial Manager, said: “We were delighted to exhibit at the popular BECBC showcase.

“This event attracts a wide range of fantastic businesses and it was a good opportunity for us to discuss our low-cost car and van rental solutions.”

www.becbusinesscluster.co.uk

Vehicle rental specialist Regal Rentals has backed an EDF Energy employee in his fight against Wilson’s disease.

Regal Rentals supplied EDF with a VW Transporter Van for a sponsored bike ride which raised more than £300 for Ben Ryan, currently off work with neurological disabilities.

Ben suffers from Wilson’s disease, a very rare genetic disorder that causes copper poisoning in the body.

The condition affects 1 in 30,0000 people across the world.

Ben, who is employed by EDF Energy at Heysham 2 Nuclear Power Station in Morecombe is currently undergoing pharmacological and neurological treatments for his condition.

The bike ride, led by Ben’s colleague, Bernie Whitehouse, a Fuel Route Engineer, saw a group of 13 of Ben’s colleagues set out from Morecambe to Keswick and back, cycling a total of 134 miles.

Colleague Simon Mounsey, who took part alongside Rob Williamson, also a Fuel Route Engineer, and Bernie, said: “We recently found out that Ben has Wilson’s Disease which is causing him a lot of trouble and we have seen him become severely disabled. We wanted to do something to help and thought the bike ride would be a good idea.

“We’d like to extend our thanks to everyone who supported the cycling weekend which raised over £300 for Ben. This money will go towards his treatment.

“Special thanks go to Bernie for organising this event and patiently supporting us in the van.

“We’d also like to thank Regal Rentals for kindly providing us with the van and Rob and his team for providing the food and drink for the journey.”

Pictured L>R Jonathan Spriggs, Avis Budget; Simon Mounsey, EDF Energy; Brian White, EDF Energy

Off to France this summer?

Take note if you’re planning to take a car as drivers are now under extra scrutiny on French roads.

Traffic police recently unveiled a new 36-megapixel speed camera that can survey eight lanes of traffic at a time.

The camera aims to identify drivers who are speeding, tailgating, jumping red lights, using a phone or not wearing a seat belt.

The French authorities have also announced that they have outsourced an additional 450 mobile speed traps.

It is estimated that up to 500,000 British motorists get caught on French speed cameras every year, so it is important for drivers to have all relevant documentation, such as a Vehicle on Hire Certificate (VE103), in case they are questioned by the police.

Drivers travelling to Paris, Lyons or Grenoble will also need a Crit’Air sticker on their windscreen to display the vehicle’s emission rating. The fine for not having one is between £59 and £117.

Some BVRLA members are actively contacting lease customers whom they know usually drive to France in the summer, and others are applying for stickers for their entire fleet to ensure that all their vehicles are ‘ready for European travel’. The stickers don’t expire so can remain in vehicles throughout their fleet life.

PLUS: There are new anti-pollution rules in Paris. Since January 22, all cars driving in Paris need to have a windscreen sticker showing which European emissions standard they meet (Euro 6 is the latest, applying to all new cars produced since September 2015). The sticker costs 3.70 euros (£3.25) plus postage, at certificat-air.gouv.fr You can check which standard your vehicle meets at the RAC website. On-the-spot fines range from 68 euros to 135 euros.

Potholes are a nightmare for British drivers.

They can damage a car’s suspension and bruise tyres and, because there are more of them than ever on our roads, it’s not a surprise that there’s been a surge in the number of suspension-related repairs recently.

A recent survey by Halford Auto Centres revealed that over 1.5 million vehicles were damaged by potholes last year. Typical damages included poor steering alignment, damaged suspension and shock absorbers – all of which can cost up to £500 to fix.

At Regal Rentals, we think something needs to be done about the growing number of potholes on our roads.

Last year, it was announced that £1.1bn would be invested in UK road repairs by the Government for 2017 to 2018.

This figure rose to £1.2bn in January to include money from the National Productivity Investment Fund and the Pothole Action Fund.

But authorities say that in reality it will take an average of 12 years and £12bn to bring the local network “up to scratch”. We would like to see local councils doing more.

Below, we’ve put together a Regal Rentals guide to everything you need to know about potholes.

Where does the pothole get its name?

Back in the 15th and 16th centuries, pottery makers looking for a cheap source of raw materials to make clay pots would dig into deep ruts that wagon and coach wheels gouged into roads, reaching for clay deposits underneath. Those driving over the roads knew what caused these abnormalities and referred to them as potholes.

Why do potholes continue to form?

Potholes occur when water enters the ground under the pavement. Just as in the case of an ice cube, when water freezes it expands and this, coupled with the general wear and tear from everyday traffic, causes cracks to form.

How big a problem are potholes in the UK?

Sadly, potholes are a big problem in this country and although not always noticeable at first glance, they could be doing some serious harm to your vehicle.

The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance survey (ALARM) produced by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) in March found that nearly 1 in 5 roads were classed as being in a “poor” condition.

The survey also said that councils were almost £730m short of what was needed to keep the road network in “reasonable order”.

How is a pothole repaired?

A pothole is typically repaired by clearing out any loose debris and filling the hole with hot and cold asphalt patch. Once there is approximately a 2inch base, a tamping tool or shovel can be used to compact the material into the hole.

How can potholes be prevented?

Using preservation treatments at the first sight of a pothole can help to prevent potholes becoming more severe, for example sealing cracks in a pavement.

How often should roads be repaired?

The AIA advises that roads must be resurfaced every 10 to 20 years.

But London is the only city to even come close to this, with roads repaired there once every 23 years on average.
Roads are resurfaced on average every 55 years in England, while in Wales this falls to every 63 years.

How can I avoid a pothole when driving?

If it’s not safe to drive around the pothole, slow down before hitting it. Try not to brake directly over a pothole, as this can actually cause more damage to your vehicle. Hold the steering wheel firmly when driving over a pothole so you aren’t in danger of losing control. And be cautious when driving over a puddle of water, as there could well be a pothole beneath it.

Can potholes cause a flat tyre?

The bottom line is potholes aren’t good for your car and can potentially cause damage, including to your tyres. You will be able to notice tyre damage straight away but keep an eye out for small leaks or other damage that may not be obvious straight away.

How can I report a pothole?

All councils allow you to report potholes via their websites, but to save you searching for the correct site and location we have teamed up with national road fault reporting system Street Repairs to create our own simple-to-use pothole reporting tool, system which can be used in minutes, below.

Reporting a pothole makes the highways authorities aware of them instantly, meaning they will be able to fix them.
You can report a pothole here.