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Following a
successful trial on the M42, new ways of managing motorway traffic -
including hard shoulder running - will be implemented as part of a £150m
scheme on the motorway box around Birmingham, and a feasibility study will
be undertaken to consider if similar schemes could help to beat congestion
on other parts of the motorway network.
Ruth Kelly
said "The first six months of the full M42 trial saw significant benefits
for motorists, the environment and the economy. Use of the hard shoulder in
peak periods saw average journey times fall by more than a quarter on the
northbound carriageway and drivers' ability to predict their weekday journey
times improved by 27%. Alongside this, overall fuel consumption reduced by
4% and vehicle emissions fell by up to 10%."
Former ICE member pleads guilty in court A former member of the
Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has pleaded guilty in court to two
offences of using the designation of MICE whilst no longer being a member.
The man whose membership had lapsed 10 years previously was
fined £2,250 and ordered to pay costs of £1,609. He was prosecuted under the
Trades Description Act following a complaint made to the ICE.
When he applied for reinstatement to the ICE his application
was refused on the grounds that he was unfit to be a member.
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Business leaders warned apathy towards worker wellbeing takes
it toll on productivity. 
Research commissioned by Business In The Community (BITC) reveals that a
third of workers (31%) feel their health is neglected at work, while 6
in 10
(62%) don’t believe bosses consider staff as assets worth investing in.
Almost half (46%) claim apathy towards employee wellbeing has taken its toll
on workplace productivity. Employees complained that they
were: - Discouraged from taking sick days when unwell (44%)
- Put under
pressure to do unpaid overtime (44%)
- Prevented from taking a full lunch hour
(40%)
- Suffering stress (55%), depression (38%) and panic attacks
(22%)
Lord McKenzie of Luton, Parliamentary Under Secretary (Lords)
at the Department for Work and Pensions said, "Our people are our greatest resource.
The UK's future profitability is dependent on a healthy and motivated
workforce, and individual businesses have much to gain in terms of reduced
sick leave and recruitment costs. The importance of this issue cannot
be underestimated and I urge business leaders not just to support this
campaign but to take real action." More
Construction of Crossrail will take 10
years Ken
Livingstone, the Mayor of London, has set out some of the detailed
implications of the construction of Crossrail for London and confirmed
arrangements for the project's management. Ken
Livingstone, said: "I have already outlined that the importance of the
decision to go ahead with Crossrail and the benefits it will bring Londoners
can hardly be overstated. "Crossrail is crucial for the next 20 years of London's economic
development. "With a capacity twice that of the Jubilee line, Crossrail will
mean many more people will travel by public transport to the primary
business centres of London - the City, West End and Canary
Wharf."
£15 million technology upgrade of M11 in Essex
gives drivers better information
Work has started on a £15 million major scheme to
provide better information for drivers on the M11. New electronic message
signs and a queue protection system to warn drivers of slower traffic ahead
will be installed between Junction 6 (M25) and Junction 8 (Stansted) in
Essex. CCTV coverage is also being provided to help Traffic Officers deal
with incidents more quickly. | 
