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Mobile phones
It's illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone, this includes making or receiving calls,
pictures, text messaging or accessing the Internet when you're driving, even when you're
stopped at traffic lights or in a queue of traffic. You must pull over to a safe location.
In exceptional traffic jams, such as a lengthy stoppage on a motorway, it would be
clear that someone wasn't driving if the engine was off. If you are an employer, you
may also be prosecuted if you require your employees to use a hand-held mobile phone when
driving. The laws also apply to anyone supervising a learner driver, while the
learner driver is driving. Anyone supervising a learner driver needs to be concentrating
on what the driver is doing and should not be using a mobile phone. The only
exception to the rule is when you need to call 999. The new mobile phone regulations
don't apply to cyclists however; the police have powers to deal with careless or dangerous
cycling. You may be fined £30. This can be increased to a maximum of £1000
(£2,500 for drivers of lorries, buses and coaches) if the matter goes to court. However,
there is a plan to increase the penalty for the new offence by making it subject to 3
penalty points and a £60 fixed penalty. Remember, in some circumstances, for example if
there has been an accident, a prosecution for careless or dangerous driving may be
justified if a phone was in use at the time of the crash. The penalties on conviction for
such offences include heavy fines, endorsement, disqualification and, in serious cases,
imprisonment. Even if you're a careful driver, it's easy to be distracted by a phone
call or text message - and that split second lapse in concentration could result in a
crash.
PLEASE DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON, OR AT
ANY OTHER TIME! |
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| COUNCIL’S
PROPOSAL PASSES GOVERNMENT HEALTH CHECK. |
North Norfolk Council’s decision to
consult its tenants on the transfer of its housing to a new, not-for-profit social
landlord called North Norfolk Housing Trust has been given the green light by the
Government. This week, the Government Office for the East of England signed off the
Council’s housing options appraisal. The appraisal, which included an independent
assessment of the council housing situation in North Norfolk, concluded that only a
proposal to transfer the housing would meet the needs and aspirations of existing and
future tenants.
The appraisal, following consultation with tenants, also concluded that the best way
forward would be to set up a new social landlord just for this purpose. The sign-off by
the Government supports that decision and gives the Council the green light to move on to
the next stage of the process.
The proposed new landlord, North Norfolk Housing Trust, would be run by a voluntary Board
, made up of five tenant representatives, five Council nominees and five local community
representatives. The aim of the Trust would be to provide high-quality services for local
people on a not-for-profit basis. The Council will now consult all tenants or a
detailed proposal which will be with tenants early in the New Year. The proposal will
include a major programme of modernisation and improvement works to the homes, stable
rents, protected rights and a major say for tenants in how their service is run. The
proposal is based on the results of a survey carried out with tenants earlier in the year
as to what they wanted to see for their homes and housing service in the future. |
| NNDC
Office Closures over Christmas and New Year |
| The Cromer office will be closed for the
whole week between Christmas and New Year. They will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve and
re-open 4 January at 8.30am. NNDC’s normal services will not be available though
emergency procedures will still operate and the switchboard number 01263 513811 will give
the emergency number you will need. |
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