UK HISTORIC VEHICLES AT RISK?

Tuesday, August 23 2011

The UK is increasingly dominated by EU legislation as voter patience towards foreign rule diminishes. One size does not fit all and especially where UK traditions differ from those of our continental cousins.

Classic Cars is an example. Two world wars cleared the European continent of the majority of historic vehicles leaving the UK as a safe haven for a cache of historic velocipedes, still loved and driven by proud owners.

The UK initiated the MOT 50 years ago, well before the continentals clutched the problem. From the outset the UK recognised that tests must accommodate the specification of older vehicles. Their mechanical refuge was not to be sacrificed to recycling.

Traditionally UK law has not been retrospective but this principle is foreign to EU law. Failure to acknowledge the existence of historic vehicles by the EU needs UK correction, as Continental MEPs do not collect votes from vehicle enthusiasts, as the subject does not turn their motors on.

The currently proposed EU legislation fails to make allowances for older vehicles and if not reversed this could end with a very sadly. For example new regulations for testing headlamp beams, breaking systems and suspension components are incompatible with historic specifications

Another glitch may be the definition of "New Vehicle" because the EU currently see this as meaning "Newly Registered" and for example elderly Landrovers sold off by the MOD will fall foul of unattainable new vehicle test standards. When the famous 1950s Green Goddesses are finally sold off to enthusiasts then presumably these poor old ladies will have their suspenders and fan belts condemned by an official waving EU papers.

There is no point in blowing a gasket but UKIP MEPs like me, although ‘tyred and exhausted’ of putting the brakes on EU legislation will stand up in defence of our time tested differences, telling them to "back off" just as was done on such eccentric treasures as the UK electrical plug and silver hallmarking. If we do not get a bearing on this issue it could be the big end for law making at Westminster, where MPs are accountable to the UK’s manifold electorate.

In short the emissions of the European Union should be exhaustively tested.