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www.abplgroup.com
Dee Katwa
Asian Voice - Saturday 26th December 2009
Midland Voice Contact: Dhiren on 07970 911 386 or dee.katwa@abplgroup.com
Are you a driver without insurance? One in five young motorists is breaking the law by driving without insurance - and many of them are on the roads of the West Midlands, according to new research. An estimated 250,000 people aged between 17 and 20 continue to drive despite not having any insurance cover in place, according to the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB). The group, which pays compensation to people involved in accidents with uninsured drivers, said people in this age group were four times more likely to be involved in claims, highlighting the significant proportion of young people without insurance cover who were causing accidents. Part of the problem was that one in ten young drivers claimed not to be aware that having motor insurance was a legal requirement. But the biggest issue is thought to be the high cost of insurance for young drivers, which puts off many people from taking
it out. Accidents involving all uninsured drivers cost motorists with cover about £500 million a year, adding about £30 to every car insurance
policy taken out. Uninsured drivers are five times more likely to be involved in a collision, fail to comply with other road traffic requirements or be involved in criminal activity than other motorists. The MIB said uninsured and hit-andrun drivers injure three people every hour and kill three people every week. The UK has one of the highest proportions
Indian art display Indian textile artist Ranbir Kaur has launched her own art gallery in Hockley, Birmingham, thanks to funding from the Arts Council. Through her creative and innovative work Ranbir aims to develop a greater culture understanding between all people. To find out more visit www.rangoli-arts.com
Green greetings Ping! An email arrives. It's from Leicester couple Nisha and Rakesh: "This year we have chosen to make a donation to charity, Barnardos, in lieu of sending Xmas cards, thereby reducing paper waste and our carbon footprint. However, we have worked hard at perfecting our Xmas dance." Are you being friendly to our environment too?
Tracing our roots The Ethnic Minority Foundation, a charity, held its annual lecture in London last Tuesday. Keynote speaker Dr Spencer Wells delivered a thought-provoking and interesting presentation on a five-year project which aims to map the history of human migration via DNA across five continents. Full report in next column.
PR boost for Arti Former Central News presenter Arti Halai has teamed up with Steve Dann, one of Birmingham’s top PR specialists, to launch a new communications consultancy. Arti, pictured, has worked in both radio and television for some of the country’s largest media corporations including the BBC, ITN, Carlton, LWT, Mirror Group and Sunrise Radio.
of uninsured drivers in Europe, with about five per cent of motorists not having cover, compared with only 0.1 per cent in Sweden and 0.2 per cent in Germany. But the police are being more successful at tackling the problem, with about 230,000 people convicted for driving without insurance each year. People caught driving without insurance could have their vehicle seized, be fined and receive a minimum of six penalty points. The highest concentrations of uninsured drivers are thought to be in the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, London Metropolitan and Merseyside. A separate
study by Campaign for Better Transport a UK advocacy group that lobbies for better bus and rail services recently found how people in the West Midlands are the most dependent on the car in the country. Stephen Joseph, CfBT's executive director, said: "In each region, there are initiatives helping to reduce car dependency. But more needs to be done. We want local councils to take action in their upcoming local transport plans and spend on projects hat will make it easy for people to get out of their cars, and we want the Government to set policies and funding so that car dependency is reduced."
Petition to save car park Leaders from the Hindu, Sikh and Polish communities in the Hillfields area of Coventry have been united in their mission to stop a local car park being removed to make way for Salvation Army hostel for the homeless. A campaign was officially launched at a public meeting held at the city's Shri Krishna Temple, pictured, last Friday evening which was attended by around 100 people, including local residents and councillors. Temple president Kumudchandra Rav said removing the car park would have a devastating effect. "Parking in this area is already a nightmare," said Mr Rav. He clarified that objections were not against having a hostel but the reduction of parking space. The car park is used not only by worshippers to the temple, but also by those visiting the nearby GNP Gurdwara and the St Stanislaus Kostras Polish Catholic Church. A decision on whether to grant permission for the 80-bed hostel is due to be made next month. Credit, in particular, to Babubhai Garala, a modest champion on equalities and former president of the temple, for his selfless and silent, yet influential, role in this campaign.
New chief at GDC Former Business Link West Midlands chief executive Alison White has been appointed interim chief executive of the General Dental Council.. Ms White, pictured, unexpectedly left her role as chief executive of Business Link West Midlands in September this year. It still remains unclear why Ms White stood down from her post and Business Link has never commented on the matter.
Bare feet walk on coal Intrepid volunteers from the Stroke Association will step on scorching coals to raise cash for stroke victims. The Fire and Ice Walk will be held in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Jan 16. Volunteers will be given an hour-long training session from a team of experts followed by the event itself. Anyone wishing to take part or to find out more can ring 0121 444 1042.
News in Brief Drug user jailed A Birmingham man, Jaswinder Singh Johal, has been jailed for six years after police found £77,000 worth of cocaine stashed in a cereal box at his home. Officers searched the Smethwick home of Johal, 36, after he called the police telling them he had been shot. A warrant was executed at his William Road home, where police also found £58,000 in cash. Johal pleaded guilty to part of the charge at Wolverhampton Crown Court last Friday.
Kerb crawling, medic nabbed Dr Sangar Ali, a chest doctor at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, has appeared in court, allegedly accused of trying to pick up a prostitute. He is also charged allegedly for driving without insurance. Dr Ali, 33, pictured, who came to the UK from Iraqi Kurdistan in 2003 as an asylum seeker, last week pleaded not guilty to soliciting and entered no plea on his insurance charge at West Bromwich Magistrates Court. He is due back before the court on Feb 3 for a trial. In the meantime he will continue to work at the hospital.
Dentist on sex charges A Birmingham dentist, Nischal Vaidya, alleged to have sexually assaulted four different women has appeared in court to deny the charges. Vaidya, 39, from Quinton, is accused of touching the women, all aged over 16, in an intimate way. Vaidya has been suspended from Bhandal Dental Practice in Dudley High Street, pending the outcome of the case. He was given conditional bail at Wolverhampton Court last Friday until June 28 when a trial is due to start.
Hospice worker shame A volunteer at Acorns Children’s Hospice has admitted downloading more than 40,000 indecent images of children. David Rollason, 52, from Erdington in Birmingham, pleaded guilty earlier this month at Birmingham Crown Court to three charges of making indecent images, three of possessing them, distributing indecent photos and possessing extreme pornographic images. The charity, which supports life-limited youngsters and their families, has defended its procedures for vetting volunteers.
Chip shop fined A Midland chip shop, Ocean Fish Bar, in Bromsgrove, has been fined more than £6,000 for selling catfish as cod. Owner Kamiljit Ohri admitted selling Vietnamese cobbler and passing it off as cod. The fraud was discovered after an investigation by Worcestershire Trading Standards officers.
Fraudsters charged Six people, including two Birmingham-based solicitors, have been charged over a £50 million commercial mortgage fraud. Four solicitors, a surveyor and a property developer were at the centre of an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into claims that a building society was defrauded by a series of false mortgage applications. Fatema Patwa, 47, and Hardeep Sodhi, 33, were charged with the same all eged offence.