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www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ DECEMBER 2012NATIONAL NEWS ♦9New efforts to clean up Paris FatherChristmasUnder plans tocut pollutionin Paris, 'oldbangers', lorriesand classic cars will bebanned from the streets ofthe nation's capital within2 years. Socialist mayorBertrand Delanoë intendsto outlaw cars more than17 years old as well aslorries and buses more than18 years old by September2014.Motorbikes built before2004, which the mayor saidwere the “most pollutingand noisiest”, will also beoutlawed from all areasinside the A86 ring road.Along with the classic 2CV,the archetypal image of ayoung couple sputteringaround Paris' cobbledstreets on a Vespa couldsoon become a thing of thepast.The ban has plenty ofopposition, however, withclaims it is “anti-social,anti-suburban and antimotorist”.One classic carowner told Le Parisiennewspaper the move would“exclude the poorest peoplefrom driving in the capital”and turn Paris into an“island for the rich”.To counter this argument,authorities said that theywould introduce “social”measures to help familiesand businesses updatevehicles, including statesubsidies to scrap old carsfor new ones. ExpertsDAVIDimmediately called thispromise unrealistic, giventhe huge cost of such ameasure at a time of budgetcuts and austerity.The ban is the latestin Mr Delanoë's war on“the hegemony of theautomobile”. In recentyears he has introduceda raft of changes aimedat dissuading, or in somecases stopping, motoristsfrom using the roads of thecapital. He has introducedtrams, bike and bus lanes, aswell as the popular bicyclerental scheme. In the pastyear he has also launchedAutolib', the electric carrental system and begunpedestrianising stretches ofroad along the banks of theSeine.Those who do not own acar - a population that todayaccounts for the majorityof people living in centralParis - are delighted, butthose drivers who remainclaim that the congestiontoday is worse than ever.Other changes introducedas part of the mayor's pledgeto “progressively and in aconcerted manner” ban allheavy goods vehicles fromusing the capital's roadnetwork include creatingtoll barriers for lorries oncross-city motorways andeco taxes for those using lepériphérique (Paris' innerring road). Heavy goodsvehicles will be tracked viasatellite or number plateCARDWELLPROFESSIONAL BUILDERHome renovations / Ground worksBlock works / Verandas, Abris & TerracesBarn doors & ShuttersAlso available: digger & driverPlanning permission assistance and design availableHNC and ONC qualified, 15 years experience & 5 in FranceTel: 05 55 98 24 12Email: dave.cardwell@yahoo.co.ukrecognition.The measures requireapproval at ministerial leveland the Paris Préfecture dePolice before becominglaw.Air pollution isresponsible for 43,000deaths per year in Franceand is estimated to take sixmonths off Parisians' livescompared to those outsidethe capital.Elsewhere, the mayorhas also announced aclampdown on cigarettebutts. The number of peoplesmoking has fallen in recentyears, but since smokerswere forced outdoors 5years ago, the number ofcigarette butts being thrownon the ground has exploded.“At the entrance tometros, at the entrances tocafés and restaurants... thesituation isn't acceptable...the pavements are carpetedwith cigarette butts,” saidFrançois Dagnaud, thedeputy mayor of Paris incharge of cleanliness. “Ourgoal is of course not to put apolice officer behind everysmoker, but to encouragethem to change theirbehaviour.”The city will provide10,000 public ashtraysPhoto credit: http://www.lefestivalduvent.com/** NEW WEEKLY SERVICE **BUILDING MATERIALS25kg THISTLEMULTIFINISHPLASTER€9.99/bagsituated on a third of streetbins throughout the city. Aspart of the campaign, whichuses the slogan “Don't throwyour cigarette butt, becomea hero”, the mayor hasRESTAURANTS / CASH & CARRY SUPPLIERSNEW!!also asked the governmentto increase the fine forthrowing cigarette butts onthe streets from €35 to €68- a fine which is currentlylargely un-enforced. ■******* APPROVED DISTRIBUTORS FOR FRANCE *******opens hisonline postofficeFather Christmas, orrather Père Noël, isexpecting a busy time inthe coming month afteropening the doors to hisonline post office on LaPoste's website: www.laposte.fr/pere-noel/His 60 staff, based inthe Gironde department,will be working flat outthis year as they celebrate50 years handling Santa'scorrespondence. It isestimated that 1.4 millionchildren will get in touchwith Père Noël thisChristmas, a significantincrease on the 5,000letters he received whenthe service started in1962.Father Christmas firstwent online in 1996.Visitors to his websitecan complete a short formand send a message toSanta - by entering postaldetails, children will alsoreceive a personalisedresponse from the manhimself. ■Celotex Rigid Insulation BoardB-Grade - all sizes availableDelivery can be arrangedTel: 05.55.78.57.60dawn-2665@hotmail.com******* ATP CERTIFIED *******