Boost for garages

Sales of new cars in the UK are down. Anywhere except the madhouse we inhabit, this would be good news. With a large proportion of our vehicles made abroad, we still count the display and sale of such imports as one of our “industries”.

With the country drowning in personal debt, it is still apparently to be regretted if some consumers are holding back from such a major purchase on credit.

We are looking at a small increase in the average retirement age of cars. Some will complain that this slows the introduction of newer technology which can improve fuel consumption. Offset against this, we are slowing the turnover of vehicles which, even with perfect recycling, involves the huge environmental impact of smelting and re-manufacture.

No doubt we will be warned of job losses – probably by the same people who tell us we don’t have enough workers to fill other vital posts.

But running the national fleet for longer protects jobs in local repair garages rather than in Asian and European factories.

JOHN RISELEY

Harcourt Drive, Harrogate