NW Report December-January 2012
I attended the NC meeting at MAG HQ. Minutes of meeting will
be available on MAG
Main topic for discussion was the forming of the Motorcycle
Alliance Party with the aim to fund a candidate for the Police Commissioner
Elections due to take place in November 2012. I had also managed to collect a
full car load of clothes bags from local MAG groups which were collected by
Paul Redfern in aid of the Blood Bikes,
After no show in 2011, the
Their was favourable reports on the presentation that Paddy
gave at the Road Safety Great Britain meeting in Runcorn on the 17th
January. Paddy gave the GAG presentation and two of the RSBS forum members were
in attendance. Feedback from Paddy indicates that it all went well.
Rob
Winn, motorcycling road safety adviser for Lancashire County Council's Road
Safety Group, explained that Core 6 standards from DSA are now in force and lay
down the standards required of the instructor. These standards cover teaching,
qualification levels especially for post-test training, CPD, behaviours etc. All
previous standards (Core 1 – 5) have been about the "job”, Core 6 is about
the "Instructor" and the expectations thereof and represent a massive
step forward in terms of regulation. Post Test regulation is oncoming and will
make demands on trainers who operate within this field. Membership of the DSA's Register of Post Test Motorcycle Trainers (RPMT) is likely
to become mandatory, necessitating completion of an approved qualification
course. The cost of this alone has implications for all Trainers
The NW stall is desperately in need of replacement as many years of getting battered by the weather at various events has stripped the hinges in the frame. The NW committee has sourced a new all weather 6m x 3m stand and are planning on using NW regional funds to purchase it at £550. These funds do include revenue from the sale of the Sept 25th T-shirts, but by using this money it will save having to use any of the proceeds from last years Fun n Frolics Rally. Blackpool MAG will then be able to raise a cheque for £2000 to be handed over at AGC.
We now have a new Manchester MAG Rep; Jimmy Torrance who is
also the Chairman of the newly formed Motorcycle Alliance Party. As of 1st of
February 2012, The Motorcycle Alliance Party is an official major registered
political party of the
Blackpool MAG members are busy getting the rally organised and Red Rose MAG will be hosting the 7th NW Fred Hill run next weekend. Not heard much from Morecambe & Lancaster or Wirral & Chester of late but hopefully will get chance to pop down to their meetings once I get my future employment secured which is of high priority at the moment.
See you all at the weekend,
Tony Cox
NW Regional Rep.