Christopher Booker spots another little story on the way we live now:

As a result, even if these coaches are only operated
privately, they will have to carry illuminated destination boards and
be reconstructed to comply with the complex requirements of a series of
EC bus directives covering such things as wheelchair lifts, seating,
spacing and stair heights. Handrails, for instance, must "have a
circular cross section with a diameter of not less than 30mm and not
more than 35mm, or when fitted at either side of an entrance or exit,
an oval cross section the maximum section of which is not more than
35mm and not less than 30mm, and the minimum section of which is not
less than 20mm".
Peter Osborne, a coach operator
from Southampton, who was referred to me by his MP, Julian Lewis, says:
"I have six new coaches on school runs. Four are under local authority
contract and therefore exempt. The other two are used by children whose
parents club together to pay the fares because they are out of area. As
from January 1 these become illegal".
As Mr
Lewis puts it: "If Mr Osborne goes out and buys two old bangers built
before 2000, they are legal. If he continues to use his new coaches, he
is guilty of a criminal offence".

Note that while this is domestic legislation it’s EU rules behind it all. An efficient use of resources?

When National Express spent £140,000 converting three coaches on its
Bath-London run, its cumbersome wheelchair lifts, which can take 10
minutes to operate, were only used seven times in two years. This
equated to £7,000 for each time the lifts were used. As a senior
company executive observed: "It would have been much cheaper for us to
hire a limousine".

You decide.
It’s got to go you know, it simply has to go.

Ceterum censeo Unionem Europaeam esse delendam