News story

13 October, 2000

MP visits RAC nerve centre

Northavon MP Steve Webb has paid a visit to the regional centre of the RAC at Almondsbury to find out more about the work of this major local employer. The centre is one of four nationwide which handles 3.9 million calls annually from motorists needing assistance. It also plays hosts to a number of the RAC's other commercial activities which include insurance services and traffic and travel information.

On his tour, the Lib Dem MP saw how the organisation copes with the thousands of items of correspondence which come in each day, and had the opportunity to listen in as operators handled calls from stranded motorists. He also saw the sophisticated computer mapping techniques used by the RAC and was able to see how vans are dispatched following a breakdown call. He rounded off the visit with a meeting with Rob Maynard who very often appears on local television as the "voice of the RAC" when there are major traffic problems in the area.

Commenting on his visit, Steve Webb said:

"Like many local residents I have always admired the RAC building from the outside and was pleased to have the opportunity to have a look round and see what goes on inside. I was very impressed by the technology which is used to ensure that people who call the RAC get a swift and efficient response wherever possible. With the recent fuel crisis the RAC faced real headaches with a rise in demand for breakdown services and yet limitations on their own supplies of petrol, but they seem to have coped very well".

Rob Maynard, RAC spokesman, said:

"It is great for our staff to see the impact that our building makes on the hundreds of local visitors we entertain every year - from MPs to schoolchildren"

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