TRAIL-BLAZING Rossendale Councillors are set to exceed Government regulations by demanding all minibuses it licenses are fitted with seat belts.

New guidelines, set out in March, mean minibuses and coaches used wholly or mainly for carrying children have to be fitted with seat belts but many MPs claimed the new regulations do not go far enough.

However, Rossendale finance and personnel sub-committee will tomorrow be recommended to alter local conditions for taxis from January 1, 1997 to require full seat belts (lap and shoulder) to be fitted to all minibuses licensed by the council.

Parliament reviewed rules on seat belts after a series of serious accidents including one in which Padiham teenager Gemma Watson died.

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