[David9694]

A new catch-all Tea Shop thread for those miscellaneous new stories that don’t quite fit with parking, crashing into buildings or trapped/prisoners in their homes. 

Topic

[David9694]

Dereham TC, you know this but

Dereham TC, you know this but just to be clear, this is a straightforward question of cash. If you really want the financial (and operational) responsibility for subsidising drivers via free parking, that can be arranged. 

Breckland Council insists it is ‘not at war’ with Dereham

Breckland Council has defended its decision not to send a representative to discuss the proposals at a meeting of Dereham Town Council last week.

The authority was branded a “disgrace” by town councillors for failing to attend and engage in debate, and was accused of failing to take an interest in the concerns of local people.

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24527076.breckland-council-insists-not-war-dereham/

https://www.breckland.gov.uk/car-parks/policychange

[David9694]

Great stuff, Cheshire Police,

Great stuff, Cheshire Police, make sure you priortise anything but protecting vulnerable road users*

Biker pulls alongside car and smashes window in road rage attack

Police have released CCTV of a motorcyclist they want to speak to in connection with the incident

PCSO Dan Walley, of Crewe’s Local Policing Unit, said: “No one should be made to feel unsafe whilst driving, so we are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information that may aid our enquiries to please contact us.

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/biker-pulls-alongside-car-smashes-9494119

*1% chance the driver did nothing wrong acknowledged. Which grass supplied the CCTV?

[essexian]

If I may…

If I may…

Ep 4. “The Resurfacing”…. the road is closed so it can be resurface…but one car remains. Where is the owner of the car…. the hunt is on.

Ep 5. “A cycle lane….!” The resurfacing done and what’s this…. some of the parking spaces have been removed so a cycle lane and a bike storage unit can be installed. The local Green Party Councillor is cornered in the artisan bakery…..

Ep 6. “Walk to school day.”  The local first school decides that as none of its students live more than half a mile away, they won’t allow people to be driven to school. Questions are asked in the Common’s when a parent from the local US Army base disobeys the instruction… 

Ep 7. “Police strike.” The Road’s Police unit go on strike. People in the area are confused as they didn’t know such a unit existed. 

[David9694]

mdavidford wrote:

David9694 wrote:

brooksby wrote:

David9694 wrote:

“You see people watching out of their windows and spying to see when cars leave in Albert Street and Victoria Street then rushing out and calling their friends to say: ‘I have got a space.’

Is Whitstable too big to cycle around, then?

I just wondered where the car was parked before the other person drove off. 

It wasn’t – people are circling for days, just waiting for their ‘spotter’ to call them with the good news.

TV show idea – like The Detectorists but set around the lives of a group of local residents of a south coast resort as they mostly drive around looking for a parking space. Working title – Circling. 

Episode 1 Stand-off – Kyle has spotted a vacant space in Haslar Street as Mrs Blewitt has gone to see her sister in Tonbridge – but Major Dustin has his eye on it too. Hilarious consequences as both try to claim the vacant space.

Episode 2 – Bin Day – Binfluencers Kelly and Kay awaken to the sound of the bin lorry and rush out to find their Beetle being forcibly moved to allow it to pass. 

Episode 3 – sassy new arrival Liverpudlian Linda is renting Major Dustin’s self-contained flat and causes consternation among Drummond Street residents as she parks her red Fiat 500 convertible lengthways 

[chrisonabike]

David9694 wrote:

It’s probably “too dangerous” or “too busy” to cycle around, which is a shame.  I do sometimes wish a place that this would have the courage to “do a Paris”. It’s a bit like at Hebden Bridge, you aren’t going there on your day out to be surrounded by cars.  

For 60-70 years councils have created off street parking and one ways to try to maintain the illusion that cars, free-flowing roads and a sense of local amenity are all possible at once, but in many places, that no longer works.

Exactly this.  In the UK the dial is turned so far to “drive” that the solution to most problems is a four-wheeled one.  Your town is really rich?  You’ll be keeping those parking spaces if you want to keep your post!  You’re unlikely to persuade the rich to “reduce their status” / convenience.

Your town is really poor?  The working people you’ve got need to be able to get out to earn money with their vehicles, the carers / emergency services need to get in etc.

Your town relies on tourism?  Keep ’em driving – the money comes in with the swanky vehicles / large coaches…

Congestion?  We need to clear the streets / make more space to get the traffic flowing again.

Curiously where things have been rebalanced (e.g. NL) the same issues can lead to the conclusion that fewer motor vehicles and more provision for cycling and other modes is the way forward.

Capacity issues?  More cycling (and public transport).

[David9694]

It’s probably “too dangerous”

It’s probably “too dangerous” or “too busy” to cycle around, which is a shame.  I do sometimes wish a place that this would have the courage to “do a Paris”. It’s a bit like at Hebden Bridge, you aren’t going there on your day out to be surrounded by cars.  

For 60-70 years councils have created off street parking and one ways to try to maintain the illusion that cars, free-flowing roads and a sense of local amenity are all possible at once, but in many places, that no longer works. 

I guess we’re in peak summertime so a few weeks of this kind of thing are inevitable:

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24423974.consultation-new-traffic-control-orders-brancaster/

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24497977.cones-control-parking-removed-old-hunstanton/

[mdavidford]

David9694 wrote:

brooksby wrote:

David9694 wrote:

“You see people watching out of their windows and spying to see when cars leave in Albert Street and Victoria Street then rushing out and calling their friends to say: ‘I have got a space.’

Is Whitstable too big to cycle around, then?

I just wondered where the car was parked before the other person drove off. 

It wasn’t – people are circling for days, just waiting for their ‘spotter’ to call them with the good news.

[David9694]

brooksby wrote:

David9694 wrote:

“You see people watching out of their windows and spying to see when cars leave in Albert Street and Victoria Street then rushing out and calling their friends to say: ‘I have got a space.’

Is Whitstable too big to cycle around, then?

I just wondered where the car was parked before the other person drove off. 

[brooksby]

David9694 wrote:

“You see people watching out of their windows and spying to see when cars leave in Albert Street and Victoria Street then rushing out and calling their friends to say: ‘I have got a space.’

Is Whitstable too big to cycle around, then?

[chrisonabike]

Don’t worry, this place is

Don’t worry, this place is not for most of us (I would imagine – given price of real estate).  The revolution won’t start there.  In fact I’d be surprised if it ever gets there.

“Everything is extortionate” in the town says former Londoner.  Tourist town and apparently the “Airbnb capital of Kent” you say?  Problem parking on “busy summer days” you say?

Google says the town is about 5 miles by 1.6 and flat – or 26 minutes by 12 minutes on a bike.  Switching on Google’s “cycle infra” layer – not much to see.  One of the few “main” routes is a very narrow shared use path (footpath with sign) alongside the A2990!

[David9694]

I suppose we’re the same as

I suppose we’re the same as Whitstable drivers  – “check it out, there’s a new half a mile of cycleway!”

Three parking bays in Whitstable on market for £150,000 as residents say trying to find space is ‘impossible’

“You see people watching out of their windows and spying to see when cars leave in Albert Street and Victoria Street then rushing out and calling their friends to say: ‘I have got a space.’

“It is madness and I have parked near Whitstable railway station before which takes about 15 minutes ? to walk back to my home.”

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/news/parking-in-our-town-is-impossible-no-wonder-spaces-are-goi-311343/

[David9694]

mdavidford wrote:

Pub bike wrote:

 That is a big political argument for never raising the duty

Not really – it’s an argument for paying care workers properly so that they can afford it.

Aren’t we essentially in Red Diesel territory here? It’s not that it’s immune from the issues Pub bike raises, such as fraud, but it’s not like a whole new system would need to be instituted. 

[David9694]

mdavidford wrote:

I am admiring the superbly unnecessary precision of

More than  94.6% of journeys using the Dartford Crossing are paid correctly and on time

though.

 

Rounded up to 95% that’s still 7,500* journeys a day where there’s an issue.  That’s 2.74 m a year, so there’s bound to be someone having a funeral. 

*Source – sorry about this – one more river crossing will fix it:

https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/lower-thames-crossing/the-need-for-the-lower-thames-crossing/the-dartford-crossing

[David9694]

Herne Bay ice cream man

Herne Bay ice cream man banned from Seaview Holiday Park in Swalecliffe, Whitstable, in stand-off with security

Not sure about “trading unlawfulfully” (it’s trespass, I think) but practically every poor little me victim card in the deck is played here. 

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/whitstable/news/ice-cream-man-banned-from-holiday-park-in-stand-off-with-sec-311243/

[David9694]

Moment raging motorist drives

Moment raging motorist drives AA worker’s van and throws his keys outside McDonald’s

The bizarre moment was caught on dashcam footage outside a Lincolnshire McDonald’s

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/moment-raging-motorist-drives-aa-9477048

[Author]

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