Drivers and their problems

new and unused 

Tonbridge woman fined £100 by One Parking Solution while dropping off clothes to Mind charity

The housewife, who lives in Chiddingstone Causeway village near Tonbridge, was visiting the town’s high street store, to deliver some her mother-in-law’s clothes after she passed away.

After speaking to the manager Mel, Alana was told to park round the back of the shop to drop off the clothes.

“Mel is having a word with head office as I’m aware I’m not the only person this has happened to.”

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/i-got-fined-100-for-doing-a-go...

Where did park when speaking to Mel? Anyway, the scene of the crime:

Exeter traders slam 'crazy' plans to build on city centre car park

The car is still king and there is nothing they can do about it, say baffled visitors to the city

Save the scruffy car park! There's several little gems in this fairly long read, but my favourite is Mr Car is King: "Always has been. People need their independence. To get rid of the parking spaces and tell people to use the bus is absurd because the buses are atrocious."

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/exeter-traders-slams-crazy-pla...

"2000" posts in Drivers and Their Problems.

The problems drivers create for others, the problems they (and only they) experience.  It’s all in here, people made self-centred and self-pitying by cars - the waves of hope, freedom and independence crashing against the rocks of traffic jams and parking charges. 

Self-pity because despite having so much of the world, its space and resource has been dedicated to them over the past few decades, some drivers are convinced they are an underdog, a war on cars. 

Self-centred because everything and everyone else is the problem, it’s never them. The road is narrow and icy, it’s flooded, cyclists and horse riders are using it, the car park is full. 

Cars breed still more cars as cars close down and suck the life out of all the alternatives. You can’t unsee it. 

File under W for 'wait til you hear about cars':

Letter: Dangerous e-scooters 'should be discontinued', Bath local says

"The new contract has not yet resulted in any improvement in eliminating the dangerous, thoughtless and anti-social abandonment of bikes"

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/letter-dangerous-e-scoote...

Southampton residents up in arms over ‘chaotic’ roadworks

Genre classic - utterly deranged: 

“The cars have taken over the whole road, it’s just a car park now. It’s not pleasant.

“It’s part of the campaign against cars and drivers.”

Kevin added: “The council really need to come down here and look at it when it’s busy. It’s difficult for me to get home after work.

“I pick my grandson up and it’s heaving round here and dangerous.

“Cars are blocking the road and the pavement, so you can imagine the parents having to walk their children into the road.”

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23871032.southampton-residents-arms-cha...

so that's what happened to Saint and Greavsie:

the roads are not for your hobby:

Revving, donuts and people hanging onto car bonnets in Callington

Police are investigating anti-social behaviour and driving from the weekend

A group of at least ten people were involved, Callington Police said. It happened in the New Road carpark and along Southern Road during the evening of Sunday, October 22.

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/revving-donuts-people-ha...

Storm Babet: Upton car graveyard formed after floods

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/23876559.storm-babet-upton-car-grav...

This is what happened next after van blocked Malvern path (towed away)

A VAN blocking a path has been seized by police in Malvern - and officers also found there was no tax or insurance in place on the vehicle after performing extra checks.

The van parked in Green Lane in the Priory area of Malvern was blocking the path so no pedestrians could use it.

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/23879045.happened-next-van-blocked-...

Eastchurch chalet owners on Sheppey face gridlock due to SGN gas works in Warden Road

“My friend was stuck in the queue for a little less than an hour and a half just to travel 0.5 miles down the road"

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sheerness/news/my-half-mile-journey-took-90...

Wind farm off Devon coast could 'risk children's safety'

Fears raised over impact of project on Saunton Sands - one of the south west’s most popular beaches

Saunton Sands is one of the south west’s most popular beaches, claiming some of the country’s best surf, but residents and business owners spoke of the impact that closing 40 per cent of the beach car park for cabling work for a year or more would have on tourism, Braunton’s main industry.

Braunton relies on its bucket and spade holidays. If people can’t get in the car park, they can’t use the beach and we will lose our tourists.” She said “daily snarl ups” hampered the village and that situation would get worse if the application went ahead. Teachers and parents said narrow pavements, pushchairs and children and HGV vehicles did not mix and there was a real safety risk.

“You can barely get a car through at 10mph at 9am, 3pm and 4pm when everyone is milling around Caen Street and the supermarket,” said one teacher. Just imagine how horrendous it is going to be with all the extra traffic and pollution.”

Mr Woods said the cables could avoid the land and go directly where they needed to go, under the sea, to East Yelland.

“If you draw a straight line and boar underneath the sediment…forget the sand, go deeper and once you go below the seabed you are clear of everything. Speak to Elon Musk, he has a boring company that has just dug a tunnel under Las Vegas. Get a quote from him and put the cable under the sea directly where it needs to go. You will not need mitigation, we won’t even know it is going on.”

Chair of the parish council Cllr Marguerite Shapland said if the proposal did go ahead the council would not be powerless but would be “kicking up a stink” because “that is what we do” if things were not being done the way they should be done.

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/wind-farm-devon-coast-risk-886...

The nightmare Exeter street plagued by daily car parking chaos

Residents are pleading for solutions to stop the daily "pandemonium" in their street

But the most recent issues stem from the introduction of residents parking permits in neighbouring Pennsylvania and Rosebarn Lane about five years ago. Residents here voted against being part of it. Nobody wanted to be told by the council where they could park or be charged for the privilege. 

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/nightmare-exeter-street-plague...

Man scrapped neighbour's Volkswagen camper for £200 without them knowing

David Fearon says he thought the vehicle was abandoned

In interview he told police that the VW had been at the end of his garden for 18 months and he thought it was abandoned. He admitted that he didn't do proper checks before agreeing the sale.

HTTPS://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/man-scrapped-neighbours-volkswag...

Ambulance stuck in ‘absolute carnage’ as drivers avoid A28 Wincheap road closure in Canterbury

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/ambulance-stuck-in-absolute...

Man in latex gimp suit terrified female drivers on pitch black country lane

Joshua Hunt wore a latex black gimp suit with mask which had eyes and mouth drawn on in UV paint

There came a disgruntled shuffle from Holme's chair as he studied The Times, which Watson knew all too well could lead to their next case. He made his way over to enquire, "this, Watson, this" he exclaimed - Holmes slapped the article with his fingers and threw aside the open newspaper and now sat away facing the window.

Watson browsed the story, "this rather peculiar affair...something amiss here, Holmes?"

"Watson, fetch the Bradshaw, we must away for Weston super Mare. This man is innocent and I shall prove it! " 

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/regional-news/man-latex-gimp-...

EDIT: As the London train pulled out of Weston Super Mare station, Holmes settled back and began filling his pipe. He struck a match and the bowl began to draw. "But Holmes," began Watson earnestly from the opposite seat, "how did you know that the drivers were mistaken?".

"Watson, I despair of you some times." He rested the pipe on the little table by the compartment window. "A dark country lane, a man dressed head to toe in black?"

Watson looked none the wiser: he was about to speak, but Holmes stopped him, "there is no possibility of a driver being able to see any anyone wearing black in full daylight, never mind about darkness.  The newspaper account alone convinced me of that."

Nothing to do with do with roads, or driving just inspired by the turn of the Manufactured Rage calendar and nothing to do with cycling either. Please enjoy: 

What's next, cancelling Santa?' - BBC antiques expert fumes as museum drops 'Christmas' from market

But David, who has appeared on Antiques Roadshow, Flog It! and Bargain Hunt, said: “This is the closest we have got to a Cromwellian society. What will they ban next year? Santa? Reindeers? Christmas hats as it’s offensive?

“My business is antiques and history, that's how I make my living. History and tradition, they are inextricably linked, anything that erodes our traditions I am opposed to.”

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/whats-next-cancelling-santa-b...

Gloucestershire chiefs blasted for 'lack of respect' of military after no-show on Armed Forces Day

None of the Forest of Dean District Council’s Green Party leadership attended the annual event in late June which commemorates the service of the British Armed Forces

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/gloucestershi...

(context: the Green Party hold 15 of 38 seats)

Customers 'absolutely gutted' as 'fantastic' Herne Bay shop to close

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/herne-bay/news/customers-absolutely-gutted-...

Drivers weirdly quiet on this, esp given all the goings on with the Golden Mile down in Torbay:

It's the dawn of an exciting new era for ailing Devon town

It is promised that by this time next year the Strand will be a wide pedestrian boulevard, with buses banished and traffic squeezed into a single carriageway

https://www.devonlive.com/news/news-opinion/its-finally-start-exciting-n...

Did someone say large blind, elderly dog? There can only be one vehicle suitable!

Blind dog reunited with owner after 3 days missing

https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/23884849.blind-dog-reunited-ow...

Ugly, just plain ugly. 

Arrest made after parking signs in Ashdown Forest 'destroyed' and 'damaged'

One man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage

https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/sussex-news/arrest-made-after-parking-...

not sure what this randomness is:

Those awful motorway bridge ridges that could damage my car are grinding my gears

Some aren't as bad as others but the worst offenders must cause some damage to vehicles 

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/those-awful-motorway-bridge-...

maybe June here has heard about cars?

Letter: Locals stay away from Bath due to 'urban nightmare' in city centre

A resident says locals are "forced to use the huge out of city supermarkets"

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/letter-locals-stay-away-b...