On Wed, 18 Sep 2019 11:14:11 +0100, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
alan_m wrote:
Don't forget the decades of the UK public not bothering to vote in a EU
election because they had already realised that an MEP had absolutely no
power and it didn't matter a toss who got in.

Oddly, the same is being said about our parliament too. Proved by the low
turnout in so many by elections . If a turnout is how you gauge such
things.

We were polled recently re making quite a large area of the locality
permit parking.

Because the issue of commuters using the area as a park-and-ride, the
main issue is only seen by those very near the station and who are
there during the day. They go out in their car and can't park near
their house upon return.

Those leaving their cars at home and using the train to get to work,
or driving and only returning after the rush hour aren't so affected.

So, AFAIK, nothing has been done about the parking scheme because in
reality, it would make the lives of many many people more complicated
and expensive and so few returned the poll.

It had to cover a fairly large radius from the station or it would
only push the problem outwards, potentially affecting more people and
especially those who chose *not* to live that close to the station for
those very reasons.

So, like Brexit, very few people actually wanted it and a few more
could be persuaded / suckered into going along with it because they
are on the margins or know someone who is affected by it and who might
not have a car themselves (or have off-road-parking sufficient for
them and their visitors / family etc).

What would be *better* of course is to provide adequate parking
capacity near the railway or reduce the rates if the existing parking
isn't fully utilised. What they shouldn't do is push the problem onto
people who may not be using the station in the first place but making
it easier for people to park and ride, if that is better for the
environment.

Cheers, T i m