Parking
You're right - I don't need a car - if I did, I wouldn't have lasted three years without one. I used to think of a car as an expensive luxury, but given the high cost of using public transport, it'll probably work out about the same as using trains and buses. Putting it on the drive costs about £23 a week in depreciation, insurance and servicing (DIY). Running it costs about 10p a mile in petrol. Compare that with the cost of making journeys by public transport to the following places which we often have cause to visit; multiply these ticket prices by two for both of us... and factor in the cost of local buses from the train station:
Supermarket - £2
West Malling - £9.90
Harlow - £14.60
Brighton - £15.80
Totnes - £70
Leeds - £50-£100 depending on how far ahead you book
B&Q/Ikea/dump etc - £8/hr to hire a streetcar
If the cost of public transport came down (or the cost of petrol went up massively), I'd get rid of the car and I dare say I would cope just fine. Increasing tax on car ownership and using it to decrease bus and train fares is a whole new debate though
Supermarket - £2
West Malling - £9.90
Harlow - £14.60
Brighton - £15.80
Totnes - £70
Leeds - £50-£100 depending on how far ahead you book
B&Q/Ikea/dump etc - £8/hr to hire a streetcar
If the cost of public transport came down (or the cost of petrol went up massively), I'd get rid of the car and I dare say I would cope just fine. Increasing tax on car ownership and using it to decrease bus and train fares is a whole new debate though
I am not suggesting I want to park directly outside my own home er - sorry premesis. Just nearby would be handy now and then. Anyway we use public transport most of the time so there is not the need to move our cars (yes two!) so we don't. As Eagle rightly pointed out some of those parking in PHG while they go to London on the train, are indeed coming up from much further down the line to save on fares. They dont reside in LB Lewisham just use the road as a free car park - much like we do (I'll save you the bother of posting that reply Bensonby).bensonby wrote:no-one.gillyjp wrote: who are we, the residents of Peak Hill Gardens to dare to complain before we are shot down in flames.
A public road is a public road is a public road. Any car that has paid its road tax is allowed on any derestricted road.
you do not own the piece of road outside your premesis! you havn't paid for it, you don't have any special interest in it, you don't enjoy any privileges there. it's not your property
You can complain and campaign until you are blue in the face as is your right. But what gives you any more right to have influence over a public road than other people?
Therefore I really don't understand your apparent sense of injustice on this matter.gillyjp wrote:I am not suggesting I want to park directly outside my own home er - sorry premesis. Just nearby would be handy now and then. Anyway we use public transport most of the time so there is not the need to move our cars (yes two!) so we don't. As Eagle rightly pointed out some of those parking in PHG while they go to London on the train, are indeed coming up from much further down the line to save on fares. They dont reside in LB Lewisham just use the road as a free car park - much like we do (I'll save you the bother of posting that reply Bensonby).
People like to park in the road you live on. You also like to park there. You both pay your road tax. The area is derestricted.
Where people live is therefore irrelevant isn't it?
Barty
Depending on the cost of the car park the results could be different.
A free Car Park would just encourage people to drive from 5 to 20 miles away to reduce their rail fare. I would not think you want Sydenham clogged up by these people who would bring no benefit to the area. I do not think Sydenham station has a low usage situation.
If a charge were made most local people would not bother to use it I would think , but could be wrong
Do not forget also the crime aspect. Car Parks next to commuter stations are big targets because the crims no unlikely owners back until evening. Whereas if you park in Peak Hill the crim does not know if you are going to turn up any time
I could of course be wrong and would prefer a lovely garden to be a centre piece of Sydenham . Could be a large open air coffee shop also I guess.
Depending on the cost of the car park the results could be different.
A free Car Park would just encourage people to drive from 5 to 20 miles away to reduce their rail fare. I would not think you want Sydenham clogged up by these people who would bring no benefit to the area. I do not think Sydenham station has a low usage situation.
If a charge were made most local people would not bother to use it I would think , but could be wrong
Do not forget also the crime aspect. Car Parks next to commuter stations are big targets because the crims no unlikely owners back until evening. Whereas if you park in Peak Hill the crim does not know if you are going to turn up any time
I could of course be wrong and would prefer a lovely garden to be a centre piece of Sydenham . Could be a large open air coffee shop also I guess.
There isn't the space for a big enough car park anyway - but the crime aspect can be offset by a well-monitored cctv system.
Serious problems need innovative solutions - you can control the origins of users of a car park, for example, by only giving permits to people from certain areas.
Trouble is, you can't satisfy everyone can you? Residents want to restrict commuter parking....so build a car park.....but what about affordable homes??? So build 45 flats with 9 car parking spaces.....swings and roundabouts.
Serious problems need innovative solutions - you can control the origins of users of a car park, for example, by only giving permits to people from certain areas.
Trouble is, you can't satisfy everyone can you? Residents want to restrict commuter parking....so build a car park.....but what about affordable homes??? So build 45 flats with 9 car parking spaces.....swings and roundabouts.
Yes please - we are half way there as we have a family of foxes, blue jays, robins, wood pigeons, blue tits, blackbirds etc. But we can dream on as there is no money to be made from that venture I am sad to say.Eagle wrote:Oh no heaven forbid
How about a wildlife garden to put Sydenham on the green map.
Sorry I am going off topic here. I find it incredible that Stuart thinks that to own a car you should have a garage or a drive. Well I applied for a garage from Lewisham Council about 5 years ago and am still waiting. Surely if you have a 'drive' and the dropped kerb access to the road which is needed, you are (and I quote) 'selfishly using the road' and preventing another road tax payer from accessing that bit of space as well. Effectively you have 3 parking spaces, the garage, the drive and the dropped kerb bit as well - bit of an elitiste attitude isnt it? Unless of course you don't mind if someone parks across your drive?
Well, I gather there are rules now about the amount of a frontage that can be paved over (2/3rds I gather but could be wrong.
Introducing a car park would just encourage more cars in the same way that the M25 opened up whole new possibilities for commuters - and yes, it was the intention but seemingly the planners were caught way off guard when usage of that facility rocketed way beyond their usage expectations. Agree could regulate if "only allowed to park here if..." but that is more likely to be more costly to adminster than it would be of any benefit to local reidents.
As for the use of of CCTV, it's rather a joke in station car parks I reckon from experience. In any case, however it could be avoided re identification (hood up), it'll always be after the event, so not really a deterrent, esp if no film in the camera, let alone someone monitoring real time video.
Introducing a car park would just encourage more cars in the same way that the M25 opened up whole new possibilities for commuters - and yes, it was the intention but seemingly the planners were caught way off guard when usage of that facility rocketed way beyond their usage expectations. Agree could regulate if "only allowed to park here if..." but that is more likely to be more costly to adminster than it would be of any benefit to local reidents.
As for the use of of CCTV, it's rather a joke in station car parks I reckon from experience. In any case, however it could be avoided re identification (hood up), it'll always be after the event, so not really a deterrent, esp if no film in the camera, let alone someone monitoring real time video.