School parking rage. The future?

From Luton Today, today! There have been tentative fears expressed about the possibility iof 'parking rage' in Flitt Leys given the current pressures but what will it be like when the school run is in full swing, several years down the line? See this.


Parents and pupils were “shocked” when a fight broke out at the end of the school day outside Denbigh Primary School on Friday.
A group of about eight people were involved in the brawl in Denbigh Road at abot 3.15pm.
It is thought the fight started after two men were involved in a parking dispute as pupils were leaving the school.
More people became involved in the argument and started fighting and it is believed some parents filmed the disorder on their mobile phones.
PC Nick Foster said: “At this stage no one appears to have been seriously injured during the incident but it was a shock for parents and pupils to witness. Four people have been arrested in connection with this investigation but we need further information from the public. We believe some of the parents may have recorded the incident on their mobile telephones and I would ask these people to contact us as their footage may help identify those involved.
Anyone with information relating to this incident can contact PC Foster, in confidence, on 01582 394191, or Bedfordshire Police, on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/brawl-outside-primary-school-1-5636291 

Do you park your car in your garage?

The answer is "No" for  most people for reasons which the above photo illustrate. It's not the blog's garage, by the way, though you aren't getting a car in ours either. However, here is some interesting technical data from a reader which again raises a question whether planners are up to speed on the size of modern vehicles. 

Houses with older garages might have been built when the average car was Mini or A30 sized (and) there are physical limitations to being able to put modern cars in such garages.
I'm not sure if there is a British Standard Garage but its bound to be smaller than the US equivalent. No doubt new build houses will have the smallest garage size & door that they think they can get away with.

Typically garage door widths were 7' wide though 6' 10" was possible. Today max width in a single garage door is 8' – 2,438mm

Because of improvements in side-impact protection, modern cars have become wider and also have larger wing mirrors to boot. Some "small" cars are in fact over 2m wide. You might just be able to squeeze the car through the opening with care, but unless the garage is well designed with space inside, you might not be able to open the doors sufficiently to get out! (particularly if you are broad in the beam).

"Broad in the beam". I liked that last comment - again, how far are planners allowing for the increase in girth of the average British person in the last 30 years? All the surveys suggest there has been a marked increase in "side protection". 

Put the double yellows on the pavement

I know, I know, I know - tonight. Postman Pat has identified a prime bit of Cranfield footpath as his personal parking space. Time for Cranfield to blaze a trail and put the double yellow lines on the pavement.

Not to mention moneygram placard blocking and obstructing the visually impaired.

Drives for rent drives for rent!

Parking is such an issue in Cranfield and what makes it worse is that CBC seems intent on making it worse. How? By stuffing schools and health centres up cul de sacs and suggesting we get round this by parking half on half off the pavement. Excuse me, the pavement is for people. 

Now Eric Pickles, the govt's statutory northern bloke (understudied William Hague at one time) has come up with an even bigger wheeze 'Rentadrive'. So, if the local govt minister's idea is Okayed will we see drives stuffed with tenants along with  parking on the pavement and houses built in back gardens. 

Is there is a grip anywhere and will somebody please get it? 

Full story at BBC News

Eric Pickles backs renting of driveways with guidelines

Renting out a single parking space should not require planning permission

Continue reading the main story

Related Stories

• Councils 'make huge parking profits'
• Double yellow lines parking plan
• Renting and sharing: The business of the future

People who rent out their driveways to other motorists are being backed by new government guidelines aimed at tackling parking congestion in busy areas.

The guidance for local authorities in England follows reports that some officials have threatened to levy fines if planning permission is not obtained.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles suggested some councils may be worried about losing income from parking fees.
It comes after he said lifting parking restrictions could boost local shops.

Paint job

 There's been a long overdue repaint at Budgens' car park.  Word has it that some parent and child parkers were having difficulty securing P and C places. Well, I must admit you would hardly know the spaces were there, they were so faint. Not any more. This image is pretty unmissable.

This is a buggy :-)

Parking at the Coop

A parishioner raises a concern about In and Out at the Coop:

"From what I have seen so far, its just not going to work - those coming from Mill Road prefer to use the Out as an entrance & those from Bedford road use the In, just as they have always done, of course.

What's needed to enforce it is the aggressive solution adopted over at TrafficMaster - they have hinged plastic teeth on the exit from the car park & notices warning that it will damage your tyres if you attempt to enter via the exit! Probably wouldn't stop a 4x4 driver though, they will attempt to drive through or over anything ...

Workmen arriving in larger vans often use the island to park on as its easier than trying to manoeuvre in the car park , where there is now less room than before."


I have to say it suddenly hit me, not long after the signs were painted,  that when I drive up Mill Road I have to turn right into the High Street and then right again into the Coop to park. I suppose the alternative is to simply do the five minute walk and stop driving to the shops. The healthy option.

Entitlement or what?

I was pleased  an interested to read the report below to the last PC meeting.  Just before Christmas a massive great 4x4 plonked itself on the new footpath between the Coop car park and the road. Sense of entitlement or what?

After discussion with Amey, post-traffic calming, IN and OUT signs are to be erected in the parking area at the Coop.  CBC enforcement has also offered to come out with a camera and issue tickets to cars on yellow lines between the road and the Co-op car park. 

There will be no bollards put on the grass verge, which was destroyed by a lorry as the bollards will be knocked over.  But bollards will be installed near to Budgens.

Work will be carried out in Crane Way to stop ponding.

Next week the PC will be considering whether to find the 50 per cent cost of building a pedestrian crossing in Mill Road.

Parking in the village

I have blogged about parking problems in the village recently and issues have been raised about Lordsmead. It must be specially difficult with houses that were built with access to just a footpath as some in Lordsmead are. CBC responded to one resident and a copy was sent to parish councillors.

It stated:


"Local Area Transport Plans (LATPs) have been produced that reflect the key highways and transport priorities of communities on an area by area basis. The work programmes within them are developed in consultation with communities, stakeholders and elected representatives, and the projects included reflect those priorities. I can confirm that the additional parking restrictions you have requested are not currently identified in the Marston Vale LATP which covers Cranfield.

"Traffic Regulation Order works such as additional parking restrictions will generally only be taken forward outside that process if they will provide either a significant improvement to the traffic flow on key routes or offer a measurable improvement in road safety. These criteria are not met in the case of your request. Therefore, for any certainty of scheme funding, it would normally be necessary to put forward your request for consideration in a future LATP.

"However, since the approval of the council’s parking strategy earlier this year, Central Bedfordshire Council is providing some funding specifically for additional parking restrictions. This will be taken forward in partnership and cost sharing with town and parish councils. I have copied this email to the clerk of Cranfield Parish Council with a view to establishing a dialogue about the priorities for additional parking restrictions in the parish, and to establish cost sharing arrangements. You may wish to contact the parish council direct about your concerns.

"In the meantime, if you are experiencing problems due to unlawful behaviour by drivers, you may wish to report this to Bedfordshire Police on 101 or 01234 841212."



So, as I understand it, your area may not be included in the local area transport plan BUT there could be some matched funding requiring parish council involvement. It’s back to the parish.  

Footpath parking

Thanks to Ray who attended parish council last night to mention parking on footpaths which is getting  worse. He points out that there is a contradiction between the Highway Code which says  not to park on the pavement at all and our safer neighbourhood team which says its OK if you leave  4 ft.