Drivers and their problems

Man who refused to pay English-language parking fine loses in court

Toni Schiavone was given the parking fine back in September 2020

However, she said during her verdict that there was nothing in the 1967 Welsh Language Act, the 1993 Welsh Language Act, or the 2011 Welsh Language Measure to compel the parking company to provide a Welsh language service.

She therefore ordered that Toni pay the £100 charge, as well as £70 for administrative costs, £11.90 interest and £85 for the court fee within 21 days.

After explaining her ruling and order, Toni Schiavone said "I understand, but I refuse to pay."

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/man-who-refused-pay-englis...

How to catch the bus. There's also one about getting off it. If I was going to France or Gernany I guess there'd be no shame in reading up on how to use the RER and the U-Bahn. I guess this is a great way of removing obstacles to public transport use - one of the better things the internet has done -  but isn't using buses a life skill like brushing your teeth or tying your shoe laces??

https://youtu.be/5-yvQBZEhx8?si=foIco7ss8ljVBA8h

Oxford householders share experiences of living in LTN area

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24321675.magdalen-road-oxford-resident...

Driver flips car on busy dual-carriageway after being 'frightened by spider'

Thankfully, there were no reports of injury

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/driver-flips-car-busy-d...

Exeter bus service suspended over parked car crisis

The P bus in Exeter is unable to follow its usual route due to 'badly parked cars' in Stoke Hill

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/exeter-bus-service-suspended-o...

that will be the same Exeter that sounds like it's poised to rip out its LTN. 

See also: 

Independent Exeter candidate apologises for 'silly' poo threat

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/independent-exeter-candidate-a...?

Exeter LTN traffic troubles influenced city council votes

While Labour held on to the city council and increased its majority by one, the anti-LTN protest made itself felt.

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/exeter-ltn-traffic-troubles-in...?

Exeter 'human bollards' live in fear of death threats and poo through letterboxes

'Safe Streets Now' protestors have been stopping drivers from flouting the rules of the LTN trial this week

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/exeter-human-bollards-live-fea...

Amberley Close blocked by ambulance 'for hour' over parking

Cllr Jill Desayrah previously organised a petition to have the grass verge area by the road converted into parking spaces although had been told by Worcestershire County Council it could not be done because of services beneath the surface, making the job 'too expensive'.

She was contacted by a woman, who did not criticise the ambulance service, saying the situation highlighted the need for extra parking, and even a dedicated bay for ambulances so that paramedics could get to patients more easily in an emergency and residents were not blocked in.

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/24316476.amberley-close-blocked-amb...

This is from a comment on a story on Kent Online about an elderly cyclist "A cyclist has died after colliding with the driver’s door 🧐 of a car near a railway station."

ED gta Pro wrote:
16/05/2024 14:26
This is really unfortunate that he has passed away,
And my thoughts are with his family,
But how can this happen on that road
[…]
The cars owner is going to pay more for insurance next year as the family will claim on the insurance.
The car will need to be repaired possibly.
If a car hits another one from behind its the car that hits the car fault,
So, in the instance the cyclist must have been at fault,
Not paying enough attention,
Riding too close to the parked car,
Yet the car driver will be held responsible.
 

Skidz Advanced Driving School at Manston Airport advised to stop by Thanet District Council

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/council-puts-skids-under-drifti...

Diddly Squat planning advice. 

Compare and contrast:  https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/maidenhead/152669/velolife-...

Road rage attack in Courtenay Road, Dunkirk near Faversham sparks police probe

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/faversham/news/road-rage-attack-sparks-poli...

what cars do to people - too often driving has little to do with transport 

m'kay

'Take me to court' says pensioner, 78, slapped with £100 parking fine he won't pay

Peter Toolan, 78, said he had 'no intention of trying to avoid payment' and is ready to fight his case in court

Mr Toolan, a former High School teacher, was charged £100 after parking at Redditch Train Station on February 24, 2024. He claimed the ticket machine was broken and that he planned to pay for the ticket the following day, not wanting to download an app and pay online at the time since he did not know when he would return to his vehicle🧐.

New parking rules in England (that would be nice, but it's Sheffield) from Monday and drivers fear 'being fined for breathing'

The new rules will come into effect across Sheffield from Monday, May 20, with £70 fines for drivers - reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/new-parking-rules-en...

UK drivers warned over £87 charge (???)  when they turn up to petrol forecourts in May

Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, BP, Texaco, Esso and Shell drivers have been warned to expect a rising cost at the pump as petrol and diesel prices soar.

RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: “Drivers are once again having to dig deep🎻 just to go about their daily lives. Our data shows petrol and diesel have now gone up 10p a litre so far this year on the back of further increases in April of 3p and 2p respectively.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/uk-drivers-warned-ove...

second home owner gets £60 parking penalty in Cornwall 

Pensioner's fury after being stung with £100 parking charge at West Country holiday spot

David Lester said he 'feels sorry' for people who have to pay the standard, and increasingly high, charges let alone additional parking charge notices (PCNs)

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/pensioners-fury-after-...

but, but 

Plea to pedestrianise Friar Street to help cost of living

Suggestions on how to revive the historic street, dubbed 'the prettiest in Worcester' by proud shop owners, include pedestrianising the road and encouraging a greater variety of traditional and unique trades to take up residence there.

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/24328931.plea-pedestrianise-friar-s...

52 mph tractor menace - stiffer penalties including life imprisonment demanded 

Woman run over by tractor at Wroxham Barns in Norfolk

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24330496.woman-run-tractor-wroxham-barns-no...

Car-free Bibury - sounds good to me.  This seems to have been going on since October. 

Cotswold villagers living in 'England's prettiest street' cut off by road closure due to 'dangerous wall'

Ambulance crews had to take one Arlington Row resident on a stretcher across the a pedestrian bridge in Bibury

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/cotswold-vill...

Another resident said such a thing happened on Sunday. Paul Johnson said his neighbour was dashed 300 yards to an ambulance. “That’s three times,” he said. He also told the meeting that another neighbour has not been out of his home since the closure.

Gosh, what happens if you live on the 20th floor? I have literally no idea how people can have lived anywhere worked anywhere or got supplies before they all had cars. 

My son’s stopped coming because of it. One you can’t park and two, you can’t access the row." Mr Johnson said he has had no notification about the closure from the authorities nor an explanation about it.

“You can’t even get logs to your cottage which sounds a trivial thing," he said. “I find it absolutely appalling. It’s been an absolute shambles.”

https://www.biburyparishcouncil.gov.uk/news/2023/10/awkward-hill-road-cl...

'Cut off' Surrey town 'becomes an island' after road closures turn three minute journey into one hour

A Surrey mum has the traffic chaos is adding stress to children's GCSE exam

Ellen Watkins, who has lived in Cobham for 30 years, said the onslaught of traffic chaos is making the much-loved town an unpleasant place to live. The mother of three even considered renting a property near her son's school last year, so he could finish his A Levels without the stress of being late to his exams.

She drives a minibus of students from Cobham to the Chertsey school and said that even to get from Cobham High Street to the A3 takes around 40 minutes, instead of three.

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/cut-off-surrey-town-becomes...
 

edit: School o'clock screengrab - not seeing a problem outbound from Cobham? 

Drivers and their problems 

Like many parents to have taken on the unpaid role as their children’s taxi service in the last 12 months, never have we clocked-up so many miles motoring across the south for one sporting fixture or another.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/news/opinion/road-closures-are-up-200-and-i...

Lives "around the corner", but visited twice by car in one day.  He also needs to stick with just the one story - "you can't prove that's my car" exiting after visit #2 ain't helping. 

Netley Abbey pensioner vows not to pay Tesco parking fine

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24341843.netley-abbey-pensioner-vows-no...