| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Brentford to Grow by MORE than Fifty Percent? | |
| Posted by: | Michael Brandt | |
| Date/Time: | 11/04/13 10:08:00 |
| I carry 20kg of equipment and it is technically not permitted on public transport because it exceeds the value of their insurance cover for passengers and poses a risk. Nonetheless I do use the bus and train most of the time now. But the car is still the main means of work. My wife works unsocial hours. She does use the night bus but some shifts leave her stranded so she has to use the car. Most of her colleagues use cars as they are not on a night bus route. There are over a 1000 in her company alone doing this. Many work on call too so have to have access to a vehicle. London is a 24 hour city in all but it's transport services. With the tube it can never be 24 hour but the bus system is patchy and women walking home in the small hours is not a pleasant experience more a worrying one. A significant and increasing proportion of people do not work 9-5 M-F. It's at least 15 years since I did. For less fortunate people, a car is often the lifeline to an income. Cabbing, unsocial hours jobs and so on are always the first step on the ladder to a decent living. These people have to live somewhere and keep a car. It's going to be that way for many for a very long time yet. Commuters forced out of station areas because of CPZs are leaving cars up to a mile from the station, sometimes even a bus ride away. It's no different to people parking their car in adjacent streets to save a few quid on parking costs especially if it's not a valuable car. As for the state of Housing association and council developments, You are right. I've noticed several identical locations where half is private and half is social and the difference should be undetectable but the filth, decay and neglect is astonishing at times. It should be in tenancy contracts that tenants need to be responsible for more of the upkeep. In social housing in Switzerland you are fined or evicted if you maltreat the estate or neglect the property. The basis is that you get a low rent so a bit of elbow grease is required in return. It works and helps with a bit of community as well. Obviously there are many in such estates who cannot do much but there are plenty who can but don't. On private estates you either pay someone or as most in freeholds do do it yourself and take pride in keeping the outside clean and smart. |