EDITOR’S COMMENT upfront
GIVE ME SOME SPACE!
The need for green space is fighting a losing battle with the desire for more parking spaces, says Tracey Lattimore
W
ith the rather late – but welcome – onset of summer, Britain’s gardens are finally
starting to flourish. Thanks to spring’s glut of rain and late July’s mini-heatwave (down south, at least), our blooms are really beginning to show themselves, and it’s a cheering sight.
Seven
However, according to the latest research, many of us don’t use our front gardens as they were once intended. Seven million front gardens have been paved over to make way for cars, according to the RAC Foundation, due to the fact that there simply aren’t enough parking spaces available near our houses. That, coupled with the fact that our cars are getting bigger and bigger, means that parking spaces really are at a premium.
million front
gardens have been paved over for cars – there just aren’t enough spaces
ago, thanks to our ever-growing desire for gazebos, chimneas, adjustable parasols and the like. It’s not an unreasonable demand for space in which to, well, just store our stuff. So what’s the solution? Ministers’ decision last year to remove the cap on parking spaces at new developments is sure to ease the situation, while parking permits certainly help in some heavily populated areas. However, some councils charge considerably more for permits for a second car, which may deter households from
purchasing another vehicle – or at least get them thinking about parking issues.
Our garages are also being used for purposes other than keeping our cars warm and dry. Many of us use our garages for storage, and those with houses dating from the 1930s or ‘50s will probably find their garages erring on the small side for today’s gas guzzling super-sized cars. Not surprisingly, a third fewer cars are put away in garages than was the case 10 years
www.britishparking.co.uk
Team spirit And finally, the much-anticipated Olympics are upon us, and many of us have been cheering on Team GB, either from the comfort of our sofas or – if you’re lucky – a ringside seat. The parking teams in London are really being put through their paces, but hopefully all their good preparation is paying off. Here’s to a successful summer!
Sarah Juggins is currently working at the Olympics and will be back as usual next month.
AUGUST 2012 7
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