| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Air pollution in Putney | |
| Posted by: | Jonathan Callaway | |
| Date/Time: | 29/09/12 10:42:00 |
| Roland, I agree with everything in your second paragraph! I will however stick with my assertion that we are car-centred. I agree cars are indispensible outside the major cities and car use has been made worse by the proliferation of out-of-town shopping centres which can only be reached by car and are draining the life out of the towns they are near. But my observations in and around Putney are that many people are extremely reluctant to give up their cars even for the shortest journeys. A complaint in my part of West Putney is that our residents parking zone was curtailed and we can no longer park on St Johns Avenue. So instead the eastern ends of Hazlewell Rd and Howards Lane fill up with people who start their morning commute, or visit to the High Street, by driving across the parking zone, all half mile of it. I also see people driving to the Sainsburys Local on URR from parts of West Putney ... to buy a handful of groceries. And I recognise cars dropping their offspring off at the end of Gwendolen Avenue (where there are two nurseries), also driving there and back from parts of West Putney. This sort of behaviour is hardly unique to Putney. It must be repeated all over the country - so think how much could be saved if people left their cars at home to make these very short journeys. Car-centric or what?? And no wonder the politicians do not want to take on the car lobby! |