[Santa]

A target for the number of high-powered electric vehicle charge points near motorways has been missed, analysis from the RAC shows.


The government wanted every motorway service station in England to have at least six rapid or ultra-rapid chargers by the end of 2023.


Data from the motoring organisation suggests that only four in 10 now meet this criteria.


The Transport Department said charging facilities are available at most sites.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67858961

[Rolebama]

Government were talking recently about building local car parks with charging points for those who have no off-road parking. Where I live most of the cars are parked on the road because of not having off-road parking. We are also surrounded by Green Belt. I have to wonder if the aim is to break the Green Belt by building these car parks and covering the rest with housing estates. Just a thought.

[NMNeil]

@Rolebama It raises it's ugly head on a regular basis, and you get articles like this:
https://urbanistarchitecture.co.uk/g...sing-shortage/
But the article is written by a company that stands to profit from opening up green belt land to development, which is the crux of the matter; profit
But when all the green belt is concreted over will the developers start looking at common land?
The possibility that say, Wimbledon common could be used to build houses would have any property developer salivating.
But if they do manage to get the go ahead to build on green belt land perhaps they should follow the example of the US.
https://culdesac.com/

[Santa]

Originally Posted by NMNeil

But if they do manage to get the go ahead to build on green belt land perhaps they should follow the example of the US.
https://culdesac.com/

Amazing that they can fill all those apartments with slim, attractive people, all living in idyllic harmony...

There are lots of traffic-free housing developments in the UK - some more successful than others. In my home town there as a large estate that was designed so that front doors open onto pedestrian areas. It is a nightmare to find an address there and kids on electric bikes are a menace.

Mixed developments are a huge improvement of the traditional soulless blocks of flats, but at a cost.

Intergenerational apartments connected by balconies, and traffic-free housing developments – whose low fences, shared allotments and play areas encourage old and young to look out for each other – are just some of the ideas being explored in pioneering UK schemes.

https://www.savills.com/impacts/soci...or-living.html

[Rolebama]

With regard to Santa's post above:
Intergenerational apartments connected by balconies, and traffic-free housing developments – whose low fences, shared allotments and play areas encourage old and young to look out for each other – are just some of the ideas being explored in pioneering UK schemes.
I have seen a few of these over the years. Lifts not working, overhead walkways stinking of urine, lights not working, graffiti and generally horrible. Worst part for me though was having to use a torch to make my wat through covered car parks and banging my head on overhead pipework.

[Drivingforfun]

Front door opening onto a pedestrian area is not a new concept - we stayed in a lovely 1700s cottage in Yorkshire and the front door opened onto the pavement. Not even a door step. Was weird at first stepping from your living room into the street but was actually quite nice. It was interesting on the morning that a farmer was herding 100+ sheep along the street.

[NMNeil]

Open war has been declared on the car worldwide.
In New York they are changing the zoning laws so that developers no longer have to waste big tracts of land building car parking. Now they can use that land to build more houses instead.
And to curb the obviously inevitable increase in street parking, they have already starting to close streets to cars and remove on street parking spots.
https://nypost.com/2019/11/09/nycs-w...-in-two-years/
https://www.6sqft.com/300-nyc-blocks-to-go-car-free-under-this-years-open-streets-program/

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Santa

A target for the number of high-powered electric vehicle charge points near motorways has been missed, analysis from the RAC shows.


The government wanted every motorway service station in England to have at least six rapid or ultra-rapid chargers by the end of 2023.


Data from the motoring organisation suggests that only four in 10 now meet this criteria.


The Transport Department said charging facilities are available at most sites.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-67858961

Interesting article @Santa and thanks for sharing it 👍
Is the missed targets a surprise? I'm just thinking about other government transport targets.... such as HS2

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by Santa

Amazing that they can fill all those apartments with slim, attractive people, all living in idyllic harmony...

In the UK 62% of disputes with neighbours involve parking even to the point of murder.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...TY-murder.html

[Rolebama]

Coincidence or not? Marc's post above mentions government shortfalls. We were told by the Mayor of London that there was a shortfall of £5.5 billion in the completion of Crossrail. He said that every household in the London Boroughs would have to pay an extra £300 this year on Council Tax. This was challenged in the Courts and his proposal stopped. ULEZ for the London Boroughs was brought forward, and earlier this week he announced he had found the money but refused to disclose where it had come from.