6 September (Part 1) - Crossrail woes
I have not needed to use Crossrail for a week or two
but I am looking forward to it running later at night from November.
In its testing phase it has not been totally perfect for me. I have been on a
train that failed to stop at Liverpool Street and, Murphy’s Law, that was my
destination. I have several times looked at the platform departure boards to see
“The next train will not stop here”, and it has.
Once at Abbey Wood the departure board showed only a ten minute interval service
so I cursed and sat on the 14:10. It left at 14:05. On one Abbey Wood arrival
the doors wouldn’t open. It went on for four or five minutes while the lady
driver issued increasingly frantic apologies.
But I jest, none of that is a problem. What is a problem is
increased commuter parking.
The pictures below indicate how bad things can get although I have been shown photos showing worse blockages.
I was alerted to the latest problem by my immediate neighbour who I saw walking home - and she never walks anywhere.
She explained that she had to park her car out on the main road. Hence my photographic expedition.
The lady who may just been seen in Photo 4 had phoned Bexley Council and been
told “No yellow lines so nothing we can do”, which is probably true. However the police had told her the same
which merely demonstrates that they are lazy liars as well as being Institutionally Corrupt.
The white van man cancelled his day’s work in Coptefield Drive and drove off
saying something about having to make money elsewhere. Fortunate that no
resident had a heart attack or set his house on fire while driver LD10 MGY was being an inconsiderate idiot.
I imagine that if I parked my car broadside on in Abbey Road where there is a
short section free of parking restrictions they would have something to say
about it. Unless of course I went equipped with Super Glue in which case I would be offered a cup of tea.
The section of road pictured has a history of blocking. I’d guess it was about
2006 when Bexley Council were especially keen on buying yellow paint that they
asked all nearby residents if they would like yellow lines in this and
surrounding streets. The offer was declined, by me as well. I suspect most regret that now.
A few years ago Councillor Craske said there would be no new or extended Parking
Zones unless residents paid for it themselves. This was at a time when he said
the same about street trees. Probably he has changed his mind by now.
I once went to a Council meeting where
the Transport guru said they would not
consider extending the Abbey Wood Restricted Parking Zone until Crossrail had
been operational for two years. That is, there has been enough time to assess the situation.
The aforesaid lady plans to start a petition to speed things up because she is
sometimes trapped into her drive when a large vehicle parks opposite. I think I
will put her in touch with Councillor Hinkley who has already shown an interest in the problem.
Note: The white car was moved at around midday which allowed careful access.
See addendum. The red car was still there 24 hours later.