Joined Up Thinking

Or rather a lack of... displayed by the local councils.

They're currently digging up the road and creating traffic chaos on the A27 just outside of Lewes in order to create a bridge over the Beddingham level crossing. Because it's a busy road and there's the potential for a fatal accident as cars speed through the barriers or perform some dodgy manoeuvre like weaving through the closed barriers, they've decided to implement the roadworks to bypass the crossing. As a result a number of cars are using the A259 coast road from Newhaven into Brighton to avoid the traffic hold-ups on that stretch of road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni_Ndb7bzWA

However, they've now decided that this is the perfect time to start the implementation of the A259 Bus 'corridor' along the only other main access road into Brighton, along the coast. That should be fun when it really gets going. So far, they've restricted it down to one lane at the Ovingdean roundabout for a couple of days but have stopped.

It's already busy enough along there in the morning and evening rush hour with traffic starting to back up all the way from Rottingdean to Peacehaven from 7.00am onwards.

On top of that - yet again, they're digging up the road along the Brighton seafront. The same stretch of road they dug up a few months ago and a few months before that. So if I want to get to the other side of Brighton - I need to leave plenty of time and be prepared to sit in a traffic jam at some point.

Rant: Where have all the buses gone?

Well, maybe not all the buses but the one I stood waiting over half an hour for. Doing my bit and saving wear and tear on the car with all those short journeys, to say nothing of saving money and hassle in trying to find somewhere to park in central Brighton, I decided to catch the bus.

The bus I saw heading off down the road as I arrived at the stop, was ten minutes late. My bus turned up five minutes late. Not too bad

Waiting patiently at the stop for the return journey and no sign of the No. 14 which was scheduled at 4.20. Several other buses and the usual sight of three or four in a row, all the same number. In the end I gave up hoping for a No. 14 and took a No. 12 instead which was packed, standing room, too full to take on waiting passengers at following stops and a walk up from the main road.

Rant: Parking in Brighton

I don't know what Brighton Council is up to but they obviously don't want anyone to visit let alone work in Brighton. The traffic wardens have always had the habit of circling around town in groups like vultures, pouncing on unwary car users who accidentally park in the wrong place, go over their ticket time by a couple of minutes. OK, they're only doing their job but watch out. Any time of day or night, come wind or shine, they'll be there patrolling the streets so it's ALWAYS worth buying a ticket.

As soon as NCP took over the parking the prices jumped from 10p for 30 minutes to 50p and in most places you can only park for 2hrs max. Oh and while they were at it, they increased the hours from 9am - 6pm to 8pm - making it even more inconvenient for visitors and residents. Parking vouchers where introduced into the centre of town several years ago. Starting off at 50p per hour, they also took a big jump and in the centre of town the charge is now £1.50 for 30 minutes, discouraging anyone from parking. Now the vouchers are being replaced by Pay and Display.

The insidious parking meters and resident only parking areas are now spreading steadily across the rest of Brighton and Hove. Kemptown has just come under the curse of the green machines and the final bastion of free parking along the seafront has also recently changed into pay and display, so the spaces are practically empty. There's even a charge for parking in Asda's carpark. Where the office workers are meant to park I don't know. Even residents can't park in the evening as there just isn't enough parking for the amount of cars in the town ... sorry, city.

Well, this would be all very well if there was an alternative available ... OK, so there's always public transport, reduce the traffic coming into town, avoid the hassle of parking but just to help the motorist switch to an easier, greener way of transport, Brighton & Hove have also seen fit to increase their prices on the buses. Not too long ago you used to be able to get a return ticket for £2.50, then it crept up to £2.80 and now, today, I find it's jumped up to £3.00 - a 20% increase in less than a year.

Rant: Dog Owners

... or rather dog owners that don't clear up after their dogs. There is a small park closeby where kids go out to play. On their bikes, playing football or just running around on the grass. Despite the fact that there are several dog bins around the park some of the owners just can't be bothered to clear up after their dogs and the place is disgusting. It's worse alongside the paths or even in the middle of the path where it's even more annoying that owners can't be bothered to clear up. It's bad enough clearing up after the cats that use my garden - if I could, I'd return it to them. Cat's don't do their business in their own territory.

Kids play on the grass, people like to sit on the grass in the summer but the thought of sitting somewhere where dogs mess has been is just not pleasant. Not only that but toxicara, which is carried in dogs faeces, can cause anything from stomach upsets to blindness.

It's even worse on the playing fields where people are always walking their dogs. I've just been out for a walk this morning and the kids are coming out to play football as they do each Sunday in the football season and there is mess all over the field where they're going to running around, falling over and getting muddy.

Aaarrghh!!!! Why can't they pay attention to what their dogs are up to and where they're going and then clear up after them?

Rant: Convertibles

Why on earth would you buy a soft-top car and then drive around with the roof up? The weather has been gorgeous here for most of the summer and now we're having another few days of glorious weather, so why wouldn't you make the most of it? I really don't get it. Surely you buy a convertible because you love the idea of open top driving, or does the 'idea' not quite match the reality.

I know they can be windy, noisy and the sun shines in your face but I love my little soft-top. It might not be the most reliable of cars (it is made by Rover after all) and has had it's fair share of break-downs and expense but there's nothing guaranteed to put a smile on my face, driving along with the top down, wind in your hair (maybe that's part of the problem), sun on your face (just put on the sunscreen) and a good tune on the CD player.

Even in the middle of winter, if the sun is out I'll wrap up warm put the heater on full blast and still drive around with the top down. Even if it's raining - as long as you're not stopped in traffic you can handle a light shower.

So all you convertible owners - if the sun is shining I don't want to see you driving around with the top up.