Development

Development is good. So I'm told.

Especially in these challenging times. Come on, it must be. It puts money into the economy, which is good. It keeps people employed, which is good.

So it's nice to see someone putting some money into the economy in Redland. Not constrained by the planning system (unlike the poor inhabitants of Clifton), and despite being in a conservation area, it makes perfect sense to spend something for the privilege to park a car in your garden. After all, an RPZ may sneak up Whiteladies Road at anytime. And it's certain that a Showcase Bus route will.

So it's refreshing to see someone bucking the trend in Sustainable Redland and paving over their garden. And dropping a publicly owned kerb. And removing unsightly paving slabs (they only crack when you park a car on them, after all). And putting in high-quality tarmac paving instead for the benefit of all.

Development. Let's all do it. For the sake of the economy.

The gardens of Montpelier

One photo essay being contemplated is "The gardens of Bristol"; a study of how different parts of the city have adapted to the problem of providing parking for your vehicle. Here, Cobourg Road, Montpelier.

This photo shows how tricky it is to get a 4x4 into such a small parking garden. It has had to reverse in, narrowly avoiding the front and side walls, and the windows at the front of the house. And it has to share the garden with the three different rubbish/recycling bins the council requires. That is some tricky parking, yet the car looks fine. It has also managed to avoid having even a single wheel on the pavement, which is a skill to admire. Yes, the fact that the pavement here is essentially part of the road may be a factor, but it takes up less pavement space than many other garden-cars we have encountered.