SOMETIME, about the middle of last week I witnessed a most unfortunate incident. A lorry had entered Hill Street from the Nene Quay and the driver intending to negotiate his way into the Market Place by way of Union Street.

SOMETIME, about the middle of last week I witnessed a most unfortunate incident. A lorry had entered Hill Street from the Nene Quay and the driver intending to negotiate his way into the Market Place by way of Union Street.

However, upon arriving at the junction, he was prevented from making the turn due to one badly parked car. A stream of very patient drivers were lined up behind.

After several minutes the car was driven away and the lorry driver able to make his turn. He was blocked in yet again at the Market Place.

An elderly man was walking by and muttered: “they shouldn’t be here”. To this I replied: “he can’t help it”.

All of which leads me to the following observations:

1 That parking in Union Street should be banned altogether (double yellow lines).

2 The access to the Market Place should be restricted to delivery vehicles - and with some dispensation being given to private vehicles picking-up large or bulky items (eg furniture).

3 That otherwise the ONLY other permitted vehicles should be those of the EMERGENCY SERVICES (fire, police, ambulance) and those of DISABLED DRIVERS only.

Any “able” person carrying a “disabled” person as a passenger should be prepared to carry a wheelchair.

4 The only time when restrictions might be relaxed should be Sundays or out of shop hours.

Then, in a curious way, all this was to be followed by today’s many letters of protest concerning the proposed introduction of parking charges. Wouldn’t this lead to the increase on on-street parking?

And wouldn’t this, in turn, lead to yet more in the way of “incidents” such as described above? Think about it.

BARRY COLLIER

Money Bank

Wisbech