White Vulture spotted in Twydall Green
I don’t know what it is, but ever since I wrote those letters (links to follow), I seem to be seeing the White Vulture in all sorts of places.
The latest sighting was in Twydall Green, yesterday.
Whilst I was working, I suddenly notice the Vulture taking snaps of a car parked on the double yellow lines.
Unsurprisingly, the Vulture was also parked on the double yellows right behind.her. Again unsurprisingly, the driver went between her car and the Vulture trying to contest it.
One of my work colleagues said to me after I had started ranting “yer but it works”.
Hmm, that would be why there was one car parked illegally when the Vulture arrived and three cars parked illegally within minutes of the Vulture taking flight.
Quite a deterrent the Council has…
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I have been following all of this, but ? as a non-driver myself ? have not felt qualified to comment.
At this point, though, I have to ask: as there is an obvious problem, what alternative (workable and legal) method would you suggest?
I would suggest that the car drives around all the time, and records constant video footage of all views around the car. This way it would catch people, but still not need to stop (it could slow down, or if it has enough cameras on it, would catch everything anyway).
That, or traffic wardens. Possibly unmarked, just armed with a camera and placed at peak offence sites.
Someone should have reported the white vulture for parking on double yellow lines. No one is above traffic regulations
The thing is, John, I’ve always said I support the Smart car in principle, but that is assuming that the principle that nobody is above the law is still operational and is being applied in this case.
Sadly, though, that does not seem to be the case with the Vulture. The carte blanche the drivers have received to park wherever they please seems to have made some drivers think that they are above the law, as I found out recently when I passed one driver talking on his mobile phone whilst driving.
The Smart car could have been a fantastic complement to good old-fashioned traffic wardens, but unfortunately Medway Council appear to have wasted that opportunity with no desire to change tactics!
“At this point, though, I have to ask: as there is an obvious problem, what alternative (workable and legal) method would you suggest?”
Reduce the number of parking restrictions for a start. Allowing cars to park next to the central reservation on Twydall Green (at least on the northbound side) would reduce the need for people to park “illegally” on the southbound side.
Other than that, regular traffic wardens, as suggested above, as well. Going after people with an obvious double standard just breeds contempt for the rules themselves.
Funny thing is though, I’ve never seen or heard a council response to all of this. Have they denied the claims that the CCTV Car has double standards or not?
You might know if they have Alan.
A few weeks ago the Council invited a Medway Messenger reporter to ride with the Vulture for a day.
This was a blatant attempt to try to sweeten them up and gain their support for the Vulture, as the Messenger is probably the biggest local opponent.
At the bottom of the full-page article was a brief bit of info on the Vulture. In amongst there was the official Council line.
The Vulture is permitted to park wherever necessary to obtain a sufficient photograph of the offending vehicle(s) (vehicle, reg no. and wheels on double yellow lines).
However, drivers are supposed to exercise caution and ensure that they are not parking dangerously or obstructively.
There have been a large number of complaints that they have been, including photographic evidence, some of which has been printed in the media and some of which hasn’t but which I have seen independently.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, all of the complaints were “investigated” and came to nothing.
I.e. the Council aren’t interested as long as the Vulture continues to be profitable.
Sounds like it’s worth asking a “question from the public” at Council on 5 March. Any drivers here prepared to submit such a question? It’s what I’d do, except I’m not a driver (though I am now a member of the public!)
John – that’s something I’ve been long contemplating doing myself, but am still unsure, as I never know if I am going to be free for the meetings until the day before.