In reply to SCrossley:
> This happens everwhere, there are more cars.
> I think you will find "locals" sold the homes to 2nd home owners.
> Not a fan of UU or NT to be honest.
> Same all over the country
Agree - but for points 1 and 4 the best engine of economic activity and job creation is to let cars right into the town centres for free to spend. That is the essence of a market town. If horses had been banned from Penrith a 100 years ago Penrith would have ceased to exist. Massive boost for local businesses - look at Carlisle centre - you could put 500 cars at the market cross in centre of town outside the tourist place. The town would be reborn. No charges! Locals would love it - result no boarded up shops.
Agree locals have sold their properties mistakenly, because there is no incentive from the fiscal system to keep it in the family (bit like no incentive for young people to pay £3.30 a pint in a licensed controlled supervised magistrate-approved pub when it is 30p a pint in a discount supermarket - so no young people in local pubs), so the area becomes culturally denuded and sold to the highest bidder - sanitised, dead, moribund, end of traditional life, end of schools, local young families etc . A 2-tier market is better late than never - I would be first in line to put my house in the lower tier.
Point 3 - DO NOT PAY! They can not enforce it. Why are people so stupid? The numerous pull-offs, laybys, common ground areas were historically free for all.
Point 4 - Do not vote for Councillors who support anti-car policies and pedestrianisation schemes, these are the death of towns, any local business person will confirm.