and some solutions

Once again I have a moan about Supermarkets, but you may notice one thing becoming clear. It’s not the Supermarket companies I moan the most about, it’s the people who go in them!

Here in Ashford we have three major Supermarket chains and all supply good accessibility and ample parking areas. It’s a rare event you can’t get a space even though some would moan because they have to walk more than 50 meters to and from the entrance!

First I’d like to take account of the Disabled and Family spaces. I would say, after having a quick walk round this afternoon, that no more than one car in four was parked there ‘legally’. Albeit, they’re not always needed, but when they are, the lazy so and so’s who don’t know how to walk or simply have good citizanship manners, still roll up without even looking to see if there’s anywhere else and just plonk themselves in.
Because these people think they’re in a rush, they will use the extra space either side of the Parking slot to park their car at a nice 30 degree angle.

SOLUTION – A tag device on Disable labelled vehicles with a receiver in each space. If the software does not detect a tag, a 2 meter steel pole, positioned where the engine is, shoots up from the ground at great speed thus causing huge expense to replace engine, or car.

Then comes the Bank Hole in the Wall machines which are usually positioned where people wish to cross over the roadway for access to the Supermarket entrance.
Again, because they have difficulty in putting one foot in front of the other, they park their car at an angle and succesfully hold up life in general for everyone else.

SOLUTION – Because they usually leave their engine running, remove car keys and throw them on Supermarket Roof

Lastly, there’s the great British ability to make anywhere we go a mess. That is, the trolley situation. A combination of laziness as aforementioned and ‘They pay someone to clear them up’ comes into effect.
Indeed the Supermarkets do pay someone, but they’re usually a teenager who can’t find his way back to where they’re supposed to go or a Pensioner on a couple of quid an hour with a bad back.
The situation is worsened when there’s a wind of more than 20mph. This causes the trolley’s to switch onto Automatic steering and they neatly roll around the car park scratching cars on their way.

SOLUTION – Spot someone, take their number and next time they park there, chain lock 20 trolley’s to their bumper.

That’s it really, another chance for me to be a miserable old git. But away from jest, what has happened to our sense of community and tidiness. I recall days when there was no rubbish on the streets, on shop floors and most other places. We were raised to be proud of our surroundings and not abuse them.

In an age where we are >apparently< becoming more aware and responsible about eco-friendliness and green issues, why do we seem to see it as someone else's responsibility and not our own?