OAP NIMBYS ruin everything

FoxEye

FoxEye

FoxEye

Caporegime
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Late night thread - apologies for lack of sense making!

So a £3 million scheme to improve a horrific double roundabout near me (convert to single large rb with slipstream lanes going left) has just been put on indefinite hold.

The local councillor for transport says he "listened to the voice of the people" at some "community network panel". In an article about this a local paper took some photos of the attendees. Pretty much as expected, retirees and those about to hit retirement age (and thus have time to attend "community network panels" in the first place).

The arguments presented by these geriatrics included this gem (honestly, no bs): "We don't need no computers telling us what to do." This was in response to the contractor telling the room that computer modelling of predicted higher demand due to intensive house building had mandated improvements to critical choke points such as this one. But no, evil computers must be stopped.

Another common complaints was, "We've had enough of roadworks, just leave us in peace". "It's fine as it is - there's just too many cars these days." Well yeah, duh. Why do think we're doing this??!

The problem as I see it? These guys are retired and just want an easy life in retirement. They don't give a rat's ass about the future traffic problems we're going to have, because - let's be honest - they'll be dead by then.

So these old farts are permanently attending such consultations and opposing everything. House building, road improvements, you name it, they oppose it. Either it'll spoil the view from their baby-boomer house or it'll mildly inconvenience them with some roadworks.

Meanwhile, those of us with a vested interest in how the place will be in 10+ years time are 1) not attending these meetings because we have work to do 2) being ignored anyhow. Because old people vote more.

It's so ****** infuriating living in the UK's retirement capital. No forward planning is allowed, everybody just bends over backwards to keep the OAPs sweet. But what can you do?
 
OH ***. WHY DO I DO THIS, EVERY SINGLE TIME???

Sorry, one to be moved to GD. Sorry, sorry, sorry (again).
 
Was this the Truro and Roseland community network panel about the A390?

That meeting took place at 19:00 didn't it, so if you felt strongly you should have gone and campaigned? That's the way democracy works. Don't participate and decisions happen you don't like.
 
FoxEye said:
Late night thread - apologies for lack of sense making!

So a £3 million scheme to improve a horrific double roundabout near me (convert to single large rb with slipstream lanes going left) has just been put on indefinite hold.

The local councillor for transport says he "listened to the voice of the people" at some "community network panel". In an article about this a local paper took some photos of the attendees. Pretty much as expected, retirees and those about to hit retirement age (and thus have time to attend "community network panels" in the first place).

The arguments presented by these geriatrics included this gem (honestly, no bs): "We don't need no computers telling us what to do." This was in response to the contractor telling the room that computer modelling of predicted higher demand due to intensive house building had mandated improvements to critical choke points such as this one. But no, evil computers must be stopped.

Another common complaints was, "We've had enough of roadworks, just leave us in peace". "It's fine as it is - there's just too many cars these days." Well yeah, duh. Why do think we're doing this??!

The problem as I see it? These guys are retired and just want an easy life in retirement. They don't give a rat's ass about the future traffic problems we're going to have, because - let's be honest - they'll be dead by then.

So these old farts are permanently attending such consultations and opposing everything. House building, road improvements, you name it, they oppose it. Either it'll spoil the view from their baby-boomer house or it'll mildly inconvenience them with some roadworks.

Meanwhile, those of us with a vested interest in how the place will be in 10+ years time are 1) not attending these meetings because we have work to do 2) being ignored anyhow. Because old people vote more.

It's so ****** infuriating living in the UK's retirement capital. No forward planning is allowed, everybody just bends over backwards to keep the OAPs sweet. But what can you do?
Click to expand...
Did you bother going to the local meetings?

No? Stfu then
 
Yeah unfortunately this is how democracy works, if you dont get involved you dont get a voice. I'm pretty sure you dont have to attend directly and can write to your councillor, however doing it that way you arent going to hear the evidence being submitted by others which could help your case and you could voice agreement with.

If you want to get the decision changed, organise a petition so that he can hear other "voices of the people" and not just the bias confirmation he appears to have been looking for.
 
These panels are dominated by old folks. It may be evening, but it's still a sacrifice to a full time working parent (for example) whereas for the retired it's a highlight.

Our village suffers it, planning having to be approved by the church-going committee of coffin dodgers.
 
Can I just point out that those old people you are complaining about have seen one traffic improvement scheme after another, and every time, within a few years, the traffic has built up again and they are back right where they started, sitting in a traffic queue, having paid a lot of rates for the privilege.

And you wonder why they are sceptical of the computer forecasts? Have you forgotten that there are humans giving the forecast algorithms their parameters?
 
BigT said:
That meeting took place at 19:00 didn't it, so if you felt strongly you should have gone and campaigned? That's the way democracy works. Don't participate and decisions happen you don't like.
Click to expand...

This. Your voice needs to be heard in order for your wishes to be considered. Maybe organise a petition on social media. That way people of your generation can sign and be counted.
 
This reminds me of the great unwashed students who couldn't be bothered to get out of bed to vote but still felt the need to protest against brexit.
 
petunia said:
Can I just point out that those old people you are complaining about have seen one traffic improvement scheme after another, and every time, within a few years, the traffic has built up again and they are back right where they started, sitting in a traffic queue, having paid a lot of rates for the privilege.

And you wonder why they are sceptical of the computer forecasts? Have you forgotten that there are humans giving the forecast algorithms their parameters?
Click to expand...

Isn't that just the result of population growth though? That things will need continuous improvement to cope?
 
Monkeynut said:
Isn't that just the result of population growth though? That things will need continuous improvement to cope?
Click to expand...
No mate. More traffic is caused by capacity increases in road infrastructure. you don't understand because it's the sort of wisdom only experience brings....
 
robfosters said:
This reminds me of the great unwashed students who couldn't be bothered to get out of bed to vote but still felt the need to protest against brexit.
Click to expand...

Did you interview those who protested against Brexit to ascertain that they couldnt be bothered to vote?

There probably isn't much overlap between those who couldn't be bothered to vote and those who feel passionate enough to protest after the event.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Did you interview those who protested against Brexit to ascertain that they couldnt be bothered to vote?

There probably isn't much overlap between those who couldn't be bothered to vote and those who feel passionate enough to protest after the event.
Click to expand...


oh there is fox.

voting is boring protests are just a party/spectator event these days.

A fair few people i know go to them as if they where a fair, dont even know what its for half the time.
 
I'm actually with the nimbys on this one, although they're stumbled on to the right solution by happy accident I think. Increasing road capacity only ever leads to more cars on the road. It's a well observed effect at this point. The best way to reduce congestion is to get people using alternatives to cars (or provide those alternatives)
 
FishFluff said:
I'm actually with the nimbys on this one, although they're stumbled on to the right solution by happy accident I think. Increasing road capacity only ever leads to more cars on the road. It's a well observed effect at this point. The best way to reduce congestion is to get people using alternatives to cars (or provide those alternatives)
Click to expand...

That's funny because the trains are also congested
 
FishFluff said:
I'm actually with the nimbys on this one, although they're stumbled on to the right solution by happy accident I think. Increasing road capacity only ever leads to more cars on the road. It's a well observed effect at this point. The best way to reduce congestion is to get people using alternatives to cars (or provide those alternatives)
Click to expand...
The problem there is he's in Cornwall, I think they've maybe got 2 buses in the whole county? :p
 
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