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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we could make housing estates like Center Parcs re cars

809 replies

QuertyGirl · 10/01/2023 12:38

The USP of Centre Parcs is for many, the fact that they are mostly car free. Kids can play out and ride their bikes like I did when I was kid.

Can't do that now due to the amount of cars, speed and size of cars and, attitude of some car drivers.

People (including myself) pay a small fortune to holiday at CP.

Why can't we make housing estates more like that?

Communal car parks in walking distance, deliveries by small electric vehicles from a hub (like old fashioned milk floats), exemptions for blue badge holders and funding for electric mobility scooters for those that need them.

Yet, if the council suggests a couple of cycle lane and all hell breaks loose.

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 10/01/2023 12:43

It's nice for a holiday but not practical for most on a day to day basis.

SweetSakura · 10/01/2023 12:45

I'd like to see the speed limit substantially reduced on most residential roads. I think stopping cars would be too extreme. There are lots of people who don't meet the threshold for a blue badge but couldn't manage without a car. I hate being car dependent but get very ill very fast if I do too much in a day.

Original poster
QuertyGirl · 10/01/2023 12:46

Why not exactly?

A ten or 15 min walk to a communal car park would probably do most of us some good.

OP posts:
Nw22 · 10/01/2023 12:46

There is a plan to do something like this in the centre of Manchester. There would be a hub for parcels to be delivered to and for people to park their car.

megletthesecond · 10/01/2023 12:46

Communal parking away from the house is awful, I have it.

Everyone needs driveways for electric cars. But they also need to use their legs more. I live 1 mile from a large town centre, most neighbours drive in. It does my head in.

NEmama · 10/01/2023 12:46

No one has time for that yabu

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 10/01/2023 12:47

Believe me people with children would probably rather be able to park next to their house than have them roam freely- sounds like an absolute pain.
YABVVVVU

SleeplessInEngland · 10/01/2023 12:47

Whether it's possible or not to really change now I think most would agree that mid-cenutry planning of towns and cities around cars as the number one priority has had seriously negative consequences. It's really hard to kick the habit of a lifetime.

Original poster
QuertyGirl · 10/01/2023 12:47

SweetSakura · 10/01/2023 12:45

I'd like to see the speed limit substantially reduced on most residential roads. I think stopping cars would be too extreme. There are lots of people who don't meet the threshold for a blue badge but couldn't manage without a car. I hate being car dependent but get very ill very fast if I do too much in a day.

That's a problem with the Blue Badge system which I agree needs fixing first.

OP posts:
MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 10/01/2023 12:47

For a start because not everyone lives on an estate. And I don't necessarily want deliveries, I prefer to go to the supermarket. Where are the shops in this plan?

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 10/01/2023 12:48

QuertyGirl · 10/01/2023 12:46

Why not exactly?

A ten or 15 min walk to a communal car park would probably do most of us some good.

2 kids under 5 and a load of shopping- how do you suppose someone navigates that 10min walk in British rain.

vodkaredbullgirl · 10/01/2023 12:48

No thank you.

IfOnlyTheyMeantIt · 10/01/2023 12:49

I wouldn't want to live somewhere if I couldn't park outside my door.

Totally impractical.

DrMarciaFieldstone · 10/01/2023 12:49

God no. It’s raining sideways today, not a chance I’d want my car parked further than my driveway.

WhatNoRaisins · 10/01/2023 12:50

It would be rather tricky if you've just done a big food shop or have small children to move from the car to your house. It wouldn't suit everyone.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 10/01/2023 12:50

Ever been on a dodgy rabbit warren Estate? That's exactly what they're like and it really isn't pleasant for the tenants. No disabled access, no means of seeing or preventing theft and vandalism, risky dark walks from parking areas, deliveries refused.

It's an utterly awful idea.

Bideshi · 10/01/2023 12:50

I've seen such estates in Sweden and Holland where they work well. One I visited was built in the 1970s and had worn well. But people have a different mentality there.

RocketPanda · 10/01/2023 12:50

When I lived in an estate three of my children were under 5 years old. Parking 10 mins away would do them no good if we had to make multiple trips just to bring the shopping in.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 10/01/2023 12:50

A ten or 15 min walk to a communal car park would probably do most of us some good

Yes, it probably would. But that's people's decision to make for themselves, not have imposed on them because all the facilities are a 15 minute walk away. What about people wh don't drive and don't need electric scooters or buggies? (and don't say bike, not all of us want to or are able to get on two wheels).

Original poster
QuertyGirl · 10/01/2023 12:51

I manage shopping and a child without a car. I don't drive due to disability.

My mother and grandmother did it too.

What's changed?

OP posts:
Climbles · 10/01/2023 12:51

I agree. It was lovely in our estate during the first lockdown. The roads were empty.

Ylvamoon · 10/01/2023 12:52

QuertyGirl · 10/01/2023 12:46

Why not exactly?

A ten or 15 min walk to a communal car park would probably do most of us some good.

Sounds lovely...

Except what about shopping, small children/ babies ect?

megletthesecond · 10/01/2023 12:52

You don't die if you get soaked carrying shopping. I've done it for almost 20 years. I use the car for a big shop once or twice a month.

Fleabigg · 10/01/2023 12:52

People are wedded to their cars and a lot are lazy. The majority being forced to walk a bit for a change would make travel by car so much easier for the few who don’t have an alternative for reasons of disability or whatever, and travelling on foot or cycling so much safer and more pleasant for everyone else.

Climbles · 10/01/2023 12:52

It would be inconvenience but we’d get used to it. We’d use cars less and there would be less pollution. I have a feeling almost everyone would suddenly be a blue badge holder though.