Politicians - you try it first!

19/08/2008

I am responding to your invitation in your article ‘A taste of their own medicine’.

 

I’ve often found that another useful approach is ‘If you think it’s a good idea, why don’t you try it first?’

 

Some of us remember Barbara Castle a Labour MP who held several ministerial posts. When she was the minister of transport she announced in the House of Commons that she had come up with a solution for congestion in cities.

She explained that under the existing planning rules new office buildings were required to have a minimum number of car parking spaces based on the total floor area. She was proposing to change the rule such that
the requirement, whilst still based on floor area, would be for a maximum number of car parking spaces.

Welcoming the proposal, one MP suggested that it would be a good idea to try out the proposal before making it law. He suggested that the Department of Transport adjust the available parking in their office car parks to comply with Mrs Castle’s proposal.

 

Nothing more was heard of the idea.

 

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