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Mark's avatar

RE Hampstead Heath: I was curious about how the current arrangements came to be and was looking into it this week.

It seems that the original preferred option was for Camden to run it, but didn't want to have to bear the cost of doing so. So City of London ended up being the fallback option.

Speech from Frank Dobson on this:

https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1987-04-10/debates/b4895eb7-9499-44a3-966f-bec8cd967c91/GreaterLondonCouncil(Abolition)?hl=en-GB#:~:text=That%20would%20be%20grossly%20unfair,to%20London%20as%20a%20whole.

Jo's avatar

A packed issue! Re: Waymo - as a cyclist, pedestrian, bus user and driver in London, who’s also used Waymos in California, from a safer driving perspective I’m enthusiastic. Much less chance of being hit by one of its cars, than by some of the capital’s less good / more aggressive drivers.

I’ll be interested to see who is responsible should an autonomous car be charged with a driving offence. And how it handles stray road cones. Predicting they’ll be some entertaining physical blocking of vehicles when they first become widespread in central London.

Although they’re quite good at doing it to each other without our help: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/08/self-driving-waymo-cars-keep-sf-residents-awake-all-night-by-honking-at-each-other/

Francesca O'Neill's avatar

Of course, Zack Polanski has much experience of flouncing from one party to another after failing to be selected for candidacy. That’s exactly what he did, leaving the Lib Dems for the Greens. I remember it well!

Akshay Bilolikar's avatar

Great to see the City speak up.

Caroline's avatar

I welcome some disruption in London politics. My Labour-controlled borough is beyond complacent - though it wins at having the highest revenue from and number of yellow box junctions in the country. If councillors can’t be bothered to attend the meetings they are paid for, or respond to any questions, change is sorely needed.

Marian Hobson's avatar

Wow, Mr. Breast enhancement moves greenwards. Surely anyone with some kind of sense will have crossed out Mr. Polanski as a possible leader of anything, the local scouts or the Green party.

Joey den Broeder's avatar

Glad to see this is still the best mud people have to sling at Polanski.

Marian Hobson's avatar

But it's pretty muddy mud, no?

Joey den Broeder's avatar

Maybe someone hypnotized you to think it's a bigger issue than it is

Marian Hobson's avatar

Anyone who think that this isn't a real issue has problems : men bossing women is the worst, but clearly there are others. Thinking isn't being hypnotized - or do you speak of your own experience?

Maddanj's avatar

How disappointing that waymo are initially pitching themselves as an elite service. I can play anything I like using my headphones in a cab

Andreas's avatar

"Will waymo be using cars" is not the cutting journalistic insights I was coming to the column for TBF...