Ancient hill ‘desecrated’ by car park
March 8, 2009
Amid a crescendo of protest, the city of Rome is about to start building a seven-storey underground car park beneath one of the city centre’s prettiest and most strategically located parks.
La Terrazza del Pincio is laid out on the summit of the steep hill overlooking Piazza del Popolo, the architectural masterpiece at the top of Via del Corso, Rome’s ancient main street. Both the park and the piazza below it were transformed by the architect Giuseppe Valadier in the 19th century after the French government then in control of the city noted the absence of well laid-out walks in the centre. The avenues are lined with oaks and pines and dotted with busts of eminent ancient Romans, and enjoy fabulous views across the city centre.
But the park is about to disappear behind high fences and, for several years, will be a building site. When the public is allowed back, the authorities claim it will be unchanged from before, but instead of earth and remains of the ancient city it will house seven floors of parking.
Believing it is still not too late, Italia Nostra, (Our Italy), an association dedicated to protecting Italy’s heritage, this week made an appeal for a suspension of the work and a re-examination of the whole project.
The association claims that the car park is being imposed on the city without proper consultation, without a thorough review of the archeological remains buried within the hill, and at the risk of damaging a vital acquifer that runs through it. It also claims it is unnecessary. As any visitor to Rome knows, many of the narrow cobbled lanes of the city are clogged with cars around the clock, despite parking restrictions that are often only theoretical. The Pincio scheme will be the third huge underground car park meant to address this congestion yet the car park under the Villa Borghese nearby is regularly half empty, the association claims.
The suspicion of some critics is that the true motivation for building a third such facility is to generate hefty construction contracts without the controversy that visible schemes attract.
Italians are conspicuously more attached to their cars than other Europeans. Recent figures published by Eurobarometer show that there are 670 cars per 1,000 Italians, a figure beaten only by the US. In Rome it is even higher, at more than 900 cars per 1,000 citizens.
Adrian Labucci, president of the Rome branch of Italia Nostra, said: “Car parks and monuments are incompatible. This is cultural vandalism.”
The city authorities say that the project will provide residential car parking for those living in central streets that are soon to be pedestrianised, and that all relevant officials backed the plan. But at the protest meeting letters were read out indicating that only outline consent had been given.
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk By Peter Popham
Tags: underground car park, car park, vandalismRelated Posts:
Why PROPANE is Dangerous?
February 21, 2009
There’s a reason why propane-fuelled vehicles are banned from underground parking garages. If the gas leaks, a little goes a long way and a minor leak can cause a major explosion.
Propane – the main constituent of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) widely used as for heating and home barbecues – is heavier than air, meaning it will sink to the ground and stay there. Even a spark can set it off.
Propane tanks, whether they be a 200,000-litre storage unit or a barbecue bottle, contain about 80 per cent liquid with the remaining space for vapour. Relief valves on the tank open when the pressure exceeds the design limits.
The gas that escapes rapidly expands. The liquid contents of an average barbecue tank – could expand to more than 380 cubic metres of potentially explosive gas – enough to cover a parking garage 40 metres by 30. Vehicle propane tanks are usually at least one-and-a-half times as big as a barbecue tank.
Source: www.thestar.com
Tags: LPG, leak, parkingRelated Posts:
NIGHTMARE parking problems
February 1, 2009
NIGHTMARE parking problems could come to an end as plans are put forward to build a commuter car park.
People living in Theydon Bois have not been able to park outside their own front door because of restrictions introduced to prevent commuters leaving cars in the area.
And commuters have been forced to drive into work rather than use the tube because there is nowhere to park their cars.
But a man from Epping could solve all of their problems with his plans to construct up to 280 spaces next to Theydon Bois tube station.
George Dilloway owns the former Old Forester Club land off Abridge road and decided the area would be ideal for a car park.
He said: “The council haven’t provided any options for car parking in the area and at the moment about 60 people are already dumping their cars there illegally everyday because there is nowhere else for them to go with all the double yellow lines. It’s a major problem.”
Mr Dilloway is hoping that Transport for London will agree to open up the entrance to the tube station to make the car park even more accessible for commuters.
He added: “If they expanded the entrance it could be on the same side of the road as the car park.
“It would also help ease the commuter problem in other areas like Epping where parking is also a nightmare. If you’re not there by 6.30am there’s no spaces left.”
The plans were welcomed by residents.
Clive Cooper from Theydon Park Road is unable to park his car outside his home because of yellow line restrictions introduced to stop commuter parking.
He said: “The restrictions prevent us from parking on our road between 10am and 11am. But that means I can’t leave my car there during the day because I can’t very well come home and move it during that time.
“If the car park solves the problem and means that these restrictions can be lifted then it’s a good thing.
“I can’t get the train to work at the moment and have to take the car, it’s nonsense. It’s affecting everyone and has caused so much disruption. Something definitely needs to be done.”
Alison Harvey from Cloverly Road in Ongar used to park in Theydon Bois before the restrictions were put in place.
But she was forced to use a friend’s driveway in Epping to get to work when the yellow lines were introduced.
She said: “I’m on maternity leave now but before I left I couldn’t find anywhere to park and had to use my friend’s drive. I didn’t want to do that forever and I was looking into somewhere else to park when I go back to work.
“It will be great if they do make a car park and will certainly put my mind at rest.”
But not everyone welcomed the plans.
A spokeswoman from Theydon Bois Action Group (TBAG) said: “The business plan for the car park is unsustainable, the car park would be of no benefit to local people, it is too far from the station and it will cause traffic problems on a dangerous stretch of the Abridge Road.
“It will not alleviate parking problems in the village as commuters will continue to park for free on our roads.
“It would have to be lit and the access road stretching uphill will cause a significant loss of openness on the Green Belt.”
People have until January 20 to submit an opinion on the car park application.
Tags: US, NY, parkingRelated Posts:
LPG Automotive Tanks that May leak LPG Recalled
February 1, 2009
There has been a national recall of more than 13,500 LPG automotive tanks that may leak liquid LPG.
Axiom-brand hand taps on the tanks may have been fitted with an undersized O-rings, leading to the potential leaks.
The problem affects tanks fitted between November last year and February this year across the country.
LPG cylinder manufacturer APA is attempting to contact all motorists with the affected product.
In the meantime motorists have been advised not to refill the LPG tank, to avoid parking in a confined space and to contact their installer to have the affected part replaced.
Source: http://arafura.axxs.org
Tags: problem, explosion, LPGRelated Posts:
Ford Ends the Parallel Parking Nightmare
February 1, 2009
I avoid parallel parking with every ounce of my being. I haven’t attempted a parallel parking maneuver since drivers’ ed in high school. It’s true! So I was really impressed to learn that Ford is introducing an Active Park Assist feature on the 2010 Lincoln MKS, which will be available in summer 2009.
I know what you’re thinking: “Didn’t Lexus already introduce this feature?” Well, yes and no. Ford’s system uses ultrasonic-based sensors and electric power assisted steering to position your car for parallel parking, calculates the optimal steering angle and quickly steers the car into a parking spot with the touch of a single button. This technology is supposed to be a step above the Lexus system which utilizes video cameras to determine how to steer the vehicle. According to Ford execs, the system works faster and more accurately than the Lexus system, and should be less expensive as well.
In addition to helping ease parallel parking woes, the system also increases fuel economy by up to 5 percent while reducing emissions and enhancing performance, compared with traditional steering, Ford says.
“This is technology not for the sake of technology,” said Ali Jammoul, Ford’s chief engineer for chassis engineering and steering systems, “but technology designed to meet the needs and wants of customers.”
If a Lincoln MKS is not in your price range, you will be happy to know that by 2012, Ford plans to fit nearly 90 percent of its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury lineup with this system, putting it within reach for the masses.
Source: http://www.motherproof.com
Tags: technology, video cameras, driveRelated Posts:
