SOME time ago, in response to pressure from local residents, gates were installed at the Fountain Lane car park. They were locked during the evening in order to allow these residents to have some peace and not be disturbed by the constant thumping of enha

SOME time ago, in response to pressure from local residents, gates were installed at the Fountain Lane car park.

They were locked during the evening in order to allow these residents to have some peace and not be disturbed by the constant thumping of enhanced bass lines from car radios and the general racket that is caused by full and trainee members of the SNOBS spending a jolly evening together.

Understandably, the lack of a car park in the centre of town didn't go down too well with some of the local restaurateurs whose customers needed somewhere to park.

With the number of flats on the High Street most of the on-street parking is occupied overnight so diners need somewhere to leave their vehicles. As a meal out usually lasts long after 7pm when the gates were locked, the Fountain Lane car park wasn't much use.

All of a sudden, with the end of the financial year budget deadline approaching, an alternative to the gates appeared. A pair of rising barriers were installed. These devices block the entrance of any four-wheeled vehicle after a certain time, but, due to sensors, allow them to exit at any time.

On the face of it this would appear to be the answer to everyone's problems. Don't underestimate the SNOBS! In an effort to spend the evening (and beyond) in their favourite car park, they have devised a method of fooling the barriers and sensors and entering after the deadline. So now, after spending even more of your money, we appear to be back where we started.

It's a good job we've got the CCTV camera in the car park, otherwise it could become a nuisance area.