Blue

Woke up feeling edgy.  No reason why. Maybe strange but unmemorable dream, maybe national.  
Locally hooha brewing about local quango Greater Cambridge Partnership-GCP wanting to impose a £5 congestion charge -  a confused proposal.  The idea being the charge will contribute to creating more bus services.  Current bus company is privately owned Stagecoach which despite recent publicly-funded expensive infrastructure has already reduced services.  Stagecoach has declared hefty profits lately. 
The claim is the £5 per day charge will allow drivers to drive all day in the city.  Begs the question regarding congestion and pollution.
For us and many like us, only a stone's throw from the non-congestion boundary we would have to pay to leave the city without even  entering the centre.  
Electric cars are exempt presumably because of minimal pollution. 
The GCP make an unfair comparison with London which has the Underground and good bus service.  The satellite villages  currently have a very poor bus service. 
This proposal was rejected about 8 years ago and has bounced back with no improvement in the bus service in that time. 
A petition within a couple of days has garnered over 6000 signatures against the charge which is punitive to drivers who have no alternative. 
With numerous development projects which will inevitably bring more vehicles in the city feels besieged by by lack of long term, joined up thinking.  Only money talks.

I decided a refreshing swim would be a necessary distraction.  The water temperature was fresh at 19.3°C. I was fine until my final length after nearly 40 minutes when cramp struck in my calf.  I should sleep well tonight.
Pleasant Friday evening all.