When we look at the archive editions of the Herald, we often realise how little things change. Those who cannot remember the past and all that.

Even back in 1990, there were complaints about pavement parking and motorists leaving their cars in inappropriate places.

The location in this case was Elstead with the parking on and around The Green stoking the ire of the parish council and its chairman, Arthur Mashford.

Some villagers, perhaps not realising the limited extent of his powers, had even called him personally at home asking him to remove cars from the green.

Speaking during a parish council meeting, he added that a Thursley Road resident had also complained about cars being parked on the village and church green on at least three occasions before the meeting.

The complainant said the practice was “destroying the green” and had become more prevalent because of poor parking on surrounding roads.

With Waverley Borough Council dithering on plans to extend a layby to accommodate eight cars and potentially ease the “parking chaos”, Mr Mashford’s solution may sound familiar, especially to social media users.

He said: “Parking on the roads around the village green is a matter for the police and the parish council has asked the police to take action.

“I have also made complaints to the police, but little seems to be done on relieving what I believe is a dangerous situation.

“My advice is that as many people as possible should phone the police when they consider parking on the roads is dangerous. I am totally opposed to any parking on land designated as a village green.”

And what happened next? While the costs of installing posts around the perimeter were investigated, the patch remains unconfined today. We wonder what Mr Mashford would have made of nearby Springfield these days?