Just on the news......
A long term study commissioned by the Government on transport in Brittain has just annouced its findings.
Would you believe that we have the worst transport system in Europe.
Would you believe that we have the most congested roads in Europe.
Would you believe that we have the longest commuter times in Europe.
Are they on a different planet to us that they need a study to tell them what we all know and have experienced.
Alvin
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i bet that the research also cost the tax payer millions to do.
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They could have paid me less than that and I could have given them the answer in a few minutes. That's a Labour government for you.
FP
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What was so worrying was the short interview with Byers. He said that 'there are some hard decisions to be taken'.
Why 'hard' decisions? The problem has been demonstrated by a Govt. sponsored group, which makes it difficult for the Govt. to ignore. The problem was stated to be years of under investment in transport, not just roads but also public transport. So, the answer seems fairly clear.
Unfortunately the two 'hard' options are:
1) Spend money - always hard for a Govt.
2) Reduce travel to reduce demand on the infrastructure, and so reduce potential investment. Hard on the public.
Which one will they go for?
Regards
JS
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A long term study is merely a political ploy to defer making a decision on the grounds that the minister in charge will be in a different job when the results come out and therefore gets the credit for recognising that there is a problem but avoids the blame when solutions cannot be found.
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It's always dodgy getting into politics, but there's a question I find myself asking....
In the time he was responsible for transport (i.e. 4 years), what did Prescott do improve the current awful situation?
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I think he smacked some guy on the chin, can't think of anything else for Johnny 2 Jags good works.
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I don't suppose many readers (viewers?) are too surprised by this. The question is - what solution(s) would they propose? The basic problem is that there are too many people per sq.km, too many of them have cars, and too many of them choose to drive too far for work. Personally, as I no longer work (and while I did work I chose to be able to walk there) I would rather put up with marginal traffic inconvenience for the advantage of being able to enjoy more countryside which has not yet been concreted over. When most of the green bits have become grey, there is little left to do but commute to/from work, I suppose.
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well you could stop so many "illegal immigrants" getting in, or staying in, by helping the little resources held against them
you could stop letting so many "asylum seekers" in who are clearly bogus
you could stop making roads thinner
you could up the national speed limit, and allow drivers to travel faster where safe to do so
you could let scotrail run the whole rail network, as they seem the only company with a clue...
and get all the liberal wishy washy placemen out of the various quangos that control our lifes
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International Comparisons - Trunk Road Networks
The UK already has one of the least developed motorway networks in Western Europe, a situation which is likely to deteriorate further during the coming decade, unless a radical change of policy occurs. This failure to invest in a proper, modern highway network will not only impact adversely on the living standards and lifestyles of UK residents, but also on the scope for economic growth and development. This will ultimately undermine the Government?s strategy for reducing unemployment, and cause tax revenue to fall, thus undermining the country?s ability to fund schools hospitals and other social services.
Germany has 11,200 km of motorway (and plans to build a further 3,200 km)
France has 8,000 km of motorway (and plans to build a further 5,600 km)
Italy has 8,860 km of motorway
Great Britain has 3,200 km of motorway (and plans to build a further 105 km)
Belgium and the Netherlands, both of which have much less land area than the UK, have 1,666 km and 2,300 km of motorway respectively. Within a few years, even Spain and Portugal will overtake the UK in terms of motorway per 1,000 sq km of land area.
The picture in terms of ?National? or ?Trunk? roads is no different:-
Germany has 41,700 km of National Roads
France has 28,560 km of National Roads
Italy has 46,500 km of National Roads
Great Britain has 15,400 km of National Roads
Even tiny Belgium, with a much smaller land area, has 12, 750 km of National Road.
From: The ABD's response to the Department of Transport's discussion paper on Trunk Road Development.
www.abd.org.uk/trd-abd.htm
2% of the UK is concreted over
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When the planners serve you notice that YOUR property is to be included in the enlarged motorway programme, as a committed motorist will you rejoice ??
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Andrew
My boss walks to work. I commute forty miles.
On the other hand she earns three hundred quid a week more than me and can afford a flat in London for during the week.
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