8 December 2020
Hello everyone - to try and influence you all! Did you see 'Panorama' on Monday night? It is urgent that we start acting - and not acting the bumbling fool, either!
You wrote:
"I appreciate the direction of your point 4. To finish the Dudley Railway to Derby via Walsall and Lichfield that doesn't get trams and the 2 Kms test track (8.7 Kms out of 56 Kms). I understand that current developments will prevent a direct rail connection from Stourbridge through to Derby but despite that there remains opportunity for some of the rail route to be completed. Yes! What would be the tangible benefits of doing that? Less congestion on rail and road. Lower greenhouse gas emissions - ESSENTIAL, URGENT! Better transport to work? Yes! Energy efficient freight handling? Yes! And probably needed as, thankfully, Metro trams are no longer going on the Camp Hill Line (Kings Norton, Kings Heath, Moseley, Highgate to Grand Central railway) because those freight trains MAY need to come onto ours! I'd like to see more of what benefits would be gained from such a development." It will be a world first, multi-modal, train-tram-train railway between Worcester, Black Country and Derby - but, only if you STOP the 2 Kms VLR test track through Castle Hill tunnel to Cinder Bank roundabout.
You are right! There does remain an opportunity for some of the rail route to be completed but you have to tell Qadar, Malcolm Holmes, Andy Street and Chief Exec Deborah Cadman. They are fed up with me telling them, I'm sure. All of you need to speak to each other as to how you can rescue the situation.
I wrote:
5. Put solar panels on every E, W, S facing roof. Every building a mini power station for their own energy use.
6. Insulate every building for minimum heating.
You wrote:
Points 5 & 6 are definitely part of the plan. At least in some way. There will be financial, logistical and other issues with doing this in every possible location but it's a worthy target. All of you, need to listen to Attenborough, Thunberg, Rowlatt and the scientists on yesterday's 'Panorama' and, the Paris Agreement.
I wrote:
7. Bring in fuel rationing from 1973/4 and the coupons from then - just dust them off!
You wrote:
"Point 7. You got me here. I'm pretty sure this wouldn't be popular in any way. I do appreciate the sentiment though. We all need to be aware of how much energy we are using and take steps to reduce that wherever possible. Fuel rationing would unfairly discriminate against the least well-off living in energy inefficient homes. Besides which, I'm sure that you are already aware of how controversial fuel rationing would be?"
"Plans were made for petrol rationing and coupons printed and distributed. The national speed limit was cut by 20 mph to 50 mph to save fuel. Then in January 1974 came the announcement of a three day working week." Andrew Marr, 'A History of Modern Britain', p 340. Worth reading in full! Last month, "the Netherlands cut the daytime speed limit for traffic in the daytime to 100 kph, in an effort to tackle an emissions pollution crisis and improve air quality. ... And in October, German lawmakers overwhelmingly voted against a Greens proposal to impose speed limits."
from:
My new car insurance is now based on 7,000 miles for 2021. It had been 14,000 for this year but I did only 6,000. That is one good way of making the oil last longer, to reduce dangerous greenhouse gases; as well as cruising at between 60 and 70 on motorways to keep my fuel consumption down to well over 60 and sometimes even over 70 mpg! I now keep to 70 mph on motorways, unless overtaking and can then, usually, get to 70 mpg.
I wrote:
8. Bring in Fare-Free Public Transport paid for from abandoning anymore £15 BILLION Metro tram and £106 BILLION HS2 extensions. Fareless buses, trains, trams as reward/compensation on bus priority roads. Not just for old crocks like me but EVERYONE!
You wrote:
Point 8. Free public transport would be a huge and very brave political decision for the government nationally. I think it would be of tremendous benefit to the least well off. It would do something to address issues of income inequality in the poorest and retired households. That is brilliant that you agree! Dunkirk in France, Luxembourg and Tallinn in Estonia do it amongst about 100 towns and cities throughout the world. Even about 50 in the USA, if I remember correctly.
Can the Climate Change working group be open to observers on Zoom? I would like to be one, of course!
Where can we see the minutes of what is said and decided, please?
What are the dates?
Matt Rogers: How can members of the public join Zoom committee meetings for the input from the public section, please?
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