Compliment for Dudley's Avoidance in Engaging with me

I wish to compliment you over forty years of the most minimal contact and zero interest in any of my concerns, indeed scandals.

You have shown the most amazing determination not to understand or to take any interest in what I have been writing about over these years.  This takes considerable skill in ignoring matters that are wholly your responsibility in working with the WMCA and national government (HMG) over matters that they are also involved with.

E-mails are never or rarely answered.  In fact, I cannot recall any email from any officer but there must have been ONE.  So brilliant, dumb behaviour from your professional, fully trained officers.  In fact, your studious ignoring and total uninterest was ended with an eventual reply from Jayne Pilkington who, in July, broke the Council's skill in apathy and acquiesence and in blocking me out.  She does seem to be breaking your traditions and engaging with me.  If somewhat reluctantly.  Your halo of delightful decades of deffing me out may be slipping.  So this compliment of brave apathy and negligence is now a little less than 100%. 

to and from Cllr Jon Mucklow re HEL, Cycle-Walkway, railways converted to tramways

You have done brilliantly well, Jon in receiving this reply. Thanks so much for getting their attention. Something I have never achieved in 40 years of writing and campaigning! But they can't even get my name right, the hopeless people!!

They must not close the case in 10 days time, of course. THEY must work on the matters we have raised. THEY are responsible for pursuing the matters now that we have reminded them. THEY are the full time, fully trained professionals who are meant to be up to the job. They are supposed to be competent and efficient. 

Could you, perhaps, send ALL (or whatever) of this back to them above my name? For me to be responsible, of course, not you. Just say, "Tim has written this for you to read".

If we could meet, as arranged, on Thursday 10 September at En Cafe for a plan of action - and a good chinwag over a drink I'll pay for this time!

All the best and thanks again for doing so well.

Dear Councillor Jon Mucklow,

Your case Cllr-863251667 Tim Wheeler is waiting for you to approve its closure. Please see the below response from the service area. This may include any attachments such as images or documentation that may aid in your approval of closing this case.

Dear Cllr. Mucklow,

In relation to the points raised in Cllr-863251667.

1. Former Himley Environmental landfill site, Gornal.
The former landfill site is owned and managed by Himley Environmental Ltd, who have since ceased trading. Matters relating to landfill gas emissions, environmental permitting, and regulatory compliance are primarily the responsibility of the site operator and the Environment Agency as the relevant regulatory authority. Any concerns regarding landfill gas management and environmental controls should therefore be directed to the Environment Agency and Himley Environmental Ltd.

2. Completion of the Black Country Cycle-Walkway
The development of the Black Country Cycle-Walkway is being progressed through the Black Country Transport Smestow Working Group. The route has a working title of the ‘Black Country and South Staffordshire Leisure Route’. This is a partnership initiative involving the West Midlands Combined Authority, City of Wolverhampton Council, Dudley Council and South Staffordshire District Council. Work is ongoing to consider opportunities to improve and extend the route and to enhance accessibility and connectivity along the corridor. There will be opportunities for member and public consultation.

3. Use of existing railway lines for commuter and regional rail services
This matter relates to wider regional and national transport planning. The proposal referenced is understood to reflect the personal opinion of a transport activist. Decisions regarding the future use of rail infrastructure, including passenger rail services on existing or freight-only lines, are matters for the rail industry, transport authorities and Government rather than Dudley Council.

Regards
Mark Williams
Acting Countryside Manager

FoE never believed me. Now the Warehouse is down for demolition!

Dear Libby

Did I tell you that on a BBC Radio WM phone in, Mayor Andy Street, in his answer to my question over two mainline railways destroyed for trams, replied that the two railway chord schemes in Brum, one of which affects our Warehouse, would get round the problem of the railway​

 "of national strategic significance".pdf

​​having been used for Metro trams?

In other words, how very foolish for new railway schemes, one affecting ourselves at the Warehouse, must now be built to get round the little matter of the rebuilt tram network (the first destroyed in the 1950s) being put on disused, former mainline railways!

Over the forty years of my one man campaign, FoE never got behind me in opposing Metro trams rebuilt on railway lines.  If Brum FoE had helped me, perhaps, the Warehouse would not now be threatened for demolition to make way for a new platform or two!

All the best

Tim