My Manifesto for 2020 W Mids Mayor

Future proofing the West Midlands against human climate change, resource depletion and the further destruction of our green and pleasant land

Fareless for all electric buses paid for by abandoning tram line building.

Fareless electric buses instead of electric trams.

On 100% bus lanes and priority at traffic lights.

All of our remnant, existing railway lines not yet obliterated by roads and buildings, to be used for passenger and freight trains.

Promoting the British built Alstom hydrogen electric train that were sold to Lower Saxony, Germany in 2017.

Arguing against tram trains and train trams that are inappropriate for the 120 Kms Black Country Railway that, since the 8 March 2018, is officially "of national strategic significance".

Every cycle-walkway and towpaths tarmaced and made fit for purpose.

Especially, the 18 Kms Black Country Puddle Strewn Mudway.

Compulsory purchase the remaining land of the 6 Kms Dowery Dell Trail (Halesowen Railway) for it to become a public right of way over its full length.

Promoting modest sized, highly insulated, solar powered new homes.

Promoting house extensions that are highly insulated and solar powered.

Promoting small family size; upgrading all homes to low carbon dwellings; promoting bus, train and tram commuting instead of car commuting to free up road space for essential vehicle use.

3 enterprising Black Country projects

Please, can our Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership do anything to further these enterprising ideas of mine?

• 6 Kms Halesowen to Longbridge railway line to be compulsory purchased from the individual landowners to allow a new public right of way to be created on the 4 Kms, former single track, from Manor Way, Halesowen to the M5.  This, to link with the existing right of way in the pedestrian subway under the M5.  The Longbridge end is nearly complete, with St Modwen working on the last section to the smart, new Longbridge Shopping Centre.
• 18.5 Kms Black Country Puddle Strewn Mudway to be converted to Black Country Cycle-Walkway by tarmac applied on the full length to make it fit for purpose.  To be used by cycle commuters who have given up on the car and jam packed trains, horse riders, walkers and all others needing non-motorised help to get about.  The OS Explorer map think it is already in use.  It is traffic free but free of almost everyone and everything, except mud!
• 6.7 Kms of the Black Country Tramline and 2 Kms for VLR innovation centre and test track to be converted to its former use as a 120 Kms railway "of national strategic significance" (Network Rail and DfT) - and, for the Alstom hydrogen electric train to provide the regional passenger service between Worcester and Derby.  This, to allow us to compete more effectively with the honey pot that is Brum, to help relieve the very long standing train congestion at Grand Central Shopping Centre and Diesel Perfumed Basement Station and, to give a new direct commuter railway between our four boroughs and Snow Hill via Bescot.  We then have Derby to Devon via Dudley; Burton to Bristol via Brierley Hill and the new DY5 Enterprise Zone.   Both Landranger and Explorer OS maps think it is already in use for trains!

These three projects put the Black Country on the UK map for sensible enterprise, initiative and leadership.  They reduce road and railway congestion, obesity and ill health, human induced climate change and resource depletion.

I look forward to much good news over these helpful, constructive and positive suggestions for progress - in the right direction!