INSTITUTIONALLY INCOMPETENT

Our transport authority, over 70 years, has been institutionally incompetent.

In the 1950s they dismantled the electric tram network that needed updating but, instead replaced it with smelly, poisonous diesel buses.

In the 1960s, they continued to close and build on the railway network that had started in the pre-war years.  That decade saw Brum's principal mainline Victorian station demolished and replaced with an underground, smelly, poisonous, diesel railway station.

The 1970s, saw Brum's second principal, mainline Victorian station of 8 platforms demolished and replaced with a station of only four platforms as Centro continued to support road building and motorways and the use of private cars that clogged up roads for buses.

The 1980s saw, in 1981, the start of rebuilding the tram network on the road and railway network.

The 1990s saw the announcement of 15 Metro lines over 200 Kms by the year 2000.

Yet, the year 2000 saw only one Metro line opened.  This, on a mainline railway too, that also destroyed one and a quarter mainline stations and 4 or 5 Kms of double track railway lines!!

The year 2016, saw one extension of the tram on the railway line that closed Wolverhampton Low Level Station but, now the tram on the railway completely missed out Snow Hill Station to go straight passed it to 'Grand Central Shopping Centre and Diesel Perfumed Underground Station In The Basement Of The John Lewis Store', instead!

In 2021, there is still not one passenger or freight train returned to even a single kilometre of mothballed, 106 Kms of railway lines.  And platform 4 at Snow Hill remains closed!

All this incompetence when every councillor supported the transport authority over the 70 years with the expansion of roads, motorways and buildings on about 100 Kms of railway lines.

And not a single electric bus until, perhaps, this year!

MORE INCOMPETENCE, BELOW:

On Fri, 18 Jun 2021 at 19:30, Tim Weller <timweller1@gmail.com> wrote:

Reasons for my saying, below, that the Metro trams have made public transport worse:

• Metro One, which opened in 1999, meant that the railway to Shrewsbury only has one route now, from Grand Central Shopping Centre because the mainline was converted to a tramline.  Hence, three or four Kms of double-track railway line to Shrewsbury was built on and Wolverhampton's second principal manline station was turned into a conference and events centre.
• The continuous rise in passenger numbers on the railways was unstoppable from the mid 90s up to Covid, in 2020.  25 years of rising numbers, at a time when the railway industry was continuing to destroy its infrastructure by turning its railways into roads, buildings and tram lines.
• The 2021 opening of the Metro extension to Edgbaston Village tram stop has led to a slower and worse public transport journey for those passengers wanting to leave their cars at home and use it.  All, except those who are in walking distance of where the tram terminates, have to now decide whether to wait up to 15 mins for a tram into the city centre.  Or, to have a much slower and longer journey, on the diversion, by staying on the bus into Colmore Row.
• Eleven different bus routes that used the Five Ways underpass, must now join the traffic jam and traffic lights, in order to go round the roundabout.  Previously, every bus along Hagley Road used the underpass into the city centre.
• Exactly 40 years of Metro tram expansion has led to about 100 Kms of Black Country and Brum railway lines being destroyed as congestion and pollution has steadily worsened.
• The number of Black Country railway lines destroyed by our politicians, the railway industry and transport experts is now in double figures.  Two make up the 22 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway!
• And, then they go and build climate worsening HS2 after all that lunacy and destruction!
• And, top priority is given to HS2's little sister, Metro with a £15 billion expansion programme of eight lines and 150 miles of underground and overground "bus on rails" trams.
• The 120 Kms Black Country Railway between Derby and Devon via Dudley remains ready built but unused, broken and wasted over 56 Kms - one of only two north-south lines between Brum city centre and the Welsh coast!

FAIR TREATMENT FOR DUDLEY HIGH TOWN MUSLIMS

Dear Lord Bishop David and Bishop Martin Gorick - and copied to fine ecumenist and social justice campaigner, Rev Ernest Cruchley of Weoley Castle URC; retirement to Halesowen but now living in Harborne.

It was great to be in the congregation, yesterday.  I was the guy who came up to you, outside to mention the youthfulness of the Bishop's Chaplain and my thought that you, of all people, hardly needed a chaplain.  You should have been the Chaplain to her.  You did explain - thank you!

You also reminded me of the name of one of your predecessors, Hugh Montefiore.  He was Bishop from 1978 to 1987, I believe.  I had asked for his support over pedestrianisation of Corporation and New Streets.  We achieved it!  However, to this day, one short section in New Street still remains to be secured to keep cars out.  'The Guardian' obituary has, of our man:

"In 1973, he became chairman of an independent commission on transport and its problems; together with those of the environment; they remained abiding concerns." 

FAIR TREATMENT FOR DUDLEY HIGH TOWN MUSLIMS

I am writing now to ask for your thoughts on a little inter faith support, agreement, even collaboration, in encouraging our Dudley Muslims to work, once more, for a purpose built Dudley Central Mosque for themselves.  A shabby Victorian primary school is their present mosque.  In addition, Dudley Council and Dudley town traders are wanting regeneration.  With the far right now a lot happier that Brexit is occurring, now is the time to show a little solidarity with council leaders wanting regeneration.  Dudley voted for Brexit.  Now is the time to get right behind the Muslims, if they wish to upgrade their down at heel mosque.  Their most unsuitable looking building is on the route of the swish, glamorous and glitzy Midland Metro tram that, after 35 years, is still planned to come into the bus station in High Town from the still half finished, of 50 years standing, principal mainline railway at Dudley Low Town (or Dudley Castle Gate).

My new Bishop of Dudley (I live in Halesowen), Martin Gorick is reported as saying,

“So bringing people to God, trying to get out there into the community and working with community groups.

“I guess, as a Christian, we’re called to love God and love our neighbour. We’re the church of England, which means the church for England, and we’re for everyone who lives here equally, whether they’re people of other faiths or no faith.

“In a sense, my faith in God means nothing if I can’t connect that with a love for the people of Dudley and to help them discover God’s great love for them.”

BACKGROUND

My comments in blue:

Bishop Graham Usher is reported by Heather Large | Weekend | Published: Apr 1, 2018 | Last Updated: Apr 6, 2018:

“It was fantastic to see Dudley College full of young people listening to this remarkable young woman and a great example of how different faiths can live in harmony.  Yet, it was hatred of Muslims by the far right that led to such intimidation of officers and members that Dudley MBC changed their mind over parting with the land to Dudley Muslim Association.

“At the start of my time in Dudley, there were three ugly marches by the EDL and other groups and I’m very glad that has stopped.  This was in 2015.  The marches stopped because the marchers got what they wanted - no new Dudley Central Mosque.

“Dudley is a remarkable town of people living in harmony, where there is tolerance and cohesion and people of different faiths and backgrounds are working together to build up their communities for the good of everyone. I’m proud of that,” says Bishop Graham.  With Brexit 'done', now is the time to cash in on this goodwill and to stand with our Muslim friends to ensure that a little fairness is delivered in allowing planning permission for a purpose built Dudley Central Mosque at either the Cavendish House site, Hall Street, Flood Street, Castle Hill road or Wellington Road in Dudley High Town centre.

Some further background is here:

https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/05/30/bishop-of-dudley-speaks-out-over-mosque-saga/  

2 GLEANINGS FROM THE INTERNET, about Bishop David:

"For recreation he walks the Scottish hills".  So do I.  200 summits left over 2,000 feet out of about 1,000!  I love: Bishop David's ‘God’s New Society’ (in Dudley and Brum). 

"Revealed: £4bn plan to get city moving" Post 13 Nov

In nearly fifty years of living and working in Wider Birmingham I have seen umpteen of these magnificent transport plans that promise so much and deliver so little, if anything.

I came to Brum in the 1960s when the Victorian New Street Station had just been demolished and rebuilt to be a virtual underground station filled with poisonous diesel fumes.  In the 1970s, the Victorian Snow Hill Station went the same way - bulldozed.  Realising their error, it was quickly rebuilt but, to only half its former grand size.

In the 1980s and 90s, Midland Metro trams were all the rage but, by 2000, instead of nearly half a dozen new tram lines to replace trains and buses, we had a measly ONE and that was almost entirely built on a rail line that should never have had its trains removed!  Even then, it was never extended to New St Station.  Extraordinary!

In this year of our Lord and Master, Cllr Albert Bore - 2014, we STILL have the six miles double track rail line through Kings Norton, Kings Heath and Moseley without stations or trains.  Nose to tail rush hour congestion alongside an empty double track rail line.  Scandalous!

In addition, we have the 13 miles of the Stourbridge, Dudley, Walsall double track rail line also devoid of trains and stations.  It goes within half a mile of the Merry Hill Shopping Centre, almost next to Dudley Zoo and Castle, very near to the Black Country Living Museum, links with the West Coast Main Line and our precious, one and only tram line at Wednesbury.  Empty of trains; not even any ghost trains.  Fifty years of unparalleled negligence and, after the stupidity of the line being closed in the first place!

The one triumph was the re-opening of the cross rail line from Longbridge to Four Oaks.  Amazing!  How was it done?  Nothing like it has ever been seen since by our pie in the sky transport experts.  But, today things have changed for ever by these same visionary transport officials.  We can now rest happy in our beds knowing that things are looking up - at long last!

Scotland's independence might just cut England down to size - but I doubt it!!

Scotland: Stop subsidising England's excesses.  Get your independence, Scotland!

I know that, from the opinion polls, Scotland distancing itself further from England seems a hopeless cause.  However, for what it's worth, these are my:  interesting/alternative/tendentious/horrifying/warped (delete as you wish)
thoughts on why I think Scotland would be sensible to separate from England and be its own sovereign nation within the EU and UN instead of the UK.

The big-hearted Scots* are subsidising London as the hub of the UK with continuing plans for Heathrow expansion, the very expensive Cross Rail and Thames Link project that opens in 2019 and, last year's London Olympics.

After more than one hundred years of an "essentially a Victorian rail network" (Chief Executive of Network Rail, Sir David Higgins on 8 January 2013 on the 'Today' programme), England has decided, rather late in the day, to modernise it, with the Scottish taxpayer helping to foot the bill.  Does Scotland have even one Victorian signal box?  England has 500 dating back to Queen Victoria and 300 are 1960s vintage! (same interview)

The Scots subsidised HS1 and, now, they generously help us out with HS2 that, again, gets nowhere near Scotland, even when fully completed.

Scotland should be most upset at subsidising England's armed conflicts on 23 nations since 1945 (Radio 4's 'Thought for the Day' slot in the 'Today' programme.  Repeated, on another occasion, without disagreement from the other team members, by the Green Party panellist on Radio 4's 'Any Questions').**

No doubt, there are some in the English Defence League calling for pre-emptive, unmanned drone attacks of self defence on the Muslim militant extremists before they kill another of our brave soldier heroes.  Heroes home in barracks, on leave from protecting the people of Afghanistan from the real killers.  Scotland should disassociate itself from this barbarity by no longer funding England's unappreciated occupation of, and drone attacks on, foreign lands (a total of thirteen years, in punishment for 9/11, when we finally leave Afghanistan in 2014).

Scotland provides a most convenient haven for England's submarines carrying its independent nuclear deterrent. The Clyde Trident workers might be redeployed in future proofing your nation from the accelerating, enhanced greenhouse effect and the exhaustion of the planet's oil and gas reserves. The subs and nuclear missiles might be sent off to Barrow to give employment to the English, who will be left with digging a little deeper into their pockets with the Scottish taxpayer no longer bailing them out.

With independence, Scotland would no longer be contributing to the very many billions of pounds for the replacement for the Trident subs. Preliminary work on the replacement began when either Tony Blair or Gordon Brown was PM.

Scotland's power from water, wind and sun could be used just for themselves or sold to the English at great expense! A golden chance for you Scots to become Great Scot - instead of the phrase being used simply as an exclamation! Great Britain, minus Scotland, would be just a little less 'Great' and a little less able to act, in tandem with the US, as the continuing great power and policeman around the world to get its way.

We English, have such an over-inflated view of our importance to the nations of the world, that we cannot possibly do without Scotland to enhance our prestige and weight! Without Scotland, how can we possibly continue to punch above our weight in the world?  Even more crucially, the US might not regard us quite so highly with only little Wales and littler N Ireland in tow.  Our special relationship might be that little less special without Scotland.

For us English, all this independence malarkey is diminishing our size and greatness. Great Scot, it might even threaten our place as a permanent member of the Security Council. We certainly can't have that!

Let Scotland raise its own taxation for its own spending - that is all independence is - like the fifty other countries that have gained their independence from London since 1945 "and not one has expressed an interest in coming back under London's control." Alex Salmond on 21 May 2013 on 'Today'.

I think, Scotland's taxation is essential for England to continue to fund her excesses; it also makes her also responsible for the UK's most unfortunate, aggressive, domineering and provocative foreign policy in Muslim lands.  That certainly is an excess, to put it mildly!

Tim Weller

* "Over the last thirty years, in every single one of these last thirty years, Scotland per head contributed more in taxation than the UK average.  So that does indicate the financial and the potential financial strength goes over a long period of time."  Alex Salmond interview on the 'Today' programme, 21 May 2013.

** "Since 1946, the UK has engaged in more armed conflict than any other country with a total of 23 if you include Libya.  Do we conclude from this that we are a nation of warmongers or, a country that values peace and justice?"  Rhiddian Brook on Thought for the Day on 25 March 2011.

Delicious Poetic Justice

"Our empire was an amazing thing" Daily Telegraph headline, quoting from a piece, under the title, written by Jeremy Paxman (16 Feb 2012)


The article begins,
"The history of the British empire is full of amazing stories of adventure, of war, of greed and plunder, cruelty and courage, heroism and low cunning."  I think, this is exactly, what our unethical foreign policy has resulted in since we reluctantly found our empire was declining and enthusiastically threw in our lot with the USA empire!  Paxman's sentence must still apply to us when one 'Today' programme 'Thought for the Day' contributor announced that our nation had bombed or invaded 23 nations since 1945; Libya being the 23rd.


The very people who were and are most vocal in support for our glorious and mighty empire, are the very people who are most distressed at seeing foreigners on our streets.  One was my Uncle Robin who worked for Barclays in Durban, South Africa in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.  He was surprised (and appeared to disapprove) at the increasing number of black people he saw in the UK whenever he returned to the homeland.


In other words, we can colonise and populate and exploit their lands but we don't like it one little bit when they legally and peacefully (unlike us!) come and live in our land.  The boot is now on the other foot.


"Grab and brag; occupy and fortify."  A common Victorian sentiment, quoted by Paxman, about our 19th century pre-occupation of Britannia for ever ruling the waves - not just for a thousand years, like one western European nation once wanted.  So we have our so morally upright, virtuous and Christian nation gladly bowing down and worshipping the devil when the Founder of their religion roundly rejected that same temptation.


'Perfidious Albion' as someone described the UK.  Along with our foreign policy remaining hypocritical and profoundly unethical.  Robin Cook MP was the first Foreign Secretary, when he was in that position, to state that he was working towards a more ethical foreign policy.

Two maxims from a Quaker friend

Two maxims which express my political philosophy. 1 There is very little that you can do, and it is very important that you do it. 2 The right thing is never done till there are wrong reasons for doing it. [The classic example is Victorian legislation to protect factory workers, like the Ten Hours Act. This was supported by the Tories because they thought it would harm their Whig opponents, who were industrial magnates, whereas the Tories were the 'landed interest'. Currently my peace movement colleagues tend to be sniffy about Henry Kissinger's conversion to nuclear disarmament. Undoubtedly he sees this as the most intelligent way to preserve US supremacy, but it's a great plus to have someone like him on side to get rid of the horrible things.]

With kind regards, Geoffrey Carnall