Forum now on cost of living and net zero instead of transport

Thanks for this, Katie and Ed.  For the forum, I would like you all to address what I have written here, please.  This is all about climate, cost of living, shortages and building a more sociable and humane society - starting from the bottom, for the most important citizens.

I think it is vital that all WMCA members and officers cancel any further work on tram and Sprint extensions in order for the money to be used to remove all fares from bus, train and tram operations in the West Midlands.  It has been done for me over the last 14 years, since I was 60.  It can easily be afforded for everybody from the hundreds of millions saved from abandoning further Metro, Sprint and HS2 expansion.  High Scam 2 is an unnecessary luxury of only benefit to those who do far too much travelling as it is and, only between three cities and two of their airports, too!

Those targetted for further financial help must be those having to choose between heating their homes or eating nutritious meals.  A massive insulation programme must be targetted at the worst homes occupied by the poorest.  Landlords must be forced to pay, of course.

Solar PV must be encouraged on roofs and not on fertile land that is needed for farming to give food to the local population.  Further measures are here:​

 MY CLUES FOR A CLUELESS, FLOUNDERING, WAYWARD G...

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Actual examples, that I can visit for myself, must be given over what is meant by affordable housing.  I asked Gareth many weeks ago but nothing has been forthcoming.  Low energy bills, highly energy efficient homes fit for the workers mean not one square metre bigger than my own mid terrace, 1960s, 3 storey townhouse where I have lived for nearly 47 years.

Best wishes

Tim

Levelling up or socialism or basic Gospel teaching!

 Dear Peter and Geo

Thank you for organising the excellent and helpful Zoom meeting yesterday.  It has prompted these thoughts.  Could this be forwarded to the others who attended, please so I get their comments?

I would like to emphasise the importance of insulation and minimising the spaces that need heating in the first place, viz:

1. Insulating or lagging ourselves with layers of clothing when we sit in a smaller rather than larger room.
2. That room at a maximum of 20 C with other parts of the house not even heated at all, ideally.
3. We know heat rises.  Therefore, consider sleeping on the ground floor and living on the first floor.
4. Press for small to medium-sized homes for new housing estates with PV on every W, E, S facing slope for the building beneath..
5. Encourage small to medium-sized families.
6. Press for laws where the wealth of the nation is more evenly distributed, to discourage the rich from walking off with more than their fair share of resources and most responsibility for the climate/ecological emergency.  Called levelling up or socialism or basic Gospel teaching!
7. Accept that even medium income households are taking more than their fair share of resources and that we all need to tread more lightly on the planet by making do with less, instead of ever more stuff.
8. My own home, a 3-storey townhouse, is ideal where my wife and I live on the first floor with one L-shaped dining/living room that means minimum heating is required.  Our total energy bills are not much more than £1 a day.
9. It is mid-terrace, with a small area of land at the front and back.  PV means it is a mini power station, with about 75% exported to the Grid.  Giving instead of taking!
10. This kind of more simple living is essential if we are to postpone or, ideally reverse the sixth mass extinction episode that we humans are causing to ourselves.

I would like to ask that these Zoom meetings are excellent and should continue.  However, breakout rooms do mean that people will talk about their own ideas, that one person can then feedback for the final few minutes.  One hour is too short, I think but an extra 30 minutes for breakout and final conclusions and summary is ideal.

Best wishes

Tim