WMCA involvement in Lebanese/Palestinian slaughter

Dear friends

W Midlands businesses are selling/giving/subsidising drones and weapons of war to our partner, friend and ally, Israel to murder/kill/maim up to 50,000 children, women and men in the area of the unHoly Land since the 7.10.23 atrocity.

Israel, part of our Wicked, Wild West, is out of control.  And we are letting them get on with it.

What is the WMCA doing to stop it?

Why are you not issuing a statement/press release condemning our murderous behaviour and distancing yourselves from it?

What grants and moral support do you give to the despicable, disgusting W Midlands arms trade?

Or, are you guiltily silent?

Stolen Transport describes ...

 ... how so well-intentioned public transport modes like 'Hi (there) Speedy 2 fast-to-stop at stations and isolated from HS1', Metro "bus on rails" trams and the Sprint bus that "thinks it's a tram", all take money, time and officers away from addressing the leaky, energy wasteful homes of the people at the bottom of the heap.  It's those above them who unintentionally forget them and concentrate on the flash, high-prestige projects they benefit from.

Lowest incomes continue to lose out as those at the top sort out their grandiose, luxury but climate-intensifying HS2, Metro and Sprint.

This double phenomenon takes us away, even further, from reducing our ultimately deadly greenhouse gas emissions.

MP essentials

Dear Sarah and TfWM Customer Services team - please correct me if I'm wrong in any detail, here:

1950s - first tram network destroyed in favour of diesel buses.

1981 - rebuilding the tram network of 200 Kms was born, inspired by Cllr Phil Bateman who continues as a respected Wolves councillor to this day.

YET ...

Over 43 years, with £100s millions being spent, only 23 Kms were achieved by this year and a further 700 m, over seven slow years of work on the ground, to connect the tram to the bus station and railway station that would never have been necessary if the TRAINS had been reinstated.

In 43 years​, ​I believe, no wasted but existing railway lines in the region have had their trains back​, apart from the short tunnel between Snow Hill Station and Moor St Station. Yet, £100s millions ​h​ave disappeared down the plug hole on ​23 Kms of trams​, 19 Kms of which are on the first mainline railway destroyed between Snow Hill and Wolverhampton!!

The second mainline railway is even more important - running between London and Edinburgh.  It is now broken up into heavy rail, Light Rail Metro trams, a 2 Kms Very Light Rail test track and its HQ building, a 20 Kms cycle-walkway being worked on, and fresh air!

All this while congestion/pollution worsens on nearby motorways and main roads - even crossed by the forgotten, principal, mainline railway.  Bridges and underpasses built for TRAINS that they then forgot all about!

All with public money that is needed for the NHS/social care, concrete crumbling schools, water supply problems and ancient Victorian prisons crammed to bursting point!

All this waste of our taxes when Highly Speedy 2 fast to stop at stations, needs £66 BILLION, at least, to finish it off at Euston!

to Timothy Huxtable, Chair of TDOS at WMCA

Dear Timothy

Thanks very much for your thoughts on the matter.  Much appreciated.  Some questions to try and pin you down!:

THE PROBLEM

Car use rising as oil reserves reduce and the Climate Emergency continues apace.

Car users want free/cheap parking and more roads but, there is never a cry for regional Fare-Free public transport for all to benefit non-car users who do the least to ratchet up Climate breakdown and resource shortages.

The decision-makers are car users and so, without realising it, are unconsciously biased towards their own mode of transport rather than biased in favour of low incomes without a car and needing buses.

1. As Chair of TDOS do you have any say in recommending to your Committee that they might like to vote to stay in line with Manchester and keep the £2 single fare cap?
2. You wrote, "the local centres need to be connected by a form of public transport that works for passengers and is value for money". Do you see the bus as the cornerstone of public transport that could be much cheaper and work better for everyone?
3. Is your Committee able to recommend less money going from Capital (Metro expansion, for example) and more to Revenue to follow Manchester's example to keep fares as low as possible?
4. Eventually, regional Fare-Free Public Transport as I have had for nearly 17 years because of my age?
5. Do you think we should get the two main public transport modes as least as good as the average on the mainland of Europe?
6. Does having a multitude of rail modes (HS, HR, LR, VLR, ULR) detract in any way from getting bus and train as popular as they were before the advent of mass car ownership?
7. Could cutting down on car commuting with a similar rise in bus use be a useful measure of success?
8. How do you think this should be done?
9. Financial inducements from Capital expenditure to Revenue and charging motorists (the car commuters) who fail to register as essential vehicle users to avoid the road use charge?
10. Has CAZ been a success in any way?
11. Has CAZ reduced car use by a percentage or two, do we know?  Or, even more than that?
12. Will you press for the Dudley Tram to stay on the mainline railway to connect it with the national railway network at Stourbridge Jct?
13. By your agnosticism, why are you supporting the TfWM line that the tram must go into Merry Hill SC to give the owners an entirely free asset that makes them even wealthier?
14. Could a free electric bus from the Canal Street Hart's Hill tram stop be a more useful option to get tram passengers into Brierley Hill High Street and to Merry Hill?
15. Or even, reinstate the 1990s monorail?!  Why was it never connected to the railway that could have been re-opened then with commuter, regional and intercity TRAINS?

Best wishes

Those with too much ...

Those with too much, might perhaps give to those with far too little.  Plus safe and legal routes to reduce the numbers of them seeking refuge with US LOT who caused their flight in the first place!

In 2016, can the rich nations and individuals who have so much wealth that much is wasted, give some of it to those with nothing (except war/environmental decline and disasters) so that people will not have to flee to the countries with everything (except war/env degradation)?  Israel in relation to Palestine, even?

Israel's genocide and an end to the arms sales that enables its campaign of terror and horror would certainly help!

No Limits to Health

FOR CYCLISTS, WALKERS, RUNNERS, HORSE RIDERS AND (definitely) THE LESS MOBILE

I attended your excellent event yesterday at Halesowen Library, about the early 20th century, black cycling hero, Marshall 'Major' Taylor.  THANK YOU for putting it on!

Would you support the upgrading, in Dudley borough, of their much neglected mudway section of the UK's major, 20 Kms Black Country Active Travel Route that was built decades ago and is so popular in South Staffordshire and Wolverhampton?

I believe it is the UK's longest, urban-rural-urban, business/commuter/leisure, cycle-walkway.

It runs from the canal towpath at Merry Hill Shopping Centre to the canal towpath at NW Wolverhampton and is part of a circular route via the Brum to Wolves Canal towpath and the flooded, pot-holed, towpath in the Netherton Tunnel.

PARTIAL MAP that does need upgrading, too - I know!  Only the Dudley section is a mudway and is dire, dismal, disappointing:-

 Disgraceful Dudley BC Cycle-Walk Mudway 01.pdf

There are two car parks on the route, on either side of Wombourne, too!  SEE:-

 Disgraceful Dudley BC Cycle-Walk Mudway 02.pdf

SAVE MERRY HILL SHOPPING CENTRE AND IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY FOR STOURBRIDGE!

Please select, copy, paste and send to customerservices@tfwm.org.uk

"SAVE MERRY HILL SHOPPING CENTRE AND IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY FOR STOURBRIDGE!

"It is so important that we get a business case written for the alternative, cheaper option to keep Metro trams away from the extensive destruction planned at Merry Hill.

"Please ask for the business case to be written for either the Stourbridge Shuttle on the railway line or, for the trams from Dudley town to connect with the national railway network at Stourbridge Jct.  An electric bus could connect the tram or the Shuttle with Brierley Hill High Street and the shopping centre.  The tram straight through from Wednesbury, via Dudley to Stourbridge Jct would mean no change, no delay from tram to Shuttle in Dudley town and, therefore, be a quicker public transport journey.

"The important thing is to save Merry Hill's nature, landscaping, public open space and the housing land."

Invitation always stands to come on my Trail of Treasure Treats to see 'Secret Merry Hill'.  Any day; any time.

 Visit highlights

THANKS!

Transport Tragedies drive Climate Tragedy

This is why we need franchising! All that money would just line shareholders pockets, whereas in Manchester they've announced they're doing exactly as you say and every penny goes to bus passengers - starting to see the importance of franchising yet?

You change the law to allow individual councillors to become shareholders in NX and Diamond, etc and, especially the transport authority itself to become a shareholder.  Over many years of shareholding in renewable energy schemes including my own (6.24 kWp roof solar array) I've made a mint that I've re-invested in Energy for All community co-operative society schemes.  Some of the profits/dividends go to the local community to further benefit deserving causes.  All this is a sensible way to fight Climate Catastrophe by getting out of burning finite fossil fuels as quickly as possible.

Mayors Andy and Andy were leading lights in keeping bus fares as low as possible before Street was defeated in May.

Local councils, like my own, are in such financial difficulties it seems unfair to place further financial risks and pressures upon them.  Plus, their track record of most abysmal incompetence in wiping off the face of the earth the first tram network in the 1950s and then doing the same with one-third of the railway network in the following decades - and not to speak of the inland waterways tragedy!  Even now, little freight goes by the remnant canal network.

IN ADDITION:

Incompetence in getting only 23 Kms of the tram network rebuilt in 43 years of hard and hardly competent endeavour - and 19 Kms of the 23 Kms were on the first mainline railway destroyed!  It would have been much cheaper and quicker to put the trains and stations back on a railway designed for trains and used for trains, successfully, for 100 years.  All this idiocy is driving human driven Climate Change to weaken life support systems.

However, it was tram work having to be redone after mistakes that was such a costly disaster that first Andy announced a non-appearing independent review into Metro and now Richard P has spoken of a review.  Andy seems to have been totally ignored by the Top Officers at TfWM/WMCA!  I've been unable to get to the bottom of it, Kez.

It all depends on the cost, I don't have the figures, but suspect it's a pretty big number. I guess you could just use the number of trips on the network as a proxy as it's basically £1 per trip plus whatever margin NX end up asking for.  The margin to benefit the local authority shareholders and others.

DfT Transport Grants - £1,787 million for 24/25 capital budget for Metro expansion - and what else?

 

Edit: a quick Google says 232 million per year. Where do you plan to find that budget from?  Scrap further expenditure on projects accelerating Climate Disaster, including military products and drones going to slaughter Palestinians and Lebanese.  Scrap Trident replacement.  Put the redundant workforce into Climate adaptation, mitigation and Global South reparation work (including for the disgusting, despicable crimes of slavery and empire).

A wonderful, sensible alternative for much improved connectivity

Dear Mike

Your marvellous, mighty Metro is creeping ever closer to devouring my own 1990s magnificent, vertical guerrilla garden, plus public open space, nature, housing land and these trees ...​

 6 glorious white trees.jpg

​You can avoid all this destruction by terminating the tram at the Waterfront.

In the early 1990s, my family and I much enjoyed free parking at the Waterfront but, paying 40p each for the monorail ride into Central Station at Merry Hill SC.  And the station is still there in the heart of the shopping centre - in the roof - and you can view it from the top of the canal embankment, too!  In the past, public viewing of the station has opened at anniversaries of the monorail.

MORE GOOD NEWS!

The Swiss-engineered monorail by Von Roll may still be in use in Queensland, Australia.  You could buy it back and this time, unlike your predecessors, actually connect it to the Dudley Tram at the Waterfront.  Your predecessors, together with Don and Roy Richardson in 1990, left it 400 metres short of the freight-only mainline coming up from Port Talbot to Round Oak Steel!​

 1990s monorail map.jpg

​Or, simply use an electric bus to connect the Waterfront tram stop to Merry Hill and keep the tram on the railway to connect with the national railway network at Stourbridge Junction.  After all, the UK tram promotion group, in your Transport HQ, called the tram "a bus on rails" on the 'Today' programme in 2016, after the Croydon tram crash: "Of 69 passengers, there were seven fatalities and 62 injured, 19 of whom sustained serious injuries."  Wikipedia

Mike, let me show you what I mean with a site visit.

From flash capital to foundational priority

Dear Richard

Do you go along with this, below?  Labour's Lord Adonis initiated HS2 and got Gordon Brown on side in 2009.  Labour councils initiated and have run with Climate disastrous Metro and Sprint massive expenditure using taxpayers money that should have gone to slow Climate disaster and towards Climate and Social Justice.  Please continue ...

Capital transport projects up to now, since 1981, have been the biggest slice of the cake at Brum CC and at WMCA.

Revenue transport funding to subsidise public transport is essential and is the biggest slice of that cake, too.

Capital, flash, grandiose projects help explain the fast rise in GHG emissions to over heat the planet, to bring the stress we are seeing on life support systems and climate breakdown.

The Top Decision Makers at Brum CC and at the WMCA are responsible for using taxes from both poor and rich to give highly expensive Metro and Sprint provision when the funds must go to help the lowest incomes DIRECTLY with insulating, upgrading and making THEIR homes energy efficient.  My wife and I have done it with our money.

Can this new emphasis be discussed soon, please?  An emphasis on directly helping those in most desperate need of having warm and cheap homes to heat (as my family home is and theirs could be, too).  Direct action from a change in priorities to ditch extravagant, flash, unnecessary capital expenditure that accelerates climate catastrophe from all the GHG spewed out in the manufacture of steel and concrete.  That money to be used.

Do Direct Action by diverting capital funds that are the wrong, mistaken priority.

Hi John - thanks for writing and the excellent direct action Acorn is doing to help Palestinians and Lebanese.

Earlier this year, was it you who read out a very lengthy and most inappropriate motion/resolution that I had written but only as background/more detail/explanation?!  It was read so quickly that even I had to concentrate hard on following it!  Can I ask for another, more adequate go, to start a discussion and get feedback, please?

ATTEMPT NO 2 - the ESSENCE:

Capital transport projects up to now, since 1981, have been the biggest slice of the cake at Brum CC and at WMCA.

Revenue transport funding to subsidise public transport is essential and is the biggest slice of that cake, too.

Capital, flash, grandiose projects help explain the fast rise in GHG emissions to over heat the planet, to bring the stress we are seeing on life support systems and climate breakdown.

The Top Decision Makers at Brum CC and at the WMCA are responsible for using taxes from both poor and rich to give highly expensive Metro and Sprint provision when the funds must go to help the lowest incomes DIRECTLY with insulating, upgrading and making THEIR homes energy efficient.  My wife and I have done it with our money.

Can this new emphasis be discussed soon, please?  An emphasis on directly helping those in most desperate need of having warm and cheap homes to heat (as my family home is and theirs could be, too).  Direct action from a change in priorities to ditch extravagant, flash, unnecessary capital expenditure that accelerates climate catastrophe from all the GHG spewed out in the manufacture of steel and concrete.  That money to be used.

A small delegation to then lobby BCC/WMCA for this new Climate Top priority, as is found here:

 Action Points - 2024 version.pdf

and, my tenth point here:

 Nine Action Points from W Mids Climate Coalition to lobby the West Mids CA in support of a zero-c...

 

dangerous GHG = dangerous greenhouse gases

GHG accumulating faster than at any time in history, says WMO

 It will impact all life on earth said WMO

Dep Sec Gen of WMO said,

"Every fraction of a degree rise in temperature matters.

It matters in terms of the speed of glacier and ice retreat.

The acceleration of sea level rise, ocean heat and acidification.

It matters in terms of the number of people exposed to extreme heat each year.  The extinction of species, the impact on ecosystems and our economies."

Keep your car engine running when stationary - and you won't need to switch it on. OBVIOUS. Save your own energy!

"@⁨Timwell⁩ I wish I had your confidence to ask people to switch their engines off. Just been getting poisoned by an idiot with their engine running in Asda multi-storey car park  I genuinely feel it on my chest and wish I went over to them."

REASONS FOR WHY THE ENGINE MUST NOT BE TURNED OFF:

1  Flat battery, mate.  It won't restart if I switch off.

2  I'm conducting an engine diagnostic test that requires the engine to be left running.

3  I'm updating my satnav and the engine has to be left on.

4  I have children in the back and they must be kept warm.

5 I have dogs in the back and they need the air conditioning that must have the battery being recharged with the engine switched on.

6  It's a windy day.  It doesn't matter.

7  I'm so wealthy, I really don't need to save money/fuel by switching off.

8  I have clean air in the car and my having to open the window for you is beginning to change that.

9  I've only stopped for a drag/fiddle with my phone/have a bite to eat.

10  I'm about to leave and you, old man, are delaying me.

CLEAN AIR SCRIPT:

What I say is, 'Excuse me, Could you please be a very nice man/woman and give me cleaner air to breathe?' After a little thought, the penny drops with some without my further prompting. A minority do comply! The secret is to smile/apologise/make 'em think you're joking or, just want to save them money and leave some petrol for future use!

Eat an apple to counteract what you've breathed in.

ReplyForward Add reaction

TWO EMERGENCY RESOLUTIONS for our AGM on Wednesday

Can these, please be put to our AGM on Wednesday?

Emergency resolution One:

"This AGM of Acorn Birmingham expresses its distress at Birmingham City Council and its sister body, the West Midlands Combined Authority in never condemning Birmingham and West Midlands companies helping to arm our major ally, Israel when she is engaged in a disproportionate, illegal, criminal and immoral war of aggression in slaughtering wholly innocent unarmed children, women and men, first in Gaza, then in the West Bank and now in Lebanon, too.

"We insist that the City Council and the WMCA must pass their own resolutions to condemn Israel and our West Midlands armament manufacturers, including drone exporters."

NOTE: My emphasis here on condemning Israel because:

1. Israel is part of our All Dominating/Controlling Western power bloc of nations, led by the USA.
2. Our side has primary responsibility for Israel's criminal attacks and for our Western arms manufacturers giving them the where-with-all to conduct a war condemned by the international community outside our American led All Powerful Hegemony.
3. It was the British Mandate caving in to Jewish terrorism at the end of its unfortunate, thirty-year-rule and failing to solve the deepening rift between Jews and Muslims/Arabs that left the door wide open to the tragedy that befell that part of the Middle East in 1948.

Emergency resolution Two:

"We remain alarmed at the most enormous expense being wasted by wealthy decision makers in choosing to continue with vast and high Climate/resource impacting transport projects that will benefit themselves and, rather childishly, help Birmingham to rival Manchester rather than being a shining light on a hill for leading the UK in doing the most for slowing Climate Catastrophe.

"We insist that BCC and the WMCA must unite in actively siding with those at the bottom of the heap, to boost their standard of living and to guarantee their future prospects by insulating and upgrading their homes.  This, to ensure their lower energy bills, to enable them to heat their homes and to eat more healthily."

UN Resolution 181

United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181, also known as the Partition Resolution, was adopted on November 29, 1947. The resolution called for the partition of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and one Arab, with Jerusalem under a special international regime. 

The resolution was considered a legal basis for the establishment of Israel by the Jewish community in Palestine, but was rejected by the Arab community. The resolution was followed almost immediately by violence, including the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. 

The resolution remains relevant today for several reasons, including:

• It confirmed the international community's recognition of the Jewish people's right to a state in their historical homeland.
• The formula of two states for two peoples remains Israel's position in peace negotiations.
• The Arab population's refusal to accept the resolution demonstrated their unwillingness to establish their own state if it meant allowing a Jewish state to exist. 

The UN Charter states that the General Assembly's resolutions are recommendations, not legally binding.

FROM:  https://www.google.com/search?q=resolution+181+of+the+UN+general+assembly+of+29+November%2C+1947.&oq=resolution+181+of+the+UN+general+assembly+of+29+November%2C+1947.&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOdIBCDIwODZqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

ACORN must address transport accelerating Climate Catastrophe

Hi Kez

THANK YOU so much.  You are excellent at engaging and debating the WMCA's major expenditure, not to benefit the poor or to slow Climate Catastrophe but to worsen the plight of both in favour of the most greedy, luxurious and extravagant transport provision imaginable, viz: HS2, Metro and Sprint.

Since the 1990s, you have been the only 'ordinary' member of the public who has had the decency to argue your case coherently, intelligently and extremely well.  I have had replies from Centro, the Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) and, since 2017, from TfWM/WMCA and conversation with countless officers and councillors at 16 Summer Lane and other council offices.

Since the 1990s I've been writing, first letters and then emails to Centro about the scandal of the Stourbridge to Walsall railway line being ready and waiting for its commuter trains to return.  And, arguing against Metro trams spoiling it.

In the 2000s I came across this excellent colour brochure from the Railway Development Society, aka Railfuture since that decade.

I then learnt that this mainline railway runs from Stourbridge Jct all the way to Lichfield and on to Burton on Trent/Derby is almost totally unused!  Yet, it runs alongside or near to major Black Country roads and Midland motorways - all choked with traffic congestion.

Even worse, millions have been spent on safeguarding the 120 Kms between Worcester stations and Derby station, with every crossing built as new roads and motorways were added across the railway.  But still not used on the 56 Kms between Stourbridge Jct and Burton on Trent.  Apart from steel freight coming up from Port Talbot but, only as far as Round Oak, next to the Waterfront complex, next to Merry Hill SC.

PHOTO of one new crossing on the wasted principal mainline:

QUOTES FOR THEIR INTENTION TO RETURN FREIGHT/PASSENGER TRAINS:

"Light rail investment provides the basis for restoring heavy rail services at the appropriate time."  Tom Magrath, Passenger Services Director, Centro in a letter to me dated 18 September 2000.

"Passive provision" for both heavy rail and Light Rail and Very Light Rail will have it all sorted.  Don't worry, Tim!

"We don't need freight trains on the railway until the 2040s, at the earliest."

Failed, tragic, one trick pony Israel

The Jews never got an agreement with any of its neighbours to turn Palestine into its own State of Israel.  From the outset, first with the three terrorist gangs, the Jews fought the British for control of Palestine and then fought with all its Arab neighbours to gain the land of Palestine for itself.  It has won every war, just as it did 3,300 years ago when Israel's aggression took over the land of Canaan for itself.

Such success was put down to Yahweh/God who commanded such warfare and "total destruction" for the Amalekites that the Israel War Cabinet is insisting must mean the annihilation of at least Hamas before its war aims are achieved.  It is in the Hebrew Scriptures so total extermination of Hamas is a Divine Command that to ignore would mean even greater trouble for them.

Their Scriptures command tit-for-tat retaliation.  However, for Netanyahu who is devoid of any sense of magnanimity or mercy in victory, it means taking one thousand lives of their enemy neighbour for every Jew killed.  Sermon on the Mount ethics and the example of the Good Samaritan never figure in dear Bibi's revengeful mind.  In addition, their powerful and generous paymaster and sponsor, America, while talking of ceasefire, Israel is adamant that prosecuting the war must be their top priority and certainly NOT ceasefire negotiations to get hostage releases for the second time.  Totally ineffective weakness, astonishingly obvious double standards are the hallmark for the All Conquering Greedy Dominating Leader of the Righteous Western World!

For our side, wiping Hamas off the face of the earth for good this time, is more important than the 101 hostages who are dead or alive in Gaza.  Hostages are a sideshow for the greater good of Israel's long-term security.  Yet, there is no sign of light dawning that after 3,300 years (Lion Handbook to the Bible) of intermittent violence, warfare and exterminations and still no peace, that perhaps they might try the Good Samaritan strategy.

80 years of violence for the Promised Land for God's Chosen People

It is very nearly 80 years since Jewish Zionist terrorism started against the British Mandate for Palestine.  It led to the ignominy of the British Army retreating home in 1948.  Jewish aggression was rewarded, contrary to all standards of justice around the world.  Ever since, aggression, violence and sheer slaughter have continued to maintain Israel in the unHoly Land as, Alone God's Chosen People.

I do wonder what on earth (in heaven) the good Lord thinks of it all!

Official fraudulence/scam

Only a small minority of passengers can ever use Metro trams and HS2.  It is fraudulent to claim that these billions are transforming public transport and are responsible for motorists deserting their cars for trams and trains.

It is fraudulent to claim that all railway passengers will notice the vast improvement once the 100 miles of HS2 and the 150 miles of Metro trams are up and running.

It is a fraudulent misuse of £45 billion (2019 figure) of taxpayers' money for HS2 and £15 billion (Jan 2020 figure) for W Midlands trams.

What we are more likely to notice are the effects of Climate on life support systems.

FROM: https://premetro.co.uk/stourbridge-proposal-could-save-taxpayers-millions/

Pre Metro has proposed the Stourbridge Dasher be considered to connect Dudley sooner rather than later, which could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds while delivering enhanced connectivity and economic revitalisation.

The Stourbridge Dasher is being proposed as a cost-effective replacement for Phase 2b of the Wednesbury and Brierley Hill Metro extension, a project fraught with budget overruns and delays. Originally allocated £449 million, the Metro extension’s costs have skyrocketed to an estimated £650 million.

Phase 2b, linking Dudley with Waterfront, is expected to cost £228 million, with additional funds required to reach the Merry Hill Embankment and Brierley Hill High Street. These escalating costs have raised concerns about the project’s affordability compared to other local initiatives.

Pre Metro’s service would utilise the existing Round Oak dual-track freight line, converting one line into a bidirectional rail service between Stourbridge Junction and Canal Street. Connecting Stourbridge to Brierley Hill could be achieved with just £30 million.

The potential benefits of the Stourbridge Dasher extend beyond cost savings. Local surveys reveal strong community support, with 87% of residents expressing interest in using the new service and 40% of businesses along the route expecting increased customer footfall. Employment opportunities are also likely to rise, with projections showing a 63% increase at Merry Hill alone.

Not only that but extending this scheme to include Dudley would total only £50 million—a staggering 78% saving when compared to the currently proposed tramway. In addition to substantial cost savings, the Stourbridge Dasher offers a faster implementation timeline, reduced disruption to local communities, and improved access between Dudley and Stourbridge.

By repurposing existing infrastructure, the project aligns with principles of efficiency and sustainability, addressing the region’s transport needs while ensuring better value for taxpayer money.

Concerns over excessive spending on recent tram extensions within the West Midlands— reportedly costing over £100 million per kilometre, far above global norms—have cast doubt on new transport initiatives in the region. With public funds finite, accountability is paramount, and VLR seems to offer a less disruptive and more cost-effective solution.

Despite these clear advantages, Transport for West Midlands has deferred consideration of the Dasher proposal until 2027, citing the need for further financing and study. This delay risks missing a critical opportunity to connect southern Dudley and Stourbridge, leaving local businesses and passengers underserved.

Pre Metro has urged the West Midlands Combined Authority to collaborate on adapting the Metro proposal sooner rather than later to save public money and improve regional connectivity. This approach would reduce costs and expedite project completion.

Steve Jasper, Director of Pre Metro, and local resident, ratepayer, and former Public Transport Manager, emphasised:

“It’s time for the Combined Authority to prioritise financial accountability and embrace transformative alternatives. By safeguarding public funds, we can deliver a brighter, more connected future for everyone.”

As an SME, Pre Metro has already pledged £25,000 to advance the Strategic Outline Business Case. They are now requesting that the Authority review current proposals and assist in evaluating an alternative that offers quicker results and better value for money.

Stourbridge’s Bigger Picture Strategy can be accessed here.