| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re: Lamberts Folly -Is Church Street really the reason for such huge delays? | |
| Posted by: | Raymond Havelock | |
| Date/Time: | 21/03/18 09:55:00 |
| Adam raises the point from another perspective. The hard reality is we have authorities at too many levels who are happy to foster population growth without factoring in fully the requirements to accommodate it. It is being concentrated in urban conurbations but by far, in London & the South East. To a degree that we have almost reached a 24/7 culture creeping out towards the outer suburbs. If just 20% of road traffic migrated to rail and bus, they would not be able to cope. The small freight rail infrastructure has been removed and now largely built upon, leaving only long distance and heavy haulage facilities. There is no space for quad tracking, passing loops or sidings. Interestingly, quite a lot of european countries won't allow developments on disused infrastructure sites in case of future needs. So temporary uses are found. Something that used to be done here along railway land in particular. So Roads are the only option left for goods and services. Far too many have to commute long distances by necessity, not by choice. Simply because the costs and jobs and living needs do not mesh otherwise. The damage to long term quality of life is already evident but the current insane policies of cramming families into inadequate new housing is a ticking time bomb. Nothing seems to have been learned from the social experiments of the past 50 years, most of which have failed. It is simple stuff. If infrastructure cannot be accommodated without major damage then nor can overdensification. TfL have revealed a 6% drop in traffic in West London. Hard to see where that is but with 7% cuts coming in bus services- even though passenger use has recently shot up, and a claimed drop in Tube revenue with looming cuts to tube services as well, one wonders what is going to happen next. In my view it has to be quality New Towns that are well connected by all forms of transport and attractive enough to be highly desirable. It can be done. One only has to look at the enduring and highly sought after areas of what is known as Metro-Land to the North-West. Much of which is nearly 100 years old. |