Villa Park Redevelopment

[LeeB]

Funny how you never hear about Christian terrorists, isn't it?

Have you heard something about how we're taking down a stand?

He didn't take too kindly to Purslow's plans for the new North Stand.

Given when it was built, and given who was controlling the purse strings when it went up, i can not believe it isn't constructed almost entirely of Racc.

A team of, say, 50 people all farting at the same time should be enough to bring it down.

I may have to excuse myself from Sunday on current form.

[Simon Page]

Thank you. I was going to write this in the things that make you smile thread, but it turns out it's a place for posting affirmations taken from the front of Primark t-shirts. You're all brilliant.

Anyway, I took a big risk a few minutes ago, given I've overdone the wine and dubious foods. Fully prepared for the upstairs waddle of shame, but I trusted to luck and was rewarded with a trump of such triumphant timbre it could start the national anthem. Reckon it could have had three sides of the ground tumbling too.

[LeeB]

I'm not sure what set it off but since Friday it's been so forceful I've had genuine concern for structural failure of anything in it's path, be it fabrics or ceramics.

[AV84]

Belfast is building an entirely new stadium for the Euros, so you'd think Birmingham could fix a train station.

A stadium yet to secure either funding or building

It's being held up now by the DUP who aren't even in charge of a devolved government that hasn't sat for months because they're sulking about losing the last election. Funding is coming from Dublin and London too though, so it might still get moving.

[Simon Page]

I'm not sure what set it off but since Friday it's been so forceful I've had genuine concern for structural failure of anything in it's path, be it fabrics or ceramics.

Enjoy your moment in the (hazy) sun. Currently I'm proudly achieve a sustain that would put the most proficient didgeridooist to shame. I know the Pasquales will return eventually, but until then...

[LeeB]

In the words of the incomparable James Jamerson, "the dirt keeps the funk"

[Footy-Vill]

The question remains an extra 7,000 however how effective Wil the transport links be.
Is their scope for electric shuttle buses.
And certainly the witton train place needs positively upgrading for services

[spartacuss]

link=topic=61921.msg4450917#msg4450917 date=1697032904]

Traffic-wise, on our route, one simple thing made a huge, dramatic and negative difference a few years back. For those of us driving  away using Aston Hall Road/Lichfield Road towards the M.6 at Salford Circus (Spaghetti Junction), for years there would be a slow but steady flow with only a minimal hold-up. Then they introduced lights at Salford Circus. The effect was immediate: quite literally the next match following their introduction the traffic flow turned into a permanent jam inching along and it's been like that every match since. 

There is no need for lights at this huge, crucial roundabout when 95% of the traffic following a match is exiting away to the M.6 (North & South) or Erdington, Sutton, Lichfield with a relative dribble of (non-match) traffic using the other roads.  I am convinced that if the lights were suspended for one or one and half hours after a match the steady flow of traffic would be resumed. 

Anyone know whose ear has to be bent, to get traffic management (West Midlands/Birmingham Council?) to sort out this mess instead of thousands of stationary cars chugging out fumes while the occupants are, understandably, 'fuming' too? 

Update. Managed to get through to someone in Birmingham City Council (tortuous process - wouldn't recommend it - probably made worse by the presence of the Govistas!).  She was very patient and helpful and accepted it was a problem and is putting it forward to the Highways Dept. and gave the issue a reference Number HGE013166 and location: Road name: SALFORD CIRCUS Ward: GRAVELLY HILL.  The email acknowledgement said I should be contacted within 5 - 10 days. (Probably shouldn't hold our fug-filled breaths until something concrete emerges...)

Will update again as and when.
[/quote]

Had a reply today (19/10/23) from the Principal Engineer whose responsibility is the  Salford Circus/Spaghetti Junction roundabout, to the effect that switching off the traffic signals at peak times will be considered by council engineers and traffic management. He raised various points which I responded to in my reply below:

"I do acknowledge that there may be challenges to altering these particular lights.  When I spoke to your (very helpful and patient) colleague last week, I spoke  about  the benefits  that a temporary suspension of the lights for a period of time following matches would bring to both Birmingham residents and visitors. Before the lights were installed, there were delays along the Lichfield and Aston Hall Roads, but there was always a sense that the traffic - crawling though it  may be - would be steadily dispersed at Salford Circus.  Since the installation and operation of the lights, gridlock has been the dominant experience.

You refer to traffic at peak times, but we tend to forget that all of the matches do not finish at the peak times in the working week (4 - 7 p.m.).  The matches' conclusions on Saturdays and Sundays or after 9.30 during the week do not compete with the sheer amount  of  working-week peak-time traffic. From impressions from other drivers caught in the horrendous jams whose opinions I have sought, the overwhelming opinion seems to be that non-match traffic is a relative trickle (5%?) and given a disproportionate excessive amount of traffic light 'Go' time at the roundabout. Furthermore, it seems that locals are aware of match traffic dispersal and are savvy enough to avoid the area if at all possible.

I take your point about the possible need for manual control and requisite traffic engineers to be present and possible costs involved. I would point out, though, that at present (even with the European fixtures) that the matches and consequent traffic averages out at approximately one match every 10 days.  The time frame for control would need to be no more than 2 hours after the match. If we consider the amount of stress and aggravation (and, unfortunately, aggressive behaviour...) that these gridlocked jams create and the pall of pollution produced, at a time when every responsible  person and institution is focused on net-zero actions, surely the benefits greatly outweigh the nominal operational costs? 

Furthermore, it is not a 'good look' for Birmingham and its praiseworthy desire to promote itself to visitors for forthcoming sports, tournaments and other cultural attractions i.e. not making a relatively simple 'fix' to a solvable  problem could cast Birmingham in a poor, negative light?  If your department does institute  remedial action, it would not go unappreciated: the kudos generated towards Birmingham City Council and Engineering North specifically  would be appreciated and reinforced  by thousands of fans at a time when we are aware of the ridiculous government intervention in the city's operation!   Thank you."

[Percy McCarthy]

Good luck and well done mate.

[PeterWithe]

Aye, well done.

[Drummond]

Very good 👏

[dcdavecollett]

Well done.

Are you Spartacus?

[spartacuss]

Well done.

Are you Spartacus?

I am spartacuss ('cuss someone else took my previous H&V name!). 

All other claimants to the name are fakers...

[danno]

Well done.

Are you Spartacus?

I am spartacuss ('cuss someone else took my previous H&V name!). 

All other claimants to the name are fakers...

I thought the name meant you were a Kirk Douglas lookalike but just really foul mouthed.

[spartacuss]

Well done.

Are you Spartacus?

I am spartacuss ('cuss someone else took my previous H&V name!). 

All other claimants to the name are fakers...

I thought the name meant you were a Kirk Douglas lookalike but just really foul mouthed.

Touché!