Villa Park Redevelopment

[paul_e]

To be fair to Street he’s recognised the need for a comprehensive light rail/metro system, it’s in his 2040 vision plan but the issue as ever is getting  anyone in Westminster/Treasury/DoT to pay any attention to him and cough up some money to pay for it.

Indeed, it's about the only positive thing he's done and it's a bit odd that he's being undermined over it to the extent he is.

[astonvilla82]

To be fair to Street he’s recognised the need for a comprehensive light rail/metro system, it’s in his 2040 vision plan but the issue as ever is getting  anyone in Westminster/Treasury/DoT to pay any attention to him and cough up some money to pay for it.

Indeed, it's about the only positive thing he's done and it's a bit odd that he's being undermined over it to the extent he is.

Because it's all London London London, the rest of the country and go and swing, same as the sunsidied travel in London cost millions but they don't give a F because the rest of the country helping to pay for it,

[algy]

To be fair to Street he’s recognised the need for a comprehensive light rail/metro system, it’s in his 2040 vision plan but the issue as ever is getting  anyone in Westminster/Treasury/DoT to pay any attention to him and cough up some money to pay for it.

Indeed, it's about the only positive thing he's done and it's a bit odd that he's being undermined over it to the extent he is.

Because it's all London London London, the rest of the country and go and swing, same as the sunsidied travel in London cost millions but they don't give a F because the rest of the country helping to pay for it,

That's it.  They do a cost-benefit analysis and cos 35million people potentially benefit from anything in the SE, you compare that with building something in the Midlands, say, or even worse in Wales and the "obvious" choice is to do spend that money in London.

It needs a major rethink about how regions are funded.

[AV82EC]

To be fair to Street he’s recognised the need for a comprehensive light rail/metro system, it’s in his 2040 vision plan but the issue as ever is getting  anyone in Westminster/Treasury/DoT to pay any attention to him and cough up some money to pay for it.

Indeed, it's about the only positive thing he's done and it's a bit odd that he's being undermined over it to the extent he is.

Because it's all London London London, the rest of the country and go and swing, same as the sunsidied travel in London cost millions but they don't give a F because the rest of the country helping to pay for it,

That's it.  They do a cost-benefit analysis and cos 35million people potentially benefit from anything in the SE, you compare that with building something in the Midlands, say, or even worse in Wales and the "obvious" choice is to do spend that money in London.

It needs a major rethink about how regions are funded.

Ah the old Treasury Green Book probably one of the two biggest anti growth reasons this country does absolutely nothing on investment. The other of course being the Town and Country Planning Act.

[paul_e]

To be fair to Street he’s recognised the need for a comprehensive light rail/metro system, it’s in his 2040 vision plan but the issue as ever is getting  anyone in Westminster/Treasury/DoT to pay any attention to him and cough up some money to pay for it.

Indeed, it's about the only positive thing he's done and it's a bit odd that he's being undermined over it to the extent he is.

Because it's all London London London, the rest of the country and go and swing, same as the sunsidied travel in London cost millions but they don't give a F because the rest of the country helping to pay for it,

That's it.  They do a cost-benefit analysis and cos 35million people potentially benefit from anything in the SE, you compare that with building something in the Midlands, say, or even worse in Wales and the "obvious" choice is to do spend that money in London.

It needs a major rethink about how regions are funded.

This is exactly why  I'd love to see lords reformed into a house that represents the regions and can push for proper funding outside the South-East, something that takes the focus away from London is desperately needed.

[SoccerHQ]

To be fair to Street he’s recognised the need for a comprehensive light rail/metro system, it’s in his 2040 vision plan but the issue as ever is getting  anyone in Westminster/Treasury/DoT to pay any attention to him and cough up some money to pay for it.

Indeed, it's about the only positive thing he's done and it's a bit odd that he's being undermined over it to the extent he is.

Because it's all London London London, the rest of the country and go and swing, same as the sunsidied travel in London cost millions but they don't give a F because the rest of the country helping to pay for it,

Did Nottingham and Sheffield just quickly go to London and nab some funds while Brum was messing around with fantasy bids for the Olympics?

Said a few days ago Nottingham has quickly built up a very extensive tram network and Sheffield aswell goes out to diverse attractions such as Hillsborough, Meadowhall (which already has a train station right next to it) and a more basic shopping centre called Crystal Peaks.

Was coming back on the train today from the depths of Wolverhampton and noticed they're doing work on extension to Merry Hill but don't think that's opening for another few years.

[AV82EC]

Nottingham has paid for its tram network partly or mostly through a workplace parking levy and some central govt funding. Unsure on Sheffield.

[Simon Page]

Crystal Peaks shopping centre sounds sinister. I've got the muzak from Dawn of the Dead as my earworm now.

I remember the rows about the workplace parking levy. War on motorists, would destroy the economy, business would leave...

[Bad English]

Crystal Peaks shopping centre sounds sinister. I've got the muzak from Dawn of the Dead as my earworm now.

I've got:

[Drummond]

Crystal Peaks shopping centre sounds sinister. I've got the muzak from Dawn of the Dead as my earworm now.

I remember the rows about the workplace parking levy. War on motorists, would destroy the economy, business would leave...

It's not great.

[Drummond]

Nottingham has paid for its tram network partly or mostly through a workplace parking levy and some central govt funding. Unsure on Sheffield.

Sheffield cost a lot of money, and is owned by the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. Operations were sold to Stagecoach for not much money at all and they've done a reasonable job. The South Yorks Mayor has decided not to renew the contract next year and bring it back under public control. Which will probably see it fail and be sold off for peanuts again.

Extensions have been mooted before, and there are a few that would make sense. An interesting recent development was the introduction of a tram-train service to Rotherham...the vehicles can adapt to both tram and train lines, and it runs to Rotherham Station from the tramstops in Sheffield, which is really convenient for those making the journey.

Perhaps that could work in Birmingham on the rail lines discussed already?

[AV82EC]

Nottingham has paid for its tram network partly or mostly through a workplace parking levy and some central govt funding. Unsure on Sheffield.

Sheffield cost a lot of money, and is owned by the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. Operations were sold to Stagecoach for not much money at all and they've done a reasonable job. The South Yorks Mayor has decided not to renew the contract next year and bring it back under public control. Which will probably see it fail and be sold off for peanuts again.

Extensions have been mooted before, and there are a few that would make sense. An interesting recent development was the introduction of a tram-train service to Rotherham...the vehicles can adapt to both tram and train lines, and it runs to Rotherham Station from the tramstops in Sheffield, which is really convenient for those making the journey.

Perhaps that could work in Birmingham on the rail lines discussed already?

I think a few of the lines Street has mentioned would be the tram/train hybrid that Sheffield has. I think Gtr Mcr is considering something similar for other Metro expansions.

[Drummond]

It makes a lot of sense, with the infrastructure being there already.

[rob_bridge]

Some of this may be out of date as I moved out 8 or 9 years ago.

The first Nottingham tram lines opened 20 years ago with 2 large Park and Rides associated running North out of the city. More followed in the last decade. Very impressive. Also 2 bus companies - one Council 'owned' and one private which tends to focus on the commuter towns/outer suburbs.

Sheffield's original ones predate them by a number of years but I do recall getting to Hillsbrough on one.

[Drummond]

Sheffield started in 1994, and then expanded as it was too small to be effective. What's quite interesting is that there was a large tram network in the city before that was removed, funny how things come back again.