A Brave New World

[Deleted User]

Many of the disused railway lines from the 1960s closures have been built over but many are footpaths and cycleways and the tracks that linked them through the towns to the mainline stations have long since been removed and the land they stood on incorporated into the road and housing of those towns. I doubt it would be possible to reopen them for cost of purchasing the lost land if for no other reason. Busses are now run for profit by private companies (I think it's a franchise) and that means they have to make the profit for their shareholders rather than provide a reliable service for the ordinary people of the UK. We are definitely behind the shareholders in the queue for reinvestment and keeping routes running.

Berlin has a fantastic integrated transport infrastructure where you can buy a ticket that allows travel on surface trains, underground trains, busses and trams within the zone the ticket covers. If there is a problem on the railways there is a bus waiting at the top of the station steps to take passengers to the next open station on the route, on time and reliable. The people of Berlin I believe pay some 10% extra in taxes to facilitate the running of this system and it's worth it.

I don't use clingfilm any more I bought a pack of clear plastic elasticated edge covers in various sizes from Lakeland plastics that cost me £3.99 and are both freezer stable and dishwasher safe, so I use them, wash them, and re-use them.

euronorris

Hobsons_Choice wrote: »

Funding for the vital Air Ambulance so that it doesn't have to rely on charity!

They AAS is a very well funded charity, and doesn't need any financial assistance. They have millions in reserve. It is relatively easy to fundraise for these services, freeing up NHS money to go to much needed, and heavily underfunded areas such as mental health.

pattypan4

my small town is starting a good neighbour scheme soon. I expect the meeting will be packed, there are a lot of good caring people here. Its not all doom and gloom everywhere, depends wher you live


I want very good public transport and much better safer cycling everywhere. I want an end to out of town shopping and I want small local shops in every village and town. The people are crying out to get back to community living

unrecordings

pattypan4 wrote: »

my small town is starting a good neighbour scheme soon. I expect the meeting will be packed, there are a lot of good caring people here. Its not all doom and gloom everywhere, depends wher you live

I want very good public transport and much better safer cycling everywhere. I want an end to out of town shopping and I want small local shops in every village and town. The people are crying out to get back to community living

Having spent some years in student areas, my feeling is that it's the transient nature of housing these days that is the problem, that's to say short term rental contracts (by short term I mean a year or thereabouts). If you know you're unlikely to be there long, you're less likely to put down roots. In terms of high street shops, my understanding is this is pretty much down to rents with landlords holding on to impossible returns on their investment/property portfolio

In terms of cycling - what about a kind of a traffic grading scheme, where only certain vehicles are allowed on certain roads. 7.5T or more not allowed on roads with cycle lanes, dedicated routes for artics etc etc. For commercial traffic shouldn't be impossible to police. For delivery access then take up a Russian doll approach whereby smaller vehicles are used to make the end deliveries.

dreaming

I would love for public libraries to be safeguarded in some way. I know in this digital age some see them as outdated but in many areas they provide not just books but local knowledge and company for older people.

davenport151

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Many of the disused railway lines from the 1960s closures have been built over but many are footpaths and cycleways and the tracks that linked them through the towns to the mainline stations have long since been removed and the land they stood on incorporated into the road and housing of those towns. I doubt it would be possible to reopen them for cost of purchasing the lost land if for no other reason. Busses are now run for profit by private companies (I think it's a franchise) and that means they have to make the profit for their shareholders rather than provide a reliable service for the ordinary people of the UK. We are definitely behind the shareholders in the queue for reinvestment and keeping routes running.

A lot f the closed routes have also become heritage railways. Steam and diesel alike. Some still offer a valuable service to the community or bring visitors to the area. I like to think that Mr Beeching (and others) secured the future of these lines in a way they probably didn't mean too!

My support goes to better public transport systems. Joined up too. meaning a bus or train will connect to allow a seamless journey. This must be affordable for all or discounts available.

I thought the idea of qualifying Doctors spending a few years working as a GP was excellent.

Also a second to educating people on budget and living within means. I'm sure there are people in genuine need of food banks but it seems to me that people over stretch on monthly payments for TV subscriptions, car purchase, mobile phone bills etc that when payday is late or doesn't arrive there is no money for food.

Finally as others have mentioned - communities, incorporating a bank time scheme for skills to be exchanged.

mumf

Food security.A guarantee that allotments are available to those who want them.Funding for gardening tutors,for those who need teaching.Folks would then get fresh air,exercise,company,wholesome food and general all round well being.

unrecordings

mumf wrote: »

Food security.A guarantee that allotments are available to those who want them.Funding for gardening tutors,for those who need teaching.Folks would then get fresh air,exercise,company,wholesome food and general all round well being.

Nice one.
Would this fall under NHS or education (or neither) Maybe the teaching forms part of an apprentice scheme, and the mindfulness/exercise bit in conjunction with the NHS. Not sure where the land would come from though

unrecordings

dreaming wrote: »

I would love for public libraries to be safeguarded in some way. I know in this digital age some see them as outdated but in many areas they provide not just books but local knowledge and company for older people.

I don't necessarily see libraries as obsolete, they just need to evolve along with the councils that own them. Case in point, Sheffield Central Library, a fantastic art deco structure was almost sold to the Chinese to turn into yet another luxury hotel. The building was donated to the city by (I think) JG Graves for the benefit of the people of Sheffield. That benefit doesn't need to be books, it can be anything from somewhere quiet indoors, to an internet something or other, makerspace , and in the case of the big old municipal libraries, continue to be a meeting place, cafe, art gallery, theatre, archive, good old fashioned library

unrecordings

davenport151 wrote: »

I thought the idea of qualifying Doctors spending a few years working as a GP was excellent.

Point Of Order - I don't disagree with this, but assuming funding for the NHS was adequate, we wouldn't need to resort to carrot & stick to try to maintain the NHS as an attractive career option.

As an aside - and again, assuming funding is there, how do we extend the NHS to truly 24/7 care at all levels - When i needed this my thought was something like a 4 day week which allows some wiggle room for illness, stress & crisis (ie heatwave, cold snap, flu) - once again, gross wage shouldn't reduce just because of reduced days