[Tubby Isaacs]

Latest from South Cambridgeshire. No to the new railway because they'll want to build houses near the stations. Seriously, that's it.

Plus some nonsense that journey times (much improved to lots of places) don't take into account waiting for the trains. Because of course nobody now waits for buses that spend ages doing those journeys.

[mattomac]

And yet will be the very same person bemoaning that Britain no longer has its Victorian spirit for innovation and change.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Yep.

More on East-West Rail., which is exactly the sort of "expand the existing network, I'd use the train if it wasn't much slower than my car" project we're always told we need more.

[Yug]

Actually, the issue in Bedford is not one of building more houses, rather that, after much hedging and obfuscation, EWR have finally decided on the six-track option, meaning people who thought they were safe now face having their houses compulsorily purchased and demolished. There was general acceptance of the four-track line as originally planned.

[Youngian]

East-West road and rail links are dire unless you’re going via Scotch Corner. Car journeys are unpleasant and it’s quicker via London by train to reach the North West and Midlands.
There was a fancy plan in the Wilson Heath era to build a causeway across the Wash like the IJsselmeer in Holland. Norfolk didn’t like the sound of these new fangled motorways hurtling through Swaffham.

[Andy McDandy]

Pity, because the causeway from Arnside to Grange over Sands is absolutely beautiful.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Actually, the issue in Bedford is not one of building more houses, rather that, after much hedging and obfuscation, EWR have finally decided on the six-track option, meaning people who thought they were safe now face having their houses compulsorily purchased and demolished. There was general acceptance of the four-track line as originally planned.

Ah, that's useful context.

But higher capacity railway is good, isn't it?

[Tubby Isaacs]

There was a fancy plan in the Wilson Heath era to build a causeway across the Wash like the IJsselmeer in Holland. Norfolk didn’t like the sound of these new fangled motorways hurtling through Swaffham.

Surprised Bozo didn't revive that one.

[mattomac]

Bozo only suggested stuff that was 100% impossible not 60-70%

[Youngian]

Surprised Bozo didn't revive that one.

That was a spin-off from a nuttier project

[Bones McCoy]

There's a similar thing in the Ketelmeer (An Eastern offshoot of the IJsselmeer).
A feature called the IJsseloog.

One of those oddieties that draws the eye while browsing google maps.

Explained here: https://eros.usgs.gov/media-gallery/ear ... -ijsseloog

[Tubby Isaacs]

[Bones McCoy]

Nimbys: Sunlight on the cemetery is our only defence against vampires.

Journalist: but there's never been a problem with vampires.

Nimbys: That sunlight works.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Railways now have to bring direct benefits to every village they go near, apparently. Combined population of these three villages is barely 3,000, far too small to justify a station. This is "why doesn't high speed rail stop in Amersham?" stuff. Does nobody in these villages work in Cambridge? Kind of good for Cambridge to have better transport links, you'd think.

Some great concerned faces too.

[Yug]

That is NIMBYism writ large. "If it doesn't benefit me directly I don't want it anywhere near me."

As far as these people are concerned, Thatcher was right. "There's no such thing as society ".

[Youngian]

This myopic opportunism has begun to rile Lib Dem activists. Pippa Heyling is one of the worst offenders.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Sadly, I think the political strategy is probably very solid.

Even when they did their very best, they made sure they knew that they couldn't win much with nice Charles Kennedy stuff. They did what they needed to locally to get the headbangers, attacking the Tories as selling out to Europe on the Common Fisheries Policy, that sort of thing. These voters cleared off once they had a better offer, from UKIP and then Bozo.

Getting nimbies isn't a bad substitute.

[Youngian]

Small parties have a lack of strategic options under FPTP but the rise of the Greens through pavement politics is in danger of leaving the LDs looking like the Victor Meldrew moaners party but with little else to offer.

[Tubby Isaacs]

The Greens won in my council seat by miles. I voted for them to stick it to the Tories (who held it before), and didn't ask them any awkward questions. But there is a "controversial" housing development happening- the road isn't very good, but on the other hand it's walking distance from a rail station and lots of people want to live here, and everywhere else in Herefordshire is getting lots of new houses. I'm in favour, but lots aren't, and I would be surprised if the Greens didn't at least make some nimby noises on this on doorsteps. Though in fairness, I can't find them being strident on it anywhere. I guess that's as good as you get in local politics.

[Tubby Isaacs]

Oh no. Not 6 storey blocks of flats on obsolete retail sites, in London.