The Blackstone LegendSubterranean Kiddy'

	Monday, 23 January 2012
	gloomy outlook
	by Tav

Mark Garnier MP [Wyre Forest, Conservative] has distributed his January newsletter, so I'm adding here, in case anyone isn't on his unsolicited email list, I added a copy here.

It starts off on a low note, "...with continued problems in the Eurozone and more worries about not just our economy, but the whole world’s economy, people are starting the year with a gloomy outlook." So it's not the previous Labour Government, nor the bankers, and there's no mention that the 'gloomy outlook' was the cause of public-sector workers. This time it's solely the fault of the Eurozone. Oh, well the frown is turned into a smile with the introduction of the Academy (no mention of its name!) and £1 million pound committed by Wyre Forest District Council for regeneration.

Other stories: Wribbenhall flood barriers; West Midland Safari Park; metal theft; the Stourport Relief Road & the Hoobrook Link Road; Christmas emergency cover; financial education at schools; and British Institute for Learning Disabilities [BILD], based in Kidderminster .

Sources:
Mark Garnier MP, January 2012

Campaigns:

Comments:

Jon D 25 Jan 2012

Funny that our trade surplus with exports has been up thus keeping us out of recession and disproving the government line that our economic woes are down to the Eurozone. The gloom is down to depressed domestic demand due to the Conservatives' excessive austerity drive. Consequently the governments' popularity has shot up. Work that one out. Aha ha ha boing boing! Don't blame you for going to Australia Tav, I hear they have a good education system there, something that we've obviously been lacking over here.

Stephen Brown 25 Jan 2012

I note his last article on learning disabilities and championing that.

Supporting people with learning disabilities [Mark Garnier MP]

Stephen Brown 25 Jan 2012

Some credit here...

Local infrastructure [Mark Garnier MP]

Neil Harman 25 Jan 2012

I support HS2, whether now or in the future. The current system will be completely full in the mid 2020's. We are 40 years behind France and Germany, 20 behind Spain and Italy. The price of tickets is down to the Government thinking we should pay the improvements in higher than inflation price rises, whilst the rail companies make millions in profits and pay huge dividends to shareholders. Stop the dividends until the minimum standards of service and infrastructure are reached. As with any business the money needs to go back in and in significant quantities to make it worthwhile or stagnation then bust. We need a high speed rail service in this country and an extensive one at that. Just like we need local and rural and national bus services that keep getting cut, more roads where the nimbi's are including here and more trams or better cycle lanes and a million other things that are all done better than in this piss pot country. I wish I was coming with you sometimes Tavis.

Neil Harman 25 Jan 2012

Sorry, I have to add that that is exactly what happened after privatisation, booming profits, reduction in investment, rising ticket prices to keep paying the dividends and then, guess what? Failure and an effective renationalisation where it's all still being managed appallingly. Do these idiots never learn from their mistakes?

Tav 26 Jan 2012

I note that it was the Government under Margaret Thatcher that had the decision to undertake multiple civil engineering projects and straighten the tracks for high speed rail or develop a train that could tilt on track bends. They chose the latter and it ended up on the scrap heap along with billions of taxpayers' money. For me, HS2 is the correction of that serious bad mistake by the Tories. Of course, they are not going to admit they made a mistake and they hope that it was so long ago and people have short memories that it was all but forgotten.

Neil Harman 26 Jan 2012

Sorry Tav, the guests were me! Stephen is going to flip when he sees you attributed those comments to him. oops

Stephen Brown 26 Jan 2012

Hi Neil, yes indeed the follow up posts to my own posts are not mine. I do not support HS2 and neither is it Green Party policy to support HS2. I think things have moved on regarding communications, particularly digital and that is one route we should be taking. Investment and expansion in the existing network to improve local links, light rail, trams etc. Plus, we are a country not the size of Germany and France nor are we connected to a huge continental landmass mainland (tunnel aside) that demands such rapid travel across huge distances. I am not convinced either that such a HS2 network would stop air transport so it has dubious credentials in that respect. Above all, the environmental impact and that on communities around it could be devastating opening up an industrial corridor and thus sucking more lifeblood out of areas not connected to it. I well remember the arguments over the M6 toll and being involved in the fight against that and I do see some parallels in this, not to mention the 'for' arguments that simply do not hold water. I could go on and on but I won't...

Tav 26 Jan 2012

Opps my bad. I sincerely apologise Stephen, it was totally my fault. ...unless I can blame in on my intern – only joking, is that too soon? I will rectify my mistake.

Stephen Brown 27 Jan 2012

No worries Tav! It must be right stressful for you now with everything going on in your life.

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