The Longest and Most Expensive Suicide Notes in History

Summary

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We don't need to look further than the funding details for the construction of Cross Rail in London, to see very clearly that government expects local communities, especially business, to put our hands in our pockets if we want new infrastructure built. Through the mechanism of Supplementary Business Rates (SBR), local authorities are about to be given powers to raise an additional two pence on the business rate. As an aside, it is no coincidence that the formula proposed (whereby local businesses will only have the right to vote on whether they want SBR to be implemented if the SBR proportion of a particular scheme exceeds one-third of the total cost) meets the funding requirements of Cross Rail very neatly. No vote will be required!

So the message is clear. Move away from assembling swathes of wish lists detailing expensive transport infrastructure project 'musts' unless there are accompanying proposals for how the schemes will be part-funded at least, by local contributions.

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Extract

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The Longest and Most Expensive Suicide Notes in History

The recent 'Gridlock or Growth 2' study called for pounds 4.6 billion of 'crucial' investment whilst the 2002 West Midlands Multi- Modal Study detailed a...

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