Infrastructure / Hs2 And The Shitty End Of The Stick...

[dervish]

Why is it up this end of the UK and Scotland (Edinburgh is as bad an investment sink proportionately as London) we get the shitty end of the stick all the time? Ok population density but the cynical would get a bit pissed off with the contempt that seems to be shown with the concious intentional wealth transfer that seems to go on.

 

 

The areas that could lose out if a new north-to-south rail link is built have been revealed for the first time.

HS2 would make more than 50 places across the UK worse off - among them Aberdeen, Bristol and Cardiff - previously unseen research by accountants KPMG suggested.

The findings were released only after a freedom of information request by BBC Two's Newsnight programme.

The chief executive of HS2 Ltd said the figures were unsurprising.

The KPMG report, which was hailed by the government when it was published in September, said the line could boost the UK economy by £15bn a year.

 

It listed the regions it said would benefit, with Greater London (£2.8bn) and West Midlands (£1.5bn) the biggest winners.

But the 92-page report omitted data for those parts of the UK not on the proposed line which stand to be net losers from the project.

Economic output would be worst affected, according to the research, in:

Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City and Moray (-£220m)
Norfolk East (-£164m)
Dundee and Angus (-£96m)
Cardiff (-£68m)
Norfolk West (-£56m)

[dervish]

I understand the rudimentary VfM proposal you're making but the upshot of that, in the extreme, would be every cunt, in the world, living in a fancy high rise.

 

The point isn't that the investment benefits one place, but that they wilfully hid it would cost another (lots of others actually). Also they likely underestimated the cost. So not a case of they get and you don't but more they will fuck you to give to them(and hide it from you).

[NorthernLights24]

Why is it up this end of the UK and Scotland (Edinburgh is as bad an investment sink proportionately as London) we get the shitty end of the stick all the time? Ok population density but the cynical would get a bit pissed off with the contempt that seems to be shown with the concious intentional wealth transfer that seems to go on.

 

 

 

#bettertogether

[caledonia]

I presume the tories and labour will not be happy with this

as we are supposed to be better together or is that only for elections

[tup]

Not sure I give a fuck I expect nothing from the government and that's exactly what I get.

[dervish]

Thing is though Tup in this case the government will take your cash to fund something which they know will make you and your area worse off and they didn't want to tell anyone about it. Landan and the south east is so deprived of investment though so it's probably right enough.

[tainboy]

Shock. Scotland worse off for "uk" investment!

 

No figures for Highlands or islands though. Losing £4.99 is devastating to the average alnessian family. In pulteney your average family of 9 can eat for a month for the price of a day return from brum to the big smoke.

[madjockmcferson]

By this logic we should never invest in anything unless it benefits every area. Clearly, the fact the rail line wont benefit Aberdeen is bad for Aberdeen but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be built. Everything takes time and the line from aberdeen to edinburgh needs to be improved / updated but the relative geographical isolation of aberdeen vis a vis other parts of the UK cannot be helped. Now.....our geography does benefit relations with scandanavia and Western Europe so we ought to be developing those relationships.

[The Boofon]

By this logic we should never invest in anything unless it benefits every area. Clearly, the fact the rail line wont benefit Aberdeen is bad for Aberdeen but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be built. Everything takes time and the line from aberdeen to edinburgh needs to be improved / updated but the relative geographical isolation of aberdeen vis a vis other parts of the UK cannot be helped. Now.....our geography does benefit relations with scandanavia and Western Europe so we ought to be developing those relationships.

I don't think a high speed rail link from Aberdeen to Scandinavia is a feasible idea to be honest.

[The Boofon]

 

 

Valid point extremely well put. It might derail and hit an oil rig.

I hadn't considered that. I was more worried about the costs of a floating rail track capable of withstanding the North Sea during the winter months.

 

I like you Rumpus. You're much better than your other usernames.

[tup]

Rumpus will certainly ken a thing or two about going off the rails.

[madjockmcferson]

Erm, I meant developing flight routes. I think we are closer to some places than people think. Yes, we are 'remote' from London, well, as remote as you can be on a tiny island, but we are not remote in terms of Europe / Scandanavia.

[dervish]

Shock. Scotland worse off for "uk" investment!

 

No figures for Highlands or islands though. Losing £4.99 is devastating to the average alnessian family. In pulteney your average family of 9 can eat for a month for the price of a day return from brum to the big smoke.

 

That logic means only invest in the areas with most people. It's actually what is happening.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16235349

 

TRANSPORT SPENDING PER HEAD

• London - £2,731
• South-east of England - £792
• East Midlands - £311
• West Midlands - £269
• Yorkshire and Humberside - £201
• North-west of England - £134
• Eastern England - £43
• South-west of England - £19
• North-east of England - £5

[The Boofon]

but we are not remote in terms of Europe / Scandanavia.

Neither is London. What's your point exactly?

[madjockmcferson]

I'm saying that we might be remote from London (as far as we can be on a small island) but we are close to Scandanavia and parts of Western Europe so we aren't as remote as some people think. A bit of creative thinking might help us realise that Aberdeen is actually geographically speaking at the center of a northern scandanavian center of commerce and development.

 

That isnt too difficult to understand. Yes, it would be cool if HS2 came to Aberdeen but it might not be necessary if we fully exploited the opportunities of geography that we do have.

[dave_min]

By this logic we should never invest in anything unless it benefits every area.

 

 

You didn't really understand the opening post, did you?

[madjockmcferson]

I don't understand your post. What is your point?