Vision for our region

Given that it will happen, because the EU says so, and the EU always gets its way; and given that we already have a government office of our own, along with a regional assembly, a development agency, a large public transport company, fire service, police service and ambulance service, why do we not cut our losses, save a fortune on consultants' fees (new name, new logo, etc) and call it The West Midlands?

Neither Birmingham or the major Black Country boroughs could possibly object to this neutral name, and it could reap benefits beyond the wildest dreams of tax payers.

Just think . . . none of the current local authorities would have any power, hence nothing on which to spend our money, therefore the vast majority of local authority councillors and council office staff would be redundant, saving us a small fortune in pay, perks and allowances.

Then we come to the civic centres/town halls and their associated offices. They too would be redundant, so could be sold to the highest bidding property developer, demolished, replaced with modern in-town executive apartments, restaurants or nightclubs.

The greatest benefit of all would be the chance, for the very first time, to formulate a fully integrated, region-wide transport policy, with buses, trams and trains all working together. This would achieve the traffic planners' dream of heaven: no congestion.

Speaking of planning, would it not make sense to fully devolve the planning process to the new regional authority (the West Midlands Regional Assembly, to give it its proper name) and abolish the nonsense of developers appealing to some 'erbert in London who can, and frequently does, quote government guidelines while riding roughshod over decisions made locally.

Yes folks, a city region would work for everyone. It will cost central government a fortune in lost power and influence, allow local people to decide their own future, and cut costs enormously. Go for it. It's already on the map.

John Benton, Horace Partridge Road, Moxley.