Gridlock answer - close M-ways
The recently published Gridlock Or Growth report by Centro and the analysis of it by Nigel Hastilow leave me in despair. My experience as a coach driver is in excess of 35 years, and in the past month I have driven to most major cities of the British Isles, plus Milan, Rome, Naples and Switzerland.
On average I drive into London from all directions three times per week in any year.
All the cities mentioned above, and certainly every UK city and their conurbations, have severe congestion problems, but I can assure everyone, politicians, police, the motoring associations, journalists and the general public, that the West Midlands area is by far the worst - in my estimation threefold.
The root of the problem lies in the past, as early as 1968 with the closure of most of the railway network through the Black Country. Also little investment has been made in the road system since then, which has had a major effect.
The Dudley Bypass is a prime example, but also the development of the Merry Hill Centre reflects the total lack of insight regarding transport, and is the same throughout the seven authorities. I am sure your readers can give countless examples where new road improvements have been a complete waste of time, with the problem it is supposed to solve just being recreated a short distance further on.
Therefore, on one point I agree with Nigel Hastilow, in that the Metro planned extensions are a mistake. The existing route should have been reopened as a main train line, as it was pre 1968, and the planned new route to Merry Hill could also be treated as such.
Secondly, the motorway systems were built for long distance traffic. They were not designed, for example, commuters from Cannock to Birmingham.
The answer to the motorway gridlock is simple. Close all junctions to existing traffic in the West Midlands area between 7am and 10am, and joining from 4pm to 7pm, with the exception of public transport vehicles. This would certainly concentrate the minds of the commuters into finding alternative modes of travel since I doubt many of them could find their way if it wasn't on a motorway.
A L Phillips, Sandbourne Drive, Bewdley.
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