Why not buses and trams? Don’t think is either/or.

Good question. The fixed infrastructure nature of trams makes them more permanent (to encourage people and businesses to change behaviour) and reliable.

This is a good summary.

bettertransport.org.uk/campaigns/ti...

The key point of the post is that somewhere like York has the population to sustain a system if we look at places of equivalent size in other countries.

It also used to have a tram system.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/York_Co...

Yes - have you?

I used a definition related more to urban area size than to the geography of local authorities.

But - as I say above - it's not meant to be exhaustive. And would undoubtedly expect all of the places you list to be on an extended Supertram (and Rotherham already is).

All of the places in this map - and more - should have trams. We just need to let local areas get on with building things again, as they do in other countries.

Read more about how to get there here: futurenorth.substack.com/p/let-tracy-...

All of the places in this map - and more - should have trams. We just need to let local areas get on with building things again, as they do in other countries.

Read more about how to get there here: futurenorth.substack.com/p/let-tracy-...

Are there any live proposals to get DSIT (and/or CLG?) to create a Civic Tech Fund? An initiative to support the UK’s civic tech movement (pro-social platforms like Library of Things, Olio, Park Run, etc) and shared infrastructure for community organising. 1/n

The story of the Leadboilers of Linthwaite dates back to the turmoil of the English Civil Wars in the mid-1600s. In the uplands, where the land yielded little but sheep, local people known as Linfiters—scraped a living however they could. After battles had swept through, they scoured

In the long run I can imagine a world in which local areas have more control over some aspects of regulations like that. Though pros and cons. But I think the things we’ve put in the report are a good start for increasing local incentives to get things done and control costs.

Great news on buses!

On cost - isn’t whole story - but we think that giving local areas more control will help to control costs as it aligns who pays with spending much more than centrally given grants do. And giving local areas control of planning approvals could also help with this.

And great that the @yorkshirepost.co.uk @jaymitchinson.bsky.social backed our report in their leader column!

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion...

The map below shows how far behind France and Germany we are in mass transit. In France, every place with over 150,000 people has some form of tram or metro.

But if mayoral areas can 'become builders' as @tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social puts it in the foreword, we can turn this around.

🧵

1/9

This isn't just about transit.

It's also worth considering how every additional project taken on by local and regional government builds local state capacity.

I've also posted about the implications for the North of England here.

futurenorth.substack.com/p/let-tracy-...

9/9

Read more detail - including @tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social foreword - in the full report 'Let Mayors Build: a new deal for transport'.

www.labourtogether.uk/all-reports/...

8/9

The government should also speed up approvals with less central control over businesses cases for mayors with integrated settlements - and an expedited process for anything that does still require some central approval or funding.

7/9

Mayors should be able to approve transport projects in their areas, without needing DfT approval of a 'Transport and Works Act Order'. Let mayors take on the process.

They should also have access to local revenue sources to fund these projects - just like in other countries.

6/9

Let alone Leeds, if Preston or Peterborough were in France then they would have trams too given their size.

Looking at the North, the map below shows some of the places we would expect to have trams given the French example. Places like Hull, Middlesborough and Warrington are all big enough.

5/9

Contrast this with the infamous Leeds tram. The mayor and govt have made a welcome push to have spades in the ground by 2028. But the contrast with other countries where places can just get on with building is stark.

4/9

The report highlights Strasbourg. Elected in 1989 promising trams, a mayor was able to open the new tram in 1994 and win re-election in 1995 on a pledge fulfilled. The map above shows how far behind France and Germany we are in terms of mass transit.

3/9

In ‘Let Mayors Build’ - published today with @britishprogress.org @davidlawrenceuk.bsky.social @hopkinsonben.bsky.social - we set out how giving mayors power over approvals and funding will drive pride and prosperity through new transport projects delivered more quickly - and likely cheaper.

2/9

The map below shows how far behind France and Germany we are in mass transit. In France, every place with over 150,000 people has some form of tram or metro.

But if mayoral areas can 'become builders' as @tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social puts it in the foreword, we can turn this around.

🧵

1/9

£2.7bn of stamp duty receipts in 23-24 came from properties worth more than £1.5m.

SDLT may be a bad tax, but I don’t think a pure tax giveaway to multimillionaire property owners should be a priority.