Mary Elkington 💙💛🇺🇦
@maryindevon.bsky.social
Town Planner and Geographer (MRTPI)
I used to work at NASA - planning IS harder than rocket science.
We can do better.
I used to work at NASA - planning IS harder than rocket science.
We can do better.
Pinned
Redit discussion on flag shagging neighbours impacting house sale/price is very very lively
100s comments, fairly unanimous that England Flag Flyers are a red flag
'Course flag flyers may be flying to discourage anyone other than right wing (other than white) buying in as neighbours?
100s comments, fairly unanimous that England Flag Flyers are a red flag
'Course flag flyers may be flying to discourage anyone other than right wing (other than white) buying in as neighbours?
Isn't that Yorkshire for someone who runs a pub: T'publican?
November 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Isn't that Yorkshire for someone who runs a pub: T'publican?
Nice to see local press reporting (and SU organising) to push for more/better housing
www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/2564024...
www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/2564024...
'Housing hell': York students working multiple jobs to pay rent they can't afford
University of York Students' Union has launched a campaign over what it says is a 'housing hell' faced by students in the city.
www.yorkpress.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Nice to see local press reporting (and SU organising) to push for more/better housing
www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/2564024...
www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/2564024...
If we invest in good quality public transport people's wellbeing wouldn't be tied up behind a wheel.
(Auton cars = more traffic, more inequality, more loss of space/safety etc for non-drivers).
(Auton cars = more traffic, more inequality, more loss of space/safety etc for non-drivers).
The latest Drive Smart newsletter sees Steve Fowler reflect on his father giving up driving – and what autonomous cars could mean for keeping people mobile.
What it’s like to hand over the wheel to a self-driving car
www.independent.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 10:51 AM
If we invest in good quality public transport people's wellbeing wouldn't be tied up behind a wheel.
(Auton cars = more traffic, more inequality, more loss of space/safety etc for non-drivers).
(Auton cars = more traffic, more inequality, more loss of space/safety etc for non-drivers).
Ppl reacting like this is news... It was in geography text books in the 80s/90s!
Capitalism is the thief that never gets caught
Aral Sea, 1989-2014
Aral Sea, 1989-2014
November 22, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Ppl reacting like this is news... It was in geography text books in the 80s/90s!
Time for UK planning objectors to learn the key phrase EMPLOYMENT DENSITY
Forget the usual save the trees arguments
The cost benefit is complicated, but for the space/energy it's not really creating many jobs in the locality (post construction)
Forget the usual save the trees arguments
The cost benefit is complicated, but for the space/energy it's not really creating many jobs in the locality (post construction)
🇺🇸 “The Data Center Resistance Has Arrived”
“concern around them just sucking up the water, the electricity, the land & not really paying any taxes”
“electricity load from data centers are helping to drive up utility bills”
www.wired.com/story/the-da...
“concern around them just sucking up the water, the electricity, the land & not really paying any taxes”
“electricity load from data centers are helping to drive up utility bills”
www.wired.com/story/the-da...
The Data Center Resistance Has Arrived
A new report finds that local opposition to data centers skyrocketed in the second quarter of this year.
www.wired.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Time for UK planning objectors to learn the key phrase EMPLOYMENT DENSITY
Forget the usual save the trees arguments
The cost benefit is complicated, but for the space/energy it's not really creating many jobs in the locality (post construction)
Forget the usual save the trees arguments
The cost benefit is complicated, but for the space/energy it's not really creating many jobs in the locality (post construction)
If #Amymacdonald song Pride isn't the Scottish world cup anthem something is wrong 🏴🏆🏴
Yeah, yeah. All that, but this is what I've been waiting for!
November 20, 2025 at 10:21 PM
If #Amymacdonald song Pride isn't the Scottish world cup anthem something is wrong 🏴🏆🏴
Yeah, yeah. All that, but this is what I've been waiting for!
November 20, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Yeah, yeah. All that, but this is what I've been waiting for!
Reposted by Mary Elkington 💙💛🇺🇦
There is nothing to discuss with Russia right now, but once negotiations happen, it’s Europe that should be at the table, not Trump the freeloader
November 20, 2025 at 10:23 AM
There is nothing to discuss with Russia right now, but once negotiations happen, it’s Europe that should be at the table, not Trump the freeloader
"it is low densities across the wider urban core (up to 5km in big cities) that is responsible for most of the gap, and where most change is needed to close it"
Also highlights the bonkers approach to private vehicle storage (takes up so much space).
Also highlights the bonkers approach to private vehicle storage (takes up so much space).
Latest @centreforcities.bsky.social report out today Flat Britain: the urban density gap and how to close it
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
www.centreforcities.org/publication/...
Flat Britain: The urban density gap and how to close it - Centre for Cities
This report addresses the unanswered questions that remain – exactly where should British cities increase density, and how can they do it?
www.centreforcities.org
November 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
"it is low densities across the wider urban core (up to 5km in big cities) that is responsible for most of the gap, and where most change is needed to close it"
Also highlights the bonkers approach to private vehicle storage (takes up so much space).
Also highlights the bonkers approach to private vehicle storage (takes up so much space).
Reposted by Mary Elkington 💙💛🇺🇦
⭐ Et si on représentait la Terre autrement ? En 1879, Hermann Berghaus a proposé une projection en étoile utilisant une projection azimutale équidistante pour l'hémisphère dont la projection est le centre.
#30DayMapChallenge – J19 #Projections
✍️ Pierre Philippe
📊 Natural Earth
#30DayMapChallenge – J19 #Projections
✍️ Pierre Philippe
📊 Natural Earth
November 19, 2025 at 11:03 AM
⭐ Et si on représentait la Terre autrement ? En 1879, Hermann Berghaus a proposé une projection en étoile utilisant une projection azimutale équidistante pour l'hémisphère dont la projection est le centre.
#30DayMapChallenge – J19 #Projections
✍️ Pierre Philippe
📊 Natural Earth
#30DayMapChallenge – J19 #Projections
✍️ Pierre Philippe
📊 Natural Earth
Hearing Trump praising Torygraph for 'bringing down BBC' was cringe. What a mess the press is.
As ever trump showing ignorance saying he didn't know how big a percent of BBC is owned by the government
As ever trump showing ignorance saying he didn't know how big a percent of BBC is owned by the government
November 16, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Hearing Trump praising Torygraph for 'bringing down BBC' was cringe. What a mess the press is.
As ever trump showing ignorance saying he didn't know how big a percent of BBC is owned by the government
As ever trump showing ignorance saying he didn't know how big a percent of BBC is owned by the government
Reposted by Mary Elkington 💙💛🇺🇦
Day 18 #30DayMapChallenge
I 3D-printed John Snow's 1854 cholera map of Soho. It took ages.
I 3D-printed John Snow's 1854 cholera map of Soho. It took ages.
November 18, 2024 at 2:28 PM
Day 18 #30DayMapChallenge
I 3D-printed John Snow's 1854 cholera map of Soho. It took ages.
I 3D-printed John Snow's 1854 cholera map of Soho. It took ages.
@alextoal.bsky.social raises some good issues as to
why it is politically easier to spend £39 billion on building social homes than £2.5 billion on preventing homelessness
housingalex.substack.com/p/on-lha-gen...
#housingUK
why it is politically easier to spend £39 billion on building social homes than £2.5 billion on preventing homelessness
housingalex.substack.com/p/on-lha-gen...
#housingUK
On LHA, gender, and how we prioritise spending on housing
Do we need to question why it is politically easier to spend £39 billion on building social homes than £2.5 billion on preventing homelessness?
housingalex.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:40 AM
@alextoal.bsky.social raises some good issues as to
why it is politically easier to spend £39 billion on building social homes than £2.5 billion on preventing homelessness
housingalex.substack.com/p/on-lha-gen...
#housingUK
why it is politically easier to spend £39 billion on building social homes than £2.5 billion on preventing homelessness
housingalex.substack.com/p/on-lha-gen...
#housingUK
Reposted by Mary Elkington 💙💛🇺🇦
French inflation revised down to 0.8% year-on-year in October reut.rs/43rjjsH
French inflation revised down to 0.8% year-on-year in October
Consumer prices in France rose 0.8% year-on-year in October, statistics office INSEE said on Friday, below analysts' expectations and the preliminary reading published last month.
reut.rs
November 14, 2025 at 8:15 AM
French inflation revised down to 0.8% year-on-year in October reut.rs/43rjjsH
If there is a God, they will arrange for @aiannucci.bsky.social to write BBC letter of apology to Mr Orangina.
November 11, 2025 at 9:14 PM
If there is a God, they will arrange for @aiannucci.bsky.social to write BBC letter of apology to Mr Orangina.
Mid-day grin, brought to you by some lovely Norwegians (are there any other kind of Norwegians?)
youtu.be/6ehjX7HD1IY?...
youtu.be/6ehjX7HD1IY?...
Gaztec Home Petrol Pump – the petrol pump for your home.
YouTube video by Zaptec
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Mid-day grin, brought to you by some lovely Norwegians (are there any other kind of Norwegians?)
youtu.be/6ehjX7HD1IY?...
youtu.be/6ehjX7HD1IY?...
Fun with words. Not often I get to learn 4 new English words from one page!
Bushellage, Lastage, Ballasing, Metage,
(from the draft Port of Exeter Harbour Revision - IYKYK)
Bushellage, Lastage, Ballasing, Metage,
(from the draft Port of Exeter Harbour Revision - IYKYK)
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Fun with words. Not often I get to learn 4 new English words from one page!
Bushellage, Lastage, Ballasing, Metage,
(from the draft Port of Exeter Harbour Revision - IYKYK)
Bushellage, Lastage, Ballasing, Metage,
(from the draft Port of Exeter Harbour Revision - IYKYK)
Reposted by Mary Elkington 💙💛🇺🇦
Trump and his cronies are now pushing 50-year mortgages.
Buckle up. This is going to make the 2008 mortgage crisis look like the good old days.
Buckle up. This is going to make the 2008 mortgage crisis look like the good old days.
November 8, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Trump and his cronies are now pushing 50-year mortgages.
Buckle up. This is going to make the 2008 mortgage crisis look like the good old days.
Buckle up. This is going to make the 2008 mortgage crisis look like the good old days.
Recommend you read this ⬇️
But I'll say again, tax on dwelling size (internal area) not pp - more robust than market valuations
But I'll say again, tax on dwelling size (internal area) not pp - more robust than market valuations
NEW: Reported plans to double tax rates on the top two council tax bands would cause huge distortions and unequal treatment between owners of expensive homes across England
One area where homes cost £500k would barely be touched
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
One area where homes cost £500k would barely be touched
By me, for Politics Home www.politicshome.com/news/article...
Why Council Tax Reform Is Fraught With Difficulty
New analysis shows why council tax reform is such a hard task for the government as it faces widespread calls for the system to be updated.
www.politicshome.com
November 8, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Recommend you read this ⬇️
But I'll say again, tax on dwelling size (internal area) not pp - more robust than market valuations
But I'll say again, tax on dwelling size (internal area) not pp - more robust than market valuations
Sorry, but does Steve Reed really think the greens want to 'abolish borders'?
It comes across as he's either stirring the pot with lie/exaggeration, or he's been suckered by some social media numptys.
Not gonna comment on defense of landlords.
Not good look.
youtube.com/shorts/vbAEn...
It comes across as he's either stirring the pot with lie/exaggeration, or he's been suckered by some social media numptys.
Not gonna comment on defense of landlords.
Not good look.
youtube.com/shorts/vbAEn...
Steve Reed calls Green Party "wacky" | UK Politics | The New Statesman
YouTube video by The New Statesman
youtube.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Sorry, but does Steve Reed really think the greens want to 'abolish borders'?
It comes across as he's either stirring the pot with lie/exaggeration, or he's been suckered by some social media numptys.
Not gonna comment on defense of landlords.
Not good look.
youtube.com/shorts/vbAEn...
It comes across as he's either stirring the pot with lie/exaggeration, or he's been suckered by some social media numptys.
Not gonna comment on defense of landlords.
Not good look.
youtube.com/shorts/vbAEn...
Reposted by Mary Elkington 💙💛🇺🇦
Trump officials illegally used furloughed workers’ emails to attack Dems, judge rules
Trump officials illegally used furloughed workers’ emails to attack Dems, judge rules
Trump officials illegally used furloughed workers’ emails to attack Dems, judge rules
www.independent.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Trump officials illegally used furloughed workers’ emails to attack Dems, judge rules
Talk of HMOs on #BBCPM No mention of the fact 'twas Tory LibDem coalition that placed limit of housing benefit on a single person under 35 at an HMO rate. Got that.
Low wage workers under 35 are expected to live in an HMO.
Of course HMOs are only "delivered" by private landlords
Low wage workers under 35 are expected to live in an HMO.
Of course HMOs are only "delivered" by private landlords
November 7, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Talk of HMOs on #BBCPM No mention of the fact 'twas Tory LibDem coalition that placed limit of housing benefit on a single person under 35 at an HMO rate. Got that.
Low wage workers under 35 are expected to live in an HMO.
Of course HMOs are only "delivered" by private landlords
Low wage workers under 35 are expected to live in an HMO.
Of course HMOs are only "delivered" by private landlords
Scotland gov has published their Climate Change Plan – 2026-2040
www.gov.scot/publications...
www.gov.scot/publications...
Scotland's Climate Change Plan – 2026-2040
This Climate Change Plan (CCP) sets out the policies and proposals the Scottish Government will take forward to enable our carbon budgets to be met between 2026-2040.
www.gov.scot
November 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Scotland gov has published their Climate Change Plan – 2026-2040
www.gov.scot/publications...
www.gov.scot/publications...
Reposted by Mary Elkington 💙💛🇺🇦
🚨 NASA scientists warn: critical equipment at Goddard Space Flight Center could be discarded during the shutdown, jeopardizing decades of Earth & space science missions.
📢 Act now: agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
#sciencepolicy #saveNASA
📢 Act now: agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
#sciencepolicy #saveNASA
November 7, 2025 at 12:45 AM
🚨 NASA scientists warn: critical equipment at Goddard Space Flight Center could be discarded during the shutdown, jeopardizing decades of Earth & space science missions.
📢 Act now: agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
#sciencepolicy #saveNASA
📢 Act now: agu.quorum.us/campaign/146...
#sciencepolicy #saveNASA