“Just like all those forecasts for Phase 1 of the tram were not met , eh Mr S?”

“Albert, the report I quoted from used Highways Agency figures. They made forecasts, and those forecasts were not met for those schemes.”

“Oh Mr Sensi bile,

Z,zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, I wish I was as clever as you.”

“"does widening roads do it? In my view, no"

I never knew you were a qualified Highways Planner. No doubt you're very well versed in things like GOMMS then, and how they determine traffic flow predictions, economic and environmental benefits, etc?

In which case, you must be well aware of the positive impact that dualling the A46 between Newark and Lincoln had on traffic volumes, on the environment around the villages it by-passed, and, more importantly, the great reduction in KSIs?

Or have you just read what some "bloke with an agenda" wrote on the internet and taken it as Gospel?”

“Ned, I detect a sense of sarcasm in there.

Of course we want to see congestion cut. Congestion is bad for the economy and the environment.

The point is, does widening roads do it? In my view, no.

When we were having the debate about the A453 before, I linked to a report on it. Among its findings were that most of the schemes studied failed to meet their benefit-to-cost and journey time forecasts, which were made when the business case was presented, and 1 only did so through drivers breaking the speed limit.

I think improved and affordable public transport is a better way to do it.”

“Mr S,

Too right.

What do we need roads for anyway? Rip them up and put down train tracks instead.

Better still, let's turn them into horse & cart tracks.

Who needs shops with stock in them? Who needs to get anywhere on time? In fact, who needs cars, lorries, buses, etc, when they can walk?

If it was good enough for our ancestors in the middle ages and before, it's good enough for us.”

“I'm not quite sure what's happening on this thread with some people.

But I'll ignore it and go on with what I have to say.

My views on this scheme are well known. I do not support it.

I will be interested to see what impact this actually has on congestion, but given the track record of other road widening schemes things don't look good.”

“I see the mad bodger can only make insulting remarks agin - never has anything to say on the subject being debated. What a sad person.”

“But Mel/Wurrows the A46 does connect the East and West Midlands. It starts around Bath goes near Cheltenham, Warwick,Stratford-on-Avon, Coventry, Leicester, Newark and Lincoln and ends up near Cleethorpes.”

“What happened to BJ Mann? Did he actually ever get banned from this site?”