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prescott
Glenda Jackson was on the BBC last night sticking up for John Prescott and talking about his "drive". A bad choice of word as his associations with cars have never helped him. He's kept his chauffeur driven jag despite his demotion. We remember also his tetchiness when questioned about a 200 metre chauffeur-driven ride in Blackpool, where he gave a speech encouraging use of public transport. And his brave words in 1997 when Transport Minister: "I will have failed if in five year's time there are not many more people using public transport and far fewer journeys by car." He failed.
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Aberdeen bypass
The huge Aberdeen bypass has been costed at a maximum £395 million. It's not clear whether that includes the £50 million earmarked for compensating homeowners and a school that are in the way of the preferred route announced on May 2 2006, but either way it sounds low for a 65km dual carriageway. Aberdeen doesn't have much congestion; nothing that couldn't be sorted out by getting a few cars off the road at peak times. At most times of the day the lack of traffic on major roads is the surprising thing. Received wisdom is that the councils involved like to talk about congestion as it distracts from what may be the main incentive: opening up land around the edge of the city for development. Shonky.
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