London's dominance is "not healthy" for the economy

[vetran]

not sure a train line will cut it.

they need to build business out of London to spread the wealth & jobs.

[VectraMan]

not sure a train line will cut it.

they need to build business out of London to spread the wealth & jobs.

How does a government do that?

[TheFaQQer]

Indeed if I commute to Manc during peak times it takes me 30 minutes to do the first 25 miles and then anything between 30-60 minutes to do the last 5

what is wrong with a decent mass transit system somewhere out near the airport - a pay n ride scheme would just be so much better.

Apart from the train and bus from Manchester airport, what other mass transport system would you like?

The tram line is due to open 2016 as well.

[SpontaneousOrder]

How does a government do that?

By building the roads, of course.

[vetran]

How does a government do that?

by encouraging business to set up in those cities, whether that is by improving office, staff, infrastructure is something I'm not really able to answer.

we used to have huge companies setting up in the back of beyond because of tax relief and good staff availability. e.g. DEC, Fujitsu.

[SpontaneousOrder]

by encouraging business to set up in those cities, whether that is by improving office, staff, infrastructure is something I'm not really able to answer.

we used to have huge companies setting up in the back of beyond because of tax relief and good staff availability. e.g. DEC, Fujitsu.

Trouble with artificial incentives is whole towns are built up around them, and when those artificial incentives disappear you end with Detroit.

Infrastructure might be reasonable, as the state has a monopoly on that.

[Bunk]

Why do I see quotes like this and worry that some bright spark in the government will see the solution as nobbling London rather than encouraging business in other parts of the UK?

[vetran]

Trouble with artificial incentives is whole towns are built up around them, and when those artificial incentives disappear you end with Detroit.

Infrastructure might be reasonable, as the state has a monopoly on that.

You need to get it to a point where its self supporting before you remove the subsidy, that is the difficult part. But once you have a diverse (not wholly interdependent like Detroit) set of businesses then it will survive changes. Of course if you see it as new business then you can happily continue to subsidise up to the value of the tax take and still be in profit.

[original PM]

Apart from the train and bus from Manchester airport, what other mass transport system would you like?

The tram line is due to open 2016 as well.

Well lets see now return ticket is £7.00 per day + at least £5 per day parking - £12 it only costs me £13.50 from my home town on the train.

It costs me £3.00 per day to park in Manc City Center.

It needs to be not much more than £3.00 including parking.

Oh and bus is not going to be much better as it has to use the roads and there are limited bus lanes in Manchester

Suppose my other option is to stop moaning and if it bothers me that much get a job closer to home!

[vetran]

Well lets see now return ticket is £7.00 per day + at least £5 per day parking - £12 it only costs me £13.50 from my home town on the train.

It costs me £3.00 per day to park in Manc City Center.

It needs to be not much more than £3.00 including parking.

Oh and bus is not going to be much better as it has to use the roads and there are limited bus lanes in Manchester

Suppose my other option is to stop moaning and if it bothers me that much get a job closer to home!

how long does driving in take you?

If they made it much faster and £5 would you consider it?