iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 9h

The boundaries of Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester are similarly far from ideal today and should be expanded a bit too. Also baffled me when I heard about the protests on the edges of Leicester after the LGR decision proposed expanding its footprint to its proper built up area at last!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 9h

I was reading London: A Social History recently (great book), when it came up to the Victorian era, the reluctance to set up the LCC was astounding, it said it was already underbounded by 1900! Of course, the current arrangements only came in 1965 but now almost as outdated as the LCC in the 50s.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 11h

How do you conclude that from what I said? I just hate car dependent places, where I live is car dependent enough but there's even worse places nearby and future developments need to do better. Autistic myself and can never imagine myself driving, so just want better alternatives.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 22h

Also agree with your article. I see Herts as unfit for purpose and putting Cheshunt where I am, in the same council with Royston, would only mean the same problems as now. It's the area between London & Cambridge yet does little to benefit from what should be massive opportunities given where it is.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 22h

Your question is very key for all the 'new towns' / expanded towns and cities too. Cross-border always seems like an afterthought!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 22h

In the latest Environment, Transport and Growth Cabinet Panel, a Royston councillor even said about the limited cross-border connectivity into Cambridgeshire. Same problem with those of bordering into London too.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 22h

This is also my big concern with the Crews Hill development which so far doesn't seem to acknowledge the growth of Goffs Oak barely a mile north of it. Almost like they all think its a different county, it don't matter but that's not how we live our lives. We all go into our neighbouring areas!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

The town may not be much but the beach is great and the open top buses are a lot of fun. So colourful!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Not only should council houses be built at scale, but councils including the mayor should be bulk buying up the private developments that currently aren't selling at a haggled discount.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I forgot to mention my estate was built as a council estate, many including me are still council tenants. There probably were different building rules back then.   I often look at private housing now and no wonder things aren't selling, leaseholds, 'shared ownership', so much of it seems like a scam

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

And this is why I would rather us be like Germany where no stations (not even U-Bahn) have barriers, we look ridiculous. I got a peek at these from the bus I took to High Wycombe the other month and laughed at how over the top they were. This is not the solution! Sorting out the ticketing is!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

Compared to my 1950s estate only 2 miles away, it was so austere. Where I live has a small parade of shops, a playing field, actual spaces to meet people. Greenery outside the houses and flats. Cut back but multiple bus routes in walking distance. Where people live needs to be more than just houses.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I walked round 1 of the newer developments on the edge of Cheshunt the other day, it was horrible. 1 shop and no other facilities. Small park with 1 bench, no real community spaces, bus at peak times only! Every house has 2 to 3 cars as a result. It felt like the backrooms rather than a community!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I agree but it does need to come with the services, the buses and trains and infrastructure. You'd be surprised how much all this drops off the exact moment outside Greater London. Really the London Plan needs to be a South East Plan as London needs some of its demand met in the commuter areas.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 10/10/2026

I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up happening in Crews Hill, given the change of council in Enfield. I just hope if that happens, a proper cross-border plan exists for public transport and services as Broxbourne is also building some major developments and the roads barely cope as it is.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Also Labour like all mainstream parties have had more than enough chances. They still passed on austerity rather than fighting it!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

London should also be working with Kent to get international services reinstated at either Ebbsfleet or Ashford or both.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

The problem is they are not willing to have an open mind on any of the issues around mental health, neurodiversity or disability. Underneath it all, they still think we are making it up. We are not! We are literally struggling in a sick society! The result of over 40 years of neo-liberalism!!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Your idea would have kept politics very elitist, even more than it is now.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Labour itself originally grew from the grassroots and had its leader had to be an MP first to even be recognised, that would have denied a huge section of society of their voice.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

That's not how politics works. Parliament may be where power is but its not alone in being one of the actors where circumstances and events can be influenced. Businesses, unions, pressure groups etc If Greens were smart, there's a lot of pressure they can put on Labour from just the councils alone!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

That's absurd! So many small parties wouldn't be allowed to exist! And many people would not have their views heard if their party leader had to be an MP 1st. In truth, the views of the elected parties is quite a narrow section of the political spectrum, why should we be denied our own parties?

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

The only time a party leader should stand down after any election is if they are the governing party or expect to be and then lost in the general election. It makes no sense to call for Polanski to resign because of this by election. Seems an all too convenient way to get rid of him for his enemies!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Not as close as I was expecting at all.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Sounds like something Saudi Arabia or Al Qaeda would do!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

I can see Open Access being pushed out of the system almost entirely in the next decade. I think only international routes will see Open Access at all. They'll use limited capacity as the reason but even when thats fixed with HS2 and other upgrades, it will still be seen as unnecessary competition.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Depends how you view Labour I guess, but Tories and Refuk make just 43% here. Short of a majority. A PR system may mean more MPs from smaller parties of both the left and right but the right wing would be locked out of power on these results for sure.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Amazingly and bizarrely produces a majority for Labour under FPTP according to electoral calculus. Labour would only lose 55 seats!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I did Christmas temp work in one of their depots a few times, management were awful, just useless. I don't even want to imagine what those at the top were like!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

You literally have Tories like my MP (Cocking!) arguing for infrastructure first before we see more housing, so these proposals make no sense! Do they mean housing will eventually put areas under such pressure, things will collapse under their own weight? Seems like proper NIMBY logic!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

What I've noticed is every consultation now includes at least 1 route they want to withdraw. Sometimes routes are extended to cover it, but not always. Feels like TFL is not fit for purpose and we are now seeing managed decline. All I want is more cross-boundary routes, it shouldn't be hard!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Wouldn't surprise me. Sick of them constantly playing the victim!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Is it an act or are they intentionally thick on purpose?

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I'm against joining the Euro because I think its very important for a country to have control over its monetary system and policies. Not a lot can be done if your country can't borrow, control its interest rates etc. I bet prices go up if we change our currency. Prices between Eire and NI shock me.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

As usual, it depends on if divide and conquer tactics work or not this time. Plenty of times in history where a leader was unpopular and the events showed that but unfortunately the opposition was not united.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

It's not reported on over here but there's been a bunch of mass protests and even a couple general strikes in Israel in the past couple years. Underneath it all, Netanyahu is deeply unpopular. As always, war and conflict is used as a distraction.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

I don't feel one way or another about these proposals. But think this consultation should be the standard. For once they are actually looking at a whole district's bus network in one go, rather than just 2 or 3 routes in isolation!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

One by one they seem intent on removing Ken's buses!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Trump's lot really are like the hyenas in The Lion King!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

There's only one thing before her that I blame for the state of our country today, the Beeching cuts, everything else that is wrong is Thatcher's fault!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

It bothers me a lot that we are told again and again the South East has it so good when there's loads of towns just like Waltham Abbey around the commuter belt. The train service is only good if you can actually access it!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Exactly and for 10 years nothing ran to Chingford at all, even now its an awkward minibus to a campsite! Waltham Abbey is full of housing estates, most people live 2 to 3 miles from their nearest station, no more than 4 miles from the Central Line. The disparity in public transport makes no sense!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Just looked on Bustimes, nothing there! So odd as its the county town as well! And not no bus but it astounds me that Waltham Abbey has just 1 bus an hour on Sunday for a town of 23000! That and it being so close to London as well! And no rail station of its own as an alternative.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

No you're wrong. It's a universal trait.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Thing is anyone can be greedy regardless of their underlying beliefs. Learnt that from history. Greed is not exclusively a right wing thing, just more likely home to those (the ruling class) where their greed can do the most damage to others.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I just looked at that train and started dreaming of using something like it on a reopened branch line between Cambridge and Haverhill. Same with St Ives where I went on the busway the other day. What an upgrade on the bus that would be!

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

The right wing are weird full stop.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

About time! And looks like the DLR has all grown up. I wasn't expecting 5 carriages either. Plenty of capacity for the future. They look nice! Would be great to see more light rail systems across the country.

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azlarryan.bsky.social @azlarryan.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I constantly complain to myself at the lack of seating in public spaces! Noticed the lack of seating while finally visiting the new South Station the other night.

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