England really is in a bit of a mess, isn’t it?
Some observations from a four week visit. Nothing particularly new to residents, I suppose.
Rural England is utterly stuffed. If you don’t own a car or can’t afford fuel you get an at best intermittent bus service, with massive further cuts being planned in Cambridgeshire.
Some of the “roads” we drove on were worse than ungraded roads in places like Karijini. One well used fen road in particular had massive cracks, like some sort of earthquake, which had been there so long grass was growing up through the middle.
We had occasion to seek a doctor’s appointment and were told there was no chance for at least a week at three different surgeries.
Across the area I grew up there are now two pubs left from six the last time we visited. In a major tourist area we visited the two local pubs now operate for only four days per week.
The Education department sought 11 billion pounds for essential school maintenance (actually needed 22b) and was given 3b. Schools, especially in lower socio-economic areas are literally falling apart.
Prices are through the roof. We used to buy clothes etc because they were comparatively cheap. Not the case any longer. Literally the only thing that was much cheaper was alcohol.
The absolute disconnect between politicians pledging to limit energy bill rises to $1000 or so and those who can't afford $10 extra is stunning.
Some observations from a four week visit. Nothing particularly new to residents, I suppose.
Rural England is utterly stuffed. If you don’t own a car or can’t afford fuel you get an at best intermittent bus service, with massive further cuts being planned in Cambridgeshire.
Some of the “roads” we drove on were worse than ungraded roads in places like Karijini. One well used fen road in particular had massive cracks, like some sort of earthquake, which had been there so long grass was growing up through the middle.
We had occasion to seek a doctor’s appointment and were told there was no chance for at least a week at three different surgeries.
Across the area I grew up there are now two pubs left from six the last time we visited. In a major tourist area we visited the two local pubs now operate for only four days per week.
The Education department sought 11 billion pounds for essential school maintenance (actually needed 22b) and was given 3b. Schools, especially in lower socio-economic areas are literally falling apart.
Prices are through the roof. We used to buy clothes etc because they were comparatively cheap. Not the case any longer. Literally the only thing that was much cheaper was alcohol.
The absolute disconnect between politicians pledging to limit energy bill rises to $1000 or so and those who can't afford $10 extra is stunning.
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