Olympics & Tourism, Google & Travel

This evening The University of Bedfordshire put on a Networking Event to hear from Victor Le Grand on the effects on Tourism from The London Olympics and Nigel Huddleston now at Google Travel, on measuring and understanding  the effects of searches upon the Travel Industry. Both talks were interesting and enlightening, however, I would like to have seen the opportunity of questions after each individual speaker rather than jointly at the end, as it is then still fresh in delegates’ minds, and would encourage more questions.

Once again, meeting afterwards for drinks and snacks allowed for further discussions and as always the standard of the refreshments was excellent, and the acoustics and lighting makes for easy conversation and provides me with the opportunity to capture some of the interaction without resort to disruptive electronic flash, only very occasionally was it noticed that I was photographing, and I think in the shots I have within the gallery, that I have captured a fair sample of what transpired.

I both put a question and raised the point that sadly Luton missed a golden opportunity to obtain funding from central government to make the most of what it could offer London in terms of accommodation for visitors to the 2012 Olympics, and vastly improve access to the M1 by separating the two traffic streams at the Spur Road roundabout so that there was uninterrupted access to the Airport, the Station, the retail area and onward travel to Hitchin, by ensuring the M1 Spur Road traffic is not interrupted by the roundabout with its local traffic. The Olympics provided the rare opportunity to gain Central Government funding for a major improvement to local infrastructure so that Luton could promote all the extra hotel space that London will need, and subsequently benefit from the massive improvement in traffic flow for its industries to be able to expand.

Luton has to take a bold new step

General Election Time just like New Year brings out resolutions. I often wonder, as many do, just how many resolutions made, actually reach maturity and come to fruition? Politicians make agendas, and since preparations for the contest have been going on for some time, and many thousands of leaflets have been printed; how many on these lists are already tired. Just how many are truly relevant to those the candidates purport to represent?
How many are simply trotted out to negate their opponents’ claims in the form of damage limitation, and how much is for the positive good of the Community?
Rather than harp on all the negatives, understand what they mean and then work out how it is they can be mitigated or better still, how can the trend or status be reversed and the momentum accelerated to bring about improvements. We need Change for Gain.
Undoubtedly money must be spent, but it has to be managed effectively and there has to be a positive return.
Luton is close to London, close to the M1 Motorway, it has Industry, it has a major Airport, it has two major stations, it has Business Parks, Retail Parks and a University. It also has Museums, churches and a Mosque, a Library, a Theatre and gardens. It has some thriving communities but not every area is blessed. There is also a wide cultural and ethnic diversity. It has challenges, especially with the loss of Vauxhall.
One very positive project that must be put ahead, and promptly is to ensure that communication between Luton and its lifeblood is to remove the thrombosis caused by the M1 Junction 10a roundabout where two streams collide, The artery, the link between the Spur Road and Airport Way has to be surgically removed from the veins, the local traffic, so that vital functions of the Town can flow freely in all directions, and all the vital organs can work efficiently.
The dual carriageways of the Spur Road to the M1 Junction 10 and Airport Way has to be segregated from the local traffic by the construction of a flyover above this busy roundabout so that Luton can breathe economically. This has to be the single most important project to be tackled for this area, certainly long before any expansion of the Airport which currently does not have the necessary infrastucture or organisation for the present traveller throughput. The Airport would benefit from this installation, but it has to deal with the extra fluidity this scheme offers, before it should be considered for further expansion.
Politicians take note. Build the Flyover and FAST!

Today I shall be following David Willetts as he visits the Chancellor and Students of Luton University, at Park Square, his host Les Ebdon is to give his friend a tour of the campus so he can see for himself what Luton is doing now and hopes to do in the future. These students are the future, and aspiring candidate, Nigel Huddleston is hoping that he can be the local link to the Conservative party he and David Willetts represent.
I hope to cover other Shadow Cabinet visitors to Luton in the next few weeks leading up the General Election.

Today’s Visit

It was interesting to listen to two Conservative Candidates, Jeremy Brier and Nigel Huddleston, as they met with Professors Les Ebdon and Carsten Maple, and David ‘Two Brains’ Willetts. The atmosphere was very cordial and as an outsider I saw it as exploratory from the Politicians and very much a Sales exercise from the University. I tried to keep my picture-taking mainly as a recording of the event, rather than a set of posed groups. I hope I have succeeded.

Business Breakfast at Putteridgebury

I had to readjust my biological clock to prepare for the 5.45am alarm call to allow me to go to my first Business Breakfast at the Putteridgebury Campus of the University of Bedfordshire. The last time I had a business breakfast was when I met up with bankers from The World Bank to photograph a several million pound cheque-signing, and that was aeons ago.

Considering how sunny yesterday was, I was amazed that there was still snow around, yet at least the snowdrops were showing and the moles had been mining with gusto. I got the impression that a magpie had been burrowing into it. Whilst outside, Nigel Huddleston, a local parliamentary candidate, came up to chat – I had last seen him when he led the protest march against the proposed Bushwood development.

What a change in weather from yesterday when the sun had been out all day, but I did want to at least have a record, so did take a look around the old house, before going in for the meeting. At first because I was early, there were only a few people around and those unlike me, all wearing suits and ties. I glanced at a few badges and was once again not too surprised to read the names of Banks! However, as the room filled, I began to see obvious business men, which gave me the opportunity to network (the primary purpose of the visit). I got to speak to Wes Randle, who had taken over as head of the Innovation hub. I did idly wonder how many present saw the connection between the University logo and the flowers at the window.

I listened intently to the speakers, but was forced to interrupt one speaker, Laura Church to express my desire for the construction of a flyover to improve the link between Capability Green and the Junction 10 of the M1, and avoid interaction with traffic to Luton from the A6. These two streams need not meet at the present roundabout, unless serving Luton. I firmly believe that it is a project Luton cannot afford not to build.

May I extend my thanks to all, including the Canteen staff who provided very good food, that made the event a success.

NO! to Bushwood

Perhaps it was an omen, and that the sun does indeed shine on the righteous. In this case the righteous indignation of the villagers of Caddington and Slip End to the proposed building of some five and a half thousand homes in pristine greenbelt, who already suffer from an inadequate infrastructure to cope with existing local projects.

The sun shone on icy roads and pavements as first the organisers then the support teams and the Press gathered in the Slip End Village Hall car park. They were waiting for those who planned to walk in protest between the two villages most affected by this ill-conceived attempt by Developers to build their proposed monstrosity in an area which is outside the preferred zones for new housing within the area.

Esther Rantzen was there at the start, as were Ruth Gammon, Richard Stay and Nigel Huddleston, and several faces known to the local community, and as the crowd swelled, the St. John Ambulance team and the Police were on hand to help ensure the smooth running of the march. Despite this, numerous vehicles did find themselves retreating or being diverted, but good humour was in abundance, as were dogs who were more used to solitary walks. Families were out as much to enjoy the sunshine and the social gathering as to protest, and it was also obvious that the schools, parents and churches had been helping children to create their own personal banners and tabards.

Despite many choosing to join the march part way through or at the final destination, there was a very commendable turnout of willing villagers who braved the cold to make the full distance, though they did have to be coaxed to chant – to many it was undoubtedly a great social occasion, even though whilst photographing the event I did hear a lot of talk that was centred on the point of it all.

Once everyone had arrived at Caddington Green, the case (CaSE4!) was explained in greater detail, as to why it was essential that the local voice was heard, even though the Developers have yet to make an official Planning Application. One of the local doctors, Dr Verity, also spoke to the crowd, to appeal for people in the ‘at risk’ groups: the elderly and and the under-5s, to visit the surgery for Swine Flu jabs. Can we be immunised against greedy and devious Developers?

It will be interesting to see how prospective local politicians treat this issue when they seek our vote this Spring.