The Combined Authority has top-paid bosses and £billions to manage, yet much of the expertise sits with outside firms. Why is regional government renting its own brainpower?
In 2025 it was found that WMCA consultants or staff were conducting a site visit in Bordesley, for the Metro extension from Digbeth to the B'ham City FC's ground. Slight snag the route being planned was to the old BCFC ground, not the stadium envisaged / planned near Adderley Park Station (on the old B'ham Wheels site). The staff etc were not aware of the new stadium. Gives one concern about the WMCA on such a "flagship" project are planning for the past!
That doesn’t entirely surprise me. My own experience during the construction of the tram extension down Broad Street suggested a similar disconnect between planning on paper and the reality on the ground.
At one point a consultant proposed a diversion route that would have sent traffic, including buses, through Brindleyplace via a service road. Anyone familiar with the area would know how unrealistic that was. The route is essentially a servicing lane for businesses, often cluttered with large commercial wheelie bins and delivery vehicles. In truth it would have been difficult even to cycle through, let alone direct bus traffic along it.
We actually filmed the route to demonstrate how impractical the proposal was and sent the video to the then Mayor, Andy Street, along with others we thought might take an interest. As far as I recall, there was never any response.
Your example about the Metro Route being planned to the old Birmingham City FC ground rather than the proposed new stadium site near Adderley Park railway station raises the same broader concern. If that level of oversight can occur on what is supposed to be a flagship regional transport project under the West Midlands Combined Authority, it inevitably prompts questions about how often similar missteps occur but never come to light.
One also wonders how many such issues are quietly corrected behind the scenes rather than openly acknowledged. Without transparency it is difficult for the public to know whether these are isolated oversights or symptoms of a deeper problem in how projects are commissioned, reviewed and challenged.
Don't ask me, the obvious answer is that they don't have any brains or ideas of their own.
In 2025 it was found that WMCA consultants or staff were conducting a site visit in Bordesley, for the Metro extension from Digbeth to the B'ham City FC's ground. Slight snag the route being planned was to the old BCFC ground, not the stadium envisaged / planned near Adderley Park Station (on the old B'ham Wheels site). The staff etc were not aware of the new stadium. Gives one concern about the WMCA on such a "flagship" project are planning for the past!
That doesn’t entirely surprise me. My own experience during the construction of the tram extension down Broad Street suggested a similar disconnect between planning on paper and the reality on the ground.
At one point a consultant proposed a diversion route that would have sent traffic, including buses, through Brindleyplace via a service road. Anyone familiar with the area would know how unrealistic that was. The route is essentially a servicing lane for businesses, often cluttered with large commercial wheelie bins and delivery vehicles. In truth it would have been difficult even to cycle through, let alone direct bus traffic along it.
We actually filmed the route to demonstrate how impractical the proposal was and sent the video to the then Mayor, Andy Street, along with others we thought might take an interest. As far as I recall, there was never any response.
Your example about the Metro Route being planned to the old Birmingham City FC ground rather than the proposed new stadium site near Adderley Park railway station raises the same broader concern. If that level of oversight can occur on what is supposed to be a flagship regional transport project under the West Midlands Combined Authority, it inevitably prompts questions about how often similar missteps occur but never come to light.
One also wonders how many such issues are quietly corrected behind the scenes rather than openly acknowledged. Without transparency it is difficult for the public to know whether these are isolated oversights or symptoms of a deeper problem in how projects are commissioned, reviewed and challenged.
Thought provoking and pertinent as ever Mike...
Thanks Adrian, well appreciated 👍