It's not just the Royal Parks where space has been stolen from the people and
given to corporate interests. In town centre Arndales across the UK, one is
not normally allowed to demonstrate, or sell the Big Issue, or religious
magazines, or indeed anything against 'the company' eg sales of jam for the
salvation army (double jeopardy here, one is not only selling something a
shop might make a buck out of but promoting some religion other than
capitalism). Some Arndales don't even like old persons or down-and-outs
sitting down because they put devout wor-shoppers off their worship of St
Luk(r)e.
But these Arndales usually occupy space that was once public streets (look
at any old map) along with private buildings. Now they are locked after 6pm.
Just what was the democratic process whereby these public streets were given
up? And if you regularly drive near Birmingham your time is being stolen by a
private company - the one building the toll road called the Birmingham
Northern Relief Road BNRR. For three years or so, roadworks have caused hold
ups on the public roads called the M42, M6, and A38 amongst others. When
complete, drivers will maybe recoup this time on the BNRR - at a price.
Aren't they just buying back the delays they have suffered while it was
built. Shouldn't the BNRR be toll free for at least as long as it took to
build? What next will the private sector take that was once free and sell it
back to us at a price?
Hillary Shaw, School of Geography, University of Leeds.
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