GB News presenter claims 15-minute cities and LTNs are "un-British" and "illiberal"

 The domain of raving anonymous Twitter accounts and conspiracy theorists used to be comments like those made by GB News anchor Mark Dolan on his Saturday night "Tonight" programme. 

However, it appears the 15-minute city "discussion" is going nowhere because Conservative "red wall" MP Nick Fletcher last week raised related issues in Parliament.

Visit here:GBWhatsApp APK Download

Dolan gave a six-minute, 15-minute city monologue in response to Don Valley MP Fletcher's House of Commons remarks, building to the punchline, "it took me less than 15 minutes to realise they are a lousy idea."

Dolan worked through many of the "greatest hits" of those who are opposed to the idea, claiming the schemes, 

which are designed to encourage active travel so many local amenities can be reached by bike or on foot within 15 minutes, 

Are the work of "creepy local authority bureaucrats" hoping to instill "a surveillance culture that would make Pyongyang envious."

He claimed that "these profoundly illiberal, un-British 15-minute cities are over the line." "They must leave because they are harming local communities and small businesses. And I figured that out in less than 15 minutes.

And while many viewers of Dolan's tirade questioned if easy access to stores without a car is un-British on social media, the programme also drew a predictable flurry of conspiracy-minded comments.

Dolan informed Saturday night viewers of GB News that "creepy local authority officials would like to have your entire existence distilled down to the period of a quarter of an hour." 

With number plate recognition cameras installed everywhere and a surveillance culture that would make Pyongyang envious, this dystopian plan envisions some of Britain's most recognisable towns and cities being blocked off, cars being restricted to specific areas, and all of this being supervised by people.

"Many people think it's admirable that everything is walkable in 15-minute cities. You can travel there on foot to get a coffee, buy for groceries, or enjoy a pint. Everything you need is also only a five-minute bicycle ride away if you don't feel like walking. Lovely.

"Proponents of this plan claim that it will reduce traffic and congestion and make living for locals easier, more convenient, and sustainable. 

Aside from the fact that these low-traffic neighbourhoods are having an effect on small enterprises due to the lack of passing commerce they now receive, as MP Nick Fletcher who brought up the issue in parliament states out

This week, Fletcher allegedly served as the motivation for Dolan's tirade when he said that 15-minute cities are a 

"international communist concept" that "take away our personal freedom" and "destroy our towns and cities and make us captives in our communities."

Tory MP attacks 15-minute city concept with known conspiracy theory

After Nick Hardinges of Reuters fact-checked the MP's remarks, Oxford City Council insisted that in the instance of its programme

 "Residents won't be "trapped" by filters because they are just locations on a road, not "zones," Residents on nearby roads are free to enter and exit at any time without a permit ".

Dolan's "Take at Ten," however, didn't appear to care about this, accusing the plans of "crushing enterprise" and being a "unprecedented assault on how we go about living our lives - letting the state to regulate your travels by car."

In contrast to Sheffield, Canterbury, Bristol, or Oxford—the great centre of western enlightenment—it truly seems like a programme that would be implemented in mainland China. 

"What a disgrace that any of this could take place in Britain, the birthplace of liberal democracy, free expression, and individual autonomy.

"People are not naive. The majority of individuals don't use their cars idly; instead, they drive when they need to get someplace, sometimes carrying others with them—such as dropping off children at school, hauling tools to a job site, or transporting builders and their coworkers in the back.

Levels of motor traffic nearly halved within London LTNs, new study finds

"When people like me and others cautioned during the pandemic that we were setting a precedent by letting the state intrude so much into our lives and monitoring our movements to'stop Covid,' we were dismissed as crazy conspiracy theorists.

"Well, governmental overreach is becoming the norm, and these 15-minute cities, low-traffic neighbourhoods, and ULEZ zones are simply another example," says Salford LTN (via Sustrans). 

I'm sorry, but you should be able to hop in a car and go wherever you want in a free country. However, such liberty now seems like a distant memory.

High-profile right-wing personalities like Laurence Fox and Katie Hopkins have taken to criticising 15-minute cities, and in December, Nigel Farage issued a warning about impending "climate change lockdowns." 

Given that Fletcher and Dolan's remarks were reported by the House of Commons and right-wing media, it appears that there will be plenty more to come.

This week, Bethnal Green, East London, police encouraged Tower Hamlets Borough Council to keep a Liveable Streets programme in place because they claim it has decreased crime linked to antisocial behaviour.

In their response to a consultation over the elimination of the low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme surrounding Arnold Circus, on the outskirts of the well-known nightlife district of Shoreditch, they made the argument.

LTN Arnold Circus (via Bob From Accounts on Twitter)

The police response, which was shared on Twitter as a screenshot by the Clean Bethnal Green account, 

noted that antisocial behaviour had decreased by more than a third in the six months following the implementation of the LTN compared to the six months prior and cautioned that its removal could result in an increase in crime and road danger.

GB News is supported by "passionate investors who understand that a start-up like ours needs time and patience," according to Frangopoulos. Nobody in the media hopes to make a rapid profit.

At this point, the channel is "exactly where we should be, but not where we need to be in six months," he continued. 

In his email, Frangopoulos unveiled a number of new regulations intended to reduce "wasteful expenses and inefficiencies."

The channel would "follow a story-centric model," according to Frangopoulos. He went on to clarify that this meant, 

practically speaking, "allocating a dedicated team to each significant story as it develops throughout the day, rather than programme teams working on it in tandem." 

He claimed that by doing this, staff would "avoid asking the same guest on to multiple shows and will guarantee we provide and use all our digital platforms to the fullest extent possible."

According to him, the "default position" at GB News will be that guests are not compensated for their appearances. 

The majority of the channel's paid guests "will receive a set rate," which will cover travel costs as well as other costs; nonetheless, visitors "are responsible for their own transport and we will not fund taxis on top." 

When we do pay lower-tier guests, Frangopoulos continued, "they will need to achieve basic technical requirements and be ready in good time to qualify for payment."

GB News also wants to reduce its reliance on taxis. According to Frangopoulos, "taxis for guests are seldom the ideal option. 

We chose Paddington as our location because it is a significant transportation hub. Also available to us is a guest parking space close to The Point.

According to Frangopoulos' email, GB News may also have less overtime and freelance shifts available.

All overtime and freelancer use must need advance approval, he stated. "For some tasks, this will be accomplished by allocating a constrained freelance/overtime budget.

"Typically, approved overtime will cover the entire shift. In certain situations (such as a significant breaking story), approval will happen quickly. 

If not, there must be a strong argument in favour of it. Without prior consent, unpaid overtime will not be compensated.

"Maintaining everyone's sharpness and alertness is our top concern here. Although our industry is challenging, working consistently long hours is not ideal for anyone.

"In the book, he was pretty harsh to her. She appeared to be quite hurt when you watched her speaking, but she felt she had to discuss it.

"She had never spoken on radio or television, but she felt she should because she wanted to set the record straight.

"Additionally, she gave out a very positive, honest vibe. He actually had the opportunity to apologise, but as you can see, he no longer uses the word.

"His brother, father, and sister-in-law have all been seen by us. There aren't any excuses. But he demands an apology from them.