In message , at 07:59:00 on Thu, 7 Jul
2005, Goalie of the Century remarked:
Just why does gov.uk seem so utterly convinced that the entire
population of England, bar a few west-country hoteliers and the landed
gentry, should live within 50 miles of Central London?

Because the asking price of an ordinary terraced house in Reading is
GBP 215k
http://www.austinandco.co.uk/details.php?prop=AUCO206
and for something similar in Bolton, it's GBP 80k?
http://www.regencyestates.co.uk/detail.asp?PID=479

Which is not to say they shouldn't be doing something to reduce demand
in the south east and increase it elsewhere.

Which has a lot to do with rail transport. There are many businesses,
which even if relocated away from London, will involve significant
movements of senior management to and from London where they will meet
with all the people who haven't yet relocated. (And who probably never
will, as if they were dispersed then such meetings would be even more
difficult to arrange).

These are the people who buy the expensive open tickets, with "other"
people's money. But they aren't completely blind to the cost or to the
personal sacrifice on a day to day basis. Their experience does little
to encourage others to make the same lifestyle change.
--
Roland Perry