Beds on Sunday 22.01.2017 Page 7 Article

Steve Lowe keeps his role as an ad hoc reporter for BoS? Former Labour County Councillor. The reality is that if we had a plan for freight line-born going forward we could say "contaminated soil can be removed by rail when the Bedford-Cambridge line gets rebuilt." 

The Rowing Lake would sever the old trackbed and Sustrans cycle-way. It cannot be bridged due to no island column allowed for a racing and training still water lake. The added on developments are a far cry from earlier days when the lake and it's impact was played down by select supporters. This will be a major traffic generator, more congestion and mayhem on the roads we could do without.

Beds on Sunday 22.01.2017 Page 7 Article

Surely it is time to start putting the rail first and lake second? It and land proposed by Charles Wells for redevelopment is flood plain and I notice the old goods shed and land - which could serve as a western access and car park for Bedford Midland is included in plans to redevelop. 

The path to Kempston gets perennially closed as flood water exceed the path. There are wildlife habitats there currently with rushes and small ponds for spawning, sweep it away with river side development and that habitat is lost and/or compromised. 

Will Charter Walk be restored to the public as a right of way and made up for cycle access too?

I believe that unless Councils and the agency friends they build up start laying down the railway they want, we will not have a route into Bedford by 2030's. 

Just wanted people to be aware, by all means write to Bedford Borough Council, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP and make you views/ask questions. 

The railway will bring volume footfall and spend, ease parking pressures and make development more sustainable, scupper it's reasonable access via the old St John's and you throw away that potential.