The Retail
Park, Kempston has grown to three
sites since inception in the early 1980’s. Today it commands a considerable
patronage, the majority of which come by road to work, shop and enjoy leisure
at the site. There was a view to develop a station but for some reason the idea
was dropped, it was resurrected in about 2004 but a handful of objections led
to it being shelved. Since then the Retail Buildings have screened off
residential Kempston and shrubbery on the residential side has been allowed to
grow considerably.
The Railway which runs adjacent to the original site
is that of the Bedford-Bletchley alias Marston Vale Railway. This line has seen
remarkable growth in patronage over recent years but still remains more busy
during peak periods am/pm and less-well-used during off peak times – the lion’s
share of the day.
Ampthill Road (A6) feeds a lion’s share of the traffic
into the B530 which served the Retail Park sites. These roads and those
arteries to and from them radially, get bunged up with traffic, a lion’s share
of which is due to the popularity and success of the Retail Park, as a wide
range of traffic from about 15 mile radius seeks to access the venue. The
demand for parking outstrips supply per volume and so congestion, tail backs
and some frustration is keenly felt. Standing traffic emits fumes and exhaust
and residential areas have to breathe that standing traffic’s air.
The Solution to alleviate the problem of success is to provide
more and better options for more people from more diverse reaches and ranges to
use the Retail Park and access it. ERTA calls for and has long called for, the
provision of a station adjacent to the Retail Park on the Marston Vale Railway
with a footbridge cum cycle-bridge over the two tracks to enable Kempston
residents to walk and cycle to the Retail Park, freeing up parking spaces.
The railway is due to be incorporated into the East-West
Rail project which means the audience to the Retail Park would increase
considerably and use sustainable transport to get to and from it and the
surrounding area. Oxford-Bletchley-Bedford is a population catchment of some
considerable numbers of people given connections at Bletchley, Bicester and
Oxford let alone from the Bedford direction. In other words the railway station
would quickly pay for itself and the benefits on and off the railway would be
keenly felt.
Key Benefits
of Pursuing the Station
· More customers for the Retail Park
· Greater reach and range of shoppers
· Easier access for work and shopping
· More parking spaces for others to use
· Integrated East-West Rail reaches and ranges
· Both sides bus and rail integration: No. 42
south-side, No.1 Orchard Street Parade.
· Boost Access to Kempston Town Population of over 19,
000 people according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kempston.
· Benefit by bridging the two-way transport access with
Bedford Town Centre
· Cutting queues of congestion around the Ampthill
Road/B530 Junction, helping everyone live, move and breathe easier.
· Choice with more joined up networks and integrated
links, putting people first.
Public and
Community Call to Action
Only by a growing membership can ERTA’s voice be
stronger and exercise influence to get local politicians to support this
station initiative. Please add your voice by joining ERTA today and get
involved in helping to take this campaign forward, building a team of local
people who care and want to make a difference.
|
Join
ERTA and help us realise this essential piece of local infrastructure to
help communities thrive and cope better amidst the clamour of development
and its wider impact. See https://ertarail.com/
And let
the journey begin!
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In any case contact: English
Regional Transport Association (ERTA)
Second
Officer, Co-London Coordinator and Northampton – Olney- Bedford Corridor,
Stations and Field Officer:
Mr David
Ferguson,
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