Kempston Area Rep ERTA Voluntary Appeal wanted 07-02-2018

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 busier during peak periods am/pm and less-well-used during off peak times – the lion’s share of the day.

Ampthill Road (A6) feeds the majority 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, most 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, 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.

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!

 See our dedicated web-page: https://ertarail.com/retail-park-station-bedford-bletchley-railway-kempston/ and vote with your feet – join ERTA!

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.

How you can help

Join ERTA! Every member helps to make our voice stronger. When we can quote a large number of people willing to join, it adds to the representational role we are playing in advocating an asset that the communities it will be based in want. So, if you want the railway, by joining you help us help you.

Write to the following expressing your support and why the rail link station should be built:

1. Mr Mohammad Yasin M.P., (Bedford and Kempston), c/o House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA

2. Councillor Charles Roydon, Portfolio Holder for Transport and the Environment, Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP

3. The Owners, c/o Property Management Office

Edgerley Simpson Howe LLP, 30 Anyards Road

Cobham, Surrey, KT11 2LA

4. Mr Keith Skeoch Chief Executive Officer, Standard Life plc, 1 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LL

5. Mr Nicholas Bewes, CEO, The Howard Group, 93 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1AW

6. Clerk and Council, Kempston Town Council,

104 Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8BG

7. Join or donate to ERTA: https://ertarail.com/donate/