East-West Oxbridge News Update - Bedford Calling!

From 27-03-24

Email richard.erta@gmail.com for updates and see our events page on our website and tune in. https://ertarail.co.uk/events/

What we wish for: 

Sent on behalf of Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford Borough

 

Dear All

 

The Mayor has, this afternoon, received an email from Beth West EWR and has asked me to share this with all of our Councillors (separate email sent out) and also with you all:

 

“In response to feedback from our Community Conversation events last year, I am pleased to announce that we will now be delivering a further series of events in May.   

 

These events are designed to help people understand the statutory consultation and Development Consent Order (DCO) processes. Members of the EWR DCO and engagement teams will attend these events to answer any questions and queries people might have.  

These sessions are not formal consultation events and there will be no specific design information or proposals available to view, however that design information will of course be available at the statutory consultation, where there will then be the opportunity to share feedback about our proposals. 

 

We will hold nine events along the line of the route between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.  

Further information, including the dates and locations of the sessions can be found - here   

 

I would be grateful if you could help to encourage your communities to attend and share this information.”

 

For ease of reference the 3 closest to Bedford are:

 

BEDFORD 7^th May 2024 14.00 – 19.00 Bedford Rowing Social Club The Boathouse, Duck Mill Lane, Bedford, MK42 0AX

ROXTON 20^th May 14.00 – 19.00 Roxton Village Hall High Street, Roxton, MK44 3EB

MARSTON MORETEYNE 24^th May 14.00 – 19.00 Marston Moreteyne Community Centre Great Linns, Marston Moreteyne, MK43 0DD

We want East of Bedford via St Johns, and physical track links with outer slows of the ECML for south of Peterborough and north of Stevenage and East Beds vice versa rail access to Bedford Town Centre and the new proposed Universal Leisure Theme Park - 18 million visitors per year, means substantial supply and hotel industry demand surely if figures hold up? We do not support Northern Route E and remain dubious that 6-tracks north of Bedford will not be required if that route prevails. 

We do need a rail route and the triangle at St Johns enables north and east of Bedford synergies and east-west with freight flowing through the main passenger station. There is no east-north rail facility between Bedford and Oxford, a severe oversight in design so far surely? We remain open to meet and work with any who share our views and want it to work. 

60 houses v 4 level crossings, 2 new bridges or more, raising the A421 bypass and new route from west to east at Willington to north or south of Station Road, Tempsford plains. New roads all very well, but will deliver substantive traffic to existing congestion in urban areas, which are growing/will grow with or without a rail alternative. A6 dualling and arcing northern Bedford to A1/Roxton/Black Cat  will have development with or with better roads and/or rails. 

So we need to see 10-20 year spans in development demand terms and ensure adequate infrastructure and facilities like an A&E for East Bedfordshire to bring local care to that growth area and lighten load on Bedford, Stevenage and Cambridge NHS for example.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Pill

BRTA CEO