On the 16th April, I visited Palace of Westminster with Cllr Nicola Gribble and council officers to meet Lord Hendy, who is responsible for rail policy and infrastructure across the country.
We spoke directly about the very real concerns surrounding East West Rail and the impact it could have on Bedford.
It is all very well for East West Rail to say they are here to build a railway, but Bedford is not collateral, it is our town. We already have significant congestion pressures, and I made it clear that constructing a railway through the centre of Bedford, including the removal of key road bridges, risks making traffic far worse, not just for a few months, but potentially for many years, even up to a decade of disruption.
We also raised serious concerns about how this could change Bedford, not only through the loss of property, but also through the scale and height of proposed infrastructure, including multi-storey car parks of up to 11 or 12 storeys. This is alongside the ongoing challenge of ensuring proper access and parking for our hospital.
In many other areas, routes have been designed to avoid town centres, but in Bedford the line is proposed to come straight through the middle. That brings unique challenges, and it is right that we continue to make that case clearly and firmly.
We were given a warm and respectful hearing, and I am grateful for the opportunity to set out Bedford’s position in full.
We now await Lord Hendy’s response, but whatever the outcome, it is important that Bedford’s voice has been heard. I will continue to stand up for our town and make sure your concerns are represented at the highest level.
#BedfordBorough #EastWestRail #YourVoiceMatters #StandingUpForBedford #CommunityFirst #LocalConcerns
