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Representation ID: 3575

Received: 12/08/2021

Respondent: Mr Peter Littleford

1. With the concerns over CO2 levels, and future housing developments should take into account existing and potential rail and bus routes to encourage their use rather than private cars.

2. Whilst it would be good if people could work locally, this is not necessarily what would happen, and so new housing should take into account other employment centres within travelling range. The most obvious one of these is Milton Keynes.

If these two points are followed up, then possible new housing could be built in the area between the A421 and the Oxford - Cambridge railway line to the south west of Bedford. Expansion on the east side of Bedford could depend on the line taken by the railway between Bedford and Cambridge. If the line leaves Bedford to the north, then expansion on the northern side of Bedford is a possibility as well as in villages such as Ravensden and Wilden. If the railway goes south and then east from Bedford, the villages such as Willington could expand, but this is better farming land than the clay to the north of Bedford.

A kite to fly: the government has made comments about transferring more powers to local mayors. Would it not be possible for our Mayor, in conjunction with the Mayor of MK to seek to have control of bus and train routes between the two places and so start a better coordinated transport policy involving buses and trains? This could then ensure that development of housing, employment and travel in the area would become more coherent?

Just a few thoughts - all based on accepting that Bedford needs to expand as suggested!