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Local Plan 2040 Draft Plan - Strategy options and draft policies consultation

Representation ID: 4727

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Professor Michael Jeferson

Representation Summary:

The most serious flaw in the draft Local Plan 2040 comes in the “Bedford Borough Transport Model: New Settlements and the A6”. This comment focuses on proposals for Colmworth, although some aspects may also apply to Twinwoods. The “Results” of the transport “model” provide “2040 ‘Without’ Mitigation” Scenario B: 2,400 new dwellings at Colmworth only; and Scenario C: 3,495 new dwellings at Twinwoods and 2,400 new dwellings at Colmworth. This is followed by: “2050 ‘Without’ Mitigation” Scenario B: 4,500 new dwellings at Colmworth only; and Scenario C: 5,940 new dwellings at Twinwoods and 4,500 new dwellings at Colmworth. Access to and from this proposed Colmworth development is assumed to be via Souldrop and the Forty Foot Lane without mitigation, or in the “with mitigation” scenario via improved link roads. This Report anticipates almost a 30% increase in traffic, on top of an increase of almost 15% from 2018 to the 2030 reference case. (3) No consideration appears to have been made of whether an exit route north-westwards towards Wellingborough would be feasible, or its visual and other impacts on the fine landscape along any proposed such route. There is also no reference to prospects for the Santa Pod race track which, given efforts to move to a UK Net Zero emissions position by 2050, suggest either closure or alternative usage – such as testing of EV vehicles.
The proposals for Colmworth in the draft Local Plan 2040 appear to have ignored the debate which occurred between 2016 and 2020 on the earlier Colmworth Garden Village proposal – which met with heavy local adverse criticism (for example: BBC News, Beds, Herts & Bucks: “Colmworth Garden Village homes could be built on ‘unspoilt countryside’”, January 11, 2018). The result then was: BBC News: “Bedford Borough Council local plan approved after new village scrapped”, January 9, 2020.
In short, the draft Local Plan 2040 has completely ignored the Bedford Borough Council’s priorities for the Colmworth area as set out for Zone 1, (as mentioned in rep relating to rep for para 1.35) Its location by the Three Shires Way and Forty Foot Lane does not receive a mention. Its consequences for traffic movements by Souldrop, for the A6, and any efforts to move directly towards Wellingborough appear to have been ignored.
Plans for future development north of Bedford urgently need serious review and re-evaluation, whether of housing or the proposed Ox-Cam rail route, or the whole Arc concept as far as North Bedfordshire is concerned. Bedford Borough Council need to be much more aware of the potential of North Bedfordshire for quiet rural pursuits, especially rambling, and to promote them more, instead of endangering the area with ill-considered development.