Object
Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission
Representation ID: 9348
Received: 28/07/2022
Respondent: Mrs Christine McDonnell
Legally compliant? No
Sound? No
Duty to co-operate? No
Concerns:
Impact on retaining Elstow's unique historical heritage and conservation areas.
Setting a development precedent East of A6 for housing development.
The need for additional 20p houses when 1800 are planned as part of Wixams.
Sustainability of housing in terms of employment, education, leisure, health and shopping.
Traffic congestion on A6 - road infrastructure is at saturation point in 2022.
Traffic noise and pollution for Elstow village which is already suffering from impact of the A6 and A421.
Increased traffic through the village on roads which are not suitable.
▪Impact on wildlife and loss of green space.
HOU5
▪The distinctive character of Elstow will be destroyed with this housing development. Additional housing will mean that Elstow is getting closer to Wixams / Wilstead and therefore Elstow will lose its unique historical setting. Leaving a 'strategic green space' does nor prevent the coalescence with other housing along the A6 corridor.
▪The view across to historic Elstow Abbey should be protected in its totality.
▪Elstow is a parish of low density housing, a conservation area and listed buildings on Wilstead Road. Further modern housing will destroy this.
▪Allowing housing development east of thr A6 will set a precedent for development. If this happens Elstow will be urbanised and its historic identity lost for ever. Elstow is recorded in the Domesday Book and its association with John Bunyan is recognised wirld-wide.
▪I believe there is a further plan for 1800 houses (Hou16) East of Wixams so I question the need for an additional 200 houses in Elstow.
▪There is already significant traffic congestion along the A6 towards Bedford or Luton and I cannot see from the map provided where the entrance/exit is for this development. 200 houses on average means 400 cars. The village cannot cope with additional volumes of traffic and residents of Elstow are already burdened with traffic noise and and pollution from the A6, A421 and rat running through the village at peak times. Traffic from this development would allow a route through the village as they would be part of Elstow. Please note there is a 'No entry' sign at either end of the village to restrict traffic movements.
▪What infrastructure is in place for the potential 800 plus residents - Doctors? Dentists? Schools from Nursery to Secondary? Employment? Leisure facilities? Shopping? This development pays no regard to sustainability.
▪What employment opportunities are there? Presumably employment will mean car journeys and more congestion. Again I have an issue with sustainability.
▪Using these fields for development will have an impact on wildlife and its loss of habitat, hedgerows and trees.
▪What impact will this development have on flooding of Elstow brook?