Object

Representation ID: 9558

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy DS2(S) Spatial strategy and Para.4 Making Bedford a net-zero carbon emissions borough at the heart of the Oxford – Cambridge Arc, development should be focussed within the urban area, at specified strategic locations adjacent to the urban area and at growth locations within the A421 / East-West Rail corridor and with the potential for rail-based growth.
The sites allocated in Local Plan 2030 including land at Ford End Road should be used for railway purposes including second booking hall for Bedford Midland Station with extra parking, buses, walking/cycling and disabled to Platform 4 at Bedford Midland. Lands are needed to straighten tracks between Danfoss site and Bedford Midland for East-West rail services including freight and ease pressure on Platform 1 at Bedford Midland. Better buses needed for linking Bedford Midland with the Bus Station, including all Grant Palmer services. land south of the river

Strategic locations adjacent to the urban area which contribute to delivering the Bedford – Milton Keynes Waterway Park and the Bedford River Valley Park;

The completion of Wixams new settlement, incorporating eastern and southern extensions, and the development of a strategic village expansion utilising brownfield land at Kempston Hardwick identified in Local Plan 2030;
An expansion of Shortstown(near Cardington) should have active travel links to the rail network.
A new settlement and related employment provision at Little Barford well connected to the new East-West Rail station at its intersection with the East Coast Main Line, together with a dedicated shuttle bus service (See Policy HOU19).
However, there should be a station at Kempston Retail Park,which could be the same as Broadmead and will replace both the proposed Kempston Hardwick and Stewartby stations. Please see https://ertarail.co.uk/publicity/.