4.86

Object

Representation ID: 9793

Received: 24/07/2022

Respondent: Shaz Shaz

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I object to the mayors' proposals for the local plan 2040. Wilstead and wixams do not have enough schools, nor do they have their own GP surgery, building so many houses here is not viable with the current issues
Regards
A wilstead resident

Object

Representation ID: 9794

Received: 24/07/2022

Respondent: Richard Bartram

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

The purpose of this document is to register the fact that I OBJECT to the plans for the development of the 2100 new houses in Wilstead.
Given the very limited public facilities in Wilstead; a small post office with a very restricted shop offering, a car lot, a chemist, no GP facility and a couple of pubs and takeaways I question how an increase of over 5000 more village residents can be realistically serviced by such a tiny commercial community.
ALL new residents will have to travel to and from the village to be in receipt of this small range of facilities meaning many, many more car journeys must be undertaken with on- street parking causing havoc and frustration for those living nearby.
Add to this the inevitable explosion in traffic pollution and the resultant health issues this will undoubtedly cause.
Village life will become suburban life. The rural nature of Wilstead will be blitzed and yet more countryside will disappear under the bulldozer creating a wildlife wilderness.
Wilstead will be renamed 'Wasted' if this is allowed to happen.
And where are the kids going to go to school and how will they get there??

Object

Representation ID: 9795

Received: 24/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs Katherine Bartram

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Let me confirm the purpose of this communication is to OBJECT to the plans for a further 2100 houses exclusively in the Parish of Wilstead.
The reasons I object is because these planned developments will destroy the character of Wilstead's rural nature, transform it in a hugely disproportionate way by more than doubling the current population and consequently swamp the meagre facilities the village has to offer.
Traffic growth will inevitably bulge. Consequently the existing speeding problems currently experienced will significantly increase and the spin off danger this will present to all residents will be accidents waiting to happen.
More beautiful green and agricultural space will disappear under concrete leading to greater threat from flooding, Wildlife habitats will be lost so wildlife will be lost too and the pleasant views and vistas will be lost to the village population resulting in an increase in mental health issues.
My 3 children are already at local schools that are stretched beyond capacity, healthcare in the village is dependent on a small chemist outlet and GP services are miles away.
All I see out of this is yet more car journeys in and out of the village leading to increased pollution and the dangers to health this brings.
Wilstead is a rural VILLAGE and has no ambition to become a TOWN!

Object

Representation ID: 9802

Received: 24/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs Rebecca Darnton

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I wish to object to the proposals in the Bedford local plan 2040 which will seriously impact Wilshamstead adversely.
1. With in the Wilshamstead Parish Boundary, the plan proposes 2100 more houses.
This contradicts the neighbourhood plan, which was developed as a result of 95% of parish respondents believing that the historic rural nature of the village is vital, defining the nature of the village. Adding 2100 more houses,trebling the size of the village, which is only those within our parish boundary, and does not even include the huge areas of planned extension round Wixams and Shortstown, means that the present excellent sense of community would be lost. This would impact life for the residents in a very big way. It is very destructive. Because the village is so spread out, a ribbon development, any extension would mean that the new houses would become a separate, discrete, community.
2. Wilshamstead truly Is NOT a ‘key service centre’— and cannot even provide essential services for the existing increase in the number of residents. Already, residents are travelling outside the village -of necessity- for schools, shops, doctors, dentists etc..
We accept this inconvenience because we chose to live in a rural setting, But this proposed increase in the number of houses would hugely increase the traffic flow , both through the village , and out of the village, which would bring hazards in itself .

3. TRAFFIC;
Cotton End Road, Is already a very dangerous road particularly at rush hours and at night, when people use this country road as a main road on the way to other towns and villages around. Already there is congestion due to residents , visitors, tradesmen, having to park along it , which adds to the dangers for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who have to drive along the consequently narrowed road.
Many dogs have been killed in the last few years on Cotton End Road. Residents are sadly awaiting an accident with a child or an elderly person. This is merely with the present level of traffic, not with the increase this 2040 plan propose is in the parish and surrounding areas. We already live in fear, since various neighbours have lost dogs on this road.
Luton Road and Bedford Road are already extremely busy and difficult to cross at certain times of day. The recent installation of speed cameras has helped control the speed of traffic along here, but the volume of traffic is still heavy, particularly at rush hours.
At certain times of day, it is very unpleasant and often hazardous to negotiate the roundabout between Wilstead and Wixams, due to the volume of traffic speeding both ways on the A6. It is also extremely unpleasant and hazardous negotiating the roundabout at the junction with the A421., not to mention the multi- lane junction at the Interchange turning and the Elstow turning.
The proposed 2100 houses could easily add another 5000 cars to all these routes. This is unthinkable: it increases the danger, and air pollution , and noise pollution. (As well as more rubbish.) Not every resident can give up driving the car in favour of bicycle or walking. Many of the village residents are elderly, and not in good health . The bus situation is also unsatisfactory already, as many residents live too far from the bus stop. And for disabled or unwell people, walking to bus stops, standing waiting for buses, and carrying shopping to and from a bus stop , just us not an option. We chose to live in a rural area for the peaceful health benefits it brings, but sadly car -driving is a necessity for some of us. And a few thousand more cars on the existing , busy roads seems a dreadful prospect ahead.
4. Drainage in parts of the village is already problematic. The proposed building on the north side of the village includes a high flood risk area. Due to climate change this could present a hazard not only for residents of the new houses but also for existing homes.
5. All of the proposed land is key agricultural land. How sensible is it, given our increasing population, and the need to cut down transporting food long distances , or importing food because of high levels of air pollution, to build on productive agricultural land, instead of using brownfield sites? It seems that our world has changed rapidly , and we must think more about the needs of the planet.
Town centres , like Bedford , are rapidly becoming ghost towns, as shopping areas outside the town centre have taken trade away. Why does the council not consider re-developing this as an alternative? Other places have restored near-derelict areas or empty properties by building desirable apartments there, eg in Leeds. These apartments could provide starter homes for young people who will not be able to afford the prices that the developers will charge for homes in our parish.
6. Please do not allow other towns or developments to coalesce with Wilstead.
We have pleasant open views across pretty countryside, all around, which provides healthy access to exercise for many people, not just local residents. Most people who have moved into the village have come in because they want the tranquility and mental well-being that walking on our many footpaths brings them. This is an important health benefit and we really must not see the beautiful countryside swallowed up by buildings. This is sacrilege and it goes against the need to preserve our precious natural heritage.
7 . Is it would appear that the council is trying to satisfy the government with the proposed large number of houses in and around Bedford. Yet Bedford Borough itself assessed that the needs of Bedford Borough can be met with just 50% of this housing.
If however the ‘government numbers’ do have to be built, these can be achieved where the new towns were originally proposed , in north and east Bedfordshire , adding beto the homes that have already been found.
So we would beg you to reconsider the proposals for building these new homes in -and around - the historic parish of WILSHAMSTEAD . Please also remember that areas outside a Settlement Policy Area are designed for food production, wildlife, and health- giving amenities. And KEEP THEM SAFE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Comment

Representation ID: 9803

Received: 24/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Richard Draycott

Good day,
I would like to submit my concerns as follows
* whilst understanding that there is a need to provide housing, it seems that an unacceptable level is being concentrated all within the boundaries of Wilstead village. Surely a proportion of the requirement could be easily accommodated in other areas within the Borough.
* the planned number of 1800 houses to the north of Wilstead village would result in an urban sprawl spreading unbroken from Bedford and ruin the rural character of the village.
*the corresponding number of vehicles is likely to be easily 3000 + all of which will exit on to the already busy A6 and a high proportion cutting through Wilstead.
. Added to this another 300 homes west of Wilstead will join up with the central Beds development.
*the intensity of this development will completely change the nature of our pleasant village.
* the facilities in Wilstead will be overwhelmed. We only have a general store / post office and the parking to visit the store already makes Cotton End Road unsafe for pedestrians and cyclists
Please reconsider

Object

Representation ID: 9804

Received: 24/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs Heather Draycott

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Please consider my objections to the planned additional 2100 homes.
I am concerned that the rural nature of our village will be destroyed.
The area highlighted in the plan is all within the Wilstead village boundaries and currently exists as open fields, hedgerows and footpaths. If the development goes ahead as planned the majority of this area will be urbanised making a continuous conurbation from Bedford through Elstow to Wilstead. The visual impact will be unacceptable.
The number of cars this will generate will bring traffic to a standstill in Wilstead and along the A6 to the Clophill roundabout.
Surely the capacity at Wixams can easily cope with the required development which will save the rural nature of Wilstead

Object

Representation ID: 9808

Received: 25/07/2022

Respondent: Ms Jennifer Moses

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I wish to object to elements of the draft local plan which affect the Parish of Wilshamstead as set out below.
Areas identified as “Wixams Extensions” fall within the Wilshamstead Parish boundary, this I find to be misleading.
Wilstead remains largely a rural area with good access to green countryside via it’s network of public footpaths which are well used. The proposed development would seriously affect current open views.
The local service infrastructure is currently not enough to support the existing population. Services promised for the current Wixams development have not all materialised and there is a woeful lack of school and healthcare provision. This would inevitably be made worse. Public transport in the area is currently inadequate and therefore more private traffic would be forced onto already busy roads. The number of HGVs currently using the local road system, many originating from the ever increasing number of warehouses around, would be added to if more business areas are allowed to go ahead.
As a resident of Wilstead for over 40 years, I have seen changes and growth within the parish but it has still maintained its own identity. Residents consulted on and put together its own Neighbourhood Plan. Proposals in the Bedford Local Plan 2040 go against the values that local people identified in their own plan.
I would ask that these grounds for objection will be taken into consideration.

Object

Representation ID: 9827

Received: 25/07/2022

Respondent: Stuart Hamilton

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

AS A RESIDENT OF WILSTEAD FOR OVER 25 YEARS
I am concerned that, even after the many years that have passed since the approval for the development of Village 1 of the the Wixams, there are still some who are determined to over-rule and ignore the views of the resident of Wilstead who, through the Parish Council of which I was a member at the time, insisted the a distinct boundary was to be kept between the Parish boundary of Wilstead and the new Village 1 of the Wixams.
In the event such a " separation" was agreed in the planning process and Wilstead has remained a separate neighbour of the Wixams development.
This was to secure the future of Wilstead as a separate entity to the Wixams development and maintain its historic place in Bedfordshire.
In the current proposals by the Borough Council , and in order to meet Government housing quotas, the Council has intimated that a large number of houses and associated infrastructure could be built within the current Wilstead Parish Council boundary , but these housing proposals are erroneously or intentionally named as Wixams East and Wixams South.
This is completely insulting to Wilstead residents. If these development were to go ahead they should remained in the Parish of Wilstead and NOT in the Wixams.
On this basis I strongly object the the naming of these future housing areas as being being connected to the Wixams and NOT to Wilstead.
I am not against the idea of this additional housing and infrastructue BUT it must benefit the residents of Wilstead as well. Schools, shops, doctors surgery etc.

Comment

Representation ID: 9828

Received: 25/07/2022

Respondent: Anne Quinn

We moved into Wilstead 13 years ago and back on to the A6. When we came here we were told about the station, shops, GP Practice etc which, to date, have not happened.
My GP practice is full to bursting now, as our most others and getting trained staff is incredibly difficult so how they think they can staff a new GP practice (if it ever gets built!!) is just madness. I know we need starter homes but every building site seems to be 4 and 5 bed homes.
It’s too much and eating up even more of our green fields

Object

Representation ID: 9833

Received: 25/07/2022

Respondent: Lesley Youell

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I wish to register my object to the proposed developments at Wixams and Wilstead.
From passed experiences the infrastructure for developments like this never materialises and the size completely overwhelms the smaller villages, promises made by developers are not kept. Doctors surgeries, dental surgeries, shops, playing areas and sports facilities are either never provided or delayed for years. Just think before any of the people making the decisions on behalf of us who live here, would like the same development on their doorstep.

Object

Representation ID: 9834

Received: 25/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs P Squire

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I am writing with concern regarding the plan to build 2100 new houses along the A6 between Wilstead and Wixams.
I strongly object to this proposal for several reasons.
1. The precious green space in this area will be used thereby resulting in a merger of the two villages.
2. We do not have the infrastructure in place to support an increase in population. We have a very small hospital in Ampthill Road, Bedford which is struggling to cope now without the added burden of a larger population resulting in more patients. We do not have enough GP surgeries/GP's, those we do have are also struggling resulting in patients having to wait a ridiculous amount of time to be seen, this is not acceptable in 2022. People are suffering unnecessarily, some with serious illnesses having to beg a receptionist in order to be given an appointment. Then of course there is the question of schools which will need to be built in order to accommodate more children moving to the area.
3. Extra traffic on our local roads which are already very busy.
Wake up Bedford Borough Council and see this for what it is, a potential disaster and a huge burden on the local area. This is a totally unacceptable proposal.

Object

Representation ID: 9835

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Marc Frost

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I am writing to express my views on the plan, which I believe to be unsounds and a dramatic urbanisation of the Bedford area and surrounding villages.

The impact of this plan across Bedford would be substantial and it surprises me that the Mayor is willing to put forward such a proposal without thorough mitigation.

I live in Wilstead and the first thing I’ll point out here is that the new homes associated with Wixams are actually within the Wilstead Parish boundary. The naming of the site Wixams Extension is an underhanded tactic by the Mayor to confuse Wilstead residents, misleading and I suspect against the law.

Whilst nobody would argue that more homes are required, the locations of new sites need to be better thought through. There are plenty of brownfield areas across the borough which could be considered without the need to destroy communities.

Turning to Wilstead:

A6 traffic – the A6 is already over congested and unable to take much more traffic. In the mornings we’re already at a standstill tailing back from Bedford. Whilst I appreciate surveys may have been undertaken, the timing of these is important. Doing them through lockdown, Christmas and in school holidays doesn’t give accurate information. You only have to look at the traffic on a Monday morning to see what residents already have to deal with. Why make this worse? Development will also cause Cotton End Road to become even more of a rat run than it already is, its only a matter of time before there’s a serious accident here and something needs to be done, even without development.

I question the number of houses proposed and would refer you to the Wilstead Neighbourhood Plan.

The development in Wilstead would compromise the urban nature of the village and simply create amalgamated villages and over urbanisation.

The data in the settlement hierarchy is incorrect and out of date.

The village of Wilstead does not have sufficient infrastructure to support more development, schools are at full capacity, roads are congested and so on. We have no health facilities and residents already have to travel to Bedford or Flitwick for a doctor, there are few busses, allocating GP space is not the same as securing GPs and we all know that’s difficult in this area. The pharmacy is not full time, the post office and mini store is useful but only carries a very limited range which is expensive.

Having to ship water from up north to support a development of this nature simply highlights the fact that the local area can’t support growth of this scale.

We should not be using farmland to build on when other sites are available. The current war in Ukraine serves as a reminder that the UK needs to be more self-sufficient with our own sustainable food, building on farmland goes against this totally.

There’s no crossing over the A6 for the new schools proposed.

We should be maintaining the character of our villages with permanent separation between settlements, what’s proposed is wholly inadequate.

Building this scale of housing across the borough and sending sewage to our already overloaded and broken system will cause untold issues in the future – I can’t see where this has been considered.

Proposing development on all sides of Wilstead is simply unacceptable, the resulting coalescence would create a total urbanisation of the area out of character for the type of village Wilstead is.

I object strongly to this ill thought through proposal and would ask the Mayor to read our Neighbourhood Plan to see what development is accepted by the residents.

Object

Representation ID: 9836

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs Melanie Wooding

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

I OBJECT to the proposed WIXAMS EXTENSION located within the Wilstead boundary.

This part of Bedford has already accepted it’s share of housing development recently – With the Wixams development eroding our local countryside, placing more demand on local amenities and facilities and increasing traffic flow through Wilstead.

I believe that the North side of Bedford town has not accepted it’s own fair share of large scale housing development.

Development of the edge of Wilstead will eliminate the rural nature of the existing environment and only serve to develop Bedford’s urban sprawl into rural settings which is not welcome. We need to keep Wilstead’s identity separate from Bedford and Wixams !

Green spaces have been eroded around Wilstead and need to be protected to retain countryside look / feel and access and our way of life – which is RURAL not URBAN.

Development will have a negative impact upon wildlife inhabitants.

Wilstead is not a key service centre and should not qualify for major development

Accessing Bedford at peak times is already a major issue, developing this area will add to that congestion. Cow Bridge / Ampthill Road are already bottlenecks and further traffic on this side of the town will only worsen this!

Traffic flow through Wilstead (especially during early / late peak periods) spikes enormously – thus impacting our rural way of life as commuters pass through at high speed to connect to the A6 / A600 networks.

Wilstead has an identity and history behind it – We need to keep it separate from Wixams and retain our separate status.

Object

Representation ID: 9838

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs Pauline Fowler

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Objections to Local Plan 2040 Wilstead Development
Objection to the destruction of the rural environment
• My husband and I have been residents of this village for 53 years and were both previously raised as children in a rural village environment. Our choice was to embrace all the positive opportunities presented by village life rather than that found in Urban or Suburban large scale settlements. We therefore regard proposals in this plan as a major threat to this idyll.
• There are currently important rural gaps supporting wildlife which provide essential differentiation between settlements
• eg. the burgeoning development of Wixams
• Currently you drive north or south entering the village from either direction you are presented with a rural aspect. In particular driving south from Bedford the open spaces to the east present a beautiful view of the greensand ridge which would be totally obscured blotted by 1800 modern featureless houses which would be a tragedy.
Objection to the damage of the village heritage and the loss village life
• Our village is a time capsule of progressive housing development, old and new woven into traditional and recognisable landscapes. Vast developments tripling the size of the parish would destroy the features we value and remove the ready access to the countryside for the residents and destroy village life.
• The sheer disproportion volume of new mass produced modular housing would completely subsume any remaining vestage of our rural village idyll.
Objection to unsustainable traffic management and overburdening of local infrastructure
• Traffic around the village school already presents a regular danger and access to Bedford is becoming increasingly difficult most times without the prospect of nearly 5000 more vehicles at peak periods
Objection to the wilful destruction of the local habitats and wildlife
• Such large scale developments will require destruction of huge areas of wildlife habitats and removal of hedges and trees supporting wildlife.
• After many years of absence we have a returning pair of lapwings requiring open space and the skylarks abound in this area. All deer, foxes, badgers, rabbits and small creatures including our protected great crested newts will be driven out
• We have nestings barn owls for over 20 years on our property which rely on these hunting grounds.
Objection to compromising already Inadequate public services
• It is already extremely difficult to obtain doctor appointments. Average call wait time is over 40 minutes and available appointment slots limited
• Current schools and local services are swamped so accommodation of around 5600 people and families a major issue
Objection to impact on flooding risk
• With a substrate of blue clay across the entire area the drainage capability relies on large existing open areas to gradually absorb rainfall to avoid inundation in many areas. We are on a flood plane in Duckend lane
Objection to the gradual urbanisation and merging of settlements
• The county has benefited and is defined by historically character enhanced local settlements with important open spaces providing a rural aspect currently protected by sensible neighbourhood development plans ensuring the continuation of recognisable village life
• With large developments at Wixams and Shortstown/New Cardington and their planned expansions the threat of complete urbanisation and merging of villages is very real. If these proposals are allowed then villages surrounding and enhancing Bedford borough will be swamped in a vast modern house Urban sprawl with little definition and historical appearance or significance.

Object

Representation ID: 9839

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Dave Kingfisher

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Walking or driving around Wilstead today is pure natural, nature pleasure, with the harvest in full swing berries, and fruit in abundance on the bushes and trees and surrounded with green meadows what a beautiful place to want to live.
This could be a lovely fairy tale, but really it’s a horror story, because the big horror councillors are up their with their helicopters searching for such tranquil places to invade them with concrete, bricks glass, and thousands of people who will abuse and destroy what little the big bad council decide to leave.
This beautiful country landscape will never grow food crops again, no more fruit trees no more bushes to grow fruit and berries, which will destroy our wild birds and insects. Life as we know it will be destroyed forever.
We are already stretched with life threatening shortages, water, crops for food, electricity, gas, where is all that extra coming from?
Whatever we do or say THIS WILL HAPEN the big bad councillors will steal our beautiful village eventually we can only delay things for as long as we possibly can. Whenever there is a vote get out their and VOTE VOTE VOTE and get these nightmare councillors OUT OUT OUT, and live happy ever after If you disagree with this letter, go and live in Milton Keynes this story has already happened their.

Comment

Representation ID: 9842

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs Tracy Canavan

Number of people: 2

My husband and I strongly object to the extensive proposed housing development for our village and the neighbouring Wixams for the following reasons:

1) No reasonable amount of infrastructure in place to cope with this level of development i.e. our Local GP surgeries are already at maximum capacity and there are no plans for further development of these, the same can be said of the schools in the area. It is unsustainable to keep adding housing when there is no way the area has the facilities to deal with new families and their needs.
2) Traffic in the area is already challenging, this development would put further strain on this. Already the A6, A421 and A507 are at unsustainable growth levels of traffic. This level of housing would just add more problems.
3) The ever encroaching of both housing and people on the area has a direct impact on the local environment and the wildlife and this proposed development appears to negate any such thought of this.

Despite the need for further homes, the people who govern must take into account that continued growth is unsustainable and it is the future generations that will suffer the most from this ideology. We cannot continue unchecked, with an ever aging population, as eventually there will be nowhere left to build. Then what?!

Object

Representation ID: 9843

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Mr John Duffy

Number of people: 3

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

My husband, my daughter and I would like to object to the new planning intended along the A6, between Wilstead and WIxams, as these houses will not only be built on undeveloped rural countryside, robbing picturesque views from residents, in particular ourselves as dog walkers, who moved to the area because of its rural quaintness, but also and more importantly, taking more habitat from wildlife.
The increase in traffic will be, to say the least, unpleasant, with the volume of cars, their noise and fumes, which will change the village feel, to just a convenient through road, which drivers use to get where they need, in order to avoid using the main roads. This is without taking into effect the construction site traffic, which will be using the village roads for access for up to 10 years!! I feel that this is and would be intolerable.
Wilstead, is at present a small village with very little infrastructure, to sustain the residents, who live here currently, let alone the intended 2100 houses, bringing the size of the village to a town, without the necessary, doctors, shops, buses, safe roads and school spaces. Wilstead is not a key service centre and cannot be considered as such.
In addition to the issues mentions above, the proposed building will also be built on areas which are currently at risk of flooding, which neither new residents or old would like to see happen.

Please do consider our objections and leave WIlstead as the beautiful village that it is - not an amalgamation of sprawling houses, with no defined border between one village and the next.

Object

Representation ID: 9845

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Ms Linda Hiscott

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I would wish to object to the local plan in respect of the impact on the development in and around Wilshamstead. The number of houses proposed would mean an increase in the size of the village by almost three times, this will impact on the nature of the village and the already poor infra structures.
The inclusion as Wilstead as key service centre and therefore suitable for major development seems illogical, when wixams is identified as rural service centre. The wording in the local plan 2040 is misleading the Wixams Extension includes a large amount of development within the parish boundary of Wilstead not in Wixams. The two settlements are very different one is an ancient rural village mentioned in the Domesday book the other is a modern new town development and they should remain separate with their own clear identities. Wilstead is a village where there are a number of farms that are still working farms both arable and mixed farming a predominately rural parish and the developments that are being proposed would take in excess of 400 acres of rural land away. This would impact in the following ways, traffic that already uses Wilstead as a cut through to the A600 has increased as the developments along the A6 have grown, this will inevitable increase further as it would avoid the bottlenecks at the interchange roundabout and the Clophill roundabout. The increased traffic will without doubt impact on the air quality and thus the wellbeing of villagers
The new infrastructures needed should the developments go ahead would be built after the houses. The current infrastructures such as public transport and healthcare already struggle as the new developments already built at wixams are not in place. Flooding and drains have been a specific issue within the village over the last few years. Therefore, It does not appear that these developments would represent sustainable development.
The proposed development sites are outside the Wilstead SPA which is a designated green space. The proposed Development in North Wilstead is located adjacent to a newly planted community woodland, the purpose of such a facility is to provide peaceful recreation, this will be compromised by the developments.

Comment

Representation ID: 9853

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Ms Lindsay Bates

The two proposed sites are erroneously called Wixams East and Wixams West, both proposed sites are within the boundary of the Parish of Wilstead. I do not want our historical village swallowed up or merged with Wixams. Wilstead dates back to Roman times and I understand there is evidence of long gone settlements to the north of the village. How does the Borough propose to protect these valuable historical sites.

Wilstead should remain a village separated from the urban sprawl which is invading the surrounding countryside, as such it’s imperative that we protect and enhance the countryside setting of the village. We already have separation from Wixams which we must maintain and future development must be within Wilstead’s Neighbourhood Plan, thus preventing urban sprawl and protecting our local green spaces and wildlife. The proposed development of 2100 homes within the parish boundary would directly contradict this.

Wilstead has been determined as a ‘key service centre’ and Wixams a ‘rural service centre, this is totally incorrect. Some of the early Wixams facilities were included in the Wilstead count, this needs correcting. Our post office and general store were counted as two shops, this is also incorrect, that are within one shop. We no longer have access to a GP in the village, only a visiting nurse a couple of mornings a week. Wilstead’s bus service is poor and very unreliable. It shouldn’t count against the village that we have an allotment site, bowling green or community centre, we have these thanks to our Parish Council and support of villagers.

Wilstead has a close-knit community, able to support one another, however growth in the wrong parts of a rural community will be damaging to the Wilstead.

During peak times the main roads can get congested with cars, particularly around the school. The A6 is already heavily used throughout the day with congestion at the A6/A421 roundabout and then into Bedford and at the roundabout in Clophill. With 2100 new homes travel on the A6 will become impossible. Increased congestion within Wilstead increases the risk of accidents especially near the school and post office. When the A6 becomes congested Wilstead becomes a ‘rat run’ with traffic driving through to the A600 and visa versa and any additional cars would make this worse. The village has problems with speeding traffic and lorries being driven through the village despite a weight restriction being imposed. The Parish Council continue to work with BBC and the police to try to reduce the traffic speed. I travel from Wilstead to Leighton Buzzard for work, it takes time for exit the village onto the A6 and I’m always caught up in traffic at the Clophill roundabout. Travelling north from Wilstead hill would show one large development which would look like an extension of Wixams when it is in Wilstead Parish.

There doesn’t appear to be any plans for a full infer structure to support all the additional homes. You only have to look at Wixams to see they lack of doctors, dentists, shops etc are having a negative impact on residents living there.

The proposed sites are outside the built up area of Wilstead village which are designed to act as ‘green space’ for farming, nature and walks.

Whist I appreciate housing is required it needs to be across the county, even if that means building more roads and NOT concentrated in a small area where it would have a negative impact on the village and surrounding area.

Comment

Representation ID: 9855

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Nigel Murray

Number of people: 2

1. We contend it is wrong in principle that Bedford, and indeed other local Councils, should be dictated to by Central Government against the wishes and probable best interests of local people.
This is excessive centralisation and effectively a denial of democracy.
It would be better that all local Councils act collectively to reject this high-handed centralisation and mobilise all media support in so doing.
Bedford Council should refute Central Government assertion further development of Bedford &/or Bedfordshire is a legitimate requirement.
Notwithstanding that....

2. Mindful of the global & national pressures arising from Climate Change - itself an issue well recognised by the UK government - and the concomitant pressures on water availability and even more so food production it is an affront to reason to endorse or encourage further building on agricultural land.
Building on Farmland is utterly antithetical to the stated aim of the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040's objective of 'integrating development closely with the surrounding landscape - It simply destroys vital resource!'

Permitted development should be limited to land not currently in use or suitable for use in agriculture or other food production.
3. Water availability is already under pressure to meet existing demand. As rainfall diminishes &/or runoff is increased (the letter being inevitable with the plan as shown) it will become increasingly impracticable to meet residents' need for water.

4. The other side of that coin is that safe & satisfactory sewage disposal capability may well not exist.

5. Paradoxically, developments identified within the plan as 'Land South of Wixams' & 'Land East of Wixams' in large part features regularly in Environment Agency Flood Map Warnings.
It is reckless & wrong to build where there is a flood risk.

6. Cambridge area is reporting increasing damage to property and to trees resulting from new build developments affecting / lowering the local water table.
Bedford should have the wisdom to learn vicariously from Cambridge's errors, not repeat them.
With many areas - Wilstead & perhaps Wixams in particular - standing on clay there is a tangible risk of damage to property if the water table in these areas is affected.

7. Transport networks: Overlapping point 7, ambulance crews already complain traffic congestion / traffic volume is increasingly impeding their response times.
Everyone using Bedford Areas roads can see why.
It makes little or no sense to increase housing and consequently transport demands and in so doing make these problems even more acute.

The long promised Wixams Station / Rail Link to London was 'guaranteed' by the then County Council to be in place 'no later than 2012 if Wixams was built.
We have Wixams - We don't have the Station. There can be few polite terms for the Transport sections of the plan - or the integrity of Bedford Council - if this Station is not built by the yet again revised date of 2024.

8. Infrastructure Health: Already there are widely reported problems in the ability of GP Surgeries, Dentists, Ambulance and other Health Services to meet the needs of Bedford area residents.
Projected population growth - or rather growth in resident numbers - will push services to or beyond breaking point.
It is facile to pretend these services will increase to match the increase in the number of residents to meet demand - For the most part these services are contracting. Despite 'fine (but deluded) words' from the current crop of Government Ministers all the indicators are there will not be sufficient umbers of qualified Doctors, Nurses and Professions Allied to Medicine to meet the need for expanded service in this area.

9. Infrastructure Other: The Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 refers to 'Provision of Local Shops & services' - The associated maps show these (if they happen) as centralised not local facilities.

10. Quality of life and character of existing communities
Humans need green spaces - It has previously been assured villages will not be subsumed within a Bedford conurbation - That is at risk of being lost. Its should be protected.

People need water features too for psychological wellbeing - yet already the Lake immediately to the North of Wixams / South of the recycling 'tip' is being in-filled for 'development'.
Such resources need to be protected - The Plan gives no clear assurances they will be. That is a deficit to correct if the 'Green Credentials' of the Plan are to be more than empty phrases.
11. Wilstead & Existing Assurances: When Wixams was proposed there were categorical assurances that if Wixams went ahead the would be no, certainly no extensive, building approved in Wilstead.
The maps associated with the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 show something of the order of twice the number of existing houses in Wilstead being built on land described as 'Land South of Wixams' & 'Land East of Wixams'.
That land is not in Wixams. It is in Wilstead.
Even a one third increase in the size of village is virtually certain to substantially alter its character, yet this proposal comes close to trebling the size of Wilstead.
To approve that development not only reneges on all assurances & 'social contracts', not only profoundly changes the nature of the village, it completely overwhelms all existing provisions & services.
It should be deleted from the plan.

Object

Representation ID: 9856

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Philip East

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I am sending this email to OBJECT to the Bedford borough council local plan 2040".
I have lived in the village of wilstead for three years and it is a close knit community.
The proposal for 2,100 new dwellings is unacceptable.
The village commodities are already over run and to increase the pressure on Them would be a disaster.
There would be damage to local heritage and a loss of characteristic village building design.
The village would loose its identity and become just another large housing estate on a map.
There would be more traffic on the roads with most families having two or more cars which would create parking problems and damage to the highways.
The impact this development would have on wildlife habitats all gone for building.
There are no doctors/dentists in the village and a very small post office Which can just about cope at the moment .
The village would be spoilt
I beg that you reconsider your plans for the sake of the village.

Object

Representation ID: 9881

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Mark Brooks

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I wish to register strong objections to the 2040 local plan proposals.

I am amazed that you can actually get away with mis labelling these sites as Wixams East and Wixams South when they are in the Wilstead Parish.

These sites represent a significant loss of open space and farm land at a time when we should be looking seriously at food security.

This appears to be a developers dream more than a serious addressing of the housing problems. Affordable small homes to buy and rent and what about bungalows for the elderly? How many good 3 and 4 bed homes could be freed up by building homes for older people who can downsize?

There should also be much more emphasis put on environmentally sound housing now. Every roof space should have solar. Every factory site / industrial estate should become a solar farm, all that roof space going to waste!!!! What about rainwater collection from the roofs??!!

Once again more housing without suitable infrastructure:

Where is the Wixams station?

Where is the increase in road capacity?

GP and healthcare services also seem to have been forgotten about.

Public transport links, that’s a joke now, the service between Luton and Bedford doesn’t run on a Sunday and getting out of Bedford on a bus is now almost impossible after 19.00. The park and ride barely functions and that has been leased to a car hire company.

And have you done any research on building in Central Beds where it abuts Borough borders, I can find little reference for this.

Frankly I wonder if the plan would be considered suitably sound.

Plan ahead and build for the future, not just the next 15 or 20 years.

Object

Representation ID: 9957

Received: 25/07/2022

Respondent: Nicholas Tomkins

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

I wish to object to the above proposal.
This is incorrectly labelled in the 2040 plan consultation as “Wixams Extension”. The sites shown as “land east of Wixams” and “land south of Wixams” are both in fact within the boundaries of Wilstead Parish. This would increase the Parish from about 1,000 houses to 3,100 houses. This is totally unacceptable given the already extensive and far from completed developments at the Wixams and Shortstown/New Cardington.
This scale of development will increase the already heavy traffic volumes on local roads, particularly the A6, even further.
It will also further stretch already thinly spread NHS services – There is no medical practice in either Wilstead or the Wixams.
Local schools are already under pressure and could not cope with this level of increase in Parish population. The result will be even more children having to be transported by car to other schools in the area, adding further to congestion.
There will be no public transport provision as current bus services would not serve those areas as they would be off-route.
What would be done to encourage people away from using cars? Some disjointed, half-baked cycle routes that are abruptly cut by increasingly busy roads?
The east of England is one of the driest areas of the country and with climate change it is getting drier every year. Water supplies cannot cope.
The proposed sites are on greenfield agricultural land. We should be planning to increase this country’s food production to reduce the risk of international disruption to food supplies and to reduce the carbon footprint of the food we consume. We should not be building 1,000s of houses on farm land.
The proposed development areas east and south of Wixams are also important habitats for wildlife. I regularly walk the footpaths that go through them and regularly see hares, deer, herons, egrets, skylarks, buzzards, red kites, barn owls, kestrels. The council should be planning to preserve and increase biodiversity, not threaten it. Nature is under enormous pressure and inappropriate developments like this will do nothing to reverse that trend.
What are currently pleasant rural footpaths linking distinct settlements, will become semi-urban and unattractive. This in turn will impact on the mental well-being of the residents of Wilstead, Wixams, Elstow, Cotton End and Houghton Conquest.
I have lived in Wilstead for 25 years. When I moved here it felt like a village with a distinct rural community, which is why we chose to move and stay here. Over time this has been eroded by the extent of development in and around the village; and the ever-increasing traffic volumes on the A6 (the noise of which is very audible) and through the village. Wilstead increasingly feels like a suburb of greater Bedford and these proposals will put the seal on that.
Development within the Wilstead Parish boundary should be limited to modest in-fills. Over the last 25 years we have had new houses at on the Long Meadow Drive area and Wooding Way (which were both built on fields); Black Hat Close (was a pub); Howards Close (was a care home); Cawne Close (was farm land and gardens). Another development is due to start imminently on field land at the end of Howards Close. We’ve also had to endure the inescapable sight of the monolithic mega-structure that is the B&M warehouse on north edge of Wixams but which can be seen day and night from most the Parish. Enough is enough.
Meanwhile, as you build all around Bedford, the old town centre is dying. It will end up like a doughnut with nothing in the middle but surrounded by endless, characterless housing estates and warehouses.

Object

Representation ID: 9961

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs Angela Fosbrook

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

I strongly OBJECT to the 2040 Plan because in my mind it will decimate the pleasant countryside that many people seek and emotionally need for their mental health, besides other issues. 96% of respondents to the Wilshamstead Neighbourhood Plan agreed that the openness, countryside and community identity of Wilstead supports their emotional wellbeing and the plan is so big that this will all be lost and cost the Borough so much money in the future to correct and support people with mental health issues.
The plan states land east and south of Wixams BUT a lot of this land is within the parish boundary of Wilstead and this will change the status of the Village threefold, thus overloading the few facilities present. At the moment, Wixams has not been provided with all the facilities needed and Wilstead is greatly lacking in them too. There is one Post-office/general store and a very unreliable bus service. Other amenities have been provided by the PC and local people and in total would not support the new population planned for. Therefore, Wilstead is not a Key Service Centre.
The plan does not appear to have considered the infrastructure issues of surrounding roads being busier and not able to cope with congestion; the loss of at least 6 footpaths/bridleways in the countryside; the loss of agricultural land which is much needed to grow crops for an increasing population; the need for more cycle ways to help reduce traffic emissions to support reducing climate change.
The development proposal east of Wixams – northern part of Wilstead, appears to be on a flood plain and so on a high flood risk area. As the local area is on clay and not good for drainage, when there are extreme weather conditions, which are on the increase, these plans don’t appear to have taken this into account. There have been floods in Wilstead in the past and any land built on causes further drainage problems because of the clay soil and its ability to stop natural drainage.
Finally, such a large building plan will spoil the rural nature of the landscape; cause Wilstead and local villages to merge into one big complex and loose their Village identity; and lastly, the potential unreplaceable damage done to the natural wildlife and habitats that presently exist.

Object

Representation ID: 9963

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Clive Croat

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

I object to the Plan.

Wilstead is set in countryside and farmland, with an extensive variety of wildlife including larger animals including deer, badgers and foxes as well as rodents, reptiles, birds and insects.
Further encroachment into the this area by housing or other construction would have a significant negative impact on this wildlife.


The plan ignores the effect on the village of the proposed development. The current (2022) wixams 'village' has already increased traffic volume on the (widened) A6 and more significantly on the main village roads, with a consequent affect on both safety and air quality.

Object

Representation ID: 9965

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Mrs Diane Chandler

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

1. Trespassing on Wilstead Parish. OBJECTION
2. No planning for the traffic
3. No planning for medical care.
4. No to many vehicles
5. Our village church will be far to small for people that hope to come
6.Nature Trees, animals, Birds will suffer

Comment

Representation ID: 9968

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Mr David Rigg

I do not believe the Local Plan 2040 as the proposed developments are based on the conclusion that Wilstead is a Key Service Centre.
This cannot be as it is a small village of 1000 homes with no doctor or dental services, a sporadic bus service, a single shop/Post Office and a school which is at full occupancy.
The provision of the number of homes twice the size of Wilstead in what is good agricultural land makes no sense.
The development cannot be integrated into Wilstead as it is remote and isolated.
The proposal needs to be re examined to provide a more coherent policy.

Object

Representation ID: 9980

Received: 27/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Mark Wooding

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

I OBJECT to the proposed WIXAMS EXTENSION located within the Wilstead boundary.

This part of Bedford has already accepted it’s share of housing development recently – With the Wixams development eroding our local countryside, placing more demand on local amenities and facilities and increasing traffic flow through Wilstead.

As a keen countryside walker – the proposal erodes the rural landscape surrounding Wilstead further (Having to see the Old People’s home at Wixams across multiple walks is already bad enough).

I believe that the North side of Bedford town has not accepted it’s own fair share of large scale housing development.

The way the proposal has been documented in the paperwork is mis-leading – Calling it “Wixams Extension” which is within the Wilstead boundary may have wider legal implications ??

Development of the edge of Wilstead will eliminate the rural nature of the existing environment and only serve to develop Bedford’s urban sprawl into rural settings which is not welcome. We need to keep Wilstead’s identity separate from Bedford and Wixams !

Green spaces have been eroded around Wilstead and need to be protected to retain countryside look / feel and access.

Development will have a negative impact upon wildlife inhabitants.

Wilstead is not a key service centre and should not qualify for major development.

The impact of the development upon local infrastructure will also be detrimental and could impact mental wellbeing. Accessing Bedford at peak times is already a major issue, developing this area will add to that congestion.

Traffic flow through Wilstead (especially during early / late peak periods) spikes enormously – thus impacting our rural way of life as commuters pass through at high speed to connect to the A6 / A600 networks.

Wilstead has an identity and history behind it – We need to keep it separate from Wixams and retain our separate status.

Comment

Representation ID: 10069

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Mr Frank Chandler

1. Crossing Wilstead Parish boundary
2. No plan for traffic
No plan for medical care i.e hospital size doctors surgery
History, I have lived in Wilstead for 42 years. The Building of housing development in surrounding area is beyond excessive, plus Giant Commercial Buildings over sized.
The Police speed check recently, that within seven days 20,000 vehicles used Cotton End Road. What's it going to be like when you finish building? Objection , think of all the pollution from the traffic.

Object

Representation ID: 10090

Received: 28/07/2022

Respondent: Wilshamstead Parish Council

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Not specified

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Wilshamstead Parish Council is experienced in understanding the due process relating to public consultations and is therefore mindful of the importance of presenting clear and robust evidence at all stages, but in particular at this part of the consultation process, to ensure that Wilshamstead Parish Council makes clear its view as the first tier of local government. The Parish Council, has a further role as always, serving its electorate and ensuring they are supported throughout this phase, so considerable work has been done ensuring they are not only aware of the proposals and their direct impact on Wilstead, but also in engaging effectively in the consultation process.

The Parish Council also feels at this stage in light of the Local Plan shortly being taken forwards to government inspection, that with such a significant development earmarked and set out in the parish of Wilshamstead within this strategy document, that it is important to reiterate items that have previously been expressed.

Wilshamstead Parish Council, as usual, has been extremely pro-active in attending BBC led consultation events directed at local parishes, as well as the various public engagement activities within the consultation run by BBC. There has been a thoroughly review of the consultation documents, throughout the consultation period, as Parish Councillors have strived to understand more about the many different technical and complex items being considered. This is in addition to a huge number of important accompanying planning policy documents which will shape the future of Wilstead and communities across the Borough.

The Parish Council has facilitated a number of different ways to encourage Wilstead residents to engage with this consultation process, whether directly to BBC representatives or through feedback to Wilshamstead Parish Councillors. Throughout this consultation it has remained an absolute priority that all in Wilstead are aware of the enormity of the proposals, and that they can have their say and their voice heard. This has included using a village electronic circulation list, website publications and social media posts. Furthermore, signs were placed around the village to ensure those passing through (of which there are many every single day already) were aware of the potential impacts. These signs were sabotaged a few days later showing that personal interest is driving the presentation of the proposed sites in Wilstead. In addition there have been multiple communications made to the village population through the village magazine along with residents being welcomed to the July Parish Council meeting. The Parish Council also arranged a specific drop-in session on Sunday 10th July at Wilstead Village Hall to enable residents who had questions and/or required assistance with understanding to engage in responding to the consultation. The Parish Council knows the proposed allocations within this consultation are of interest to residents as over 130 attended the drop-in session.

It is also important to recognise that Parish Councillors are lay persons, volunteering their time, trying their best to review, consider and digest all the information relating to many different technical aspects of this Local Plan process. In addition, the volume of associated policy documents being consulted on, which again are also complex, however, are fundamentally crucial in the important role they play in the wider context of the development strategy.

As a result, it was important to Wilshamstead Parish Council that they focus on the impact the proposed allocations have on Wilstead - the area known best to Councillors.

RESPONSE SUMMARY

WPC objects to a number of different policies of the Plan document, these will be expanded upon later in this document under the requisite headings.

1. Misleading consultation representation
The Wilstead community feel it is important to recognise that the document has been misleading in how the specific site policies have been named which has resulted at best in misleading representation and is possibly legally unsound.

2. Capacity of Existing Resources
Any further development threatens the ability of existing resources to cope as these are often inadequate for existing residents and community governance issues not addressed in the Plan document. There is particular concern about build-up of traffic approaching the A421 from the A6.

3. The Need for Housing, Sustainable Development and the Environment
In this Section WPC expresses its support for questioning the overall number of new houses required.
We also repeat from our Neighbourhood Plan what sustainable development means for the village and cannot see how the draft Local Plan addresses these requirements in any way.

4. Potential adverse effect of major development in Wilshamstead Parish
There have previously been many concerns expressed about the Plan generating a large number of additional houses in Wilstead, which would result in a complete change of character of the village. Reasons against any substantial development are many and listed under this heading later in the document with focus on Policy HOU15 Land South of Wixams, Policy HOU16 Land at East Wixams and Policy HOU17 Land at College Farm, Shortstown. In addition Policy EMP 5 Pear Tree Farm Elstow together with the plans in Central Bedfordshire add to the proposal for surrounding Wilstead with development.

5. Settlement Hierarchy
The Parish Council recognises that some development may be unavoidable in Wilstead but would wish this to be restricted to that suited to a Rural Service Centre and to be consulted on any location. Assumptions made in the Bedford Borough Settlement Hierarchy continue to be based on inaccurate data both for Wilstead and for Wixams.

6. Coalescence
The increasing size of Wixams, Shortstown, Elstow and Cotton End threatens the separate identity of Wilstead which needs to be clearly maintained. During the life of the Local Plan 2040 this will result in the creation of an “urban sprawl” to the South of Bedford, without the necessary infrastructure or resources .

7. Neighbourhood Plan
The village has been preparing a Neighbourhood Plan since February 2017 and has had problems with support for the process during the Covid pandemic. Consequently it would not wish the Local Plan to pre-empt the important proposals already in draft form which include the allocation of Important Green Space designation to many of the sites identified under the “Call for Sites” process.

8. South of Bedford Policy Area
The Council has set out its response to this specific supplementary planning policy document.

9. Marston Vale Supplementary Planning Document
The Council has set out its response to the Developing in the Forest of Marston Vale Supplementary Planning Document which is a planning policy document being prepared by Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Councils.

10. Conclusion
This sets out the Parish Council overall feedback to the consultation, reiterating reasons for objection.

Wilshamstead Parish Council do not feel assured that Bedford Borough are working with other Local Authorities to ensure a coordinated approach. The Parish Council have always been mindful that Central Bedfordshire has significant growth in many local areas. There is enormous growth only just a short distance along the A421 corridor with 5,000 houses currently at planning application stage for a strategically allocated site known as Marston Valley. But there is also more worrying continued large-scale development on the edge of the village (currently 1650 houses south of Wixams) which would further impact on the unique character of Wilshamstead village.

he Parish Council must reiterate how the proposed allocations for development on multiple sides of Wilstead are closing in, bringing increased worry over the rural village being totally engulfed.

There really needs to be a distinct and protected gap between Wilstead village and Wixams (to prevent “coalescence”) as well as between the very distinct communities of Wilstead, Elstow, Cotton End and now also Shortstown so that their historically separate identities are preserved. The potential size of any major development would threaten the very heritage of a village that is described in the Domesday Book.

The parish is rightly proud to be a close-knit community, able to support one another, however, growth in the wrong parts of a rural community will be damaging for not just the short term, but also for future generations to come.

Figure 12 Key Diagram, Page 83 in the consultation sets out an overview of proposed development for housing and employment sites. It shows a clear distribution of allocations heavily around the area south of the A421 now being defined as the South of Bedford Policy Area. However, the marking of the map again is misleading in that it represents the sites as if Wixams and Wilstead are both on the same side of the A6.







This is factually incorrect and is inaccurate.

Showing vague, poorly located blobs of roughly where allocations are is not helpful. Having spent more time looking at local policy maps relating to Wilstead parish it has shown the clear issue with the allocations HOU15, HOU16 and HOU17 in terms of coalescence.


The proposed development surrounding Wilstead is completely incompatible with the rural scene that has existed for centuries. The Parish Council has taken maps from the BBC “Changes to Policies” document dated April 2022 and merged Maps 8 and 11. It has also added in developments contained within the Local Plan for Central Bedfordshire.

The merger of all these proposals shows Wilstead surrounded by new housing with only small buffer areas shown. Wilshamstead Parish Council very strongly objects to this urbanisation of the area.

On the map on the following page the areas for development are shown with striped, pink vertical lines. (see attachment)

The Parish Council feel very strongly that there needs to be more done to protect the parishes, and Wilshamstead Parish in particular, to prevent the area becoming one large swathe of development.

Local Governance
The lack of forward planning on how this will be managed, will impact negatively on the established rural community of Wilstead. At no point is it clear in the consultation document on how the community governance arrangements will be managed for large housing development growth. Wilstead has first-hand experience of this, as Wixams grew, and then de-parished. The process brings many challenges, it is an uncertain time for residents, as well as being an exceptionally lengthy process with many complexities to navigate.

There needs to be clearer information on this set out within some part of the Local Plan around community governance, again with robust wording to ensure that communities can support their electorate and flourish.
SECTION 7 : NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
The proposed development of 2,100 houses within the parish boundary would directly contradict the first four objectives in the adopted Wilshamstead Neighbourhood Plan which are:

• To seek protection and enhancement of the countryside setting of the village, by ensuring separation from the urban edge whilst retaining access to the countryside.
• Identified green spaces, views and vistas and local wildlife habitats will be maintained and enhanced.
• To identify, protect and enhance village heritage assets and key public spaces, ensuring that any future development is sympathetic to the existing rural character of the village.
• To ensure any future housing responds to local needs, is of a high standard of design, and fits well into the context of the village in terms of type, mix, scale and character.

Thorough consultation was undertaken on the Neighbourhood Plan which demonstrates the value that local people place on the landscape and rural environment of the Parish. 95% of respondents agreed that the rural feel and access to the countryside are fundamental to the quality of life and community identity for Wilstead.

The Neighbourhood Plan for Wilstead was prepared to be in general conformity with the adopted Bedford Borough Local Plan 2030, having undergone extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders as well as BBC itself.

It includes policies to retain and protect the rural character of the Parish, to safeguard open spaces and prevent coalescence with Wixams, to ensure that new development is sensitively designed and that housing is suitable, to retain historic features and community facilities, to encourage local businesses and to tackle parking and traffic issues.

Five sites were identified in the Plan as “Strategic Gaps” to prevent coalescence with neighbouring communities. One of these Strategic Gaps is situated within the area identified under Policy HOU 16 and therefore this Policy is in direct contradiction to the Wilshamstead Neighbourhood Plan.

The Neighbourhood Plan is currently awaiting comments from the appointed examiner who has been made aware of this contradiction. It is expected that the Plan will go to referendum in the Autumn of 2022.

No housing allocations are being proposed in the Neighbourhood Plan, partly because the Local Plan 2030 did not require any allocations to be made, and partly because Wilstead has been subject to recent housing developments (over 100 houses or a more than 10% increase in numbers.). During consultation, residents reacted strongly against the notion of allocating any new developments of 10 houses or more, probably because of the existing level of new housing and a number of planning appeals that had been lodged in the Parish over recent years.

The Parish Council recognises that it is important to monitor the Neighbourhood Plan and check that progress is made towards meeting its objectives and policies and to respond to changes in the planning policy background. The Parish Council will consider
• if progress is being made to achieve the vision and the objectives of the Plan,
• if progress is being made towards the implementation of the policies in the Plan,
• if financial contributions available to the community arising from development are being targeted towards the identified plans and projects,
• if the Plan remains based on the most up to date information,
• if the Plan is being taken into account by Bedford Borough Council when determining planning applications.

The Parish Council will seek to work in partnership with Bedford Borough Council to liaise on future development of the Parish and will monitor progress on the Local Plan review and will consider whether to review the Neighbourhood Plan in line with the emerging Local Plan 2040.

If the emerging Local Plan 2040 is to require Wilstead Parish to accommodate further housing development in the period from 2030 to 2040, the Parish Council would prefer this requirement to be dealt with locally through a review of the Neighbourhood Plan which would allow much more local and focussed input from residents as to the location and type of development.