3.24

Object

Representation ID: 4433

Received: 31/08/2021

Respondent: Mr Simon Marsh

The opportunity is there to develop an integrated transport approach that recognises the value of cycling, the independence of car travel and really attempts to provide clear selling points for trains and mass transit systems along with recognising the need to create real reasons to answer thew question - "why would I go into town?".

Object

Representation ID: 4640

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Denis Ivins

absence of any recognition of the need for a sustainable network of safe segregated cycle routes across the borough.

Object

Representation ID: 5731

Received: 07/09/2021

Respondent: Odell Parish Council

Rail commuting has grown enormously over the past 25 years and because of the ease of getting to London this expansion will inevitably continue. Thameslink are the principal supplier of train services at the station, but increased services from East Midlands Trains and within a few years the new East/West train services will stretch station capacity to the limit. Thameslink trains have been extended to 12 carriages to accommodate this traffic growth. The car parks in the vicinity of the station are full by 08.30/08.45 on most working days, Monday to Friday, essentially resulting in any one arriving by car after that time not to be able to use the train for their journey, and probably causing them not to consider rail travel from Bedford in the future.
The Council has been advised on two previous occasions, in response to earlier local plan consultations, of a solution that was implemented at Farnham Railway station in Surrey where the car park was extended to a multi-storey facility whilst still maintaining the use of the majority of the car park during the building process.
The Parish Council has considerable concerns regarding the proposed new rail route from
Bedford to Cambridge with the vast infrastructure constructions that will be needed to be
provided to cross the River Great Ouse valley and the A6. It will also make a major detrimental
change to the scenic perspective of the area. The enormous carbon dioxide pollution resulting
from the construction process of the route and the ongoing carbon pollution from the engine
exhausts of the Diesel Multiple units planned for the East/West train service create a massive
negative to the desire of the Borough to seek net zero emissions over the lifetime of the trains
of 30 years.