5.1

Object

Representation ID: 6610

Received: 14/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Aiden Farmer

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 6648

Received: 14/09/2021

Respondent: Bedford Borough Councillor

RECENT CHANGES
5.1-5.6:
Footfall has continued to fall remorseless, out of town retailing pressure is undiminished, the Covid pandemic along with the sharp growth in internet retailing and home delivery has seen the closure of the towns three department stores, the loss of significant of multiple retailers through bankruptcy or retrenchment, some independent traders losses and the closure of the towns sole major supermarket pending. We have to recognise that for the foreseeable future Bedford Town Centre cannot and should not compete for big shops/ multiple retailers.
This creates a once in a lifetime opportunity to renew and repurpose the Town Centre to meet the evolving needs and wishes of Borough residents. If we get regeneration right there will be far more residents living in the town centre area, in converted offices and upper floors of empty retail units, as well as new build on old railway land and brownfield sites. While the amount of retail space needed will be less in the short term this planned population growth will ensure the future vitality of what will remain and attractive and unique town centre.
We would support the Council investing in appropriate units as they become available which would provide greater scope to implement the finalised Town Centre Plan.

Support

Representation ID: 6732

Received: 14/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Elizabeth Froude

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 6770

Received: 14/09/2021

Respondent: Ms S Kelly

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 6822

Received: 15/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Damian Smith

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 6871

Received: 13/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Joanna Ibbett

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 6909

Received: 15/09/2021

Respondent: Master Corey T Farmer

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 6925

Received: 15/09/2021

Respondent: Bromham Parish Council

Town Centre
The urban area is regarded as the most sustainable location for growth and growth in the
town centre should be exploited where feasible. Development in villages would result in an
increase in private car use to access facilities (paragraph 8.13 Draft Sustainability Appraisal
Report) and should be restricted to sites identified in Neighbourhood Plans.

Support

Representation ID: 7000

Received: 16/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Robert Tusting

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 7041

Received: 17/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Robert Tusting

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 7090

Received: 09/09/2021

Respondent: June Coles

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 7137

Received: 09/09/2021

Respondent: Stephen Coles

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 7217

Received: 17/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Peter Knight

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 7302

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Miss Laura Jones

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 7416

Received: 20/09/2021

Respondent: Ms Sylvia Woods

Much more emphasis needs to be put on tourism. At the moment Bedford is just a dormitory town. A lot more could be done to promote our visitor attractions (much more obvious publicity for example) including re-opening the Tourist Information Centre.

However people will not visit without better parking - and longer parking (2 hrs free is not enough - see how Bedford hums on Sundays when parking is free).

Then what about coach parking within reach of what attractions we have?

Object

Representation ID: 7474

Received: 21/09/2021

Respondent: Ms Penny Cooper

This document is too much to manage - and I'm scared town centres are NOT going to be fit for purpose - or used for housing in the empty shops. Appreciate not an easy task to 'apply change of use' etc Bring Health Centres; activity centres; housing; street cafes etc into the empty spaces to keep the town centres alive. Of course we need parking BUT MORE FREQUENT BUSES would be most useful. thank you

Support

Representation ID: 7621

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Miss Nicola Tagg

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 7668

Received: 01/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Simon Goodship

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 7766

Received: 22/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Michael Thompson

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 7825

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Emilio Meola

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 7864

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Mark Ibbett

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Support

Representation ID: 7970

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Ms Lorraine Jewell

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford. Making Bedford town centre a transport hub means people can exit to travel for retail and tourism options in Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bicester and Oxford. It is unlikely to regenerate to retail aspect of the town centre and only increase the already challenging congestion roads/bridges in Bedford town centre.

Support

Representation ID: 8027

Received: 24/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Larry Gooch

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 8132

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Dr Emma Thompson

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 8171

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Ross Thomson

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 8212

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs Bernadette Yockney

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 8269

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Daniel Francis

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 8313

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Miss Erin Francis

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 8354

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mrs K Francis

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford.

Object

Representation ID: 8459

Received: 03/09/2021

Respondent: Mr Theodore Cassell

The majority of housing development should be focussed around the urban area of Bedford / Kempston / Wixams / Stewartby in order to support the ailing town centre of Bedford. Making Bedford town centre a transport hub means people can exit to travel for retail and tourism options in Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bicester and Oxford. It is unlikely to regenerate to retail aspect of the town centre and only increase the already challenging congestion roads/bridges in Bedford town centre.