Issues and Options

No

Although I agree with the proposed scope of the Local Plan Review, there are elements in the Draft Vision which are not addressed by the Scope of the Plan. 1. “Facilitating sustainable food production”. There is no policy to achieve this aim. Class 1 and 2 agricultural land is being reclassified to allow development and mineral extraction while brownfield sites, former clay and gravel quarries are not being redeveloped. 2. “Renewable energy technology”. There are no policies to require new developments to provide charging for electric cars. 3. “New town centre transport interchange” There are no policies for an integrated transport strategy. Bedford Midland Mainline Station Is difficult to get to from the east of Bedford. The bus services go to the town centre and not the station. More cycle paths are required. The rural community will have to suffer the impact of the East/West Rail Project while not benefiting from access due to lack of public transport and difficulty parking. 4. Bedford Town Centre. Post COVID-19 the centre of Bedford is likely to be very different. Many of the department stores have closed. In the past people lived in town centres. There are no policies to adapt to the change to retail market moving online.

With the change to online shopping, the retail experience in Bedford is likely to be very different. In the past people lived in the centre of towns, once again town centres could become residential spaces. In the previous call for sites, a late submission for a site near Elstow in the A421 corridor was not included. The site would fit with the Campaign to Protect Rural England’s preference for development along the A421 corridor, where there are already good road and rail infrastructure.

I agree with this plan period

No answer given

Brown – Urban based growth , Yellow – A421 based growth , Pink – Rail growth , Grey– Dispersed growth

No answer given

Development along the A421 corridor would be the most cost effective area for development. The area is already well served by road and rail. A station near the Interchange Shopping outlet and the existing Park and Ride Carpark could provide a link to Bedford Midland Mainline Station and the town centre. New cycle paths are essential, particularly if electric scooters can be encouraged, like Milton Keynes, as an alternative to using cars.

Employment sites need to be close to residential areas to reduce the requirements to commute by car.

If East/West Rail is ever to be realised it is essential that the chosen route is cost effective. The Preferred Option Route E will be very expensive and technically complicated to build and as a result the whole project will risk cancellation due to post COVID-19 cost cutting. A route following the old “Varsity Line” as closely as possible would be far more deliverable.

The potential of the town centre as a residential area is not considered. A changing retail market, with the increase in online shopping has already resulted in the closure of most of the department stores in the centre of Bedford. In the past people lived in town centres, it maybe time to reclaim the centre of town as a residential area.

I agree

No answer given

The government guidelines are a national minimum standard but not Bedford Borough Council should be looking to the future. Milton Keynes is leading the way and Bedford should be looking to compete. New developments should be community lead and not just based on developers profit margins.