Issues and Options

It would be helpful to distinguish between the vision statements (the Whats) and the objectives (the Hows) which if the latter are fulfilled will achieve the vision. An example is found in paragraph 7: The vision would be to achieve healthier lifestyles, increased tourism, increased river transport and enriched ecology. An objective that would contribute to this vision would be completion of the Bedford to Milton Keynes waterway park.

I agree with this plan period

Yes. The plan period should not exceed 2040. A lot will happen in society during the plan period and so it should be subject to quinquennial reviews.

Yellow – A421 based growth

The Yellow - A421 based growth model is preferred as a corridor to take advantage of the existing road network and planned improvements (e.g. Black Cat junction).

Bedford railway station needs to be easily accessible both from within Bedford (for pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles - and consider an internal tramway) and without (an additional Park & Ride site should be provided to the North on the A6 - bearing in mind proposed developments in Sharnbrook and Rushden and the likely route of the East-West rail link). An interconnected network between rail and buses (and trams) with frequent services would encourage more use of public transport.

New employment sites can be provided along the A421 corridor along with new housing developments.

1. Make sure that trains stop at Bedford! 2. Economic value would be won by Bedford if it can provide goods, services or people required by the economic centres of Cambridge and Oxford. It will be crucial to understand the needs of those centres and to establish appropriate service centres and supply chains (of both goods and appropriately qualified people). The good standards achieved in the local schools (both state and independent), Bedford College and the Universities of Bedfordshire and Cranfield provide a good platform for generating appropriately qualified people.

The Bedford to Milton Keynes waterway park is key to developments in Bedford town.

I disagree

The response to climate change is an international and national issue that certainly needs coordinating in the UK at the national level. Bedford Borough Council should join with other local councils to ensure that appropriate standards are produced at the national level and then accept the responsibility of ensuring those standards are applied and adhered to.

Until the new house-building standards have been agreed it is difficult to comment

The term "sustainable modes of transport" needs better definition because it can include pedestrian access, cycle routes, electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered buses and urban tramways. Whichever mode of transport is being considered the key is to enable people to travel where they want, whenever they want - and if services are provided they need to be frequent and well-connected.