Issues and Options

Greater use of sustainable modes of transport can be achieved by measures including increased bus infrastructure including direct routes like the bus/cycle/foot route between Great Denham and Queen's Park from which other traffic is excluded. More generally increased frequency of bus services, including in rural locations, is important. A much improved station at the Ashburnham Road site with better integration with the bus network and cycle network is also key, and as part of this, the additional cycle bridge to enable safe cycle access to Bedford station is urgently required. A key element to improving use of cycling is to ensure all properties have sufficient cycle storage space of suitable types. All developments should include at least one cycle space per designed bed space (one per bedroom is not sufficient for couples or for children sharing bedrooms). These cycle storage spaces should be undercover, behind locked gates/doors, easy to access from the street and with sufficient space for at least one non-standard cycle or trailer. In terms of the cycle network itself, there is a need for strategic development to link all parts of the borough to the closest town centre via cycle routes suitable for high-speed cycling segregated from traffic flows by physical barriers. Walking should be promoted by employment and all day-to-day facilities designed to be within 15 minutes walk of all parts of new developments. Safe routes to school should be designed into all developments.

It is important that in addition to Local Nature Recovery Strategies and the biodiversity net gain, there is promotion of ecological networks, since isolated islands of biodiversity tend to lose that biodiversity with populations of particular species insufficiently varied to adapt to challenges. The council needs to be very clear as to the specific, measurable improvement targets developers are expected to achieve. Water resources must now be central too, particularly water quality of the river Great Ouse, with regard to drainage and sewage , especially if housing and local population is to increase as stated.

In addition Health and Wellbeing needs to be explicit as a goal, especially in terms of air quality, and there is a need for all to have practical access to high quality open green spaces and countryside, regardless of whether they have a car.