Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission

Object

Representation ID: 9557

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy DS1(S) The Borough must reduce net-zero CO2 emissions and improve Borough's transport infrastructure in order to support the gravity in the local economy. The congestion must be reduced in the Borough and should include journeys by public transport,walking and cycling.

Object

Representation ID: 9558

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy DS2(S) Spatial strategy and Para.4 Making Bedford a net-zero carbon emissions borough at the heart of the Oxford – Cambridge Arc, development should be focussed within the urban area, at specified strategic locations adjacent to the urban area and at growth locations within the A421 / East-West Rail corridor and with the potential for rail-based growth.
The sites allocated in Local Plan 2030 including land at Ford End Road should be used for railway purposes including second booking hall for Bedford Midland Station with extra parking, buses, walking/cycling and disabled to Platform 4 at Bedford Midland. Lands are needed to straighten tracks between Danfoss site and Bedford Midland for East-West rail services including freight and ease pressure on Platform 1 at Bedford Midland. Better buses needed for linking Bedford Midland with the Bus Station, including all Grant Palmer services. land south of the river

Strategic locations adjacent to the urban area which contribute to delivering the Bedford – Milton Keynes Waterway Park and the Bedford River Valley Park;

The completion of Wixams new settlement, incorporating eastern and southern extensions, and the development of a strategic village expansion utilising brownfield land at Kempston Hardwick identified in Local Plan 2030;
An expansion of Shortstown(near Cardington) should have active travel links to the rail network.
A new settlement and related employment provision at Little Barford well connected to the new East-West Rail station at its intersection with the East Coast Main Line, together with a dedicated shuttle bus service (See Policy HOU19).
However, there should be a station at Kempston Retail Park,which could be the same as Broadmead and will replace both the proposed Kempston Hardwick and Stewartby stations. Please see https://ertarail.co.uk/publicity/.

Object

Representation ID: 9559

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy EMP1 Land at Bedford Station, Bedford. The station area should be developed for a mix of uses including transport interchange residential, office, academic and retail uses(see rep re Policy DS2{S}). Key principles of development should be as follows:

- To support the growth of spin-out companies linked to high-tech businesses based in the Oxford to Cambridge Arc benefiting from access to East-West Rail;
- A new station entrance and public square and the creation of improved linkages to Midland Road;
- Re-provision of car and cycle parking including the potential for multi-storey parking;
- Provision of revised station access arrangements via Ashburnham Road with a mobility hub and appropriate provision for bus-, taxi / private hire vehicles, cycle and pedestrian access and drop-off / pick-up points;

Object

Representation ID: 9560

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy HOU1 Land Use at Greyfriars Road. Pedestrian/cycle access should be used for connectivity benefits plus improved bus access.

Object

Representation ID: 9561

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy HOU3 Provision of layout should take full account from noise environment related to railway lines.

Object

Representation ID: 9562

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy EMP3 Land south-west of Kempston Retail Park interchange where there should be a station on the East-West Rail link (see Policy DS2{S}). Please see https://ertarail.co.uk/publicity/.

Object

Representation ID: 9563

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy HOU12 Development will take environment-led approach approach by commitment to deliver the Forest of Marston Vale and enhancing the green infrastructure. This must include the minimum 30% tree cover which aims to become carbon-neutral by 2030 and cyclepaths off road between your various towns.
The eastern and southern expansion of Wixams will include the new station, plus bus services (see re rep Policy DS2{S})

Object

Representation ID: 9564

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Policy HOU15 A new bus stop should be provided for an extension to the existing bus service route in Wixams, including the new railway station.

Object

Representation ID: 9565

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

St.Johns Station – Site kept clear from development and new green corridor from the present St.John’s Halt to Cardington Road. The old route from Bedford-Cambridge should be used as a fall-back/re-evaluation should the proposed northern Bedford-Tempsford proved to be too expensive or problematic for other reasons.

Bedford-Northampton – Protection Midland Main Line routes north of Bromham plus junctioning with flyover from slow lines to enable Bedford-Northampton where much of the old trackbed survives. Getting other councils on board including applications to re-opening fund for study to make the case. Previous studies were apparently done on rail routes between 2001 and 2004 and should be protected both on/off rails.

Object

Representation ID: 9566

Received: 20/07/2022

Respondent: English Regional Transport Association

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

Willington Rowing Lake – Will sever both East-West trackbed and Sustrans cycleway, and also flood-plains.