Local Issues:
Since my last Elstow, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Echo, here are some of the local issues I have progressed, in some cases with the valued help and support of the relevant Parish Council.

Ward-wide

 

Dualling of the last part of the A421 – I have learnt that £22.5m worth of funding from the Department for Transport has been secured to complete the dualling of the A421 road from Magna Park in Milton Keynes to the roundabouts by junction 13 of the M1. The rest of the funding will come from the two local Councils affected. The project completes the overall dualling of the A421 road between Milton Keynes and Bedford. The road works for the improvements are anticipated to take 18-24 months. I am absolutely delighted by this news. The upgrading of this road is long overdue.

 

Elstow

Bottle banks removed from the Red Lion Car Park – The landlord of the Red Lion asked the Borough Council to remove the bottle banks in the car park. We were told that this was due to some of the glass and some cardboard boxes were being left on the ground by the bin, and the litter they caused.

Parish Councillor Jon Miles pursued this issue and Elstow Parish Council arranged a meeting with the Regional Manager of the Red Lion’s owners. After initially resisting any proposals for a replacement service, the Regional Manager agreed to a new service.

Biffa will deliver a large bin for Sunday morning and collect it the Monday after.

Please make sure no glass or cardboard boxes are left on the ground by the bin. If that happens, the new service will be withdrawn.

I would like to thank Elstow Parish Council, in particular Cllr Jon Miles, for getting this replacement service arranged.

 

Damaged fencing in Halesowen Drive and Sandleford Drive – I have raised both issues with the Borough.

 

Stewartby

Millbrook Power – With the Millbrook Power project accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate (28th November 2017), the Examination Process has started. In February, officers at Bedford Borough Council as well as Parish Councils in the near vicinity of Rookery South Pit and local landowners will have received this letter (and appendices) from Jonathan Green of the Examining Authority: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/document/EN010068-000522.

This letter outlines the Examination process going forward, including details of a Preliminary Meeting with Mr Green that took place on the morning of Tuesday, 13th March at the Marston Vale Forest Centre and a meeting in the afternoon to consider the DCO order, also at the Forest Centre. These two meetings are before a series of hearings that will take place over the next few months.

 

New cameras outside Marston Vale Middle – These cameras are in place to enforce dangerous and unlawful parking on the school keep clear zones outside Marston Vale Middle School. They are not yet operational, but will be within the next month. They will be in place permanently and operate Monday to Friday between 8am-4.30pm. It is of course still perfectly legal to park safely in the keep clear zones 9.30am-3.30pm.

 

Stewartby Pre-School Open Day – I was invited to the Pre-School’s Open Day on Sat 10 Mar 18, but due to a serious bout of man flu, I was unable to attend. I hope to arrange a personal visit soon.

 

Kempston Hardwick

Used car dealer at Chimney Corner – The National Planning Inspectorate has now informed the Borough Council that it is reviewing the Appeal. During the review, an Inspector will visit the site. This may be unannounced or we may be informed of it. If we are informed, I will do my best to let local residents know when it is. S/he may ask questions of us, but we cannot ask questions of him/her. Borough Planners will be objecting to the Appeal. I have objected to the Appeal.

Please help us ensure the used car dealers are removed from the site so that we can be rid of this unsightly nuisance and so the Chimney Corner pub can again be a community pub by also objecting to the Appeal. Please do so by 8th May 2018.

Please submit your objections to teame1@pins.gsi.gov.uk. I would be grateful if you could please copy me in when doing so.

 

Litter on B530 verges – I have asked the Borough Council’s Environment Help Desk to clear the litter from various verges along the B530 from the BCA site through to the lay-by by the bypass bridge. I have asked them to prosecute should there be any evidence of the offenders.

 

 

Best wishes

Cllr Tim Hill

Liberal Democrat Focus Team

Bedford Borough Councillor for Elstow, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick

Tel: (day) 07907 150923 only in an emergency

Tel: (eve) 07907 150923

email: tim.hill@bedford.gov.uk

Web site: https://bedfordlibdems.org.uk/en/page/elstow-and-stewartby

 

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