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

Ward-wide Issues.

Covanta Incinerator – The BACI (Bedfordshire Against Covanta Incinerator) campaign has advised Tim that they are still waiting to hear if they have been granted permission to continue to an appeal hearing at the Court of Appeal. The time- frame for this is apparently very varied and they have no idea how quickly they will hear. BACI said “Regarding the recent Covanta newsletter – it is in their interests to not publicise the ongoing legal challenge – in the hope that residents will just think all is done and dusted. However all is still on track our end – just a waiting game at the moment.”

 

Bedford Brickworks Business Park – Tim and Stewartby Parish Council representatives recently met again with representatives of the Bedford Brickworks developers. Given that the maps used at the first exhibition at the Stewartby Village Hall, were years out of date, including not showing the Hansons Reach development or the business developments off the A421, the developers have agreed to Tim and the Parish Chair’s request for a second exhibition at the Stewartby Village Hall to enable residents to get a more accurate view of the impact of the proposals on the Stewartby community. Also, as the Manor Road, Kempston Hardwick community is the most affected by the Business Park part of the proposal, the developers have agreed to Tim and the Parish Chair’s request for a smaller meeting for the community. The time and venue are still to be confirmed.

 

Transporting Bedford 2020 – Local residents will have read in previous ECHOs and FOCUSs of the Transporting Bedford 2020 Project. This £21m project aims to reduce the current traffic congestion problems at several hotspots in the Borough, including Ampthill Road/Cow Bridge. The work at this location includes amongst other sub-projects, the building of a new cycle/foot bridge across the railway line. This will mean the footpaths on the current bridge can be removed and another lane installed on the current bridge. This is currently planned to be for a new turning left lane from Ampthill Road into West End. This will greatly reduce the traffic on the current left lane and its resulting queues. Tim said “I’m pleased to report that the Borough has already issued an “Investigations Pack” to the contractor for the new cycle/foot bridge and the Borough is awaiting the programme for its delivery. When this whole sub-project is finished, it will result in a much easier flow of traffic across the bridge, especially for those wanting to turn left into West End or go straight on for the A6.”

 

White line re-painting programme – Many of the white lines on roads across the Borough are faded and in need of re-painting. The old Conservative-controlled County Council didn’t leave the Borough Council, a long term budget of regular renewals of the white lines when the County Council was abolished in 2009. Mayor Dave through prudent financial management has now managed to find some funding for a Borough-wide programme of re-painting the white lines. Tim has submitted a list of roads, junctions and speed limits that need re-painting. He has also asked for lanes to be painted at the Elstow Road and B530 entrances to the Interchange roundabout. These will enable those not turning into either of the Interchange Retails Parks to get through the roundabout quicker.

 

Parish Issues.

Elstow.

Abbey Middle School demolition – Local residents have told Tim that demolition contractors have been seen on site. Once the Abbey Middle School closed and Elstow Lower School became a Primary School, it was inevitable that the Abbey Middle School building would be demolished some time and the demolition is in the Council’s Capital Budget for 2018/20. Whilst the draft Local Plan identifies the green areas to the south of Moor Lane as development land, the Abbey Middle School site itself is being left vacant as it may be needed in future for an extension to Elstow Primary. Also, it is cheaper to demolish, even with the asbestos controls necessary for this building and provide security for a vacant plot, than provide security for a 1970s building. Tim has raised several questions with Borough officers on the details of the demolition and the future of the caretaker and his wife, and their home.

 

Two-way traffic lights on B530 over the bypass bridge – Thanks to quick action by Borough officers, the Borough has had to install two way lights on the B530 in the location of the bridge over the A421 bypass. Kier had contacted the Borough with concerns about the bridge joints on this structure. Borough officers are working with Kier to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, but the reality is that traffic signals will be in place for a matter of several weeks.

 

Stewartby.

Broadmead Lower extra classrooms – The Lower School has put in a planning application for a single storey 5 classroom building with staff room. It needs to expand as its existing buildings aren’t large enough for its anticipated intake over the next few years. Mayor Dave’s Executive has now approved the inclusion of this project in the Council’s capital budget. Tim said “This is great news for this excellent school. The increased capacity will mean the school can continue to provide a great education for our local Lower School-Age children.”

 

Two-way traffic lights on the C94 by CP Cottage – Last week, Tim had noted the two-way traffic lights on the C94 by CP Cottage. Tim has previously asked to be informed of any roadworks requiring two-way traffic lights, so he can advise local residents of a likely disruption to their journey. As he hadn’t been informed of this one, he raised his concerns with Borough officers. It turns out the contractors were doing the work without telling Borough Highways! They have now finished the work and removed the two-way traffic lights. Tim noted that the contractor has not levelled off the road surface properly. Tim advised Borough officers of this, so now not only are the contractors being sent a Fixed Penalty Notice for their illegal incursion onto the road, but they now have to come back down from Yorkshire to properly level off the road surface!

 

C94/Broadmead Road junction – Following the temporary closure of Green Lane for road improvements relating to the Covanta Incinerator monstrosity, the C94/Broadmead Road junction has seen to date, 2 major accidents and at least 4 minor ones. This is because it was never laid out to take the volume of vehicles it is expected to take with the Green Lane temporary closure and the current development on Hansons Reach of nearly 400 houses. Tim has asked Borough Officers to review the area to see what can be done in the short and long terms.

 

Hansons Reach Retail Units – Work is underway on building the 3 retail units, the customer’s car park and the service area. These units were part of the original outline planning permission in 1995 and what sort of service would be sold at each unit was agreed in 2003. The largest unit will be a Co-Op and the second one a Domino’s. It is expected that expressions of interest on the third one will be received very soon. Tim has worked with Borough officers to get the entrance/exit widened to ensure delivery lorries can safely get onto the site. Tim is also working to ensure the recycling area does not include a bottle bank, as the area is too close to nearby homes for that and there is already a bottle bank at the Stewartby Way shop.

 

Potholes – Tim was successful in getting a large pothole outside 46, Churchill Close, Stewartby filled in. Tim has also asked for the several potholes on the C94, just to the north of its junction with Broadmead Road, to be filled in. Tim said “Please let me know of any potholes you notice and I’ll raise a request to get them filled in by the Borough’s Pothole Hit Squad that Mayor Dave set up.”

 

Quest Pit Scrambling – Local residents had reported to the Parish Chair and Tim that a small number of motorcycle scramblers were managing to get onto the Quest Pit and churning up the tracks and grass areas on the site. If where they are getting on can be confirmed, Tim will be pressing his contact at Arnold White Estate, the land owner, to seek prosecution with a hefty fine.

 

Kempston Hardwick.

Chimney Corner – Tim is really pleased to report that the two used car dealers formally left the site in Dec 18. Tim is working with the Borough’s economic development team to help the site owner maximise the potential of the historic public house in a secure way from vandals, whilst maintaining its historic importance and with consideration to nearby home owners.

 

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