Boost for Town Centre Bridge and Decongestion Project as Government Funding Announced

Bedford Borough Council's project to build a new town centre road bridge river crossing as part of a Town Centre Decongestion Plan received a major boost today with the news that it will receive a contribution from the Government's Local Growth Fund to help bring it forward.

Mayor Dave Hodgson welcomed Liberal Democrat Local Government minister Stephen Williams MP to Bedford, where he made the announcement that £46.7 million will be awarded to the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership to be allocated amongst ten successful projects, including the Batts Ford Bridge.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "This additional river crossing will form part of a wider Bedford Town Centre Regeneration Plan, which will deliver the radical improvement needed to get traffic moving and improve journeys for all road users. It's been talked about for decades, but we don't want to just talk about it, we want to make it happen, just as we have with the bus station and the bypass, for example.

"That's why we're delighted that the scheme will receive a contribution from the Local Growth Fund, which is excellent news for our efforts to bring this vital project forward."

Mayor Dave Hodgson announced the commencement of the project to deliver a comprehensive Town Centre Decongestion Plan last summer, with £500,000 allocated to begin preparatory work on the bridge scheme and wider plans for getting the town centre moving. The Council then submitted a bid to the Local Growth Fund via SEMLEP, with today's announcement confirming the bid's success.

The Batts Ford Bridge project was not the only project in Bedford Borough to be successful in bidding to the Fund, with the announcement also confirming grants for:

Marston Vale Innovation Park - this was another Bedford Borough Council bid, for Gateway infrastructure works for the planned new Innovation Park off the A421 near Wootton, including site access road, utilities and initial unit supporting the establishment and growth of advanced technology and engineering businesses.

Bedford College - A bid for funding for a new building comprising electronics, electrical power and robotics laboratories, IT rooms and key equipment including CAD / Cam and 3D printing facilities, providing skills development support for the electronics, engineering and construction sectors.

Mayor Dave Hodgson welcomed the Minister alongside Daniel Mouwad, SEMLEP Chief Executive, Bedford College Principal and Chief Executive Ian Pryce and Rae Levene, SEMLEP Board Member and Chair of BedfordBID. The Minister was shown the site of the planned new Batts Ford Bridge, before heading to the College to look at the impressive artist's impression of the new building for Bedford College and then finally walking along the riverside towards The Higgins Bedford to make the formal announcement of the funding award

A small album of photos taken during the visit is available on Mayor Dave's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/DaveTheMayor