Ending our Decades-Long Wait for a New Bus Station for Bedford

We have submitted a planning application for our brand new bus station for Bedford, and these are the first images illustrating how the planned development will look. Bedford has been let down badly by the bus station for many, many years, and that's why we are making sure that after so many false dawns and dashed hopes, a brand new bus station and improved environment in that area are being delivered for our town.

The regeneration of the area is already underway, with the refurbishment of the Allhallows multi-storey car park in progress, and planning permission in place for a brand new surface car park across the road on Greyfriars. Now, the planning process is underway for the brand new bus station and other works which will include high quality new toilets, visual improvements to the car park and much more. There is more information on the Council's website, including a link to the full application and the opportunity to take part in the consultation: www.bedford.gov.uk/busstation I would encourage everyone to make their views known on this important project for Bedford and its future.

The new bus station was the the topic of my latest monthly article in the Times and Citizen. Here's the piece in full:

"As I talk to people right across Bedford Borough about our town centre, the topic that comes up time and time again is the bus station and how it lets our town down. This is nothing new, of course - people have been saying this for decades, including me! So I am delighted that we are now making real regeneration of this area happen. A planning application has been submitted for a brand new bus station, alongside a range of other improvements in this area. You may have seen the first illustrations in last week's Times and Citizen.

The new bus station itself, if approved, will be a far more attractive sight, and a much-improved facility for bus users.

The Multi Storey Car Park is undergoing vital refurbishment, and the proposals also include new cladding for the car park, which will transform its appearance and create a striking visual impact.

Planing permission is in place for a new surface car park on the site of the former blocks of flats across the road on Greyfriars.

Brand new toilets are also included in the plans, as we take the opportunity through this project to replace the old ones with clean, high quality new faciltiies.

Plans for new paving, landscaping and seating will enhance the area in front of the multi-storey car park, with new shop fronts too. Overall the works are intended to create a much more attractive, inviting environment for all shoppers and bus users.

The easy thing to do in the current climate would be to simply wait for rosier economic times and hope for redevelopment at some point in the future. However, I want the very best for Bedford Borough and the current bus station is a long way from that. That's why we have worked to identify savings and underspends to put together the £8.8 million fund to make this crucial redevelopment possible now.

Bedford deserves better than the current bus station, and we have waited a long time for the improvements we all want to see. So do have a look at the proposals and take part in the consultation, as we work to deliver a gateway to Bedford that we can at last be proud of."