EWR: Full Council Consultation Response and Motion

"At the meeting last week, Councillors of all parties agreed a comprehensive response to the Government's East West Rail Company's latest proposals. This included opposition to demolitions and concerns about changes to the hospital car park amongst many other matters. I was delighted that a Liberal Democrat amendment, which added the need for a tunnel rather than cutting at Clapham, the expansion of Woodlands Country Park, support for active travel and fire safety provision in any car parks, gained unanimous backing. I would strongly encourage anyone interested in this to read through the thorough document that was agreed.

"There was no vote on picking a route. The route has already been picked by the Government after previous consultations. There was an unusual motion about the northern route from an independent councillor that was not successful. The Liberal Democrat Group continue to believe that it is crucial that the route comes through Bedford and we are not bypassed and miss out on the benefits, whilst the Mayor's own commissioned reports show that some alternative routes proposed would need 10-20 demolitions in Elstow. In contrast, a '4 track' route via Bedford would require no demolitions."

“This is the time for Bedford Borough residents and the Councillors elected to represent them to be united in ensuring that any negative impacts of the construction of a new railway are mitigated and residents' homes protected. Not in political grandstanding whilst missing key meetings with East West Rail.” - Cllr Henry Vann