Local Councillors Slam Houses at Expense of Local People

Councillor Michael Headley from Putnoe and Councillor Paul Smith from Goldington ward have slammed the Mayor's plans to overdevelop the area of Church Lane shops.

The proposal allows the whole site to be considered for development - threatening the very popular youth facilities, community centre and shopping parade for a redevelopment that could see houses up to four stories high crammed onto the site.

At the same time the Mayor and his Cabinet refused to improve the forecourt and car parking that could improve the appearance and vitality of the shops.

Michael Headley said:

"This is a disastrous decision. It will mean cramming loads of houses onto the site. Local people need an improved shopping parade not more houses in an already densely developed area."

"The Council promised the shop owners a new car park and forecourt years ago. That would open up the parade, increase trade and make people feel safer. They have now backed away from this in favour of this money-driven plan to squeeze as many houses in as they can. In the meantime while they dilly dally over this the parade will not have the improvement it has been waiting so long for."

Paul Smith commented:

"We will oppose the threatened loss of these youth facilities all the way. They have been a great success and very popular with local people. We will not see them lost for the sake of more houses. I am flabbergasted to see Better Bedford Councillors strongly backing the over-development of this area. They have let down the residents of Goldington, preferring to back the Mayor's decision rather than looking after the needs of their ward."

He further added:

"It's outrageous that the Mayor didn't see fit to let the shop and residential tenants know about the plan to knock everything down - the first they'll know might be when they read it in the paper."