What a Difference a Dave Makes! The Facts on Transport

Despite the council's unprecedented financial pressures, Mayor Dave Hodgson has a remarkable record of getting things done for Bedford Borough, with key transport projects promised for decades turned into a reality. Meanwhile, roads maintenance, local bus services and cycle provision have all been improved. Here are the facts:

• Bedford Bus Station had let Bedford town centre down for years. Despite extremely challenging financial conditions, Mayor Dave put an end to decaders of false dawns and dashed hopes for regeneration with a programme which has seen the transformation of the multi-storey car park, new public toilets, new paving, new shop fronts and much more. And, finally, a brand new bus station for Bedford, as part of an excellent deal for the taxpayer which saw the Council obtain a 50-year lease with no purchase fee, no ongoing rent and no running costs.

• A completed Bedford Western Bypass has featured in local and national plans for over fifty years. A wide range of obstacles had blocked progress on the crucial final phase linking the A428 at Biddenham (Deep Spinney) with the A6 Clapham Roundabout. However, Mayor Dave broke the deadlock via a successful Compulsory Purchase Order and securing funding. Construction of the new link is now well underway and ahead of schedule, with the road due to open in the first haf of 2016

• While other Councils have slashed funding for rural bus services, the new rural bus routes introduced here were awarded Highly Commended status at the National Transport Awards, following improvements which led to a 25% increase in rural bus usage.

• Mayor Dave has lobbied successfully with others for progress on East-West rail, with the Western Section between Oxford and Bedford now confirmed and due for completion by
  2019. Mayor Dave continues to campaign for the line to continue on from Bedford through to Cambridge and beyond, to provide a complete line linking Bedford with numerous additional rail lines and destinations and creating new opportunities for employment and leisure for local people.

• Mayor Dave has also lobbied successfully for full dualling of the road link to Cambridge and the crucial 'grade separation' of the notorious Black Cat Roundabout, both of which were announced by the Government before Christmas. If re-elected, Mayor Dave will work to ensure this vital project is followed through and delivered.

• More works to encourage cycling have taken place than ever before, with improvements completed across the Borough. The number of cyclists is increasing. Work is ongoing to create a high quality cycle network and make Bedford a cycle friendly community.

• Mayor Dave has introduced a radical extension of Sunday bus services, after just 12 months of which more people travelled on a single Sunday than were previously travelling in an entire month on the old Sunday service.

• Half a million more bus journeys were taken in Bedford Borough last year.

• The council continues to extend the national concessionary fares scheme for older and disabled people in Bedford Borough to enable peak-time travel which is not available in other councils.

• Real Time Passenger Information has been expanded rapidly under Mayor Dave, providing up-to-the-minute information at bus stops and online

• Roads maintenance has been improved dramatically, as the fightback against years of chronic underinvestment by the former county council continues. Record funding each year, as well as an extra £1 million of investment for footways in each of the last two years, has seen more works taking place on roads and pavements than ever. The introduction of the Pothole Hit Squad, with its 'hot box' keeping tar hot while out and about, means more, better quality and more durable repairs are taking place, making the money go further.