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Bedford Town Centre EWR Plan Profile Drawings
BFARe Press Release 9 September, 2024 Two new EWR Plan Profile Drawings concerning Bedford town centre construction have been released through the Freedom of Information process. The town drawings are in addition to those already obtained through FOI for the area from Clapham to Tempsford as BFARe recently published. The new maps provide further information…
Bedford Town EWR Construction Assessment
BFARe Press Release 28 August, 2024 The East West Rail Co Bedford town area constructional impact assessment has now been released through the Freedom of Information process. A link to this report can be found here. https://bfare.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CS-00200147.pdf Jacobs Construction Advisory Team created the Construction Assessment Report, dated May 2023, at the time of the EWR…
EWR Constructional Impact Maps of Route E – Clapham to Roxton
BFARe Press Release 5 August, 2024 The Route E constructional impact maps have now been released from East West Rail Co through the Freedom of Information process. These maps are referred to as “Plan Profile Drawings”. The drawings provide previously withheld levels of detail regarding the intended route and its implications for landowners, commuters and…
EWR Route E Will Cause Irreversible Damage to Town and Countryside
The EWR Proposal is NOT fit for purpose New Petition Launched Calling for an Independent Review of EWR Project BFARe and Cambridge Approaches have created a new petition asking government to “Pause plans for Oxford-Cambridge rail link pending a full, independent review” of the East West Rail project. The petition states “We do not want…
BFARe critique Bedford Borough’s report on the alternative EWR Alignments
Summary The Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton, convened a Council meeting on 6th February 2024 to present the findings of three consultant reports that compare alternatives to the EWRCo preferred route through Bedford and out across north Bedfordshire countryside. These reports were from Systra, SLC Rail and JBA. In his summary report, Jon Shortland,…
The secret East West Rail Economic Growth Board deciding your future
The National Audit Office report on EWR revealed the existence of an HM Treasury officer-led EWR economic growth board. But the public is not allowed to see who is on the board nor are we allowed to see their meeting minutes. Secrecy rarely leads to good decisions, and this unaccountable board and its meetings are…
East West Rail Value is Based on Wishful Thinking
Cambridge Approaches and BFARe believe the Department for Transport (DfT) claims of EWR-related economic growth involve a dark world of wishful thinking. The onus is on DfT to justify spending vast amounts of public money – another £7-8 billion to go just on the railway construction. We are at least 10 years in to analysing…
BFARe Meeting with Beth West – EWR CEO
25 October, 2023 BFARe met Beth West, CEO of EWRCo and former Commercial Director of HS2 Ltd, on 25th October. BFARe sought an explanation as to why EWR had failed to consider our objections to Route E/Alignment in their Route Update Announcement released May 2023. To summarise the outcome of the meeting: Background In May…
EWR Rejection Delivered to Rail Minister
Press Release 11th September, 2023 A declaration of opposition to East West Rail was delivered to Huw Merriman, Rail Minister, on Sept 6, 2023. This declaration was signed by elected officials across the region who represent 200,000 residents impacted by the EWR project. The rejection of EWR represents a significant shift in official opinion regarding…
How Bedford Blight Serves the East West Rail Project
Construction Blight, Removal of Hospital Parking, Unbridled Greenfield Homebuilding 18th August, 2023 The diesel East West Railway is an inefficient and antiquated Victorian transport solution without merit for modern ecological inter-city travel. The Victorians themselves chose a straight flat route between Oxford & Cambridge, not the hilly, bendy and costly Route E as confirmed in…
Declaration of Opposition to the East West Rail Route Proposal
Request for Declaration Signatures – Deadline 4th September 2023 We are a group of parish councils, councillors, environmental groups, campaign groups and residents of Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire. We write this declaration in response to the East West Rail Bedford to Cambridge Route Update Announcement dated 26th May 2023. If you are opposed to the…
Route E is the Worst Choice to Serve Our Community
BFARe Response to EWR Route Alignment Announcement Press Release – May 26th, 2023 BFARe is a grassroots campaign. Our members and supporters are Bedford Borough Parish and Ward Councillors and thousands of concerned Bedford Borough residents. BFARe firmly believes East West Rail Route E is the worst route to serve our community. It is not…
March for the Bedfordshire COUNTRYSIDE – Join us on our Protest Walk
Please join BFARe and CPRE Bedfordshire. We are marching on MARCH 26TH at noon CLAPHAM in protest of the destruction of our Bedfordshire Greenfields! BFARe demands that the government reconsider the destructive Route E for East West Rail. Now is the time to make a stand for the beautiful and accessible countryside in Bedfordshire and…
Bedford To Cambridge Route E is a Pipedream
BFARe Response to Government Autumn Statement November 23rd, 2022 The Chancellor of the Exchequer included East West Rail in his list of infrastructure projects he would continue to support. He did not give carte blanche acceptance of the preferred route E in all that will entail with regard to taxpayer cost and unproven business benefits.…
Public Review of East West Rail Business Case is Required
Richard Fuller MP letter to the Secretary of State for Transport October 14th, 2022 A letter was sent from Richard Fuller MP to the Secretary of State for Transport on behalf of his constituents of NE Bedfordshire concerning the status of the East West Rail Project. The letter requests that the Secretary of State not…
East West Rail: No Direction, no Mandate and No Business Case
Andy Collins: What’s going on with East West Rail 03 October 2022 The sheer arrogance of East West Rail and the government is unacceptable. The people of Bedford Borough continue to suffer due to their lack of direction and communication. BFARe stands for Bedford for a Re-consultation and now, more than ever, we need to…
Richard Fuller MP now Formally Opposed to East West Rail
East West Rail has “hit the buffers” says Local MP Bedford Independent 24/08/22 In an article for the Bedford Independent today, Richard Fuller MP for North East Bedfordshire, formally stated he is opposed to East West Rail. “The business case was due to be presented at the start of June, but it’s been delayed again…
Peaceful Demonstration against East West Rail and Bedford Borough Council
Saturday, March 26th 2022 10am – 4pm BFARe invites you to a peaceful public demonstration to coincide with the Mayor’s Climate Change Event on 25th and 26th March 2022.We will be holding our **peaceful demonstration** on March 26th throughout the day with specific rally times of 11am and 2pm. Route E through and North of…
Join BFARE and CPRE Bedfordshire on the Save Our Greenfields – Protest Walk
Please join BFARe and CPRE Bedfordshire. We are marching on Feb 13th at noon in protest of the destruction of our Bedfordshire Greenfields! We are demanding the end to greenfields development to save our wildlife, forests, biodiversity, farmland, carbon capture and our public access to open countryside. These Protest Walks will be in support of…
East West Rail meets North Beds Councillors
October 19th, 2021 – Wyboston North Bedfordshire Parish Councils finally met East West Rail on Tuesday, October 19th in Wyboston where East West Rail sought to restrict and control the attendance and agenda. Meeting Headlines • EWR are making decisions that impact lives, homes and livelihoods on the basis of non-statutory consultations. • EWR did…
Richard Fuller MP holds an Adjournment Debate in Parliament on East West Rail and North East Bedfordshire
Richard Fuller MP holds an Adjournment Debate in Parliament on East West Rail and North East Bedfordshire. The full video of the adjournment is available below.
Mike Barlow Letter to Mohammad Yasin MP Requesting Adjournment Debate Attendance
Richard Fuller MP has secured a Parliamentary Adjournment Debate on East West Rail’s Route Selection Process: Will Mohammad Yasin MP Attend the Debate and Support the Request for a Re-Consultation? BFARe’s Chairman, Mike Barlow, has written to MP Yasin to request his attendance at an Adjournment Debate on June 28th regarding the East West Rail…
BFARe Issues Formal Response to the EWR 2021 Consultation
BFARe is a community-based voluntary organisation comprising a group of nine Parish Councils along the Route E corridor between Bedford and the East Coast Mainline (ECML), together with Ward members from Bedford Borough Council; CPRE Bedfordshire; and many concerned residents. BFARe members have devoted considerable time and energy into investigating EWRCo’s proposals, based on their…
Fake News from the Lib Dems regarding destruction of Wixams homes
LIBERAL DEMOCRATS POST FAKE NEWS ON THEIR WEB SITE STATING HOMES ARE UNDER THREAT IF A SOUTHERN ROUTE IS CHOSEN The Liberal Democrats have posted a poll on their web site and have stated that 150 homes will need to be destroyed in Wixams if there is a Southern Route. We felt it necessary to…
BFARe Letter to Bedford Borough Council Re: Their Handling of East West Rail Public Consultations
BFARe Letter to Bedford Borough Council in advance of the upcoming June 2nd, 2021 meeting An excerpt from our letter…. “The current route alignment consultation through Bedford and North Bedfordshire stems from the 2019 Route selection consultation by EWRCo. This 2019 consultation was flawed for many reasons: Lack of adequate communication with impacted residents Unexplained…
Wildlife Trust Response to 2019 EWR Consultation – with Annotations
Wildlife Trust Consultation Response – with Annotations
East West Rail 2021 Consultation – Response by BFARe
East West Rail 2021 Consultation Response by BFARe
Bedford Borough Council Consultancy POs
Bedford Borough Council Consultancy POs.
SYSTRA – EWR Local Highway Impact Assessment for the Bedford Area
EAST WEST RAIL CENTRAL SECTION LOCAL HIGHWAYIMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE BEDFORD AREA FINALREPORT
Network Rail Six Track Option – October 2018
Network Rail Six Track Option – October 2018
Bedford Borough Council – EWR Response – March 2019
Bedford Borough Council – EWR Response – March 2019
Bedford Borough Council – Second Kilborn Report – March 2019
Second Kilborn report for the Bedford Borough Council – March 2019
Bedford Borough Council – First Kilborn Report – February 2019
First Kilborn report for the Bedford Borough Council – February 2019
SLC Technical Note 2021 – Implications of EWR Services Using Slow Lines North of Bedford
Implications of EWR Services Using Slow Lines North of Bedford – May 2021
SLC Report 2019 – Implications of EWR Services Using Slow Lines North of Bedford
Implications of EWR Services Using Slow Lines North of Bedford
Cllr Headley Letter to EWR Co – 30.08.2019
Letter by Cllr Headley to the EWR – 30.08.2019
BFARe FACT CHECK: Council Announces Consultation Report to EWR will Seek to Maximise Benefits and Minimise Impacts
“Council to Make Case to Government to Maximise Benefits of East West Rail for Residents and Minimise Impacts” “Council to Make Case to Government to Maximise Benefits of East West Rail for Residents and Minimise Impacts“ BFARe Comment: Why was this announcement, relevant to ALL Bedford Borough residents regardless of their political party, released as…
BFARe – Calling All Bedford Borough Residents – We Need Your Help – Now is The Time!
Please write to your Bedford Councillors! Please write letters to your Bedford councillors demanding they rescind their support for the destructive Northern Route E through Bedford! The next council meeting is JUNE 2nd – and we URGENTLY need your voice heard. Our BFARe letter writing guidance can be found here: https://bfare.org.uk/letter-writing-guidance/ You will find the…
Harpur Resident Letter to Councillors
Harpur Ward Letter: The REAL Cost of Not Engaging Your Constituents R Duke Harpur Ward Councillor Colleen Atkins Councillor Louise Jackson Bedford Borough Council By E-MAIL colleenatkins@outlook.com louise.jackson@bedford.gov.uk 21st May 2021 RE: 2019 Harpur Ward Constituent Engagement during East West Rail Route Consultation Process Dear Councillors Atkins and Jackson, As a resident of Harpur ward,…
Residents Railroaded by Bedford Borough Council
Please find YouTube links at the end of this article to access each meeting. Bedford Borough Council recently openly invited Borough constituents to ask questions in an attempt at a two-way public meeting concerning the East West Rail’s preferred route through Bedford as part of the Oxford to Cambridge Railway Arc. What occurred was, at…
BFARe on BBC 3 Counties
Interview with BFARe’s Mike Barlow and the Director of East West Rail BFARe’s Mike Barlow was interviewed on the Andy Collins show immediately followed by an interview with Simon Blanchflower, Director of East West Rail. Listen here for the full interview.
Recent Election Results – A Sign of the Times?
Local Political Leaders who Supported and Lobbied East West Rail Were Voted Out Regardless of Party BFARe Campaigner Adam writes to Simon Blanchflower, Director of East West Rail… “I write to you with regards to your engagement with England’s Economic Heartland, local authorities and the recent local elections. It is striking how many leaders who…
BFARe Statement –
COUNCIL CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF HOMES NORTH OF BEDFORD STATION Bedford Borough Council have just revealed a technical report they recently commissioned from SLC Rail which purports to disprove the need for the 2 new discrete tracks to the north of Midland Road Station proposed by EWR Co in their current Consultation documentation. BFARE welcomes…
JUDICIAL REVIEW – BFARE URGES YOU TO JOIN THE CAMPAIGN
BFARe has been looking into whether judicial review could be used to force EWRCo to reconsider their choice of Route E. We have now consulted our barrister, who is experienced in major infrastructure projects like this one. Whilst the unexplained discrepancies in route costs between 2019 and 2020 could be of legal concern, now is…
2019 EWR Consultation Public Feedback Report for the Preferred Route Alignment (Route E)
The document below is the 2019 Bedford to Cambridge Route Option Consultation Public Feedback Report.
Route Selection Unanswered Questions: Richard Fuller MP replies to Constituent
Dear [redacted] I recently must start by apologising for the very long delay in replying to your email. As you noted, I did receive a large amount of correspondence from constituents. Unfortunately I had mislaid your email and so did not respond earlier as I was able to do with other constituents. Perhaps I can…
“Letters: What is it about Bedford Council and train chaos?” – Bedford Independent
What is it about Bedford Council and trains that inevitably leads to chaos? – 01/04/2021
“Residents left ‘reeling’ ahead of next stage of East West rail consultation” – Bedford Independent
Local residents in Poets Area, near Bedford Station, learn that their homes might be affected by the new route – 31/03/2021
The new March 31st Consultation is based upon a flawed 2019 Route Consultation
The new consultation released on 31st March 2021 is based upon a flawed Route Consultation from 2019 and is therefore invalid. Follow our progress over the past two weeks below. 15/03/2021 – BFARe presented to Chris Heaton-Harris on March 15, 2021 – and this is what we said about the 2019 Consultation process and why…
EWR Announces Second Non-Statutory Consultation
EWR launches the second phase of consultation, valid until 09.06.2021
BFARe critique Bedford Borough’s report on the alternative EWR Alignments
The Mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton, convened a Council meeting on 6th February 2024 to present the findings of three consultant reports that compare alternatives to the EWRCo preferred route through Bedford and out across north Bedfordshire countryside. These reports were from Systra, SLC Rail and JBA.
Our full analysis of the consultant reports can be found at this link.
The Secret EWR Economic Growth Board deciding your future
The National Audit Office report on EWR revealed the existence of an HM Treasury officer-led EWR economic growth board. But the public is not allowed to see who is on the board nor are we allowed to see their meeting minutes. Secrecy rarely leads to good decisions, and this unaccountable board and its meetings are deciding the fate of our region.
East West Rail Value is Based on Wishful Thinking
The National Audit Office (NAO) report on East West Rail found that the value of the 9B infrastructure project to “unclear”. Cambridge Approaches and BFARe believe the Department for Transport (DfT) claims of EWR-related economic growth involve a dark world of wishful thinking.
EWR Rejection Delivered to Rail Minister
A declaration of opposition to East West Rail was delivered to Huw Merriman, Rail Minister, on Sept 6, 2023. This declaration was signed by elected officials across the region who represent 200,000 residents impacted by the EWR project. The rejection of EWR represents a significant shift in official opinion regarding the project and route proposal.
How Bedford Blight Serves the East West Rail Project
East West Rail will bring Construction Blight, Remove Hospital Parking, and allow Unbridled Greenfield Homebuilding. The diesel East West Railway is an inefficient and antiquated Victorian transport solution without merit for modern ecological inter-city travel.
Declaration of Opposition to East West Rail
We write this declaration in response to the East West Rail Bedford to Cambridge Route Update Announcement dated 26th May 2023.
This **letter is to formally state the following: “We do not want the East West Rail Company’s proposal as described in the Route Update Announcement.”
Route E is the Worst Choice to Serve Our Community
BFARe firmly believes East West Rail Route E is the worst route to serve our community. It is not fit for purpose and is a waste of taxpayer money. It is another HS2.
BFARe will continue to fight Route E. We will continue to publicise how Route E will destroy homes, businesses, quality of life, our countryside, and the environment for all of Bedford Borough.
March 26th, noon – March for the Bedfordshire Countryside
Public Review of East West Rail Business Case is Required
East West Rail: Open Letter
No Direction, No Mandate and No Business Case
Richard Fuller MP now Formally Opposed to East West Rail
Join BFARE and CPRE Bedfordshire on the Save Our Greenfields – Protest Walk
East West Rail meets North Bedfordshire Councillors – Wyboston, Oct 19, 2021.
Richard Fuller MP holds an Adjournment Debate in Parliament on East West Rail and North East Bedfordshire
BFARe Issues Formal Response to the EWRco 2021 Consultation
BFARe Letter to Bedford Borough Council for 2nd of June Meeting Re: Bedford Borough Council’s Handling of East West Rail Consultations
BFARe FACT CHECK recent Bedford Borough Council Meetings
BFARe’s Mike Barlow interviewed on 3 Counties Radio – Andy Collins Show
BFARe STATEMENT: Council Calls For Protection of Homes North of Bedford Station
Judicial Review: NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO SIT BACK –
BFARe Latest News and Research: Join the Campaign!
BFARe has been looking into whether judicial review could be used to force EWRCo to reconsider their choice of Route E. We have now consulted our barrister, who is experienced in major infrastructure projects like this one. Whilst the unexplained discrepancies in route costs between 2019 and 2020 could be of legal concern, now is no the time to raise a legal challenge. Our barrister believes there may be further opportunities for a legal challenge once the route alignment is published.
Now is not the time to sit back, we must continue to press on and try to obtain information that can be used in our potential Judicial Review after the alignment announcements. Please click this link for the full report…
Route Selection Unanswered Questions: Richard Fuller MP replies to Constituent
Dear [redacted]
I recently must start by apologising for the very long delay in replying to your email. As you noted, I did receive a large amount of correspondence from constituents.
Unfortunately I had mislaid your email and so did not respond earlier as I was able to do with other constituents.
Perhaps I can update you on what actions I have taken as your MP. I have been facilitating meetings for local residents and Parish Councillors and over the past few weeks….
New Consultation is Based on a Flawed 2019 Consultation
BFARe states that the new public consultation released on 31st March 2021 is based upon a flawed Route Consultation from 2019 and is therefore invalid. We believe this to be true given the cost increases from the new proposal – which now require serious back-checking versus alternative routes. We can only assume that East West Rail’s continued lack of transparency is deliberate.
Read our presentation on the flawed 2019 Consultation and resulting correspondence with Chris Heaton-Harris here.
Google Earth map interpretation of the new East West Rail consultation route.
A new 3D google earth map showing the preferred East West Rail alignments out of Bedford. – courtesy of campaign member Jetinder Dhaliwal
EWR’s second non-statutory consultation opens today, 31.03.2021
EWR has announced the next stage of public consultation on the East West Rail Project. You have until 09.06.2021 to read their proposals and express your views. – 31.03.2021
CPRE Bedfordshire working in partnership with BFARe
CPRE Bedfordshire, the countryside charity, are pleased to be working in partnership with the BFARe (Bedford For A Re-Consultation) campaign. – 22.03.2021
Brickhill Parish Council Rescinds Support for EWR – Route ‘E’
Brickhill Parish Council has written to East West Rail (EWR) to rescind its previous support for Route E – 22.03.2021
Meeting with Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Minister of State, Department for Transport and Richard Fuller MP
The BFARe campaign met Chris Heaton-Harris MP, Minister for Transport yesterday, set up by Richard Fuller MP – 17/03/2021