BFARe Press Release
15 November, 2024
Over the past few months, BFARe has been very busy obtaining detailed Route E maps from East West Rail through the Freedom of Information process. We carried out this work as it was evident that the scale of the Route E construction project had not been disclosed although was already known. The EWR maps and the BFARe analysis can be found on our web site here:- https://bfare.org.uk/bfare-latest-news-and-research/.
The new EWR non-statutory consultation documents further confirm just how much Bedford and our local environment will greatly feel the effects from the construction process and on-going rail operations.
Bedfordians have been feeling the impact of the East West Rail project for years. The blight experienced by home and landowners is real, and to many, it is devastating. Impacted Bedford residents are often without adequate assistance and support from their local elected officials.
Bedford Borough Council promoted and approved Route E. BFARe calls upon the council to now reconsider this decision. There are alternative East West Rail route options which serve Bedford town that must be properly considered without undue pressure from those that made the original Route E decision.
HS2 is an example of how both the DfT and local officials have got things wrong at the expense of the taxpayer billions. The DfT must learn the lessons from HS2 and stop making the same mistakes regarding blight, cost underestimates and overspend. The Labour government need to question the Route E decision as it is clear that building a winding, damaging, indirect and expensive route is not exactly the best use of taxpayer funds.
What do we know about the new non-Statutory Consultation?
- Mapping information is much improved on previous consultations but gives little indication of how the extensive civil engineering involved in constructing the railway through the heart of the mature town of Bedford and elsewhere will be managed with any degree of acceptability.
- The claim of “green energy” fuelling the trains as announced is only feasible for passenger services, not freight. According to EWR estimates, there will be 12 additional diesel freight trains per day travelling each way through the centre of Bedford.
- The number of homes in the Poets area to be affected has been increased to 75 properties.
- This is the second time EWR has unilaterally changed what was consulted upon previously. They have now just announced their preferred route will cross the A1 Black Cat area without giving the public prior awareness. This destroys public confidence in what EWR attempt to portray as an industry leading public marketing exercise.
We ask all Bedfordians to engage with this non-statutory consultation. We will be producing further documentation and information to help. The East West Rail project will cause years of upheaval for all Bedfordians at the expense of local mass housing and Cambridge Science Park growth.
The economic growth that East West Rail will generate for Bedford remains unclear, and without a business case, the benefit of new East West rail transport remains wholly unproven. What we do know is that Bedford will experience years of construction blight, additional commuter traffic and EWR diesel freight running through our polluted town centre.
BFARe Communications Team