Councillor Sue Clark

Marston Park Road Adoption – an update
I recently met up with CBC and Barratts to get an update on progress towards highways adoption on Marston Park and there is good news!
Gold Furlong, Great and Little Linns, The Jumps and Ford Piece have all now been snagged, marking up the areas that need attention to bring the roads up to adoptable standards.
Barratts are out for pricing on these works. Barratts will confirm when these works are due to begin (they want to be able to give a firm date) and as soon as they are done these roads will be subject to a road safety audit. Assuming this is satisfactory, the roads can then be adopted.
Once adopted I can then seek highways improvement works to deal with parking issues around the school, speeding along Gold Furlong and parking issues on Gold Furlong at the entrance to the Forest Centre.
I am approaching Highways now to request they start considering some solutions to these issues now, in advance of adoption being completed.
Traffic Issues on Gold Furlong

Following my update yesterday, as well as contacting Highways Improvements at the Council I am starting an online petition to draw attention to the traffic issues on Gold Furlong. With 100 valid signatures (from residents in Marston not elsewhere) this will come automatically to the Traffic Management Committee for consideration and will help to speed things up. I have used this very effectively recently in Cranfield.
Please consider signing this petition requesting Highways Officers look for solutions to the parking issues outside Forest End, rat running and speeding along Gold Furlong and parking on Gold Furlong close to the entrance to the Forest Centre.

Sign the Petition Traffic calming for Gold Furlong, Marston

CHANCELLOR IN MARSTON
Jeremy Hunt was out canvassing with Festus on Marston Park this afternoon; afterwards meeting residents and Rob and Rachel at the lovely Marston Bean Cafe. It was probably slightly surreal to find the Chancellor on the door step!

Ridgmont Save our School Fete..

Wow!
What an amazing result!
We have now added up the proceeds from Save Our School Event and cannot believe the generosity of everyone who came. We raised £728!! After expenditure of:
Float. £50
Burgers. £70
Bouncy Castle £90
Total. £220

The Grand Total is £508!!! Well done Ridgmont and Brogborough you should be very proud. Your commitment to helping the school stay open is just overwhelming. This will really help in Saving Our School.
Thank you to everyone.

RIDGMONT VILLAGE SAVE OUR SCHOOL EVENT
It was a pleasure to help out at the fete to raise money for the Ridgmont ‘Save our School’ campaign.
The Human Fruit Machine brought a lot of fun… along with the bouncy castle, scarecrow competition and many other stalls. Well done to Maria Spearing, Kelly Swain and Team!

MARSTON GATE WAREHOUSING APPLICATION - FRESH CONSULTATION
It never rains but pours - on the same morning that the future of Ridgmont Lower was discussed at Central Beds Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee which directly affects Ridgmont and Brogborough villages (of which more in a different post) I received formal notification that a fresh information has been received on the Marston Gate phase 2 warehouse allocated site at Junction 13. Comments are requested by the 11th of October. Details on the application, given below.
I haven't had a chance to look at any of the information yet. This is a heads up and I will give more information as I have it.
Along with Cllr Morris I will continue to fight this harmful proposed development.

Application No: CB/22/02213/OUT Location: Land to the south east of Prologis Park, Marston Gate, Ridgmont Proposal: Hybrid Application: Outline Application: Er****on of up to 68,000 sqm storage and distribution facilities (Use class B8) with ancillary light industrial (B2) and ancillary office accommodation (E(g)), with all matters reserved other than landscaping (structural landscaping, all groundworks and diversion works to the existing on-site pipeline) and Full Planning Permission for the er****on of 62,000 sqm (gross) of storage and distribution facilities (Use Class B8) with ancillary light industrial (B2) and ancillary office accommodation (E (g)) within 3 no. units: HGV and car parking (including a dedicated lorry park with associated (E(b)) food and drink uses and a separate recreational use car park); the er****on of a welfare, security and amenity building; works to footpaths, cycle routes and bridleways; site access to include provision of a 3 arm roundabout on the A507 and internal estate roads; works for the diversion of existing pipeline; landscaping (off-site and on-site provision); drainage; groundworks; and associated works. EIA development accompanied by an Environmental Statement.

A BIT MORE ROAD STUFF
It has been confirmed that the repairs to College Road/ Crawley Road junction, Cranfield will be carried out with a road closure in early December. Structural repairs to a stretch of College Road through the University campus will take place at the same time.
A 70m stretch of Moreteyne Road, Marston will also be repaired with a road closure at the same time.
Patching is due to take place shortly on Bedford Road Cranfield.
In Bliss Avenue, Cranfield the dip in the road will be repaired.
Repairs to Mill Road Cranfield are also planned in for the autumn.
Resurfacing to the High St between Lodge Road and Moulsoe Road will take place in early November under a road closure, as will resurfacing of Court Road. I am checking the dates on this as it is scheduled for term time, which might cause problems.
Bury Ware Lidlington is due to be resurfaced from the 19th of September under a road closure.
Church St Lidlington is scheduled to have patching done before Christmas.
Bye Road Lidlington, the deep pot hole should be filled urgently, with further patching work due to be completed by the end of the year.

FUTURE OF RIDGMONT LOWER SCHOOL
CONSULTATION POSTPONED. NEW START DATE OF 12th SEPTEMBER
I have been chasing officers to find out what is going on with the Ridgmont Lower School consultation which was due to start on Tuesday and which residents in Ridgmont had been gearing themselves up for.
I was disappointed to learn this morning from officers that the consultation has been delayed due to by-election restrictions and that the consultation event, due to take place this afternoon has been postponed.
I now understand the consultation will begin on the 12th of September and extend to the 3rd of November. Today's drop in will be rearranged. I am seeking confirmation that the other drop in events will proceed as planned on the12 of September on line, (6.30-7.30) and on the 21st of September at Ridgmont Lower School 3.30-5.30.
Postscript - I have checked and the web site says the consultation will start on the 12th of September but the drop in events will not be held until after the parliamentary by-election. This doesn't make sense to me - how we can have a consultation but not drop in events associated with the consultation? I will be following this up.

RAAC POSITION STATEMENT FROM CENTRAL BEDS
Position statement from Central Bedfordshire Council regarding Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) - as at 11am on Friday, 1 September 2023:

"You will be aware of the school closures across the country due to safety concerns relating to the use of a specific type of concrete, Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), used in buildings.
We understand this is a concern, particularly as we approach the start of term.
At the point of writing this update, no schools in Central Bedfordshire need to close due to this issue. Parents should continue to prepare to send their children, unless they hear directly from their school otherwise.
The situation is a moving picture. The Government are not able at this current time to be categoric about the total number of schools affected, so this situation may change. This statement sets out the current position in Central Bedfordshire.
We will continue to update this statement if new information becomes available".

ROAD STUFF
The Council recently published it’s roads structural maintenance programme for the coming year. This is a rolling programme of ‘structural’ repairs to roads rather than pot hole repairs. It includes resurfacing and surface dressing. Quite a bit of surface dressing has been carried out in our area recently. This, I am told is a method of extending the life of a road surface. It’s a preventative measure and gives up to 10 years more life to a road. As the last administration we increased the budget by £1.5million to allow for additional surface dressing and we are now seeing the results of that investment coming through.

Whilst this is essentially an Officer led list of works based on data, I am pleased to see some of the resurfacing repairs I have particularly been pushing for confirmed on the list. This includes resurfacing Bury Ware from Broughton End Road to Church St in Lidlington; resurfacing from no 195 to no 45 Lower Shelton Road, Lower Shelton and in Cranfield from Lodge Road to Moulsoe Road.

All of these works will be carried out between now and the end of the year. Waiting for resurfacing works also explains why the existing pot-holes remain as temporary fills that often need redoing. I appreciate this is a frustration, but we will end up with a new road surface.
I am also pushing for Salford Road in Salford and Hulcote between Cranfield Road and the junction with the A421 to be included on the resurfacing list, which is in very poor condition. Officers have confirmed they will assess this road.

The rest of the list for our ward includes:

Court Road Cranfield – entire road for resurfacing
High St Cranfield from No 128 to No 134 on even side, footway resurfacing
Wavendon Road Salford - surface dressing
Cobblers Lane Ridgmont - surface dressing
Green Lane Stewartby - surface dressing
Bedford Road Marston - surface dressing
Beancroft Road Marston – surface dressing
College Road Cranfield - resurfacing. I have asked for confirmation of how much of this road will be resurfaced.
Please note much of the surface dressing has already been completed.

OTHER ROAD UPDATES
The subsidence on Station Road in Marston will have a permanent repair during the autumn. This will involve a road closure.

Church Street in Lidlington will also have Carriage Way repairs as will Bye Road.

Woburn Road at the junction with the old A421 is due to have some patching shortly.

Junction improvements are proposed at Red Lion Close in Cranfield and I have asked for more information on this.

I have also asked for confirmation on when the pot holes at the junction of College Road with Crawley Road will be filled.

I’d like to thank our new Central Beds Area Steward who has only been covering our area since about April for his help with our road issues. He is making a real difference.

MARSTON SCHOOLS' MOVE TO 2 TIER AGREED
and RIDGMONT LOWER SCHOOL CONSULTATION

The future of all the maintained schools in the Cranfield and Marston ward were discussed in 2 separate agenda items at the Council’s Executive meeting this morning.

For the Cranfield and Marston cluster of schools the new Council administration has agreed this morning that the move from 3 to 2 tier will go ahead. This was despite pausing the whole Schools for the Future Programme just a few weeks ago.

This is good news as it’s critically important the schools in this ward move towards 2 tier in tandem with Beds Borough, otherwise there would be absolute chaos.

At the meeting I raised concerns about funding for the additional class rooms and facilities that will be needed as part of the move to a 2 tier model of education. I didn’t get an answer and my concerns were not addressed in the meeting. There is funding earmarked in the Council’s budget and I was looking for assurances that funding commitments will be met even if inflation increases costs.

I also asked for assurance that Lower Shelton Lower School will reopen as an alternative specialist provision. This is very much supported by the community, but I was not given assurances on this either.
(Please note Academies such as Cranfield Lower carryout out their own consultation and seek permission to move to 2 tier from the Regional School's director, so were not part of this morning's agenda item)

RIDGMONT LOWER SCHOOL'S FUTURE

For a new administration that says it prides itself on transparency and listening to residents there was precious little of this in evidence when it came to the future of Ridgmont Lower School report.
7 residents and parents had gone to speak at the executive meeting, but despite repeated requests from me on behalf of residents, the Leader of the Council, Adam Zerny insisted that only 3 speakers would be heard in full. He proceeded to interrupt Maria Spearing Chair of the Parish Council and 2 other residents who had been allowed to make extra points.
He then adjourned the meeting and tried to close down Cllr James Jamieson who was also making excellent points in support of Ridgmont School.
A big shout out to Maria, Debbie Witing and Kelly Swain who all spoke passionately and eloquently about the school and the strength of feeling in Ridgmont, clearly determined to keep the school open and thriving. Also to Brian Kirby, Sylvia Woolard and Kelly Mercel who were not put off and made additional points until the Leader of the Council closed them down. Not a good look for democracy!

I think we left the Executive in not doubt about the strength of feeling in the community about the possible closure of the Lower School. I feel confident that together with fantastic community support we will come up with a way forward. This was clearly in evidence today.

It was agreed that the consultation would go ahead although the wording was changed to say the consultation was about the future of the school and not about closure.

RIDGMONT SCHOOL - COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO FIGHT POSSIBLE CLOSURE
Yesterday evening I hosted a drop in event in Ridgmont along with PC Chair Maria Spearing and parent Kelly Swain for the community to hear more about the possible closure of Ridgmont Lower School.
The community are keen to use their combined resources to find ways of saving the school from possible closure and Robert Morris and I are supporting this great effort.
At the Executive Meeting next week the Executive is being asked to decide to launch a consultation on the future of the school. The school is under threat of closure following low pupil numbers.

VICTORY FOR THE SKYLARKS!
Solar Park at Brogborough refused at Central Beds Planning Committee yesterday.

At first glance it makes great sense to site a solar park – we all understand the urgent need for green energy production - on a brownfield former landfill site. But as with all planning applications this needed to be considered on its merits.

For this application the trade off between solar energy and ecological and environmental harm caused by the development needed to be carefully considered.

I had called this application in to Central Bed’s Development Management Committee for a decision because I felt, on balance, that the harm caused by this very large solar scheme outweighed the benefits.

Yesterday speaking for about 20 minutes, I spoke out against this development; outlining the reasons why this application should be refused not least because of the long history of 25 years of landfill at Brogborough following decades of clay extraction.

Many of you will remember when Brogborough Landfill was active – the largest landfill site in Europe and many of you will remember how horrible it was to live near the tip – the eyesore, the smells, flies, rubbish, plastic bags hanging from the trees…. landfilling finally ended in 2008, following quite a battle – some of you may also remember our successful campaign at the time to get it closed permanently.

A comprehensive restoration plan was agreed for the tip to deliver a fantastic amenity for current and future communities to enjoy. A wildlife green corridor linking Marston Thrift and Hulcote Wood with amazing footpath links replacing severed footpaths, compensating the community for years of putting up with landfilling.

That was 15 years ago and whilst it is looking lovely we are still waiting for the restoration to be completed. The fantastic new footpath network over the site can be used, but is not yet adopted or signposted. The restoration process has been a difficult, slow and painful saga marred by repeated delays.

So, we still wait for the final scheme to be completed and to add insult this development will put back the completion of the restoration plan by another 35 years - by which time I’ll be dead!
Despite this, if you have been on the footpaths on the landfill you will know it is turning into a glorious place with wild flower meadows teaming with birds and wildlife. There are amazing 360 views all across the Marston Vale.

These wonderful views will be completely blocked by the solar panels. The footpaths will feel enclosed and the lovely amenity of these new footpaths will be ruined before they are even open.

As the landfill is dome shaped the solar arrays will be very prominent in the landscape and very visible in views from the Greensand Ridge and beauty spots like Lidlington Picnic site.

BIODIVERSITY NET GAIN
All developments now need to demonstrate a biodiversity net gain. I argued that this development fails to do that.
At Brogborough we have a restoration plan that will eventually create very high quality ‘open mosaic’ habitats for wildlife. This isn’t achieved yet.

The applicant argued that, by taking the current baseline (what’s there now) they would achieve bio-diversity net gain by delivering the restoration plan. This would not be a biodiversity net gain because we already have a plan (the restoration plan) that will take us there.
What should happen is the restoration plan should be taken as the base line and the net gain should be on top of that.

I argued therefore that the applicant therefore could not demonstrate biodiversity net gain.

SKYLARKS AND POLICY COMPLIANCE
Skylarks are a ‘species of principle importance’ – therefore have a very high level of protection. The landfill with it’s open landscape has become an amazing skylark hotspot. There are 24 skylark territories that would be destroyed by this application.

Skylarks nest on the ground and their territories are large. The solar panels would stop the skylarks from nesting.
The developer admitted they could not avoid or mitigate this and were not prepared to find alternative land as compensation.

National planning policies and Central Beds own policies say that development will not be permitted where harm to these protected species will occur.
So I argued that the application was not policy complaint and therefore, should be refused.

I was delighted the development management committee agreed with me and voted 9 against with 1 abstention.

A shout out also for Delise Ball chair of Cranfield Parish Council who spoke brilliantly.

I think the landfill could support some solar, and as I say, this would make good sense, but this scheme was too big and too harmful.

Photos show 2011, 2014, and now, illustrating how much the site has changed since landfill ended and how much time it is taking.

BRAEBURN WAY PLANNING APPLICATION deadline for comments 24th July
Richborough Estates have resubmitted their application for 180 houses on land North of Braeburn Way. This application was originally turned down by Central Beds Council and then refused at Appeal in July 2021.
What’s changed?
The application itself is basically the same, 180 houses, access off Eight Acres, with the Harcourt footpath link proposed for emergency access.
The main reason for refusal at appeal was that the development and access via Flitt Leys Close would have an ‘unacceptable effect on highways safety’. Richborough have tried to get around this by buying up land behind the takeaways (14 on the plan) to provide off street parking for Flitt Leys residents who currently park on street. Double yellow lines would be extended to stop on street parking. They say this will make the access safe. It is not clear how this would be enforced. Or how affected residents might feel about not being able to park outside their homes.
What are the main issues?
1. Access through Flitt Leys and Braeburn Way must remain a key issue even if the alternative parking proposal is accepted by the Council. There are plans to expand St Paul’s to a 2 form Primary School which will already add pressure.
2. Close proximity to the airfield. Richborough admit there is a noise issue and propose a 3m high acoustic fence along the northern western boundary of the site and to build a continuous frontage of houses nearest to the airfield to mitigate aircraft noise (11 on plan).
3. The fuel farm has been granted planning permission to relocate close to the north western boundary of the site. This will be located at a safe distance from existing housing but would be very close to this development if it goes ahead.
4. This is not an allocated site and is outside the settlement boundary. The Local Plan has been adopted and so carries full weight in planning law. The Council believes it can demonstrate a 5-year housing supply and so it doesn’t need this site.
Last time you were fantastic, and 179 letters of objection were submitted. This time, so far, there have been 29. If you object to this planning application, please submit your comments to [email protected] by the 24th of July. Planning application number CB/23/01751/OUT. Contact us if we can help.
Kind Regards, Cllr Sue Clark & Cllr Robert Morris [email protected] 07875191978 [email protected]

MILL ROAD TRAFFIC PETITION
Thank you to everyone who signed my petition to deal with traffic issues on Mill Road.
I submitted the petition to the Council and will be formally presenting it at the Traffic Management meeting on the 18th of July.
As a result Officers are recommending double yellow lines on Mill Road at the junctions of Springfield Way and Pincords and the section of Mill Road in between the 2 junctions. If this is agreed next week there will then be a formal consultation.
Below is an extract of the committee report. Incidentally, it only refers to the paper version of the petition. The online version collected a further 150 signatures.

Committee Paper Extract:
'Central Bedfordshire Council Highways received a valid petition in June 2023 signed by 62 signatories. The petition states; -
“Petition to Central Bedfordshire Council Traffic Management Committee.
Parking on Mill Road has become such an issue it is often unsafe to turn out of Springfield Way and Pincords and driving along Mill Road has become very congested.
We, the undersigned, are concerned residents who urge our council to act now to investigate possible solutions to improve safety and congestion on Mill Rd, Cranfield.”
2. A copy of the petition is available in appendix A.
3. Officers noted the petition and met with Cllr Clark to discuss the matter and better understand the issues experienced on Mill Road and the adjacent junctions.
4. During the meeting Cllr Clark outlined the recent history, and how the area was subject to parking from those driving to the area to be picked up and transported elsewhere.
Although this in itself is not illegal, the parking of these cars caused issues for residents and other highway users that legitimately used the route to travel the highway network.
5. It was noted that the matter seems to have largely dissipated recently and the impact of the parking has diminished. However, parking restrictions at certain junctions would be beneficial to first discourage parking at these locations and to allow enforcement by
Central Bedfordshire Council.
6. It was agreed with Cllr Clark that officers would seek permission to advertise double yellow lines around the junctions of Mill Road with Springfield Way and Pincords Lane and the section of Mill Road between the two junctions.
7. This order will be subject to the normal Traffic Regulation Order processes and will be advertised on site along with statutory consultees. Should any objections to the proposal be received then it will be brought to the appropriate Traffic Management
Meeting to review the objections and decide whether or not to make the Order, taking into consideration the objection'.

EAST WEST RAIL ENGAGEMENT EVENT
LIDLINGTON VILLAGE HALL TUESDAY 4TH JULY 2-8PM
East West Rail recently published an update on their Oxford to Cambridge route. It includes changes to their proposals for the Marston Vale.
New proposals include:
• To run 6 trains an hour, 3 each way, along the Marston Vale section of the route. Down from the 8 -10 trains an hour originally proposed which meant substantial upgrades to the line and road crossing closures.
• Now aiming to keep the road crossings open in Lidlington, both Station Crossing, and Marston Road Crossing and at Millbrook. Subject to level crossing safety risk assessments and traffic and transport modelling. Barrier down time not known. But what happens if they can’t keep the crossings open?
• Speed of trains will be lower than the 100mph originally proposed, but more than 60mph. What does this mean? There will be up to 2 freight trains a day.
• No decisions have been made on station configuration

I went to the engagement event in Woburn Sands on Friday and raised my concerns and questions. As you know, the new proposals include aiming to keep the road crossings open now. I learnt that this is subject to a level crossing safety risk procedure where safety issues such as barrier type, CCTV, sight lines, signalling arrangements, barrier down time and the safety risk itself will be assessed, and also subject to traffic and transport modelling, which is yet to be completed - ie what is the current use and the predicted future use up to at least 2030/2035. When I asked what happens if these assessments fail I was told the key task is to see if they can keep the crossings open. I was also told EWR consider 3 trains an hour is genuinely sufficient.
Whilst this isn't a formal consultation, you can feed back informally at the event to the EWR staff and afterwards by email:
[email protected]
I do hope you will be able to get along tomorrow.

https://centralbedfordshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/783082
RIDGMONT LOWER SCHOOL
At the Council’s Executive Committee last week I asked the new Leader of the Council, Cllr Adam Zerny why the Forward Plan had been published with a proposal to consult on the future of Ridgmont Lower School on the agenda for August without the school knowing it was in the public domain, and before they had been allowed to inform their staff, parents and other stakeholders. Cllr Hayley Whittaker the new Executive Member replied, saying there had been an ‘incredibly unfortunate’ error. When I challenged further, reminding Cllr Whittaker that it is the responsibility of the Executive to sign off the papers for their meetings before they are published I was told the Forward Plan is a ‘live’ document, items get added late and the Executive had not been given sight of it. I don’t accept this explanation. Having been on the Executive for 10 years I know the process. The Executive signs off the forward plan before it is published as part of the Executive Committee papers. The responsibility to check it is fit for publication lies with them.

At the meeting in Ridgmont organised by parents and well attended by residents and parents earlier this week I was astonished to learn from my colleague Cllr Robert Morris and PC Chair Maria Spearing that Cllr John Baker had had the nerve to turn up and offer to support Ridgmont Lower School! Let me be clear. John Baker (who does not represent Ridgmont) is no friend to Ridgmont Lower School. It appears that last year he had been telling residents on the doorstep that Husborne Crawley and Woburn were to become an Infant/Junior model and that Ridgmont school was closing. This was not true although John Baker had been promoting his preferred model of a Husborne Crawley/Woburn infant/junior model for some time. (To be clear, this is not happening and Husborne Crawley have applied to join an academy trust based in Milton Keynes). Unfortunately it seems these rumours have been harmful to Ridgmont School.
To make matters worse the whole Schools for the Future programme has been thrown into doubt by an Independent Administration announcement this morning that they plan to ‘take time’ to review the Schools for the Future Programme. This could affect the Cranfield and Marston cluster where there is strong support for the move to 2 tier which will also bring much needed school places to our cluster of schools. A recommendation is due to be made to the Executive Committee on the 1st of August. It is really important that this programme proceeds in tandem with Beds Borough as there is so much pupil cross over between the 2 local authority areas. I sincerely hope these plans are not now compromised.
To see the relevant clip, click on item 7. Forward Plan.

Executive - Tuesday 20 June 2023, 9:30am - Central Bedfordshire Council Webcasting Executive - Tuesday 20 June 2023, 9:30am - Central Bedfordshire Council Webcasting

Braeburn Way Planning Application
The Braeburn Way application has been validated and is now a live planning application open for consultation.
You may remember this is an unallocated (not in the local plan) site off Eight Acres that was turned down by Central Beds and turned down at planning appeal. But the developer is back having another attempt at getting planning permission for up to 180 houses. They are also trying to overcome the main reason for refusal, which was highways access through Flitt Leys Close by suggesting they remove the on street parking in Flitt Leys and provide off street parking instead behind the take-aways. I haven't had a chance to study the application in detail yet, so more to follow, but it is planning application CB/23/01751/OUT. Comments by the 24th of July.