In a letter seen by the Bedford Independent, the rail minister has confirmed that EWR will host an additional meeting specifically to discuss the location of a controversial station car park.
Rail minister Lord Hendy has confirmed that, following a request from Bedford & Kempston MP, Mohammad Yasin, a community meeting will be held in Queen’s Park in early May to allow residents to contribute to the consultation.
The car park forms part of wider plans for changes around Bedford Midland station under the East West Rail scheme.
An eight-storey car park, accessed from Ashburnham Road to the east of the station, had originally been proposed by EWR, and the new plans saw the car park relocated to a site off Ford End Road in Queen’s Park, to the west of the station.
Its proposed location has caused concern to residents in Queen’s Park, and has been rejected unanimously by Bedford Borough Council.
Read: Council unanimously opposes East West Rail’s car park relocation plans
In the letter to Mr Yasin, Lord Hendy said: “At your request, EWR Co will organise a community meeting in the Queens Park area in early May to talk through the above and ensure residents fully understand the process and are able to contribute to the consultation.
“This is in addition to the consultation event taking place in Bedford on Saturday, 23 May.”
He stated that the proposed site for the new multi-storey car park at Bedford station is not final, with other locations still under consideration.
Lord Peter Hendy said the Ford End Road proposal was included in the latest East West Rail consultation as a “base design”, while further options continued to be explored.
“While it was clear that you and local residents were opposed to this proposal, there was insufficient time to develop a new proposal in advance of the launch of public consultation,” he wrote.
“As a result, the consultation contained Ford End Road as the ‘base design’.”
“Exploring all solutions”
The letter referred to a meeting between the minister, Mr Yasin, and East West Rail’s (EWR) chief executive, David Hughes.
It said: “EWR recognise that more work needs to be done in parallel to the consultation to explore all solutions to parking and traffic in central Bedford.”
It added that the Ford End Road proposal followed earlier feedback calling for alternatives to an initial plan to site the car park at Ashburnham Road.
The minister wrote: “I want to reassure you that this is a genuine consultation on options for car parking at Bedford Station, and I encourage you and your constituents to contribute.”
He also said East West Rail was continuing to explore wider solutions to parking and traffic in central Bedford alongside the consultation.
Read: EWR car park confusion blamed on council communications, says Bedford & Kempston MP
“While ultimately it will be for EWR to recommend a proposal to the Department for Transport, they are keen to work collaboratively with Bedford Borough Council to find a mutually agreeable solution,” he wrote.
“I am informed that constructive discussions are underway with agreement that all options need to be considered, taking into account the wider traffic flows in Bedford, not just the impact of a new station car park.”
EWR’s consultation is due to run until 9 June 2026.
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
with additional reporting by Erica Roffe
