A new “all singing and all dancing” hospital is on the “shopping list” for Tempsford New Town – if the development goes ahead.
And Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) leader Adam Zerny suggested it could even replace Bedford Hospital – which could instead be used for housing.
Tempsford is a priority site and one of 12 areas proposed for transformation by the government’s New Towns Taskforce.
Read: Developer submits plans for 802-acre garden community near Tempsford
Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council and Independent Potton councillor Adam Zerny updated Biggleswade town councillors on Tempsford, telling the council: “There’s an extremely high probability this will happen.
Hospital replaced with housing
“If you’d like us to lie down in front of the bulldozers, as your elected representatives, we’ll do so.
“But we’d much prefer you say ‘here’s our shopping list of things to come out of this that would really benefit the next generation’, which we’d try to ensure we obtain.
“This includes resolving the A1 and getting incredible new facilities. Bedford Hospital isn’t in the right place, as you can’t park easily or get to it quickly.
“It’s a big financial asset there, which could be turned into housing. I suspect the government might think about closing the facility there and build an ‘all singing all dancing’ hospital in Tempsford.
“That could benefit Biggleswade and Sandy residents having a new hospital on their doorstep. We don’t have a proper nature reserve round here.
“But there’s masses of wildlife around Tempsford, so we could find a way of creating a new RSPB site.
“There’s a huge floodplain in the area, and that will have to be given some serious thought. If you build a new town, there’s the chance to create something impressive.
“I’m not convinced Tempsford is the right place. But, if they’re going to do it, those are the things I’ll be talking about,” he added.
“When the railway station is built at Tempsford, there should be free buses from the surrounding villages, and apprentice schemes for the local area.”
Read: New town at Tempsford could reshape Bedford’s future
A1 left out?
Biggleswade Mayor councillor Jonathan Woodhead said: “From the town council’s perspective, it’s the kind of sphere and impact this development at Tempsford would have further down the A1.
“There are the effects that would have on infrastructure here, such as roads and water, which is under pressure already.”
Town councillor Duncan Strachan warned that the A1 appears to have been left out at this stage of the process, asking whether Beeston would be demolished or the road realigned east of Potton.
Read: Warnings A1 ‘won’t be fit for purpose’ under Tempsford new town plans
Cllr Zerny replied: “Dealing with the A1 and sorting out the roundabouts was high on my initial list and we need to be careful about what the solutions to those roundabouts might be.
“I’ve offended people in Sandy by suggesting they’d like a flyover, which apparently they don’t want as they prefer an underpass.
“The infrastructure needs to be clear: that’s the roads, the schools, the sports facilities and whether there’ll be a hospital.
“I’d like there to be nature reserves and protection for the airfield. There should also be a proper green barrier around the current village. Until explicit evidence of that is provided, I’ll remain to be convinced.
“One of the first things the government will do is put together a development corporation to run it, rather than local authorities or anyone else.
“I don’t think anything will happen until at least September, largely because they’re waiting to get a view from the new Prime Minister.”
Euan Duncan
Local Democracy Reporter
