In a much-anticipated speech around plans for the UK’s economic growth, the chancellor of the exchequer has today (Wednesday) given her unequivocal support for the East West Rail infrastructure project which will run from Oxford to Cambridge through Bedford Borough.
Reeves says she is determined to make Britain the “best place in the world to invest” and says that ambition demands action. She says investment in this area could generate £73 billion for the UK economy.
Reeves said: “Low growth is not our destiny, but growth will not come without a fight”
She adds she will also review the “Green Book”, which is used to evaluate big investment projects’ costs, benefits, and trade-offs of alternative options for delivering policy objectives and how advice is supplied to areas outside London.
“This means investment in all regions is given a fair hearing by the Treasury,” she says.
Bedford & Kempston MP, Mohammad Yasin was the first to comment on the Chancellor’s growth speech and what it means for Bedford Borough.
He said enhancing east-west public transport connections between key urban centres across the Oxford to Cambridge region represents a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to deliver much-needed investment into the Eastern region.
Adding that it would be economically harmful to miss out on “such a transformative infrastructure project” that would ensure “Bedford and Kempston remain great places to live, work, and raise a family”.
Mr Yasin also spoke of how a major rail hub in Bedford would not only support town centre regeneration but also reduce travel times along the Oxford to Cambridge route, “driving growth and prosperity” that “support future inward investment opportunities”.
Environmental impact
While commenting that he was pleased the Chancellor’s speech included a commitment to a net-zero carbon railway by 2050, he did express concern over the line’s environmental impact in the short term.
“We must acknowledge the environmental impact in the short term,” he added. “It is essential to explore every possible mitigation measure and to better integrate the railway with cycle routes for more sustainable transport options.”
And he highlighted the impact on people’s homes.
“There are significant concerns about the use of compulsory purchase orders affecting homes in Bedford. The demolition of homes and the acquisition of private gardens should be avoided.
“I strongly urge reconsideration of the plans to add two additional tracks near Bedford station. Introducing an Up Fast platform could achieve the necessary capacity improvements without demolishing homes.”
Mid Bedfordshire MP Blake Stephenson (Conservative) has also welcomed the news while highlighting concerns.
“East-West Rail has the potential to bring great benefits to Mid Bedfordshire with better connectivity to Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford, helping to boost jobs and the local economy,” he said.
“I’ve long spoken about my passion to boost tourism in Bedfordshire and better train services through our county will only help to encourage more people to visit us, rather than just pass through.
“But while this is welcome news, I have raised a number of concerns on behalf of constituents about the current proposals, including the potential closure of stations and plans for level crossings.
“I have encouraged East-West Rail to work with the community to address the concerns of local people.”
Housing project
Stephenson’s Conservative colleague in North Bedfordshire, Richard Fuller MP also raised concerns about the route that EWR will take and its impact on the local area.
“Today’s announcement by the government to expedite building an East Coast Mainline Station at Tempsford, confirms that considerable house building is coming to Tempsford and elsewhere in Bedfordshire,” he said.
“I warned at the general election campaign that East West Rail is really a housing project and the Chancellor today gave the go-ahead to concrete over our countryside, to ignore the huge cost to taxpayers of East West Rail and to increase pressure further on local services which are struggling to keep up with a rate of housing growth which is already two and a half times the national average.”
Read: Local MP blasts EWR “housing project” as new station announced
Something the Green Party is concerned about too, but they do recognise the important role EWR could play.
“Following the Chancellor’s speech focusing on growth for our region, it is clear that East West Rail has the potential to improve connectivity and create opportunities for our communities if done right,” said Cllr Paul Edmonds (Green/Castle)
“However, many Bedford residents remain rightly anxious about the environmental impact and disruption to local infrastructure.
“It is vital that this project is delivered in a way that avoids the demolition of homes, includes an ‘up fast’ platform, protects our green spaces, safeguards biodiversity, and genuinely benefits local people.
At a time when so many are struggling with the cost of living, we also question the government’s relentless focus on economic growth over providing immediate relief to those in need. Tackling inequality would massively strengthen the economy.
“Wealth hoarded at the top sits idle, but put it in people’s pockets and it powers the whole economy, benefiting everyone. Investment should focus on lifting people out of hardship alongside restoring and enhancing nature, not just expanding corridors of wealth.”
Route E
Finally, Cllr Marc Frost (Conservative) portfolio holder for corporate services, said: “The Chancellor’s unwavering support for East West Rail (EWR) fails to acknowledge the serious flaws in the project.
“This includes major demolitions in the Poets and Cauldwell area, massive uncertainty around the hospital car park, and brutal environmental damage across North Bedfordshire, as well as the widespread concerns of Bedford Borough’s residents…
Cllr Frost also highlighted what he called “serious concerns” with a “grossly inadequate” consultation process and accused EWR of “refusing and failing” to provide details of potential passenger numbers and freight traffic alongside environmental costs and a credible business case.
He added, “While we recognise the potential economic benefits of improved rail connectivity, the only reason for the Government supporting this appears to be to use EWR as a Trojan horse for development.
“This was confirmed by the plans to build a new town at Tempsford in Central Bedfordshire and 17 further submissions for new towns along the route.”
He’s now called on the Chancellor and the Government to make sure EWR undertakes a re-assessment of the proposed routes, holds a “proper” consultation and seeks assurances that homes will not be demolished, “underpinned by a credible and transparent business case”.
“The Chancellor must not overlook the devastating impact on our communities, environment, residents, and local infrastructure… [the] Government must look at sensible investments in infrastructure that serve the people it affects.
“Rather than pushing through projects at all costs in the name of some undefined, unmeasurable promise of growth,” said Cllr Frost.
No viable alternatives
Local campaign group BFARe echoed Cllr Frost’s views, saying that while they support an east west rail link through Bedford, more needs to be done to assess the route options, including their own proposal.
“Our campaign has provided the public with detailed information regarding the considerable cost and damage of the government’s preferred route when a less expensive, straighter and flatter route exists, that is better suited for rail freight and passenger connectivity,” said their spokesperson.
They have also fired criticisms at the project stating that a railway through Bedford, construction “chaos”, environmental impact, homes demolished, impacts to the hospital and destruction of agricultural land offers “no proven economic benefit to Bedford”.
The spokesperson continued, that they believe there would also be “no rail commuter or freight transport advantage, even when using EWRCo’s own figures.”
However, Bedford Borough Council’s own research, ordered by Conservative Mayor Tom Wotton found no viable alternative to the chosen route.
Read: Council’s live-streamed EWR briefing allows public scrutiny of eight potential routes
Commenting on the report, the Mayor said: “While there is no definitive winner among the proposed routes, the economic potential of the project for Bedford is significant.
“It’s imperative that we continue to engage in thorough analysis and dialogue to ensure the best outcome for our community.”
A spokesperson for Bedford Borough Council said they were looking forward to the forthcoming statutory consultation and that they “hope and expect” the updated proposals will include “positive responses to the Council’s views on the recent non-statutory consultation”.
A428
Also in her speech, Reeves an upgrade on the A428 between Milton Keynes and Cambridge to support further links across what she says can be “Europe’s Silicon Valley”.
But, she says, more needs to be done to help attract world-class talent who can get to work quickly.
“Just 66 miles apart, these cities are home to two of the best universities in the world, two of the most intensive innovation clusters in the world and the area is a hub for globally renowned science and technology firms in life sciences, manufacturing, and AI.
“To grow, these world-class companies need world-class talent who should be able to get to work quickly and find somewhere to live in the local area. But to get from Oxford to Cambridge by train takes two and a half hours.
To help meet the government’s aims, Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance has been appointed as the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “The UK has all the ingredients to replicate the success of Silicon Valley or the Boston Cluster, but for too long has been constrained by short-termism and a lack of direction.
“I look forward to working with local leaders to fulfil the Oxford-Cambridge corridor’s potential by building on its existing strengths in academia, life sciences, semiconductors, AI and green technology amongst others.”
