Bedford Borough Council’s Planning Committee will be asked next week to grant temporary permission for the Winter Wonderland event at Bedford Park.
The application for a temporary change of use of part of the Park will be discussed at a Planning Committee Extraordinary Meeting next Tuesday (29 October).
The application has been reported to the planning committee for determination as more than three objections have been received.
Objections included that the event prevents the use of the grassed area for the public to participate in sport and recreation for a significant amount of time, it has resulted in noise, litter, light and air pollution, and it will result in an increase in Highway Safety issues.
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A report to be presented to the Committee says planning officers have assessed the impacts of the event and the identified harms of the proposal are therefore considered to be “outweighed by the benefits of the proposed development”.
Therefore they are recommending to the committee that temporary planning permission be granted subject to planning conditions.
The Planning Committee is due to be held in the council chamber, Borough Hall, Bedford at 6pm.
The council has also announced that there will be a Winter Wonderland 2024 Public Engagement Session on Saturday (October 26).
The event will also be attended by Thurston’s Attractions so that locals can share their thoughts on last year’s event.
A statement on the council’s Facebook page said, ‘Both Thurston’s Attractions and ourselves are keen to listen to any concerns people may have, and find how we can all work together to ensure we continue to contribute positively to Bedford Park and the surrounding area.
‘We’ll be meeting people at the West Lodge entrance (at the top of De Parys Avenue) from 10.30-11.30am and welcome all conversations about the Winter Wonderland event.’
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
Additional reporting by
Paul Hutchinson, Bedford Independent
