As reported in the Bedford Independent earlier this week, East West Rail Co (EWR Co) has revealed its revised car parking proposals for Bedford station, but Bedford Borough Council has now warned the plans leave local people facing a traffic blind spot.
The government-owned company plans to build a six-storey multi-storey car park on Ashburnham Road alongside two surface car parks, totalling more than 900 spaces, as part of the East West Rail (EWR) project.
However, council leaders say they have serious concerns about the lack of overall traffic modelling data and assessments they were provided.
Read: East West Rail Co scales back Bedford station car park plans
Going in blind
Council representatives met with EWR Co on Wednesday afternoon (30 September) shortly before the plans went out to the public.
They repeatedly requested the overall masterplan to fully understand the impact on surrounding roads, including Prebend Street and routes into Queens Park.
Cllr Nicky Gribble (Independent, Renhold & Ravensden), portfolio holder for environment at Bedford Borough Council, said: “We met with EWR yesterday and told them once again that we want – no, we need – to see their overall masterplan.
“We still don’t have a reliable view of how these plans will impact traffic or road capacity.
“Whether it’s EWR’s overall modelling, the five-legged roundabout on the end of Prebend Street, or how traffic will be managed going in and out of Queens Park, we can’t go into this blind.
“It’s good that EWR has listened to community concerns, but we need EWR to get serious about giving us the practical details.
“We also made it clear, once again, that any decision on EWR’s car parking plans will need to be agreed as part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) by the Secretary of State.
“It’s important to remember that this is not the Council’s proposal and that the final decision will not be made by Bedford Borough Council, but we will continue to represent our residents.”
Scaled-back proposals
EWR originally proposed an eight-storey multi-storey car park on Ashburnham Road in 2024.
This idea was scrapped because the building was too tall and would have concentrated too much traffic in one location.
Subsequent plans for 1,200 parking spaces on Ford End Road were also abandoned after Bedfordians feared it would cause severe traffic bottlenecks through Queens Park and the town centre.
The new proposals divide the 900 spaces across a 435-space multi-storey and a 192-space surface car park on Ashburnham Road, with a further 293 spaces and a drop-off zone off Ford End Road.
The Ashburnham Road site also includes options for a ground-floor community hub and GP surgery.
Demolitions and financial fears
Despite the reduction in scale, local politicians have warned that the revised plans fail to solve fundamental problems.
Labour MP for Bedford & Kempston, Mohammad Yasin, has sought a clear commitment that neighbours of the station will not face financial consequences from the parking and access decisions.
Meanwhile, other councillors have highlighted the ongoing threat to local housing.
Cllr Ben Foley (Green, Greyfriars) added: “While they don’t talk about it in their press release, I’m horrified to see the plan confirm both that EWR are still planning to knock down people’s homes in the many flats between 4 and 18 Ashburnham Road, and that they are effectively doing so to produce land for re-development.”
Read: East West Rail car park plans still threaten Ashburnham Road flats
Bedfordians can view the updated designs and discuss the EWR project’s next steps with EWR Co at a series of upcoming drop-in events.
These will take place on Tuesday, 3 November 2026 and Thursday, 12 November 2026, from 6pm to 9pm.
Both events are being held at Trinity Arts and Leisure on Bromham Road.
EWR Co is the organisation responsible for delivering the major new EWR rail network designed to support increased passenger numbers and unlock regional investment.
However, the project has faced fierce opposition from local campaign groups who warn the infrastructure could lead to the demolition of homes, severe traffic congestion and environmental disruption across Bedford.
David Hughes, chief executive of EWR Co, said: “We’d like to thank the people of Bedford for helping us shape our plans for car parking in Bedford. We believe these proposals strike the right balance for Bedford.
“It provides the parking capacity needed for a growing railway, whilst ensuring traffic is spread more evenly across the town.
“By making efficient use of land, it also helps create the conditions for investment and regeneration around the station – delivering the infrastructure passengers need today while supporting Bedford’s ambitions for tomorrow.
“We will continue to work closely with local communities and stakeholders as the design develops further.”
