Councillors and other stakeholders have been invited to Borough Hall next week, to receive a briefing on research commissioned by the Mayor looking at alternative routes through Bedford Borough for the Oxford to Cambridge East West Rail line.
The announcement comes after the Mayor faced criticism for not including other councillors and the public in the process.
Read: Mayor keeping alternative southern East West Rail routes under wraps
At present, the East West Rail Company is working on a route that would see the development of a rail line leaving Bedford Station and then running through the north of the Borough.
The Mayor, however, has asked for other alternatives to be researched, with a map said to show many of the routes being explored travelling through the south of the Borough.
Some of these routes were part of East West Rail Co’s original proposals put forward during the early consultation period, while others were put forward by other groups who are against the chosen northern route.
Read: East West Rail reveal five route options for Bedford to Cambridge line
Criticism
So far, Mayor Tom Wotton (Conservatives) has kept the research under wraps, much to the criticism of other councillors who also have an interest in the research.
Now, a special meeting being held on Tuesday, 6 February in the Council Chamber from 6.30-8pm will discuss the report, with it also being live-streamed for anyone else to watch.
A council spokesperson said; “After the meeting, the reports will be published on the Bedford Borough Council website, as part of our continued commitment to be transparent and honest.
“Our aim is to ensure that Councillors, stakeholders, the public and media all have access to the report at the same time.”
The Mayor had been criticised previously for keeping Bedfordians “in the dark” about the possible alternative route and so the announcement of this meeting being visible has been welcomed.
However, Cllr Henry Vann (De Parys) the leader of Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats still believes the Mayor needs to do more to be transparent and open.
“We welcome the belated news that this meeting will be live-streamed – it should not be an afterthought. However, the reports and maps must be published in advance not sat on in secret now we know the council have them.
“It is disappointing the Mayor is continuing with this informal meeting, without allowing proper scrutiny as would be the case if he brought the findings to full council a day later,” he said.
The briefing will be also live-streamed online at Bedford.gov.uk. The meeting had not been added to the forthcoming meetings table at the time of publication but we are told it should be added shortly.
