The Conservative candidate for Bedford mayor has said East West Rail could be an “incredible opportunity” for the borough, but he has concerns over the “deeply flawed” 2019 consultation.
Cllr Tom Wootton (Wyboston) told attendees at the ERTA Bedford Local Forum meeting on Saturday (25 March), “The Bedford Borough Conservative Group has talked long and hard about this project.
“And there’s been some really gritty discussions about what the Conservative position should be at this election.
“I’ve come to the decision that I don’t like the northern route, so the route that goes through Poets and knocks down the houses.
“I want to stand against that and will stand with the people from Poets, who are lovely people and have wonderful houses that don’t deserve to be knocked down.
“It seems intrinsically wrong to have a diesel train line go through the middle of Bedford and knock down houses,” he said.
An attendee asked: “If you were elected as mayor, would you categorically come out and say that you no longer support this project, and therefore you would [try to] influence the decision that the government will make?”
“We’ve got a mayoral election in May, it is my clear feeling that they are waiting to see which way it goes,” Tom said.
“If I’m elected you know damn well I’m going to move heaven and earth to stop the blooming thing going north of Bedford.
“I don’t know what else I can say but I have a record, and people can look it up, and they can look back and say how has Tom voted [on this] a few years ago?
“I’m on record as voting against this blooming thing for ages,” he said.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service following the meeting, Tom said: “I believe East West Rail could have been an incredible opportunity for Bedford Borough.
“But there are very serious concerns surrounding the deeply flawed 2019 consultation, which included costings that were changed significantly and many parish councils feeling uninformed and misled by the plans.
“The result is the current EWR route will destroy houses, livelihoods and countryside in Bedford borough.
“Add on the lack of a proper business case and I cannot come out in favour of any routes currently proposed,” he said.
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
