Bedford Borough Council says it will increase support for those affected by East West Rail after a tense public meeting left many calling for clearer answers about property demolitions, station plans and the long-term impact of the rail link on neighbourhoods.
The meeting earlier this month (6 November) brought together residents, councillors and East West Rail (EWR) representatives, but ended with frustration over what attendees described as unclear communication and unanswered questions.
“Residents need clarity, not uncertainty”
Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) said he was disappointed by EWR’s conduct before and after the meeting.
He raised concerns about the lack of shared information and what he described as continued uncertainty over the fate of 53 homes and businesses on Ashburnham Road, including a doctor’s surgery and the historical Polish cultural hub, Dom Polski.
Read: Shock as a further 10 Bedford properties could be demolished as EWR unveils “design changes”
The mayor said: “The Council supports the East West Rail link. The Council sees the benefits of the East West Rail link. But our priority is always to support our residents, and East West Rail needs to start winning back their trust.
“It is now three months since East West Rail announced it wanted to demolish a further ten properties in Ashburnham Road, that is 53 businesses and homes…
“We still do not have their documented rationale for needing to do so, having previously promised that all of these properties were safe and outside of the red line.
“The community does not need uncertainty; it needs clarity and answers.”
Residents at the meeting also raised concerns about a temporary hospital car park, the functionality of EWR’s phone information line and the possibility of further changes that could affect additional properties.
“Ignored and belittled”
In a separate Facebook post, the Mayor said he was concerned by how some questions were handled and criticised what he saw as a dismissive tone from EWR representatives.
He wrote that some residents had their questions “ignored and belittled”, and said council officers would now proactively gather concerns to ensure they are heard.
The Mayor also highlighted a new proposal for a multi-storey car park on the Queens Park side of the line, urging residents to examine the plans closely.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Yasin MP (Labour) for Bedford and Kempston, who chaired the meeting, acknowledged the strength of feeling in the room and said he continues to oppose key elements of the current plans, including the six-track requirement north of Bedford.
The MP said on his Facebook page, “Trust in the project remains low, not least because of the way earlier consultations were handled.
“I will continue to challenge where necessary, but it cannot be at the expense of making meaningful improvements in the areas where change is still possible.”
He said efforts must now focus on securing compensation, ensuring fair treatment for residents and improving mitigation measures.
BFARe weighs in
Local campaign group BFARe issued a new statement following the meeting, significantly escalating its criticism of EWR’s approach in Bedford.
In the statement, the group said EWR’s recent announcement regarding the demolition of homes and businesses along Ashburnham Road, “carried out without any clear rationale or transparent justification”, showed “the appalling way in which this organisation operates”.
The statement said the proposed route “will devastate the town for years to come”, claiming it would dismantle established neighbourhoods, force out residents and businesses, and lead to the closure of “a vital doctor’s surgery serving over 4,000 patients”.
BFARe also said EWR was “ignoring a viable, cheaper and greener alternative” and alleged there had been a “failure of accountability, transparency and respect for the communities EWR claims to serve”.
The group added, “When an organisation proceeds in this way, demolishing homes without justification, disregarding expert opinion and silencing local voices, how can anyone trust East West Rail to act in the public interest?”
EWR: “We have heard the concerns raised”
EWR has now issued a new statement in response to the growing criticism.
Natalie Wheble, External Affairs Director at East West Railway Company, said, “We would like to thank everyone who joined us at our recent public meeting in Bedford.
“We really appreciate the time people took to attend, submit their questions and share their views with us about the project.
“We want to reassure people that we have heard the concerns raised and we are committed to making sure we continue to keep people informed in an appropriate and timely way.
“Feedback from the public plays a vital role in shaping our ongoing design work and engagement activities, which is why we held this public meeting in Bedford, and we intend to continue to work with communities in this way in the future.”
Bedford Borough Council says officers will now begin collating concerns directly from those affected, with the aim of providing clearer information, better communication and a stronger local voice as the project advances.
The Council says that while it recognises the long-term benefits a completed rail link could bring, supporting residents through the current uncertainty remains its priority.
