Central Bedfordshire Council held informal but high-level talks with Universal Studios, pitching them as ‘partners’ for the potential project, just days after news of plans for the theme park were announced, according to recently released emails.
The emails, released through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the area’s Local Democracy Reporter (LDR), show regular contact between council leader Adam Zerny and senior NBCUniversal executives from December 2023 to April 2025.
The messages describe informal catch-ups, direct mobile contact, and an emerging strategy to help shape public reception of the development, suggesting ways to present the project to the public.
News that Comcast, Universal Destinations and Experiences’ parent company, had acquired land for a then-potential theme park project was confirmed in a worldwide joint exclusive between Orlando Park Stop and the Bedford Independent on 19 December 2023.
Read: Universal Studios confirm they are planning a theme park in Bedford Borough
Just days later, on 22 December 2023, councillor Zerny pitched Central Bedfordshire’s political independence as a selling point, writing, ‘At Central Beds our USP is that we’re the only Independent-run county council in the UK…
“Our executives are of working age. Which might explain much of the enthusiasm for your project.’
No minutes
Emails from early 2024 detail frequent coordination of meetings, calls, and media preparation. NBCUniversal repeatedly thanked Zerny for his support and, in one case, assured him he wouldn’t hear about any deals “third hand on the local news.”
After the project was publicly announced in April 2025, cllr Zerny even proposed topics for Universal to address, such as traffic mitigation and potential discounts for train travellers.
Despite this extensive engagement, Central Bedfordshire Council said in its FOI response that it holds no minutes, agendas, or internal reports on infrastructure, environmental impact, or economic implications. It also said no public consultation materials were prepared.
The only meetings acknowledged without formal documentation were two stakeholder briefings attended by council chief executive Marcel Coiffait in April and May 2025.
No response from Bedford Borough Council
Meanwhile, Bedford Borough Council, whose area would host the proposed theme park, took 45 working days to respond to a similar FOI request, ultimately saying the request exceeded the cost limit under the Act.
“We estimate that it will take us in excess of 18 hours to determine appropriate material,” the council said. “Bedford Borough Council may be able to provide information requested if you reduce or refine your request.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has requested an internal review into Bedford Borough Council’s handling of the request and the delay in responding.
Bedford Borough Council has come under fire in recent weeks for its handling of FOI enquiries.
Earlier this month, they were ordered by the Information Commissioner’s Office to release their contract with the Borough’s previous leisure operator, Fusion, who stated that there was no good reason why they shouldn’t make details of their deal public via a previous FOI.
Read: Watchdog orders Bedford Borough Council to release Fusion contract
Universal Studios has submitted its planning application and aims to begin construction in 2026.
Read: All our Universal Studios UK news
By John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter
Additional reporting by Paul Hutchinson, Bedford Independent
