Sign up for daily news
28 August 2026
Facebook-f Threads Instagram Linkedin Youtube
Search

A421

Close up view of J13 M1 highway (A421 Bedford MK) signs against cloudy sky in England Image Pajor Pawel Shutterstock

Petition calls for M1 Junction 13 upgrades ahead of Universal Studios opening

A new petition demands urgent government funding to upgrade M1 Junction 13, warning local drivers face total gridlock when Universal Studios opens in 2031 alongside major housing...
Read more
Bedfordshire Police patrol car at dusk with lights on Image Bedfordshire Police

A421 closed both ways in Bedford as police warn drivers over dangerous behaviour

The A421 is closed in both directions in Bedford following a police incident, with delays building and drivers warned not to bypass closures. Bedfordshire Police said closures are now in place on...
Read more
Approximate site boundary of three drive-through cafés and a major employment development near Kempston. Image: Google My Maps Map Data (C)2025 Imagery (C)2025 Airbus, Maxar Technologies via LDRS.

Plans for drive-through cafés near Kempston withdrawn after Environment Agency objection

Plans for drive-through cafés and an employment development near Kempston have been withdrawn after the Environment Agency said the site lies within a functional floodplain...
Read more
Green wheelie bin in a garden with a broom and gardening equipment Image Bedford Borough Council

Bedford Ian writes…

27 February 2026: BBC negative, BBC wrong, Pedantic rubbish, and Water laugh. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all…
Read more
Bedfordshire Police logo new

Police appeal for information following fatal A421 collision

Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses following a single-vehicle collision on the A421 on Friday evening (3 October), which resulted in the death of a man in his 60s...
Read more
An artist's impression of the improvements to the Black Cat roundabout/ A428.

Drivers urged to avoid Black Cat roundabout from 15 – 18 August due to planned roadworks

Due to major planned road closures next weekend, local drivers are being urged to only travel through the Black Cat roundabout and surrounding areas if their journey is essential...
Read more
Motorists stuck in the Black Cat Roundabout chaos on 5 July said there were no signs on the A421 indicating the A1 northbound was closed. The picture shows the view from a passenger seat of a car of cars in the jam and a road sign showing no details of any closures. Image: Helen Wheatley

Bedford Ian writes…

11 July 2025: National embarrassment, Blocked tackle and Roundabout rudeness. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all...
Read more
Cars queuing for the Black Cat Roundabout, some several hours after they joined the A421 and A1 on 5 July 2025.Image: Isobel Frost

Letters: National Highways, what a complete and utter shambles

National Highways, what a complete and utter shambles! You should be totally ashamed of yourselves for the chaos you allowed to unfold on the A421 approach to the Black Cat roundabout redevelopment...
Read more
Motorists stuck in the Black Cat Roundabout chaos on 5 July said there were no signs on the A421 indicating the A1 northbound was closed. The picture shows the view from a passenger seat of a car of cars in the jam and a road sign showing no details of any closures. Image: Helen Wheatley

Letters: Stuck in Black Cat chaos was not only distressing but posed significant health and welfare risks too

I am writing to raise a formal complaint regarding an incident that occurred on 5 July 2025, which involved severe delays caused by the closure or obstruction of the A1 near the Black Cat Roundabout...
Read more
Cars queuing for the Black Cat Roundabout, some several hours after they joined the A421 and A1 on 5 July 2025.Image: Isobel Frost

“We’re sorry”, National Highways apologises for Black Cat chaos

National Highways has apologised after motorists were left stranded for up to seven hours on Saturday (5 July) after a combination of planned roadworks, faulty traffic signals and confusing...
Read more

Get the latest Bedford news first

Subscribe to our free daily email for our lead story each morning before we publish it anywhere else, plus the key Bedford Borough headlines from the last 24 hours – without having to log into social media.

I've already subscribed (dont show again)