The arrival of the new Universal Studios theme park, set to be built in Bedfordshire by 2032, will significantly impact the lives of many young people in the area.
According to Universal, 28,000 jobs will be created, ranging from construction to management and hospitality. The good news is that they said that roughly 80% of locals will fill up those jobs first.
Many college students feel that this is an excellent opportunity for them, creating tens of thousands of new jobs and ploughing £5 billion a year into our economy. It is hard enough to find a job as a teenager now, and the creation of a theme park on our doorstep will make it a lot easier for the next generation in 2032.
However, other people of the same age bracket disagree. Some are concerned about the pollution and traffic that it would bring to smaller local towns like Wootton and Cranfield. The towns could be clogged up, and some Wootton residents feel that the expansion of Wootton to accommodate such a large resort would defeat the object of being a rural village.
To further understand how teenagers are viewing this milestone in British history, I asked some fellow students at Kimberly College for their views.
Do you think the new studios will be beneficial to Bedford?
On one hand, the students felt that the theme park would boost the economy and benefit homeowners and small businesses due to tourism.
However, someone compared Universal to Alton Towers.
He said: “People don’t go into Alton when they visit Alton Towers.” Will the visitors of Universal go into the rural areas nearby, or central Bedfordshire? It is a risk that the park is taking after suggesting a major economic boost.
What do you think about the 28,000 jobs that will be on offer once the park is completed?
This time, most of the students were sceptical, one even suggesting that “there is not enough housing” to support it. As previously mentioned, the surrounding areas are small rural towns.
There certainly is not enough accommodation for 28,000 additional people and the added tourists. This could mean major expansions of the towns, which will be bad for the environment and destroy many of the wildlife habitats and fields that surround the area.
Another response questioned the jobs, suggesting that they would only be “low-level”, yet open possibilities for students in 2032. This is beneficial for those who are searching for jobs between the ages of 15-18, as there is a shortage of jobs for teenagers.
Do you have any other concerns?
The overwhelming response was traffic. The Universal developers have said that roughly 8.5 million people are expected to visit during the first year of opening. The students worry that the potential amount of overcrowding, especially on the roads, will cause major travel delays and issues.
Another concern is wildlife. Bedfordshire is immensely rural, with 295,582 acres of fields and grasslands which are home to animals including foxes, deer and rabbits. The concern is that these farmlands will be depleted as more people visit Universal, due to the pollution and expanding population of Bedfordshire.
From my research, I can now understand that the students at Kimberley College can see both the pros and cons of having Universal Studios built right next door.
Having asked the questions, it is clear that the students are well informed of what the issues may be with the construction, but they are also educated in what this will bring to our county.
Personally, I am keeping my fingers crossed for a Harry Potter section.
Published as part of our work experience partnership with Kimberley College
