Conservative councillors have welcomed the possibility of £11m in Government funds to tackle congestion in Bedford town centre.
Last year, the Government announced the second Local Growth Deal for the South East Midland Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), which brings together representatives of public and private sector organisations to determine how best to drive local economic growth.
SEMLEP had put forward a number of bids for consideration by the Government, including a request for £25m to build the Batts Ford Bridge; a scheme mooted for decades to join River Street on the north side of the river with Kingsway on the south. It was announced as part of the second Local Growth Deal that the Borough Council would receive £11m.
A meeting of the Borough Council’s Corporate Services Committee heard last week that the Council is working with the Government on how best to use the £11m sum to reduce congestion, with various options being discussed.
Cllr Stephen Moon, Conservative Group Leader and Chair of the Committee, told the Bedfordshire on Sunday:
‘Anyone who lives near Bedford knows traffic is a problem and the funding is welcomed, but the grant is £14m less than the Council’s initial bid. The problem at the moment is there is not a lot of detail; the Council still has to prove to the Government it can make the best use of the funds.’
Cllr David Fletcher, who represents Castle Ward, added:
‘Anything that can be done to ease traffic in Commercial Road and the adjoining streets is to be welcomed. Everyone feels better when traffic congestion is resolved; it helps attract investment, it encourages growth.’