£1m boost for public transport in Bedfordshire growth area

Published	4 October 2007

A new sustainable transport system for Leighton Buzzard moved a step closer today after a £1m cash injection was agreed by Communities and Local Government.

The money completes a £7m public-private package to help deliver Bedfordshire County Council's (BCC) proposals to reduce car dependency in part of the town by 20 per cent. The scheme, in the Billington Road area of Leighton Buzzard, aims to increase public transport use as well as promote walking and cycling alternatives.

The project, taken forward with South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth, aims to see 1300 new homes in the Billington Road area provided with up-to-date service information. A real-time screen in kitchens will help residents make the most of public transport and plan their journey before they even leave the house. The scheme will also provide funding for improvements to the town centre's facilities.

Junior Housing Minister, Iain Wright MP said:

"This project will bring real benefits to the people of Leighton Buzzard. As well as improving residents' health, it will help revitalise the town centre and bring economic benefits for local businesses by getting people out of their cars.

"Growth areas are playing a vital role in delivering the new homes we need across the country for new families and young people. I hope to see many more such collaborations between central and local government and house builders and would encourage others to follow Leighton Buzzard's lead".

Other key features of the scheme include:

a bus service up to every 15 minutes to the town centre and railway station from early morning into the evenings;
secure cycle parking for every home, matched by increased cycle parking in the town centre, and the railway station;
"civilisation" of the main link road from the new estate to the town centre, making it a safer and more pleasant place to walk and cycle;
completion of a safe Route to Schools programme;
accessibility improvements to pedestrian, cycle and junction layouts on main approach routes; and
Consultation with local residents on ways to continue to improve the Residential Transport Plan.

Bedfordshire County Councillor Tom Wootton, Cabinet Member for Highways said:

"We welcome this funding from the Government. It recognises the major opportunity provided by this proposed development in Leighton Buzzard and supports Bedfordshire County Council's wish to see new homes supported by improved roads, services and transport facilities.

"This money will be invested to design new schemes which will give future residents a high quality alternative to using their cars. Itwill have wider benefits too, as it should help reduce congestion inthis old market town and reduce air pollution."

Victoria Harvey of South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth says:

"This exemplar scheme will show that a low carbon transport system not only improves quality of life for all in Leighton Buzzard, but also revitalises the town centre. The aim is that it will be easier to jump on a bus or walk and cycle into the town centre than to get in a car and drive to an out of town retail park.

"This scheme is totally in keeping with the Government's new bill on climate change as it will dramatically reduce CO2 emissions. This has been the result of a wonderful collaboration between Beds CC, DCLG, Arnold White Estates, Arriva and South Bedfordshire FoE with the support of The Campaign for Better Transport (formerly Transport 2000)".

Research by BCC suggests that the new system could see the number of public transport trips increase from 260 trips per day to 1,100, with car journeys estimated to fall from 8,400 a day to 6,700. The council also expects to see health benefits, as walking and cycling improvements to and from the town centre form an essential part of the scheme.

The project supplements other Growth Area funded initiatives which have recently provided new pedestrian and cycle routes in the town. It is likely to be extended to other areas allocated for development in the future.

A planning application for the Billington Road housing development was made in 2006 and this is still under consideration following a public inquiry earlier this year. A decision is due shortly.

Notes to editors

1. South Bedfordshire is part of the Milton Keynes - South Midlands Growth Area. Further information can be found here: www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/growthareas/growthareasby/miltonkeynessouth/.

2. The £7m total cost of the project will be met by Bedfordshire County Council, South Bedfordshire District Council, housing developer and Growth Area funding from Communities and Local Government.

3. Further information about the scheme can be found by contacting Glenn Barcham or Melanie MacLeod at Bedfordshire County Council on 01234 224687.

4. For further information on FoE South Bedfordshire, please contact Victoria Harvey on 01525 385 097.