Friday, 25 February 2011

London Road & The Baulk, Biggleswade - safer routes to school

A report by Basil Jackson, Assistant Director for Highways, Central Bedfordshire Council will be presented to the Traffic Management Committee to be held 1st March 2011.

The recommendation of the report is:

"That the portfolio holder approves the suspension of the current proposals and that further scheme options be prepared in consultation with stakeholders in 2011/12"

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email sent 25th February 2011

Dear Mr Jackson,

I have taken the time to read your report that is being put to the Traffic Management Committee of 1st March 2011; that is:

Agenda Item 4, Page 29
Subject: London Road and The Baulk Biggleswade
Report of: Basil Jackson
Summary: The purpose of this report is to present to the portfolio holder for Safer Communities and Healthier Lifestyles a report on a recent consultation on a safer routes to school project in Biggleswade, to set out the wider context and seek approval for a way forward.

It is to be found at:


I was the instigator of the ePetition which ran from 12/12/2010 to 24/01/2011. 122 people signed this ePetition hence I am concerned that your report only says 76 (page 33 of the agenda) which was clearly prior to its closure and at that time was below the trigger figure of 100.  Therefore, it is inappropriate to give this inaccurate information to the Committee and I expect to read in the subsequent minutes that you have updated the Committee as to the true number.

Furthermore, I understand that there was also a paper petition that had many more signatures (something of the order of 300 comes to mind) yet there is no mention of this; perhaps you could explain this to me?

If you wanted to see a big difference made for the residents of Biggleswade, and further afield, you would have ensured that the mini-roundabout at the junction of Sun Street and Shortmead Street would have been in place by now.  Please update me on this.  You should know that this was the highest priority from the residents as recorded in the Biggleswade Town Plan which has been adopted by Biggleswade Town Council.  Perhaps you have not taken the time to read that; you will find it on page 12 of


This is the summary:

20. Do you think that any of the following junctions, identified in the initial consultation, need improving?
Response          Response
 Percent            Count
Sun St /Shortmead St                               66.6%              813
London Rd /Dells Lane /The Baulk /Back St    59.4%              725
London Rd /Eagle Farm Rd /Drove Rd            32.2%              393
London Rd /Kitelands Rd                              4.3%                52
London Rd /Chambers Way                         13.4%              163
High St /Rose Lane                                   27.7%              338
(no response)                                          12.4%              151
Other (please specify)                                                      47

Summary of Text Responses:

• Some of these could happen now. There was a recent variation on the East Biggleswade Schedule 106 Agreement that allows for the Council to claim back from developers the cost of work carried out in advance of the agreed trigger points. We need the Sun Street/Shortmead Street roundabout now.
• Station Road/Saffron Road/Palace Street
• Where Station Road meets Saffron Road outside the station. It's a mess
• Back Street onto Station Road junction is dangerous.
• A1 south access from Biggleswade.
• From the Dunton roundabout to the industrial estate/Homebase roundabout. Prevent traffic turning right to access the rear of Matalan, instead use the roundabout industrial estate/Homebase to loop round and return to make a left turn in. This will avoid the traffic delays and congestion and will make the access safer. Similarly make traffic exiting only turn left and use the Dunton roundabout to loop back.
• Dells Lane/Windermere Drive
• The junction of St John's Street and Sun Street.
• Rear exit from Asda into Rose Lane, road markings non compliant this should be a stop line.
• London road/ Elm Road – mini-roundabouts would be helpful
• Mead End/Dells Lane

I think you can see where your priorities should lie.

Thank you for your attention and I look forward to receiving a positive response from you; this will be followed with great interest.

Mike Strange
Member - Biggleswade Town Plan Steering Group

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