Dear…….
Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway
I am writing to ask for your support to help safeguard the long term future of the proposed Bedford Milton Keynes Waterway Park.
The project involves a proposed new waterway linking the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes to the River Great Ouse in Bedford.The waterway will bring regeneration, tourism, environmental and health benefits to the towns and villages along its route and can make a huge difference to the central section of the Oxford/Milton Keynes/Cambridge economic development corridor.
It will run alongside the East/West rail route and the proposed Oxford to Cambridge Expressway through an area which is under pressure from development. As an important part of a number of proposed new villages itwill make a positive difference to new and existing communities, providing important bridleway, walking and cycleroutes as well as much needed accessible green space.
I am concerned that route of the waterway is currently underthreat from a scheme to upgrade the A421 between Milton Keynes and the M1 as there is no provision for a culvert for the proposed waterway to pass under the road once it has been upgraded.
The route of the proposed new waterway is protected in all the relevant Local Plans. Planning permission is already in place for a culvert under the A421, but the detailed construction plans do not make provision for it to be included, despite the transport planners having been made aware of this on numerous occasions over the last two years. The feasibility of the waterway project is now under serious threat.
The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust has been acting as an advocate for the project since 1995 and has made significant progress in securing sections of the route through the planning process. As a result, the waterway route is integrated into a number of new development schemes,consistent with local plan policy.
The Trust has been pressing the road building Consortium, led by Central Bedfordshire Council, over a two-year period to recognise the importance of a culvert under the A421 for the waterway. The Council’s recent response has been to ask the Trust, a small charity run entirely by volunteers, to fund the cost of the culvert - estimated at circa £3m. In addition, the Council has asked that they pay £150,000 within 3 weeks to fund the design costs for the culvert. This is a wholly unrealistic request and a timescale which is extremely challenging for the Trust and its many supporters. It is not right that a charity is being asked to meet the costs of keeping the waterway route open, in line with the Council’s own policy.
I would ask you to write to the Transport Secretary to ask him to recognise and support the future economic and social value of the proposed new waterway by ensuring that provision for the road crossing is included in the A421 upgrading project.