Congestion-busting measures for Bedford town centre will include a second park and ride, but residents fear it will create more traffic misery.

On Wednesday Bedford Borough Council Executive agreed that Biddenham will be the site for a new park and ride scheme.

But the buses will drive through Queens Park and residents claim that this will cause a congestion problem.

Councillor Mohammed Yasin told the executive: "I believe that further congestion will cut Queens Park off from the rest of Bedford.

"Residents feel as though there has not been a proper consultation process on this matter. I do not know one person who has been consulted and everybody I know who lives in the area would have opposed the plans."

Resident Jhangir Lal presented a petition to the Mayor on behalf of the area, asking the cabinet whether there would be a bus stop in Queens Park as part of the service.

Clapham and Cardington Cross are also set to have park and ride systems in the future. The meeting heard how the Clapham plans have proved very popular with residents.

Mayor Frank Branston said: "On the subject of Clapham it is getting harder to access Government funds and if the A6-A428 link road isn't built then it will be very difficult to do a park and ride there. It's the state of the Government at the moment unfortunately."

Councillor Sue Oliver said: "I am very much in favour of the Biddenham park and ride system but I am wondering whether what we are actually choosing is a cheeper option.

"Queens Park aren't happy and we aren't really because we want Clapham."
Council chiefs believe that approximately 100 cars per day would use the new park and ride rather than the railway station car park.

The Biddenham scheme will prove most economical for the council costing between £300,000 and £400,000 in yearly subsidies. The council will receive a revenue contribution from a local developer for the Biddenham site.

Design work can commence for the scheme which aims to ease congestion in the town centre.

The park and ride scheme will work in conjunction with the current site at Elstow which allows visitors into the town to park their cars safely and catch a bus into Bedford.