Last ditch bid to stop plan for 165 new homes fails in Ravensden, near Bedford

Councillors went to visit the site to assess the potential impact of the development on Ravensden’s roads before reporting back to Monday’s meeting of Bedford Council’s planning committee.Ward councillor Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant (Cons, Great Barford) asked the committee to refuse the plan submitted by Rosconn Strategic Land for the 18 hectare of arable fields off Graze Hill.

Planning officers had recommended it for approval.

“The road is the worst for speeding in Bedfordshire,” said Cllr Martin-Moran-Bryant. The site has been allocated for housing but she felt that the details weren’t adequate.

She feared that Ravensden would be used as a rat run by new residents.

But Cllr Wendy Rider (Lib Dem, Brickhill) proposed accepting the application, which will also see an extension to the nearby country park.

She said that a new roundabout, plus speed cameras, would see traffic slowed down. Her motion was supported by Cllr Abu Sultan (Lb, Cauldwell) and passed by six votes to nil, with one abstention.