May meeting to be held over new multi-storey car park for Bedford station says rail minister
The proposed site for a multi-storey car park at Bedford station is not final, with other locations still under consideration, a government minister has said.
And a public meeting is set to be held in May to “ensure residents fully understand the process and are able to contribute to the consultation”.
In a letter to Bedford MP Mohammad Yasin, rail minister Lord Peter Hendy said the Ford End Road proposal was included in the latest East West Rail consultation as a “base design”, while further options continued to be explored.
The car park forms part of wider plans for changes around Bedford Midland station under the East West Rail scheme.
The current consultation includes proposals for a multi-storey car park at Ford End Road, on the western side of the station.
The letter referred to a meeting between the minister, Mr Yasin, and East West Rail’s (EWR) chief executive David Hughes.
It said: “EWR recognise that more work needs to be done in parallel to the consultation to explore all solutions to parking and traffic in central Bedford.”
It added that the Ford End Road proposal followed earlier feedback calling for alternatives to an initial plan to site the car park at Ashburnham Road.
Lord Hendy’s letter said there had been “insufficient time” to develop a new proposal before the consultation was launched, meaning the Ford End Road option was taken forward while further work continued.
The minister wrote: “I want to reassure you that this is a genuine consultation on options for car parking at Bedford Station, and I encourage you and your constituents to contribute.”
He also said East West Rail was continuing to explore wider solutions to parking and traffic in central Bedford alongside the consultation.
“While ultimately it will be for EWR to recommend a proposal to the Department for Transport, they are keen to work collaboratively with Bedford Borough Council to find a mutually agreeable solution,” he wrote.
“I am informed that constructive discussions are underway with agreement that all options need to be considered, taking into account the wider traffic flows in Bedford not just the impact of a new station car park.”
In a statement on social media, Mr Yasin said: “The Minister acknowledged the strong opposition from local residents and myself, noting that there wasn’t enough time to develop an alternative before the consultation launched, which is why Ford End Road was included as the “base design.”
“Importantly, the rail minister was keen to make the point, this is a genuine consultation, and decisions have not been finalised. There is still a real opportunity for our community to shape the outcome.”
Councillors are also due to be invited to attend the meeting.
EWR’s consultation is due to run until June 9, 2026.