£14.7m released for ‘vital’ road plans

The South East Midlands Local Transport Board (SEMLTB) consists of councils in Central Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes and Bedford, which has been given government cash and tasked with prioritising.

Dunstable’s £42million proposed Woodside Link to the M1 has been backed to the tune of £10million and submitted to the Department for Transport. A £6million scheme to improve access to Luton Airport has been given £1.2million support.

The £16million Bedford Western Bypass has been backed to the tune of £2.5million. A pinch-point near M1 Junction 13, the A421 into Milton Keynes, will be widened forf £17.5million, with £1million from SEMLTB.

Central Beds Councillor Nigel Young, who chairs SEMLTB said: “The board has worked together well to produce a list of transport schemes that will deliver tangible benefits in terms of new jobs and homes for people across the whole of the area. These are really vital schemes that will have real-life impacts on our residents.”

Four other projects will also be considered in future, a northern entrance to Luton Airport Parkway, Bletchley Public Transport Interchange, Central Milton Keynes Public Transport Interchange and Milton Keynes Park and Ride.