NEWS CHANNELSir - A few years ago the stone balustrading along the Embankment, Bedford, was renewed where it had been eaten away by the acid rain from the tall chimneys at the then Marston Vale brickworks.
Since the brickworks stopped belching its fumes into the prevailing wind which blows from Marston Vale to Bedford, the air over Bedford has improved and the chemical attack on Bedford's buildings has ceased. This shows that Bedford is “directly and specially affected” by pollution from Marston Vale.
It is now proposed that waste incineration fumes from Marston Vale resume the daily attack on the health of the citizens of Bedford. The planning refusal of an incinerator at Marston Vale was over-ruled by a now disbanded quango. Our members of Parliament must ensure that the democratic process works, that the voice of the local people is heard and that the scheme is stopped.
Politicians rely upon the short memory of the public to forget their wrong and often arrogant decisions. Mayor Dave Hodgson, who I am sure has Bedford’s good at heart, should remind Chris Huhne that, if the voices of the local populace are ignored and Covanta get its will, that the Covanta generated fumes will act as a reminder to the Bedford electorate at each future election that it was a Lib-Dem Secretary of State who bequeathed this health hazard to them. This would have a “direct and special affect” upon any Lib-Dem share of any future Bedford vote. Should Chris Huhne support the citizens of Bedford against the scheme then the converse would apply.
No jobs or facility will be lost if the incinerator is moved to a less hazardous location. Waste incineration plants should not be sited up-wind of major residential areas.
Barry Lanz The Grove, Bedford
There’s a better site
Sir - Kathleen Coggins remarking about the Deputy Mayor’s speech concerning Covanta indicates it to be a Central Bedfordshire problem and not Bedford’s. This is surely incorrect, as numerically, large numbers of people in Bedford would be affected by the emissions from this plant.
Sections of the Southern and Western parts of Bedford would be directly exposed. Even now there are extensive building programmes in these areas which would be in line to receive the exhaust products of this plant.
Yes, it of direct concern to Bedford and its residents, as well as all the neighbouring villages, not to mention Marston Country Park.
This construction should be sited elsewhere, preferably in a more remote location where it will have a much reduced effect on centres of population.
Peter Barker High Street, Kempston
Who will road benefit?
Sir - Brian Gledhill raised a relevant point in Bedfordshire on Sunday last week when he said the Western Bypass would do no more than add to the already congested A6/ Clapham Road junction. Has anyone asked those responsible for this new road who will actually benefit? Most north-south (and vice versa) through traffic uses the A1 or M1, while there will surely be no benefit whatsoever to east-west traffic.
I also recall that when the new road was discussed, the utterly ridiculous possibility was raised that, when it was completed, the A428 between the Bedford end of the Bromham bypass and the town centre would be closed to all traffic other than for access, so forcing all Bedford-bound drivers onto the Western Bypass and straight into the inevitable traffic jam at the Clapham Road end. I can only assume that those planners and politicians who thought - and maybe still think - closure of that section of the A428 would be a good wheeze, live along the road and want a traffic free environment.
Perhaps Mayor Dave Hodgson can clarify for whom the Western Bypass will be the good news he is constantly telling us it will be?
Geoff Courtney Tollgate Close, Bromham
Enjoy our kayaking
Sir - As reported in BoS earlier this month, Viking Kayak Club is proud to be operating the new slalom poles at Duck Mill, Bedford. Viking have been using Duck Mill for over fifty years as our main white water training venue and it has been the scene of many slalom competitions.
As a result, Bedford has a great heritage of producing some excellent slalom paddlers including Etienne Stott, former European Bronze Medallist and sixth in the World Championships this year, who we hope will be contending for medals in the London Olympics this summer. In fact, Viking will have four members in the UK men’s premier division this year, which is outstanding for a predominantly flat water town.
The new arrangements are the culmination of five years of discussion and partnership working with the Mayor, the council and the Environment Agency, who we’d like to thank for all their efforts and support. We hope the people of Bedford will enjoy stopping at Duck Mill to watch our sessions as they visit the Embankment and that this new feature will help kick off this Olympic year.
Rob Bates Chairman, Viking Kayak Club, Bedford
I feared dog attack
Sir - I went for a walk at lunchtime.
It was wet, so I wore my fluorescent cycle jacket. As I was passing by Livingstone School, Clapham, a man with a dog on a lead approached me. The dog was of the type that I thought had been banned years ago; short and broad with jaws and teeth obviously designed for tearing.
There was a commotion as the dog reared up on its back legs. If it hadn’t been for its owner pulling it back on its chain, and me stepping off the pavement into the road, it would have attacked me.
The man shouted something at the dog, then at me, “ee ates people dressed like that”, obviously referring to my bright jacket.This is worrying. Firstly, on a narrow pavement with no escape into the road I would have been attacked.
Secondly, if a dog owner knows their potentially dangerous animal ‘ates people’ dressed in a certain way, why doesn’t he have to do something about it, with some corrective training perhaps?
Your readers might be able to offer advice on this one. What measures is a person legally allowed to take to protect themselves from attacks by dogs in the street?
Most of the things I can think of would probably be illegal, apart from a full face headguard and chain mail suit. I’m fairly sure a loaded shotgun wouldn’t be allowed these days, but it would have probably maintained the status quo in this case.
P Austin Highbury Grove, Clapham
Let’s see proposals
Sir - With reference to your comments about the design of developments for the town centre, I wholeheartedly agree this should not be left to Bedford Borough councillors.
They have a lamentable record when you consider what has been recent permitted development - the Aspects Leisure Centre and the ‘pyramid’ swimming pool are two examples where no consideration of aesthetics or surroundings has been considered.
Bedford has some handsome and interesting buildings (albeit many not kept in good condition) and future designs must fit in with our townscape.
This is not rocket science - many market towns manage it. Let architects and designers submit ideas for consideration by people who are going to live with the results, rather than allowing Hilton Worldwide or the developers of the scheme to decide on what is to be built.
It would be excellent if someone such as Richard Wildman (who has resolutely championed conservation in the town) could be prevailed on to lead a campaign so we enhance our town when we have this opportunity.
Jo Knight Ellis Road, Bedford
Station needs attention
Sir - Further to recent comments regarding the Riverside North development, I would like to add, why do the Mayor and Council always want to run before they can walk? We spent years waiting for the bus station and widespread updates to the town centre. A massive amount of money was spent on plans, talks, certain people buying property, and the demolition of two blocks of flats.
I am sure that as we are so short of homes they would have provided quite a number of people with better homes than they have at present. Are we going any further with these plans? To attract non-motoring visitors to Bedford our bus station needs a facelift and the whole area needs some attention.
It all needs to be sorted out before we even consider paying out to change another area of the town.
The town hall might not look good and yes there are plenty of buildings and ideas which could enhance this area, but at present it is clean and in use, and does not detract too much from the area.
So I am saying let’s get one mess cleaned up before we start another one, and leave it because the money runs out. The cinema we already have does not bring all the latest films and makes it necessary for people to have to travel to Milton Keynes to watch them.
But again with everything downloading will you even need a cinema in five or ten years time? Please Bedford Borough do your home work before you start anything and do it wrong or do not do it at all.
The future of retail is changing all the time, and in 20 years time if not sooner it will only be specialist shops that are needed.
Gloria Jakes Stainmore Road, Bedford
Bus route problems
Sir - What this report (Residents caught in mud-dle after bus service route change BoS January 22) fails to note is that the original bus route was via Westrope Way, therefore negating the need of the bus to turn within the estate.
Several years ago the council installed, at the cost of around £15,000, a rising bollard at the end of Westrope Way, where the road connects to the end of Woodlands Park. However, they did not check that the bus would actually fit down Westrope (it didn’t) and this route had to be abandoned.
As a result the “solution” was to try to get the buses to turn on the estate and the result is buses going past people’s houses every three minutes seven days a week from 7am. While I can understand the issues it causes the residents of Angelita Court, the problem was caused by the poor planning and lack of consultation on the original planned route.
Simon Morrall Woodlands Park, Bedford
Museum web concern
Sir - What is going on with access to the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery website? The only way, I would remind everyone, to see the collections at the Bedford art galleries and museum was to go online, while they are closed for refurbishment/ regeneration until current, estimated reopening in Spring 2013 (Cecil Higgins was closed to visitors in 2007, the new gallery and museum early in 2011). Now, it seems even this is denied to the general public.
I tried recently to look at the Edward Bawden pictures that I know are in the Art Gallery collection but the images are not there.
I tried other parts of the CHAG website but was either denied access or sent back to the home page. On asking friends, I learn they have either been denied any access or have not been able to access images since the summer of 2011.
What message does this send out to the wider world about Bedford? Not only is there no museum or art gallery in the county town but their extensive, valuable collections are not even available online? Nova Davies Rosamond Road, Bedford
