Wilshamstead Parish Council Wixams Parish Council Bedford Borough Councillor Report: 1. Coronavirus in Bedford Borough Rates of Coronavirus in Bedford Borough are continuing to decline and are now similar to rates seen in early October 2020. Cases are falling in all age groups except 11-18 year olds. (this data is for w/e 5th March, so preceding the return to school on 8th March). The number of positive inpatients at Bedford Hospital has also decreased. Wilshamstead ward registered 7 cases of COVID during the week 1-7 March. 2. Vaccine rollout The CCG reported the latest vaccination data on 11 March that showed high rates of vaccination in the priority groups. The Borough figures broadly match the vaccination figures for England as a whole and show vaccination rates of: Cohort Bedford Borough England % 80+ years 92.9% 93.4% 75-79 years 93.9% 93.8% 70-74 years 92.5% 92.5% 65-69 years 87.6% 86.3% 60-64 years 57.7% 62.8% 16 to 65 years 18.4% 19.3% There is a small amount of ‘vaccine hesitancy’ across the Borough but the CCG are working with community groups to encourage uptake. A Borough-wide update on both COVID figures and the vaccination programme, presented to the Local Outbreak Engagement Board on 11 March is available here: https://www.councillorsupport.bedford.gov.uk/documents/s54208/Item%2005%20Update %20on%20COVID-19%20in%20Bedford%20Borough.pdf 3. East West Rail/Wixams Station At the 24th February Council Meeting there was a major debate on the chosen route for East West Rail as a result of a petition from residents in the north of the Borough. The Borough committed to supporting route E, though this was not unanimous. (Full details are in the ‘General Council Matters’ section at the end) You will recall from previous reports that during the last consultation it was stated that Wixams station would be put at risk if a town centre route was not selected as the preferred route. However I have recently been made aware of a document produced for the Borough by rail consultants which advocated a southern route for EWR, which would not jeopardise Wixams Station, as had been claimed. I am concerned that some might be playing politics with Wixams Station in order to get their own way on East West Rail. Regardless of the position of others, as I stated during the East West Rail debate in Council, Wixams Station remains my number one priority over and above East West Rail. I have recently discussed the strong progress being made to date and will continue to do all in my power to push for its successful delivery. 4. Town Park – Wixams I have recently spoken to L&Q estates about the Wixams Town Park. This is being brought forward and work is expected to start fairly soon. The plans/drawings look good with green space, another lake, bridges and relaxation areas. They will form a focal point at the heart of Wixams, between village 2 and village 4. I’ve asked L&Q to discuss the proposals with Wixams PC as they will impact on the connecting roads between both sides of WIxams. 5. S106 review – Planning I have recently had a briefing from the Bedford Borough and Central Beds Council Planning teams, with regard to the Wixams S106. The Borough is currently looking at requiring £29m for delivering additional education provision at Wixams. Whilst there are some large sums already in the pot, there is still a significant shortfall. The Borough is therefore looking at a re-allocation of some of the existing commitments. Before proceeding, I have asked them to speak to Wixams Parish Council and Cllr Hares from CBC has requested the same for Haynes PC. Rather than this be a large meeting of both Parishes, which might go on for some time (Cllr Hares and myself managed to make the meeting last well over an hour with our questions) we’ve agreed that the Planning team will do a joint presentation to a couple of representatives from each PC. I’ve also that that Wilstead PC be included, as Wilstead has consistently been pushing for the health facility at Wixams since at least 2011, when Wixams was part of Wilshamstead PC. As part of the discussion, I raised the issues of: • Skate park: I again put forward the idea that a skate park be considered on the open land just across on the Wilstead side of the A6 • Rokkery Area: I have again asked that any new S106 agreement reconfirm the preservation of the ‘Rookery’ on the green space between Southern Cross and Brooklands Avenue There are many parts to this, and I won’t list everything here, but it’s important that the PCs are consulted on what is proposed and their views taken into consideration. 6. Green Lane traffic update As the matter was raised at the February PC by the Wixams Community Group, I requested an update from the Borough Council’s School Transport Officers, regarding the ongoing traffic issues in and around Green Lane. The response from the school transport officers was as follows: “I’m pleased to say that both the schools have completed their hands up survey, which showed that 50% of primary and 21% of secondary school pupils usually travel to school by car. Wixams Tree have been working hard towards their Bronze Modeshift Stars accreditation by completing 15 travel initiatives since we first met. As you mention the pandemic and school closure has slowed progress of promote active travel to the pupils but we’re sure the schools will continue to promote this message once they are back to full capacity. We have embarked on our first School Street trail with Cauldwell School and are monitoring the progress of this carefully in the hope that other School Streets could be rolled out in the future. We are keen that any school who does have a School Street will have reached at least Bronze level in Modeshift Stars as this shows a dedication to changing travel behaviour and will help with the consultation process.” I have previously requested that a ‘school streets’ option is considered for Wixams and once an evaluation of the Cauldwell scheme has taken place, this can then be considered. The connecting routes through Wixams remain closed, though I have been advised by L&Q that much of the road on the western side of Wixams has now been completed. However, there are as yet no traffic calming measures in place. Both L&Q and Highways officers remain concerned that to open the routes without these would lead to roads being used as a rat-run/cut through by traffic from the B530 wanting to get to the A6 quickly. It would therefore potentially increase traffic rather than remove it. I have again impressed upon the Borough the need for urgent action to address this matter rather than continual excuses for delay. In addition, I have also had it confirmed that Green Lane has now been adopted up to the open area immediately before Wixams Tree Primary. This means that it is now Borough owned and the Borough can no longer avoid doing anything by saying it’s up to the developers. Therefore a crossing at this site should be a priority. I will go back to Andy Prigmore and ask him what he plans to do now the developer obstacle has been removed. 7. Average Speed Cameras – Wilstead I have recently seen various prices being quoted by the Borough Council for installation of average speed cameras. A number of Borough Councillors have queried the decision making process on which areas get cameras and the cost of them. A report to the Borough Council’s Environment Committee on 4th March confirmed that the actual cost of installation is £85k. The Council has installed these in parts of the Borough where it has paid the entire cost and they have a list of sites where average speed cameras have been requested (it’s quite lengthy) and officers review the sites and make decisions based on various criteria. Despite a number of requests, it has still not been made clear what the decision making process is with regard to the Borough paying in full or making request to Parishes for financial contributions. 8. Zebra crossing - Bedford Road, Wixams I’m pleased to see that the zebra crossing has now been installed on Bedford Road, Wixams. This should help focus the minds of drivers who casually speed into Wixams and help slow down traffic between The Causeway and Watson Road. However, we know there is a long list of traffic measures around Wixams, of which this is only the start and we need to collectively keep up the pressure on the Borough Council to deliver more. 9. 5G mast application, Wixams On 26 Feb I spoke to planning officers re the 5G mast application. They advised that the application will be refused. Officers tried to persuade the applicants to look at alternative locations away from houses, but the applicant submitted the current proposal anyway. We are very much in need a phone and internet signal boost at Wixams, because everything seems to be groaning under the strain at the moment, but I have asked Planning to suggest to the applicant that they put a mast at an appropriate distance away from housing and have suggested the Wilstead industrial estate as a potential site. I also asked them to keep myself and the PC informed if and when a fresh application is made.