1. BPARA (and the Consortium of Bletchley Residents Associations – COBRA -represented by Liz Rawlinson, Chair) have been stakeholders and attended workshops in relation to the Central Bletchley Urban Design Framework (“CB Framework”) since the initiation of this project in November 2017.
2. In March 2019, we attended another workshop and accepted the need for the Prospectus and that this should be based on work carried out as part of the CB Framework.
3. BPARA was pleased that Plan MK with support for the Prospectus Area/CB Framework (Policy SD16) together with the West Bletchley Neighbourhood Plan, were adopted by MK Council in March 2019. However, BPARA was subsequently disappointed that:
The former is likely to be delayed by at least 6 months following the change of Cabinet Member (Cllr Middleton replaced by Cllr Gowans, both Labour) in May 2019 to allow for “Focussed Engagement” in relation to the Prospectus
Cllr Gowans, as Bletchley East Councillor, is listed as an attendee at the November 2017 workshop in Matthew Clarke’s email dated 21 December 2017 – why did he did not raise the need for “focussed engagement” much earlier?
We are aware that the Focussed Engagement process included 2 short drop in sessions at Bletchley Library for members of the public but these were not widely publicised in the media, plus a presentation to West Bletchley Council who had already received a similar presentation last April – we hope that feedback from the public and other interested bodies has justified the need for Focussed Engagement and the delay in moving forward.
4. Bletchley has been badly neglected by MK Council and slow to react to the advent of East/West Rail with Bletchley as a portal. There have been numerous regeneration studies costing thousands of pounds in the past, none of which have come to fruition, other than the Fixing the Links led by Paul Hammond. Paul and his team have also been instrumental in putting together the CB Framework/Prospectus and BPARA has no criticism of this team and compliment them on the work they have done to date – 1 of the team presented on the CB Framework at the BPARA AGM in April 2018. Cllr Gowans must move forward this project – both Prospectus and SPD 16 – without further delay, particularly as there is no Neighbourhood Plan for the B&FSTC area and unsuitable piecemeal development applications are already being made. We are 6 weeks away from 2020 and East/West Rail is due to be operational in March 2023!
5. The route of the Cambridge/Oxford/MK Expressway which we understand will follow East/West Rail, needs to be finalised as this will have an impact on Bletchley. We attach an article from The Times which refers to the UK’s largest property companies calling for an “Olympic-style” delivery body to deliver housing and infrastructure in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc – has this been considered by MK Council?
6. We are aware that once SPD 16 is approved, there will be public consultation on all aspects of proposed developments in the area, but wish to comment on the current scope of this project:
Sadly, eyesores such as D Block and the Old Canteen in Wilton Avenue (owned by Bletchley Park Capital Partners – BPCP) and the site of the old Cricket Pavilion in the Conservation Area are not included – possibly due to the owners deliberately failing to engage. These sites create a bad impression on visitors to Bletchley and cause problems for those living opposite or close by. MK Council Enforcement Department has had little success in getting BPCP to comply with the enforcement order served a year ago. There is now a Review of Bletchley Conservation Area by MK Council Conservation and Archaeology Team – should this not be part of the CB Framework? Consultation runs until 18/12/2019.
The proposed College of Digital Technology in D Block of Bletchley Park should be in scope, plus Wilton Hall.
In an ideal world, everybody would use eco-friendly public transport. Today we have inadequate, and mostly costly parking provision for existing businesses, commuters, residents, students and patrons of restaurants/pubs etc. This needs to be urgently addressed before the advent of East/West Rail and influx of new Aylesbury Vale residents coming to Bletchley.
This Summer, we attended 2 concerts at MK Dons Stadium which made us reflect on what a superb development we have at MK1 – retail, leisure, restaurants and sport – due to the drive of Pete Winkleman. MK Council ought to encourage Pete to be active in the future of Central Bletchley.
