MESSAGE FROM THE BPARA CHAIR
Have you had your say on MKCC’s plan to reduce Saxon Street from double to single carriageway?
Do you already struggle to get out of Bletchley via Buckingham Road and Saxon Street – your journey will be longer if we lose the double carriageway!
Do you have to cross Sherwood Drive at peak times? MKCC admit even more vehicles (up to 90 per hour) will use Sherwood Drive – traffic already backs up now on the Sherwood Drive/Buckingham Road roundabout when the existing pedestrian traffic signals are on red.
Observations of the BPARA Chair and Town Deal Board member who has been on duty at some of the pop-ups, maintaining a neutral stance on Saxon Street proposals. She has been critical of MKCC lack of engagement for the last 3-4 years, and, to date, response to the consultation from residents has been poor. In response to BPARA members’ questions which she could not answer at a pop-up:
- The whole consultation exercise was rushed, and information delayed resulting in minimum information being available for inclusion in West Bletchley’s Open Door and the Town Council’s equivalent delivered to all households in the Bletchley/Fenny area.
- This consultation clashes with that for West Bletchley Neighbourhood Plan and MKCC’s Plan MK50 although the latter is likely to be of less interest to most residents.
- The pop-ups with exhibition boards are a brilliant idea for those people aware they were being held.
- BPARA has devoted considerable time and resource to promoting the consultation:
- Circulated a flyer to 2,500 households in the Bletchley Park Ward area.
- In the absence of a poster from MKCC, BPARA’s poster distributed to shops, educational and social/entertainment locations, rail station and even West Bletchley Council noticeboards. Shared with fellow resident’s’ associations and Newton Longville Parish Council.
- Details published on BPARA Facebook plus 2 posts on Next Door Social Media channel which attracted 2,000+ and 1,800+ views, respectively.
- Minutes of last Town Deal Board meeting state that” Board requested modelling data be included in the consultation materials and associated narrative, clearly showing current impact on journey times.” This has not been published – BPARA Chair requested this information.
- The eastern entrance to rail station question in the consultation survey Saxon Street Hard Copy Questionnaire is misleading as people will naturally support an eastern access but not aware of the logistics/cost of this.
- Bletchley & Fenny Town Council members voted this week in favour of the single carriageway, hopefully not just based on one councillor’s view that “it will stop 70mph traffic proceeding through the current 30mph section of Saxon Street’” They obviously do not live in any of the West Bletchley roads that lead onto Buckingham Road and have to cope with traffic congestion to reach Saxon Street. If they are aware, did they take this into account or is it not important as it does not affect them?
- Prior to next board meeting on Monday, 16 September, BPARA Chair has again requested Highways supply data to support that a bridge over Saxon Street is not a viable option and to publicise their modelling data.”
- BPARA welcomes the proposed changes to Queensway – installing a new one-way system, measures to address the current inconsiderate parking/lack of enforcement in Bletchley and make the area safer and more pleasant to visit.” PRI Hard Copy Questionnaire
- Visuals on display at a pop-up include
- Do go along to one of the remaining sessions – see A4 poster_August-24 final An additional session has been arranged at Bletchley Leisure Centre from 1-3pm on Tuesday 15 September, or at least give your views via the short surveys shown above or at Have Your Say Today – Groundbreaking Bletchley & Fenny Stratford Town Deal – Commonplace. The consultation closes on 22 September.
