Category: Bedfordshire

‘Access for All’ Biggleswade – July 2024 Update

Today, Wednesday 24th July, we met once again with Network Rail and local stakeholders including local Councillors and local MP, Richard Fuller. You can read my previous update from our last meeting in May, which announced a further delay here: https://julianvaughan.blog/2024/05/09/lifts-at-biggleswade-delayed-until-summer-2025/ At the last meeting, we were told that a new quote from the contractor … Continue reading ‘Access for All’ Biggleswade – July 2024 Update →

Lifts at Biggleswade delayed until Summer 2025

Biggleswade station, located on the East Coast Mainline in Bedfordshire, and a growing commuter town, was awarded 'Access for All' funding in April 2019. Since then the project, now on its fifth Network Rail project lead, has faced several delays and we have moved from a completion date of Summer 2022, to a provisional date … Continue reading Lifts at Biggleswade delayed until Summer 2025 →

White Lines (Don’t Do it) feat. Central Beds Council

From recent evidence, it seems that Central Bedfordshire Council views road markings as a 'nice to have', rather than a vital aspect of road safety. This blog sets how I believe they are misinterpreting research in this area and how their current approach reduces the safety of the roads across Central Bedfordshire. I first raised … Continue reading White Lines (Don’t Do it) feat. Central Beds Council →

Are planning conditions worth the paper they are written on?

I will hold a hand up and say that up until a few weeks ago I did not know a great deal about planning conditions and S106 funding agreements. Since then, from delving into the lack of provision of cycle routes in my local area, and potential opportunities to improve their connectivity, I know quite … Continue reading Are planning conditions worth the paper they are written on? →

S106 Funding – an open letter to Central Beds Council

Following my research into how funding received from housing developers is spent in our communities, I posted The secret world of S106 funding blog on my social media. Of course, while social media can be a useful tool, it is no substitute for actually getting in touch with the decision makers directly. As the planning … Continue reading S106 Funding – an open letter to Central Beds Council →

The secret world of S106 funding

One of the most frequent issues that came up on the doorstep while campaigning during the Mid Bedfordshire by-election was the number of housing developments lacking associated infrastructure. Having walked around numerous housing estates over the last few months it seems that developers are permitted to lazily lob in a generic play area and completely … Continue reading The secret world of S106 funding →

Biggleswade Station Update – 15th May

Earlier today the Bedfordshire Rail Access Network (BRAN) team met with Network Rail, Richard Fuller MP, town and district Councillors and Govia Thameslink Railway to discuss the latest on the step-free project and the transport hub. The previous meeting took place on 3rd February and you can read a summary of that meeting here: https://julianvaughan.blog/2023/02/05/step-free-project-hits-the-buffers/ … Continue reading Biggleswade Station Update – 15th May →

Local Election Results

While I’m obviously disappointed not to have been elected, I’m delighted for my five Labour colleagues who are now Central Bedfordshire Councillors. After years of Tory domination, the council has moved to 'No Overall Control' and we have two Labour Councillors (Stotfold and Arlesey and Fairfield) in what will be the new Parliamentary constituency of … Continue reading Local Election Results →

Julian Vaughan for Biggleswade West

On Thursday 4th May, the residents of Biggleswade will get a chance to vote for the politicians who will represent the town for the next four years. I am Chair of the Bedfordshire Rail Access Network, a campaign group that successfully campaigned for funding for lifts at Biggleswade train station, due to come into service … Continue reading Julian Vaughan for Biggleswade West →

The injustice of prepayment meters – an open letter to my MP

The following is a letter sent to my MP, Richard Fuller on 8th December, setting out the injustice faced by those who pay for their energy via a prepayment meter. Mr Fuller replied on 14th December and I have included this reply at the bottom of the blog. Dear Richard I am writing to you … Continue reading The injustice of prepayment meters – an open letter to my MP →