Support the Waterway Park during Oxford / Cambridge Arc Consulation

BEDFORD AND MILTON KEYNES WATERWAY PARK NEEDS LOCAL SUPPORT DURING OXFORD TO CAMBRIDGE ARC PUBLIC CONSULTATION PHASE

The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust is asking local residents and wider supporters for their help in putting the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park firmly on the Government’s radar during the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework public consultation.

The consultation phase of the Oxford to Cambridge Spatial Arc Framework was launched this summer and offers the ideal opportunity for the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park to stand out as an environmental project that deserves Government attention and investment.

Speaking about this opportunity, Jane Hamilton, Chair, Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust says, “This is the best chance we will have to get significant Government interest in the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park. To make the most of this opportunity and move closer to getting the waterway park built, we need as much support as possible. We truly believe this will be a wonderful addition to the area and will bring wide ranging benefits to the local community, but the message can’t just come from us, it needs to come from everyone.”

The Trust is asking both local residents and all supporters of the Waterway to register their support at https://placebuilder.io/futureofthearc. This is an online digital questionnaire which is asking for people’s views. In particular, the Trust would like supporters to focus on the section which looks at improvements to the environment for future generations.

Highlighting the benefits of the project, Jane adds, “The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park will bring significant new areas of open space and water to the region by linking the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes with the River Great Ouse in Bedford. It will add a new dimension to the Forest of Marston Vale, bringing with it opportunities for new water-based activities as well as providing new parkland, improved wildlife habitats and routes for residents to walk, cycle and run. It will bring in visitors both on and off the water, which in turn will boost tourism in the local economy. We believe this project also has the potential to help manage flood risk in the upper Ouse catchment area and could help transfer water to drier areas of East Anglia. Overall, we believe it will transform our region for the better.”

The consultation will run until 12 October, 2021. The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust will be making official submissions which are available to view on the Trust’s website.

For those people who would prefer to email their views, rather than complete the online survey, the email address is oxford-cambridgearc@communities.gov.uk.