On Sunday, February 13, CPRE Bedfordshire and BFARE have organised a series of protest walks and they are expecting a strong turnout in support of their aims.
These walks will take place and be joined by other local action groups from across Bedfordshire. They will follow a number of planned routes through the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside – sending a powerful message to the government.
CPRE (Bedfordshire Countryside charity), BFARE (Bedford for a Re-Consultation against East West Railway route choosing the wrong route for Bedford) have planned these protest walks.
The walks will be in support of the national petition, which demands an end to private house building targets, a ban on large scale housing development on greenfield sites, and demanding all new homes be built to the highest environmental standards.
CPRE says: “House building does not need to be at the expense of the countryside, and it should not be at the expense of the countryside.”
BFARE asserts: “Bedford Borough Council’s support for East-West Rail’s Route E, if implemented will destroy an area of rural villages and countryside and will enable these housing developments to take place.
“The countryside is needed for farming, for carbon capture, to provide wildlife havens to protect against biodiversity loss, and as a recreational resource to support the well-being of local people.”
The starting points for the walks at noon are:
1. Clapham: Ursula Taylor Primary School walk to Carriage Drive up to meeting point. – 1.7km.
2. Bedford Park: Foster Hill Road Cemetery entrance on Foster Hill Road: Walk the the John Bunyan Trail to meeting point. – 2.5km.
3. Woodlands/Anjulita Court: walk to meeting point (park on Bramley Way if arriving by car) – 1.7km.
4. Brickhill/Brickhill Drive shops: walk up Hawk Drive to meeting point. – 2.3km.
5. Renhold Village Hall from village hall. Meet there at noon to meeting up with the shorter walk from Ravensden (starting point Horse & Jockey pub – see Walk #7)
6. Great Barford : Village hall.
7. Ravensden two Walks: Starting Horse & Jockey, Church End. Shorter walk is 1 hour, longer walk is 1.5-2 hours. Shorter walk meeting with Renhold walk in the middle (see walk #5).
8. Wilden – starting point is Wilden Village Hall
9. Roxton – starting Point is Roxton Village Hall.
For more information on CPRE / BFARE websites here:
