Two months of road closures in Leighton Buzzard amid work for new footpath
Residents are being faced with two months of closures on Stanbridge Road amid work for a new footpath along the verge.
A letter seen by the LBO and sent to some residents states the work will take place in three phases – running from July 6 to 17, July 27 to August 7 and August 17 to September 4.
But the council has said it “can't confirm intermittent reopening for the road” – and has advised people to avoid the area until the works are complete.
Work is expected to take place between 8am and 6pm for the new footpath, which has been planned by Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC).
The diversion route is via Leighton Road, Billington Road, A505, A4146, A4012, Stanbridge Road and vice versa.
Meanwhile, the works also mean changes to bus services.
> Centrebus route L4 will not serve stops on Fraserfield Way or Leighton Road, but will continue to run along Briggington Way and around Astral Park / Roundel Drive.
> Arriva route X3 will not serve stops from Stanbridge, Deans Farm to Stanbridge Road / Linwood Drive inclusive, and will run non stop between Lake Street / Morrisons and Chalk Hill / ‘White Lion’.
> Arriva routes X4 and CS1 will not serve stops on Leighton Road, Stanbridge Road, or at Lake Street / Morrisons, and will divert via Fraserfields Way and Hockliffe Road.
> Arriva route X2 and other Centrebus routes will run as normal.
A council spokesperson said: "Residents are advised that a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) will remain in place for the duration of the works. Motorists are advised to avoid Stanbridge Road and Leighton Road unless their journey is essential, as the road closure is expected to cause increased congestion on surrounding routes.
"The work is being carried out during the school holidays to help minimise disruption and congestion on the network.
"Throughout the works, Cherry Court Way will remain accessible to residents, businesses and visitors. The project is being delivered using a Section 106 contribution secured through the planning process."
But the work has been welcomed by some councillors who say it will improve safety for residents.
Councillor Emma-Holland Lindsay (Leighton Linslade South), said: "Between these two points there has been no footpath, so what we have seen is people walking down the road or walking on the verge – or having to go along the road to access the [Apex Park] bus stop. This is obviously really, really unsafe, especially with the HGV test centre down the road.
"There have been a lot of concerns about the situation and we have been pushing really hard for a footpath.
"It has been promised to be put into place and now it's come forward. It's a big piece of work. There's a ditch down there, so it's quite a big job to install. But once it's in place it will give people a safe route to walk to the bus stop."
Cllr Holland-Lindsay says the path will also make accessing the leisure centre and schools easier.
She added: "We've got residents getting in touch, particularly residents of the Roundel Drive estates who rely on the bus stop, because it's used by a number of Arriva services – but they find it difficult to get there.
"If you go up to Apex Park there's a really wide shared use cycle and footpath and I know parents who take their children along the footpath to get to school. So you can access a much safer route.
"We've had some positive feedback about the link finally being completed. The Streetworks team have been very helpful about answering questions and there's been a letter drop from the council to local residents.
"If you have any concerns come to us and we will raise them with the Streetworks team at CBC. It's early days but we will be watching it closely as councillors and can liaise on points between the council and its contractor."
Cllr John Baker, executive member for finance and highways at CBC, added: "As a regular cyclist and runner, I've taken a keen interest in this project because the footpath improves connections to the new leisure centre, local bus stops, and new housing developments.
"I want to see more projects like this across the council area.
"However, projects like this can only be delivered through this administration's careful management of the public finances, particularly in the face of the government's damaging £33 million cut to the council's funding.
"I appreciate there will be a road closure and some disruption whilst the work takes place, but I hope local residents will welcome the long term benefits once it's complete."
The length of the closure – around two months – has caused some upset, with residents taking to social media to complain. Others have asked why the path was not put in place when the new Billington Park estate was built.
CBC has been approached for a comment.
Meanwhile, if alternative arrangements are required for waste and recycling, residents will be notified.