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Growth Area Citizen Panel Questionnaire
521 members from Bedford Borough Council’s Citizens Panel completed the Growth Area Questionnaire. The questions and results were as follows:
1)
Before reading this questionnaire, did you know that Bedford, Kempston and the Northern Marston Vale had been identified as a 'growth area' or that there were plans for a significant increase in the numbers of new homes built in the area?
Yes, I was aware of this
326 63%
No, I was unaware of this
195 37%
Total
521 100%
2)
Do you know how many new homes have been planned for the Bedford Growth Area between 2001 and 2021?
Under 1000
6 1%
1000 to 9,999
36 7%
10,000 to 19,999
66 13%
20,000 to 29,999
42 8%
Over 30,000
53 10%
Don’t Know
321 61%
Total
524 100%
3
) Do you know how many new jobs have been planned for the Bedford Growth Area between 2001 and 2021?
Under 1000
24 5%
1000 to 9,999
36 7%
10,000 to 19,999
36 7%
20,000 to 29,999
6 1%
Over 30,000
13 2%
Don’t Know
408 78%
Total
523 100%
4)
Do you know where the main sites for new development are?
(517 respondents answered this question)
Elstow / The Wixams new settlement
228 44%
Land at Shortstown
150 29%
Wootton
93 18%
Stewartby
108 21%
Land west of Kempston
117 23%
Biddenham Loop
124 24%
North of Bromham Road, Biddenham
113 22%
Land north of Brickhill (North Bedford)
110 21%
Land north of Norse Road (North East Bedford)
179 35%
Other
6 1%
I did not know about any of these growth locations
118 23%
5)
Do you think stepping up the pace and scale of development (housing, jobs and the associated infrastructure - transport, community facilities, open spaces etc) in the Bedford Growth Area is a positive or a negative change?
Positive
339 67%
Negative
169 33%
Total
508 100%
6)
What do you think the benefits of an increase in housing and jobs and the associated infrastructure - transport, community facilities, open spaces etc) in the Bedford Growth Area might be?
359 respondents answered this question.
The most common responses were as follows: -
Economic growth
87 24%
No benefits
62 17%
Greater employment
59 16%
More, affordable housing
30 8%
Improved town centre
28 8%
Improved facilities generally
27 8%
Improved transport system
20 6%
7)
What do you think the drawbacks of an increase in housing and jobs and the associated infrastructure - transport, community facilities, open spaces etc) in the Bedford Growth Area might be?
406 respondents answered this question.
The most common responses were as follows: -
Increased traffic
136 33%
Loss of the environment
79 19%
Pressure on emergency services
62 15%
General overcrowding & 49
12%*
*Infrastructural problems (e.g. with roads and pressure on public facilities) 30
7%*
Crime
25 6%
Overcrowding in schools
24 6%
8Overcrowded public transport 20
5%*
No drawbacks
20 5%
Greater pollution
18 4%
8)
The vision for Bedford's long-term future is for a significant increase in economic
growth and prosperity. In your opinion, what are Bedford's strengths that could be built on to make it a more attractive place to do business live and work?
350 respondents answered this question.
The most common responses were as follows: -
The River
128 37%
Location (geographically and in terms of access to major roads)
87 25%
Parks / open space
38 11%
Cultural diversity
36 10%
History
16 5%
Bedford's value as a market town
10 3%
Schools
9 3%