East West Rail: Residents concerned about housing expansion

Local resdients raised this worry at one of the latest drop-in events organised by the company since the announcement of the preferred route for the final section of the proposed train line between Oxford and Cambridge.

While there was support from some for the principle of the new train line, there were still concerns the current plans would be “devastating”.

East West Rail confirmed in May this year that it had chosen the southern route approaching Cambridge as its preferred choice for the new railway line.

The route is proposed to go from Bedford to a new station near Tempsford, south of St Neots, before heading to a new station in Cambourne.

From there the line is planned to connect to Cambridge from the south of the city, through the new Cambridge South Station.

East West Rail drop-in event Tempsford - John English. (Image: Local Democracy Reporter)

‘We think a St Neots South station would be better’

At a drop-in event in Tempsford on July 7, concerns were raised about the amount of housing it could lead to being built.

David Sutton, the chair of Tempsford Parish Council, said: “The biggest concern is taking the village from 600 people to 44,000 – that is just insane

“I think the majority [of parish] councillors were up for the idea of East West Rail, what we were unanimously against was the Tempsford variant.

“There does not seem any justification that makes any sense as to why they have chosen it.

“They are saying that it is easier to develop in Tempsord, and that they have got increased opportunities for biodiversity and green spaces, but that seems to actually be not true and we think a St Neots South station would be better.”

John English said he also supported the concept of the proposed railway line, but said he believed the current plans could be “devastating” and would “attract further large-scale development in this area”.

He also said he wanted East West Rail to make sure it considered the heritage in the area, highlighting a memorial at the Tempsford Airfield, and said he did not want to see “tracks right across it”.

Some at the event questioned why the chosen route would not serve St Neots itself.

Andrew Balgerough said: “In general I do not have much objection to it in principle. Only objection is to the actual route, it is all over the place.

“It does not serve St Neots, they cannot catch it except if they drive down Tempsford Station, that really in essence is my objection to it.

“This is 20 years too late, if they built it 20 years before the big expansion houses built on the old railway line it would save knocking them down.”

Adrian Besant said the new Tempsford station would not serve the village, and said he wanted to see the new railway line go across further north than is currently proposed and join the existing line that goes through St Neots.

East West Rail drop-in event Tempsford - David Sutton, chair Tempsford Parish Council. (Image: Local Democracy Reporter)

‘It has to happen – but it’s just finding the best way to do that’

Meryl Besant said she was not against the proposals, but said they needed to make sure the best way was found to build the new line.

She said: “I think it is needed and it will bring a lot of prosperity to this area. Housing in Cambridge particularly, and I assume it is the same in Oxford, is incredibly expensive.

“People could live in this sort of area and get to Cambridge easily if they went on the train, so I do not think it is a bad thing. I also think the existing houses, the house prices will go up and we would be better off, that is just my opinion.

“I think it is something that has to happen, you cannot stop progress, but it is just finding the best way to do that.”

The campaign group Cambridge Approaches also went to the event to gather signatures opposing the East West Rail project.

Leigh Carter, from the group, said the business case was “absolutely dreadful” and would be a “complete waste of money”.

He said the chosen southern route was “more expensive, harder to build, and causes greater environmental damage” compared to the previously considered northern route.

In the East West Rail update report it said a station near Tempsford would “have greater advantages” compared to the previously considered St Neots South station.

It said: “A Tempsford station would be better located to enable a new community to grow, including opportunities to improve biodiversity and give more people access to green spaces.

“There would also be more opportunity at Tempsord to design the railway so that it could be at the centre of the local travel network, including good walking, wheeling for those using mobility aids and cycling routes.”

The company said growth included in reports was a potential scenario, but not a prediction. Planning applications for new homes would also need to be considered and decided by local planning authorities.

What East West Rail said

Addressing concerns about the route choice approaching Cambridge, a spokesperson for East West Rail said: “Approaching Cambridge from the south reduces congestion in an already congested transport area and provides fast, reliable access to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus – a driver for economic growth that creates high value jobs and attracts global investment.

“Importantly, it is also the station for Addenbrooke’s Hospital – East Anglia’s biggest hospital.

“In addition, there are three times as many jobs within walking distance of Cambridge South station compared to Cambridge North.

“Approaching Cambridge from the north might be cheaper, but cheapest doesn’t mean best.

“A northern approach would reduce the frequency of trains and extend journey times, likely requiring passengers to change trains to an unacceptable level.

“Approaching Cambridge from the north has been assessed on a number of occasions with the same conclusion each time – that the southern approach is the best solution.”