Fears raised that roads won't cope with theme park

People living near the planned site of the first Universal Studios theme park in Europe have raised concerns over the impact on traffic in the area.

The attraction is expected to bring in 8.5 million visitors a year to Kempston Hardwick, near Bedford, and Universal Destinations & Experiences said it would be the largest visitor attraction in the UK.

Planning permission was granted in December by the government via a special development order (SDO), allowing the application to bypass the usual local planning procedure.

But people have told the BBC they fear the planned roads around the park will not be adequate for the expected volume of traffic.

Rob Ford, 39, lives in nearby Stewartby and commutes to Milton Keynes for work.

"We've got the A1, the A6 and the M1 that feed on to the A421, [and] as soon as there's an issue on one of those roads, they're already struggling," he said.

He added that the park would be a positive for Bedfordshire but he felt more needed to be done on new roads around the site.

"I can't wait for the park to be built, I'm genuinely excited about it," he said.

"The one thing I'm not excited about is the planned infrastructure that's going to be put in place. It's not up to scratch."

He said he had fears about the impact in terms of potholes and access for the emergency services.

The park is to be built on the site of a former brickworks.

Universal has previously said the project would "help deliver several long sought-after transportation upgrades, including direct slip roads from the A421 and other local road improvements".

Plans show new slip roads off the A421 leading to the park and the upgrade of the road sandwiched by the park, Manor Road, from a single lane to a dual carriageway.

Yet concerns remain.

Barry Talbot, 59, is the third generation of his family to run vintage car workshop T&L Engineering, in Elstow.

He said he was worried the increased traffic would negatively impact his business.

"We've got customers coming in from all over the country, and our suppliers, [and] they're using the M1 [and] the A421," he said.

"Any road problems are a problem to us. If you have an accident out on the A421, the whole of Bedford comes to a standstill now.

"So God knows what it will be like with that volume of increased traffic. How can people run their business when you can't get out, people can't get to you?"

Under the project's 40:40:20 Vision, Universal is expecting 40% of visitors to travel to the site by car.

Other visitors are expected to travel by rail (40%) and coaches, buses and taxis.

The plan is for the park to open in 2031.

Central Bedfordshire Council member Sue Clark, a Conservative representing the neighbouring Cranfield and Marston Moretaine ward, has previously expressed her concerns that the current modelling of traffic management for the park "doesn't stack up".

The BBC contacted Universal Destinations & Experiences over the issue, but it said it could not comment during the SDO's statutory parliamentary review period.

The BBC has contacted Bedford Borough Council for comment.

In identical statements, National Highways and the Department for Transport said: "We continue to work closely with Universal Destinations & Experiences and other partners to develop plans to support this exciting development for the area.

"Universal Destinations & Experiences is responsible for the project's construction and any mitigations around associated traffic."

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