Regional News

Our newsletter contains a round-up of stories from our local authorities, which you can also find below.

Buckinghamshire Council uses emergency powers to fix roads

Buckinghamshire Council is using emergency powers to fast-track essential road repairs as it continues to tackle head on the current state of the roads under the Buckinghamshire Highways contract.

Given the adverse impact of the winter weather on the condition of the roads, which is an issue experienced across the country, the council will be using its emergency powers, alongside the flexibility of the new highway contracts, to fast track a number of essential road repairs.

The normal period of advance notice to residents will not always be possible, but the council believes that undertaking the road repairs are the most important issue at this time and will endeavour to advise local communities and businesses in the immediate vicinity via letter drops

Click here to read more

Other news of interest

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Hertfordshire Trials New Cycleway Gritter

A new cycleway gritter is being trialled in Welwyn Garden City as town centre improvements progress.

The new gritter specially designed for cycle paths is being used along part of the new cycling and pedestrian works in the town centre. It works by spraying paths with a brine solution rather than traditional rock salt, the preferred method for treating cycleways.

The trial conducted by Hertfordshire County Council looks to find the best way to keep cycleways open and safe during winter.

Cllr Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and Transport, Hertfordshire County Council said: “These developments to the town centre in Welwyn Garden City will significantly improve the cycling and walking opportunities for local residents and visitors and I’m pleased that the works are progressing well. I’m also pleased that we’re trialling a new gritter which will ensure that cycle paths will be safer to use when we experience colder weather."

Other news in the region:

January 2023 edition:

Peterborough station receives £48million levelling-up funding

A total of £48million is on its way to Peterborough, following a successful Levelling Up Fund bid for the first phase of regeneration of the area around Peterborough Train Station – known as Station Quarter.

The project involves creating a new western entrance to the station with a car park – to create a double-sided station – with a new wider footbridge over the train lines. This will alleviate pressure on city centre roads, making it easier and safer to travel around the city by bicycle. Green areas with biodiversity, community spaces and better connections to the city centre will make it safer and more attractive for bikes and pedestrians.

Additional match funding to bring the total funds up to around £65million is expected to come from Peterborough City Council and other partners, enabling future private investment in commercial and residential development as a further phase of the Station Quarter programme.

Construction work on the first phase could take place between 2024 and 2026, with wider development of the Station Quarter continuing up to 2028.

Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Cllr Anna Smith, said: “Regenerating the Station Quarter has the power to uplift not just the city but the whole region. It’s a great addition to what we are going to be able to offer in the East of England and will make Peterborough itself greener and ever more welcoming to visitors, investors and businesses."

Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald, leader of Peterborough City Council, added: “This redevelopment of our city centre train station and the land surrounding it will cut carbon emissions and make our city easier and safer to walk around, while stimulating business and providing economic benefit to our city – both during and after construction.”

A total of 111 areas were awarded total funding of £2.1billion from the second round of the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The Borough of Broxbourne Council also received £14million for a new skatepark, outdoor gym and sports pavilion in Broxbourne.

The successful bids announced this week follow the allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021. The government has also launched an interactive map online so people can see which projects in their area are receiving Levelling Up Fund investment.

Click here for Levelling Up information

Other news from our Local Authority partners:

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December 2022 edition:

King Charles visited the Luton DART on 6 December during his official visit to the town.

The Luton DART is an electrically-powered, energy-efficient, cable car that will transport airport passengers arriving by train at Luton Airport Parkway station to the airport terminal in just over three minutes.

On the third leg of his official visit to the town, His Majesty boarded the DART for the three-minute journey from Luton Parkway Station to the terminal of London Luton Airport.

Cllr Javeria Hussain, chair of Luton Rising, said: “His Majesty’s visit was such a powerful and memorable moment for the whole town, and it was an incredible privilege to have just some of the funding recipients we support in attendance."

In other news from our local authority partners...

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