Update 23rd March
The deadline for responses to this consultation has now passed.
Original Post
There is currently an open consultation inviting public comments on a proposal to install double yellow lines (DYL) on Green Lane. The request for the lines was submitted by Wixams Town Council to the highways team at Bedford Borough Council. According to the order this is to help residents on Nightingale Court to get in and out of their road.
The highways team have put forward a proposal to put lines on the west side of Green Lane, either side of Nightingale Courts:
(i) On its western side, extending from the projected centre of Nightingale Court, in a north easterly direction, for a distance of approx. 47 metres.
(ii) On its western side, extending from the projected centre of Nightingale Court, in a south westerly direction, for a distance of approx. 50 metres.
Documents
Bedford Borough Council have a dedicated page for all their proposed Traffic Regulation Orders:
For this Green Lane proposal they have published the following two documents:
Concerns Raised by Residents
Residents on Green Lane have raised concerns about this proposal and the data which was used to determine this scheme. The last time Wixams Town Council engaged with nearby residents about the issues there was in 2024. Since that time Primrose Drive has opened up, allowing through access on Green Lane, potentially meaning this proposal is no longer the right option.
It’s recognised that these lines might help resolve part of the issues around Nightingale Court and the school run, however the following other concerns have been raised:
- There are already major concerns with speeding cars travelling down Green Lane, increasing the risk to children and pedestrians. The highways team have recommended against double yellow lines in parts of Wixams because it creates a free run down the main roads, leading to more incidents of speeding.
- The lines would be in operation for 24 hours whereas the issues they seem to want to resolve are just on school days, in the morning and afternoons.
- Residents who live nearby do not have enough parking spaces (as with most of village 1) so removing these parking spaces from Green Lane will lead to people parking in the side streets, potentially causing more impacts.
- During football tournaments and matches at the 3G pitches, Green Lane is used extensively for parking. Restrictions on parking would impact these times too and cause impacts elsewhere in Wixams.
Residents have asked that the council re-engage with the community to ask for newer suggestions and proposals for resolving the issues at the school run times.
How to Respond
Details on how to respond to this consultation are described in the notice document:
Comments supporting or objecting to the proposal should be put in an email, stating the grounds on which they are made
to: highway.consultations@bedford.gov.uk