Proposals aim to ease congestion

Plans to improve streets in the Queen's Park area of Bedford are being backed by Bedfordshire County Council.

The county council is planning on putting £200,000 towards the proposals to ease congestion and improve the area for pedestrians.

The plans include improvements to the junction of Ford End Road and Havelock Street and a new crossing on Ford End Road, close to the shops.

The council is working with the Queen's Park Urban Community Council.

A consultation exercise will be carried out in the summer with the Urban Community Council and other partners and landowners in the area.

The scheme also has the support of Bedford Borough Council which is providing £45,000 to help find a site for a small, off-street car parking in the area.

Councillor Tom Wootton, Bedfordshire County Council cabinet member for highways, said: "I'm delighted we are going out to consultation on these plans with the Urban Community Council because I think they will have a really positive impact on quality of life in the neighbourhood.

"It's great news that the Borough Council is also putting cash in, and along with our partners the Urban Community Council, I think we can finally get a grip on the traffic and parking problems which have bedevilled this area for years."