Access for Beadlow Manor new development:
The owners of Beadlow Manor have submitted a planning application to construct a 193 bed hotel and leisure centre on the site. With one exception, this plan is supported by the Parish Council. The PC has serious concerns over increased access and ingress from the site almost opposite the Clophill turn and adjacent to the dangerous stretch on the A507. The PC proposed a roundabout at the Clophill turn and a single new access /egress point for the complex, including the golf course. With increased golf, hotel and leisure traffic and with volumes increasing annually on the A507, plus likely further increases when the Ridgemont by-pass and new M1 access are completed (and possibly the new Centre Parcs) a roundabout is considered essential at this site. It would also have the beneficial effort of slowing westbound A507 traffic before reaching the dangerous bends. The County Council Highways Department was unhappy with this proposal. However, the Development Control Committee (of elected councillors) of Mid-Beds District Council discussed the issue, strongly supporting the concept of the roundabout, sending the proposal back to the County Council for further consideration. The County Council is re-considering and their response is awaited.
Roads
The village of Clophill is situated at the junction of two key roads in Bedfordshire. Along the western border of the parish runs the A6 which provides links to Bedford in the north and Luton in the south. To the south of the main village lies the A507 which provides links to both the A1M and M1 motorways. The two roads meet at the Clophill roundabout which, at peak times, is a notorious congestion hotspot.
Until the early 1970’s, when the Clophill Bypass was built, the A507 ran along the High Street and Shefford Road, rejoining the existing road on a slightly different alignment at Beadlow. For many years, the A507 between Beadlow and Castle Hills has been an accident blackspot. Although recent highways and signing improvements have dramatically reduced the accident levels, the village is still subject to becoming the official diversion with the associated gridlock if an accident closes the A507. Additionally, the village is used as a ‘rat run’ by drivers trying to avoid the queues on the A507 at busy periods.
The A6 also used to come through the village, going around the village green and crossing the river on the old bridge before proceeding along Old Silsoe Road and on to Silsoe. However, this was changed many years ago. The A6 too has a chequered accident record, particularly on the section of dual carriageway leading from just north of Back Street towards the Haynes turn. This has led the County Council to put an anti-skid surface on the section with by far the worst record. The County Council is currently undertaking a study and consultation on the A6 between Bedford and Luton. As part of this study, it is looking at Highways improvements, public transport enhancements and cycling improvements. It is also conducting a review of speed limits although it has already been agreed to lower the speed limit from the end of the dual carriageway to the roundabout to 40mph. It is yet to be seen what impact the potential additional traffic from the Wixams will make to the A6.
Trains
The nearest rail connections to Clophill are from Flitwick on the First Capital Connect Services to London and the South Coast and from Bedford or Luton for Midland Mainline fast services to London or northwards to places such as Leicester, Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield. Clophill falls within the Flitwick Plusbus zone. This means that for a very small surcharge, you can by an add-on to your ticket giving unlimited travel by bus within the Flitwick Plusbus zone. Thus saving money compared to parking costs at the station.
Bus, Community Transport and Dial-a-ride Services
Due to its position on the main A6, the village is well served by buses. However, those living at the eastern end of the village are subject to either a lengthy walk or relying on the 200 service which only runs every 2 hours to get to the main bus stops. The main bus services serving the village are as follows:-
- A twice hourly service to Bedford on the Stagecoach Saturn S1 and Jupiter J1 Services
- An hourly service to Luton on the Stagecoach Saturn S1 service
- An hourly service to Ampthill and Flitwick on the Stagecoach J1 service
- A two hourly service toward Biggleswade/Shefford/Ampthill/Flitwick on the Grant Palmer 200 service. This service is financially assisted by Bedfordshire County Council
In addition, the village also benefits from the following:- - One return trip per day to Luton on Bedfordshire County Council service 145. This service calls at all the main colleges in Luton as well as the Town Centre and operates on college days only
- A weekly return service to Hitchin on the Red Kite 77 service. This service is totally funded by the County Council
- A twice weekly service to Milton Keynes on Grant Palmer Service 197. This service runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays and is totally funded by the County Council
- A weekly service to Tesco’s in Flitwick on service 146. This service is run by Cedar Coaches and provides two return trips on a Friday
- Various journeys during the week to Ampthill, Flitwick and Milton Keynes operated by the Flittabus. The Flittabus is a voluntary organisation. Services are open to the public and are entirely staffed by volunteers.
TIMETABLES FOR ALL OF THESE SERVICES ARE DISPLAYED ON THE FRONT OF THE POST OFFICE – NEXT TO THE COUNTRY PROPERTIES BOARDS
In addition to the above, Clophill also benefits from the Mid Beds Link-a-ride service. This service provides door to door transport for registered users. The service is aimed at people unable to make journeys by public transport.
Useful Links
