Delight as work on new roundabout approaches

The highways department at Central Beds Council is to close sections of Sun Street and Shortmead Street in Biggleswade while it builds a new roundabout at the junction of the two roads.

Campaigners have spoken of their delight at the move after years spent trying to convince Central Beds Council and former local authorities of the need for the roundabout.

Earlier this year the council and David Wilson Homes came under fire after work was expected to start on the roundabout but was delayed.

The council cited urgent remedial work that was taking place at Ivel Bridge as the stumbling block.

Highways said that due to the proximity of the bridge to the two roads, the roundabout could not be installed until the bridge work had been completed.

Central Beds Council has confirmed that road closures will be effect for Shortmead Street from Bells Brook to Church Street from Monday (August 19) until Friday, September 20 while the work is undertaken.

Sun Street will also be closed between the Shortmead Street junction and Fairfield Road between the same dates.

Both road closures will be in effect from 9am to 3.30pm.

At a meeting of Biggleswade Town Council on Tuesday (August 13) councillors welcomed the news but stressed the need for further changes in the roads.

Councillor Bernard Briars said: “I am very pleased to hear that the work is about to start but we do need to tell Central Beds about the need for parking restrictions in Shortmead Street close to the Dan Albone car park.

“Very often cars will be parked there on a tight bend and when lorries and other larger vehicles try to pass it can become quite dangerous.”

Councillor Madeline 
Russell also spoke about the need for an additional zebra crossing.

She said: “There has been a need for a crossing close to Brunts Lane and the methodist church for some time, but the plans indicate that there will only be a traffic island or something similar there.

“A crossing is what we really need as there are always children from St Andrew’s Lower School needing to cross the road.”

Councillors agreed to write to Central Beds about the changes that were proposed at the meeting.