Angry residents have hit out at Bedford’s Mayor for his role in what is becoming known as the ‘Bridgegate’ scandal.

A meeting of Bedford Borough Council on Wednesday evening debated a petition signed by 544 residents calling for the recently installed bridge at the Riverside North development to be removed after it was put in place without planning permission.

Councillors criticised Mayor Hodgson at the meeting for blaming planning officers and not taking responsibility for the error.  He is also now facing questions on why he and his Liberal Democrat and Labour Executive, at a behind closed doors meeting in April 2014, agreed without ever seeing the details to allow the developer to change the design of the bridge to what the petitioners describe as a ‘massive, obtrusive and unsuitable structure’.

In supporting the petition, Cllr Roger Rigby, Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group, said:

‘Washington had Watergate, Bedford has ‘Bridgegate’.  For those dreaming that the bridge’s notoriety will create a tourist feature, be aware this is no graceful, transparent pyramid at the Musee du Louvre, nor is it the Leaning Tower of Pisa. 

‘It is, however, part of the Mayor’s legacy for Bedford to remember him by; a failure of planning, design and accountability.’

Cllr Stephen Moon, Leader of the Conservative Group added:

‘This is about more than the planning process.  It is about the Mayor abdicating his responsibility to Bedford.  He confirmed last night that no elected member other than himself had seen the design. 

‘He left the matter of design entirely to the developer and failed to ensure it was of the highest quality.  As a result the developer has done it on the cheap.’