Wixams and Wilstead Cllr Graeme Coombes is not giving up hope for the delivery of the long-awaited Wixams railway station, despite the project missing out on a funding bid last week.

New Wixams residents were told when building of the development started in 2007 that a train station would be delivered by 2015.  The developer, Gallagher Estates, has said since that the costs of delivering the scheme have escalated and it is currently unaffordable due to an estimated £16m shortfall, meaning that other options for funding have been pursued alongside the Council and Network Rail.

Last year a bid was submitted for the station to receive Government Local Growth Fund monies which are designed to boost regional economies.  The bid was put forward through the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), a private / public partnership with responsibility for local growth.

Last week it was announced that a number of schemes, including the Bedford Southern Gateway project to alleviate congestion on Ampthill Road, would receive a share of £59m of funding.  Unfortunately, the Wixams railway station was not on the shortlist.

A separate bid for £5m via the Government’s new stations fund has been submitted, but Cllr Coombes is urging the Mayor to look at other possible funding sources, including Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies which are payable by developers to the Council and used to develop infrastructure.

Cllr Coombs told the Bedfordshire on Sunday:

‘We still have a possible £5m coming from the government station fund and we will continue to talk to SEMLEP about future funding possibilities. In the meantime I have written to the mayor to revisit the idea of using CIL money to fund the vital station.’