Dunstable - A New Beginning

A short film about Central Bedfordshire Councils plans to regenerate Dunstable. You can read more on our website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk...

[@darrenaitken2383]

It's a polished video - especially for Dunstable (a town with not much going for it). It's sandwiched between two large shopping districts; Luton and Milton Keynes. It is also a 5 - 10 minute drive away from the busy M1, hence the town becomes a traffic jam. I moved away from Dunstable (a place where I grew up for my first 20 years and have childhood memories from there) because as an adult you soon realise when all your childhood friends move away you are left with the nothing: 1) It has no train station that can get me to a place that has jobs (Dunstable has none). A new bus route is not the answer - I still have to travel to get on a train that will take me to a place that can pay me a half decent salary. 2) Other than a large ASDA, there are no shops in the town centre. The shopping centre has been neglected for years - people have no where to earn or even spend their money so why would they stay around. It feels extremely old like it's stuck in the 80s with every other shop closed or boarded up - the one's left are charity, estate agents, the odd bank branch and the bookies. Mmmm...inspiring! 3) You need a north-south by pass to get rid of the traffic. Even 20 years ago when I was a child I remember locals campaigning for one but the council insists spending its money on random things like bus lanes, new traffic policies every 2 years - why? The town is a constant traffic jam and the little parking it has is charged. Why would I pay to park in a town that has nothing? And you wonder why people move away. 4) There seems to be a massive drive to build affordable homes in the town but there is no where for thousands of these people to work. It's unsustainable. 5) With no offence to anyone still living there, the town is primarily chavs and old people. Everyone else needs a job - a proper job and Dunstable simply cannot provide this. All the young talent coming out of the good schools are moving away since there is nothing there for them - you're left with chavs and old people. Two things to improve the situation massively; 1) Build a by-pass to get rid of the traffic. 2) Make a railway line branch that connects to the Luton and London link. It's not rocket science!

[@darrenaitken2383]

Building a railway (not bus) link will allow the town to be commutable to those working in Luton and London. Many more half decent hard working people will consider living there and they will also bring their cash with them. When you get up at the crack of dawn to go to work you don't want to have to keep switching modes of transport; a bus > walk > train > walk > work. It's too much hassle hence other than a few locals no one will use it. Build a train link - seriously.

[@aranyos1056]

Totally agree with you. I lived in Dunstable from the age of 11 to 23 (with 3 years away at university). The town has slowly disintegrated and crumbled into a drab mess. It is all because of council mismanagement. It saddened me to see my mother living her last years in a kind of Miss Haversham existence, trying to exist in a town that was gradually falling apart around her. Dunstable is now a drab cesspit managed by the usual dysfunctional public sector idiots that are everywhere now in contemporary Britain. My parents attended public meetings in the 90s when the council were planning to demolish the Queensway Hall and sell out the town to Asda. From their feedback it was clear that the council leadership at that time was totally corrupt.

[@Goodchappy]

The M1 to A5 link road may be opening in 2017 but what happens when the M1 is at a standstill which it usually is southbound in the mornings, the link road will be clogged so the traffic will try to escape through Dunstable as it currently does. The Busway is of no use to me at all, it looks hideous, large expanses of concrete with weeds growing amongst it. They should have reopened it as a railway that would enable you to get into Luton or into London without stopping. I am put off going to Dunstable as you have to pay for parking and that is if you can get there in resonable time and find a parking space and now that there are no decent shops, what is the point anyway. Like most decisions, the people in charge do not listen to the people that actually know what works. If what has been said in this video turns out to benefit the wider population, I will be very surprised.

[@swinderby]

I absolutely agree. I live in London and often use the train to get to Luton so why can't I get a train directly to Dunstable. I can't be bothered getting a train to Luton and then having to get off and hang around in all kinds of weather waiting for a bus to Dunstable even if it is only 16 minutes away, it's still a cramped bus.

[@michaelscales5996]

Stumbled upon this website and by coincidence I have just taken my grandkids to McDonalds.Whilst there I noticed at least 5 double decker buses go past on the guided busway ,unfortunately they were ALL VIRTUALLY EMPTY ! A complete waste of money. The roads are a complete disgrace with potholes everywhere. We also have asylum seekers staying at the Old Palace Lodge. Dunstable continues to go downhill despite all these promises and money thrown at it.

[@jimore19]

Why did they not consult the people of Dunstable about the bus link ? I know no-one who wanted a bus link over a reinstated train station I am now looking to move to a town with a rail station rather than have to get a bus to a train station 7 miles away and then a train on top !!

[@soundnicetome]

A town situated in not the best of places,and has been virtually isolated since the 60`s when the town lost its main transportation link the railway,severing itsself from nearby Luton,Leighton Buzzard and beyond. Since its loss,Dunstable has died a slow death which you have now.Poor investment,crippling cost`s badly thought out and no long term thinking,like many towns over the years have become. When you take out the `heart` of a town,it was inevitable things would go slowly out the window,in terms of prosperity. The town of Dunstable had many years,and lots of possibilities which could have brought back a railway,but it appears the powers that be `know` better and have now decided on a busway. Towns in Cambridgeshire have also swung over to a busway...which with added idea`s,will be another disastrous attempt at rejuvenating a dead town? Too little too late I`m afraid.

[@widgeydog]

a great place to live and work no there is still barley anything to do the busway has been open 6 years now and in that time has been repaired twice the town still gets blocked up with traffic when the M1 is closed due to an incident even the busway buses fail to keep time still. shops are closing still. central beds give the people a rail connection back. give us a cinema films at the grove are very little if even often. you rebulit the leisure centre and it took an extra 6 months from when the centres opening date was to actually open it and when it finally we had too wait a further 3 months for the pool to open.

[@yzerbloke]

I lived there for the first 17 years of my life. The town was quite vibrant then but moved away in 1973. Went back there 3 years ago on a Saturday and was saddened of how the town has drastically degenerated. What annoys me more than anything else is that this plan to regenerate the town is a prime example of finally seeing that the horse bolted some time back but no one did anything about it until the decay finally settled. Now it's having to spend quite a lot of money to regenerate it. What caused the decay? I'm not sure to be precise but I noticed that a lot of the big shops moved out and the Quadrant was half empty of active shops. For a Saturday the town was quite dead. Is prevention cheaper than the cure? You have to ask B.C.C. for that one.

[@stevecavery]

I like everything that's planned. Dunstable is getting worse and worse, it takes me half an hour to drive from Weatherby to the Quadrant car park sometimes. There might be a few teething problems waiting for everything to be finished but no-one can say they liked the traffic and the closed down shops. Ideally there needs to be a fourth way from Dunstable to Luton (Houghton, A505 and Caddington are what we have), I use the Leagrave station every morning and it is a pain to get to 24/7

[@leewhitehead]

Whildt there is plenty of talk about road construction to the north of Dunstable and Houghton Regis, nobody says anything about the South of Dunstable. When there is an accident on the M1, or it is closed, the new J11a will allow traffic to reach the A5 at Thorn Turn. Where does it go then? It will want to turn left and go down the A5, through Dunstable to get to J9. Dunstable needs a North-South Bypass, not an East -West bypass!!

[@centralbedfordshire]

We appreciate it will take time for people to get used to the new road layout so we have traffic management operatives on site monitoring the situation. We have also put up traffic management signs to help drivers with the new layout. The majority of the streetlights will be installed this week and the rest will be in place next week. MG

[@MikesFishandChips1]

Thank you for your reply but it makes little sense to have no lighting at all in this area.For three weeks people have walked in the dark. The lack of lighting made the whole area dangerous i have no problem in putting the lights up last but do not remove the other lights until they are working. This is just another reason why people have not come to the area. before any action are done careful thought should be used to think of the possible effect it might have. MIKE

[@elizabethelston5341]

2019, there are still lorries coming through Dunstable plus the shops are worse off than ever because when one does open it ends up being closed down within a year.

[@centralbedfordshire]

Hi Lee, the idea of a north-south bypass was considered several years ago but for a number of reasons this was not considered a viable route. We are doing everything we can to progress the other local infrastructure improvements like the A5-M1 link road, Woodside connection - both of which will divert traffic out of Dunstable Town Centre - and the Busway. KA

[@MikesFishandChips1]

hi everyone more up dates to our favorite road. i hope a councilor with the initials NY is reading this. after Saturdays two accidents we have more to report. the post that the lorry hit outside the Chinese supermarket got another hit to day by the local fire brigade. also i understand that the bus lane has now claimed it first bus in an accident.and the strange center piece at the corner of Court Drive and Kingsway Got it first victim, i am so glad this road was designed with safety in mind

[@centralbedfordshire]

Mike, the new lighting columns are expensive so we decided these would be installed last to avoid any damage but we have also been under overwhelming pressure from local residents and business owners to make Court Drive two way again. The lighting is being installed this week. KA

[@reenys1930]

Does anyone remember the old dance hall near poynters road, round where the halfway house/premier inn is? What was it called?

[@kkav1234]

a railway is what was needed and would have been better. people move to areas with train station no one moves to a bus stop

[@centralbedfordshire]

Hi, the video refers to funding that CBC has gained after a successful bid for the Government's 'Local Sustainable Transport Fund'. The name of the project is 'Travel Choices'. You can find out more about it if you search for it on our website. We'd like to get input from fellow cycling and sustainable transport advocates about the issues within the project area of Leighton Buzzard, Houghton Regis and Dunstable. Please contact the team at [e-mail] MG

[@rydra8132]

The busway if nothing else gives an alternative mode of transport, which is never a bad thing. But the ONE THING we need, is affordable HOUSING. Not flats, not houses so small they might as well be flats. we need decent sized 2/3/4 bed houses, at an affordable rate. Flats and small houses suit commuter lifestyles, which is not what Dunstable needs. I look forward to seeing how we can rejuvenate the town centre, as it's dead from a shoppers POV, expensive to park in, and nothing to do at night.

[@centralbedfordshire]

Hi jimore19 and markcastro78, The Busway will provide residents with more links between housing and local employment as well as providing better and more frequent access to Luton mainline station and the Airport, providing faster links to London and other key locations. The Busway went through a thorough public examination where the options of rail and bus were debated at length. The advantage the bus over rail is its ability to take passengers right into residential and business estates

[@MandeepKaur-lb5oj]

It could be far better to arrange railway station from Dunstable to watford. Instead of only London. Please do something about it.😔

[@centralbedfordshire]

Hi, we've had to dig up a small part of the road as it was uneven which would cause large puddles. However, this expense has been met by the contractor as it was their mistake. We have used the shared space concept in the designing of Court Drive, which will create a better balanced street for drivers and pedestrians. You can read more about the scheme and see plans of the finished road on our website.

[@centralbedfordshire]

Hi, the film makers were chosen after undertaking a competitive tendering process that looks at quality and price. It is a consideration for the future that we could include Colleges as part of the procurement process. In response to the Court Drive works, we have consulted with the businesses and worked with local news outlets to promote these shops during the road works.

[@MashUpHardstyle]

It amazes me how short sighted some people are, I think people seem to be under this impression that the waste of money busway will somehow bring more money into the local community, When in actual fact its more likely to take people further out of town to places where there are actually decent shops and more work. Dunstable went down the pan when the queensway hall was stupidly decided to be knocked down, For years that was a central hub of entertainment in dunstable! Too late springs to mind!

[@DUMDUM1955]

So this film costs £1000 or so and at 06.07 the producers managed to get the film back to front as the packaging shows on the market stall, a film about Dunstable and innovations so why didn't they save the money and use the college and their excellent up and coming students, their film making equipment and skills. Nice shot of Nigel with his hard hat, hi-vis jacket and working gloves filmed on the busway. Was he getting stuck in? Oh i forgot health and safety but it looks good for him !

[@MikesFishandChips1]

you cant say always it is peoples fault. they are just humans and will make mistakes the job of this council is to make our streets as safe as possible . and that you for informing me that they do not have to supply lighting at night. It shows what you think of this town.

[@MrAcook61798]

Four months later and many drivers do not understand "shared space". there will be accidents....No white lines on the road...heaven help us when it gets foggy !

[@sirrichardrichard5655]

We'll put the roundabouts back......WELL WHERE ARE THEY THEN !

[@markcastro78]

I would have preferred the railway to have been reinstated instead of the busway, but I'll give it a go

[@centralbedfordshire]

Hi, the Busway went through a thorough public examination where the options of rail and bus were debated at length. The advantage of the bus over rail is its ability to take passengers right into residential and business estates.

[@spunkletonspermaticus2415]

Did it have to be guided though? Why not tarmac a narrow road with lay bys and traffic lights to control bus traffic flow, fall and rise bollards to stop cars accessing the bus route.. had to be a far far cheaper and just as speedy option?

[@davidjameson3252]

Interesting comment Dum Dum. Perhaps the college students could also build the A5 M1 Link Road and save the council £168 million. In fact why don't we get students to do everything and then it all can be done for free. Oh no, I forgot, we won't have an economy then and all the studying the students did will be wasted because there are no businesses left for them to work in and make a living. I think this is a good film that allows public opinion to be voiced and gives out positive message.

[@MikesFishandChips1]

now part two of today's report the local police were so confused that they went the wrong side when driving in these road works. so please do not ask them for direction. And the workmen almost had success when trying to direct two cars into a head on collision. this was avoided just when both cars braked in time. Read part three its the best yet.

[@MikesFishandChips1]

amey has informed me that the road is safe and that if any accidents happen with pedestrian it will be there as the highway code says that they have to look for a safe place to cross. well mr BG over 70% of people do not know the highway code. they are called pedestrian and children. and when the snow comes and the road is covered how will they find anywhere to cross. I have already heard of pedestrians that have been hurt although not confirmed.

[@centralbedfordshire]

Hi, I've removed your comment because it contains swearing. Feel free to post this comment without the swearing. MG

[@MikesFishandChips1]

hi everyone and to central beds and amey i hope you are all well as we go into out latest accident report. the post outside the Chinese has got it third hit of the week. i am so pleased that this road has been made safe and that the barrier that was they before was removed. it never got this many in all the years i was here. Amey have got this down to a tee now. and i believe that the Guinness book of world records are coming to town to see this now famous land mark

[@centralbedfordshire]

Hi, we are removing your comment because it contains bad language. Feel free to re-post it without the swear words MG

[@MikesFishandChips1]

now part Three of todays report. the fire brigade hitting the post the two cars that almost did a head to head and the police car going the wrong way was seen by me and a photographer from the local newspaper that had come to see what all the fuss was about. and guess what SHE GOT IT ALL ON FILM

[@DUMDUM1955]

While im on the subject how much trade has been lost by the shops caused by the road works around Asda's. Surely nothing to do with our hard working Nigel..... hmmm didn't comment about that did he !

[@jonahsahn]

Dunstable looks like a nice place to move from New York City. It'll be at the top of my list. I wonder if there's a train to get into London every day.

[@DUMDUM1955]

competitive tendering? what for? you could have got it virtually free from the college which in these times would have been a feather in the councils cap.!! WHERE ARE THE FORWARD THINKING PEOPLE IN THE COUNCIL? So what about the mistake in the filming i mentioned and you failed to? Good value for a £1000? Its no good promoting the shops if people cant get to them.!!

[@MikesFishandChips1]

i have complained with no lights the road from Queensway to Gary cooper is dangerous this has gone unheeded. the workmen on this stretch left the road in such a poor condition without lights and no Curb that two accidents happened. It is a disgrace what they have done we are now an accident black spot area thanks to this poor road design and lighting,, ...Mike's Fish and Chips

[@MrAcook61798]

Maybe because 19 out of 21 are conservative !

[@cmunachimso]

Dunstle is a great place but can be made better. I kow this because i live in dunstable I was im shcool when the filmed this

[@Raggamuffins777]

For thw money spent producing this video, the council could have removed all the 'pay and display' parking meters. thus instantly increasing footfall into community shops. +1 for railway as well!

[@donnieF87]

This towns council's have no idea.