Row Over Bromham Mill Plans Moves to Borough Hall

Borough councillors heard that residents are “deeply concerned” over the parish council’s plans to redevelop Bromham Mill – as protestors held up banners during last night’s full council meeting.

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Villagers Protest at Borough Hall

The banners were held by villagers in the public gallery at Borough Hall as a Bromham resident spoke during the Bedford Borough Council Full Meeting on Wednesday (10 July). The public display underscored the intensity of local opposition to the redevelopment plans, drawing significant attention from councillors and residents alike.

Concerns Voiced by Local Residents

Ben Lusby, who said he was speaking on behalf of “more than 500” residents, addressed the council, stating: “Councillors, all is not well in Bromham. The approved Bromham Mill development plan goes far beyond what most residents have at any time indicated support for, or actually desire.”

Mr Lusby stressed that clear and detailed illustrative plans had not been made accessible for every resident to consider. “Consequently, many residents were left largely unaware of what the plan entails,” he added, highlighting the community's frustration with the lack of transparency.

A village survey involving 710 respondents found that an overwhelming 92 per cent supported an “alternative, more cost-effective, and less radical, heritage plan option”. This statistic underscores the substantial misalignment between the current plans and resident preferences.

Financial Implications and Public Mandate

Specific financial concerns were also raised. “We believe that the parish council does not have a valid public mandate for spending between £3-5 million of parish council funds without limited liability on creating what might ultimately be proved to be an over-ambitious, hugely expensive, and risky business-led venture,” Mr Lusby said.

He appealed for the involvement of Bedford Borough Council to address the issue which has, in his words, divided the village. Lusby further lamented that Bromham Parish Council has thus far failed to engage with residents' concerns in a manner they find satisfactory.

Call for Mediation and Dialogue

Mr Lusby formally requested an open dialogue facilitated by Bedford Borough Council, involving CPRE representatives and a neutral mediator. “I’m here to request the support and involvement of Bedford Borough Council to resolve an issue which has divided our village,” he emphasised.

Bedford mayor, Tom Wootton (Conservative), responded by acknowledging the complexity of the situation and noted the council's limited capacity to provide a direct solution. He thanked Mr Lusby and other villagers for their contributions during the meeting.

Borough Council's Response

The council’s chief executive, Laura Church, expressed willingness to engage with both the residents and the parish council. “I am happy to meet with you and the parish council to talk through some of these matters,” she said, indicating a potential path forward for mediated discussions.

Parish Council's Position

During its meeting on 2 July, the parish council clarified that it hadn’t refused to meet with a residents' group but had not yet had the time to respond to a request for an alternative date. A proposed meeting scheduled for July 16 was rejected by the residents group due to objections over an attendee proposed by the parish council.

By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter