East West Rail have advised that following their recent consultation, the Secretary of State for Transport has revised the Safeguarding Directions for the East West Rail project.
Safeguarding is a statutory process used by the Department for Transport to protect the land that is required to build and operate the new railway from conflicting development. The land subject to the Safeguarding Directions is known as the Safeguarded area.
Richard Fuller MP, longstanding opponent of East West Rail commented:
Is your home, land or community at risk from this runaway railway “project”?
East West Rail have just released a factsheet following a revision to the Safeguarding Directions by the Secretary of State that govern land that may be used -permanently or temporarily by this so called railway project.
I am including the official map of the Safeguarding area just so everyone is aware of the vast area of North Bedfordshire that is covered by this project. The former Lib Dem Mayor of Bedford should hang his head in shame at this Ribbon of Blight across our countryside.
East West Rail should have now written to all landowners to inform them if a change to the Safeguarded area affects their land. You can see how they are affected by visiting the website at East West Rail | Safeguarding to view the Safeguarding Direction, including maps of the safeguarded area.