
Our newsletter contains a round-up of stories from our local authorities, which you can also find below.
Buckinghamshire Council uses emergency powers to fix roads
Buckinghamshire Council is using emergency powers to fast-track essential road repairs as it continues to tackle head on the current state of the roads under the Buckinghamshire Highways contract.
Given the adverse impact of the winter weather on the condition of the roads, which is an issue experienced across the country, the council will be using its emergency powers, alongside the flexibility of the new highway contracts, to fast track a number of essential road repairs.
The normal period of advance notice to residents will not always be possible, but the council believes that undertaking the road repairs are the most important issue at this time and will endeavour to advise local communities and businesses in the immediate vicinity via letter drops
Other news of interest
- Increase in Luton's electric vehicle chargepoints will improve access for all - Luton Council
- Funding injection to boost North Northamptonshire electric vehicle infrastructure - North Northamptonshire Council
- Seven more 20mph applications approved as applications top 200 in first year - Oxford County Council
- Electric car club pilot scheme puts hire vehicles in car parks across Oxfordshire - Oxford City Council
- George Candler has been announced as the Interim Chief Executive at North Northamptonshire Council.

Hertfordshire Trials New Cycleway Gritter
A new cycleway gritter is being trialled in Welwyn Garden City as town centre improvements progress.
The new gritter specially designed for cycle paths is being used along part of the new cycling and pedestrian works in the town centre. It works by spraying paths with a brine solution rather than traditional rock salt, the preferred method for treating cycleways.
The trial conducted by Hertfordshire County Council looks to find the best way to keep cycleways open and safe during winter.
Cllr Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and Transport, Hertfordshire County Council said: “These developments to the town centre in Welwyn Garden City will significantly improve the cycling and walking opportunities for local residents and visitors and I’m pleased that the works are progressing well. I’m also pleased that we’re trialling a new gritter which will ensure that cycle paths will be safer to use when we experience colder weather."
Other news in the region:
- Wixams: Residents pleased with railway station approval
- Green light for multi-million-pound scheme to upgrade the A47 in Peterborough
- New transport strategy will enhance active travel across Cambridgeshire - Cambridgeshire County Council
- Over one million miles ridden on Voi e-scooters in North Northamptonshire in two years since scooter trials started - North Northampton Council
- New hi-tech lights enable better traffic flow at busy Aylesbury junction- Buckinghamshire Council
- Luton DART to start carrying its first passengers - Luton Borough Council
- Buckinghamshire Council secures £70k for new on-street EV charging points in Wendover - Buckinghamshire Council
- Bridge to future growth in Biggleswade reaches new milestone - Central Bedfordshire
- New walking and cycling route in Leighton Buzzard takes its first step - Central Bedfordshire
- Bedford Borough Council receives £69,000 for local bus and community transport services- Bedford Borough Council
- Over 1,000 schemes planned to improve your pavements, cycleways and roads- Hertfordshire County Council
- New electric car charging technology trialled in MK - Milton Keynes City Council
January 2023 edition:
Peterborough station receives £48million levelling-up funding
A total of £48million is on its way to Peterborough, following a successful Levelling Up Fund bid for the first phase of regeneration of the area around Peterborough Train Station – known as Station Quarter.
The project involves creating a new western entrance to the station with a car park – to create a double-sided station – with a new wider footbridge over the train lines. This will alleviate pressure on city centre roads, making it easier and safer to travel around the city by bicycle. Green areas with biodiversity, community spaces and better connections to the city centre will make it safer and more attractive for bikes and pedestrians.
Additional match funding to bring the total funds up to around £65million is expected to come from Peterborough City Council and other partners, enabling future private investment in commercial and residential development as a further phase of the Station Quarter programme.
Construction work on the first phase could take place between 2024 and 2026, with wider development of the Station Quarter continuing up to 2028.
Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Cllr Anna Smith, said: “Regenerating the Station Quarter has the power to uplift not just the city but the whole region. It’s a great addition to what we are going to be able to offer in the East of England and will make Peterborough itself greener and ever more welcoming to visitors, investors and businesses."
Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald, leader of Peterborough City Council, added: “This redevelopment of our city centre train station and the land surrounding it will cut carbon emissions and make our city easier and safer to walk around, while stimulating business and providing economic benefit to our city – both during and after construction.”
A total of 111 areas were awarded total funding of £2.1billion from the second round of the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The Borough of Broxbourne Council also received £14million for a new skatepark, outdoor gym and sports pavilion in Broxbourne.
The successful bids announced this week follow the allocation of £1.7 billion to 105 projects from Round 1 of the Levelling Up Fund in 2021. The government has also launched an interactive map online so people can see which projects in their area are receiving Levelling Up Fund investment.
Click here for Levelling Up information
Other news from our Local Authority partners:
- Buckinghamshire Council secures £397k in government funding to support active travel in the county - Buckinghamshire Council
- Exciting Plans for Midland Road Shared - Bedford Borough Council
- Bus services in Central Bedfordshire to benefit from £3.7 million funding - Central Bedfordshire Council
- Combined Authority wins Government funding for cycling and walking plans - Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
- A herd of ZEBRAs heads for Cambridge - Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority
- Ayot Greenway geared up for active travel - Hertfordshire County Council
- Work underway to make streets safer for women and girls in MK - Milton Keynes City Council
- Wellingborough town centre highways improvements to start soon - North Northamptonshire Council
- Cabinet approves £4.56m funding package to accelerate plans to reopen Cowley Branch Line to passengers- Oxford City Council
- Investing in Northampton car parks - West Northamptonshire Council
- Innovative Peterborough energy scheme set to receive nearly £15million of Government funding - Peterborough City Council

December 2022 edition:
King Charles visited the Luton DART on 6 December during his official visit to the town.
The Luton DART is an electrically-powered, energy-efficient, cable car that will transport airport passengers arriving by train at Luton Airport Parkway station to the airport terminal in just over three minutes.
On the third leg of his official visit to the town, His Majesty boarded the DART for the three-minute journey from Luton Parkway Station to the terminal of London Luton Airport.
Cllr Javeria Hussain, chair of Luton Rising, said: “His Majesty’s visit was such a powerful and memorable moment for the whole town, and it was an incredible privilege to have just some of the funding recipients we support in attendance."
In other news from our local authority partners...
- Luton Rising honoured to welcome His Majesty The King on-board Luton DART - Luton Borough Council
- eCargo Bikes hit 1,800km - Bedford Borough Council
- Buckinghamshire Council trials use of recycled plastic in carriageway resurfacing - Buckinghamshire Council
- E-Scooter trial to continue in MK- Milton Keynes City Council
- Combined authority pushes forward A16 Norwood improvement- Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority
- Key West Swindon road to benefit from much-needed repairs- Swindon Borough Council
- Partners win award for ensuring safe, sustainable journeys to school - Central Bedfordshire Council
- Consultation set to start on new cycle paths - Oxford City Council
- Highways contract sees improvements in West Northamptonshire’s communities- West Northamptonshire Council
- Wind and solar street lighting trail- Hertfordshire County Council
- Nearly £2 million for tech start-ups to drive growth and innovation building on use of AI rescue drones and magnetic train tech - Department for Transport
