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Army and Navy
Vicky outside Chelmsford Train Station

Chelmsford is England’s newest City and is growing rapidly.   We have outstanding schools, homes, shops and much going on.  We need world class infrastructure to match this.  As a former infrastructure financier I am committed to campaigning for better infrastructure for Chelmsford.

 

Army and Navy Junction

Within my first year as Member of Parliament for Chelmsford I had identified the Army and Navy as a key project and called for a Task Force to be set up to work on a long-term replacement.

The Task Force is currently considering four different options for the long-term replacement for the Army and Navy flyover. Work is continuing to assess and refine these four options - a hamburger roundabout, enlarged roundabout, two-way flyover and separate T-junctions. A final shortlist of options for the Army and Navy junction is set to be confirmed early in 2021.

Each option has been upgraded to include significantly improved walking and cycling facilities at the junction, while proposals are also being developed for the expansion of Sandon Park and Ride and a potential new park and ride site in Widford. The sustainable transport improvement measures are a crucial aspect of the project and part of a continued drive to encourage more people to walk, cycle or use the bus to get around the city.

I know the people of Chelmsford want to see a new and improved junction at the Army and Navy as soon as possible, but it is also important that we get the best long-term solution. It is good news that more detailed work is being done by expert engineers to model the likely impacts of each of the possible junction designs before options are narrowed down further.

The proposals are still going through the planning phase. They will also need to go through the full legal process before construction starts. I will continue to press for work to be done as swiftly as possible and for the public to be fully consulted. I would encourage residents to submit their views when this project comes to public consultation.

Do follow the Army and Navy Task Force website for the most up to date information on finding a long-term replacement to the flyover. You can find this here, www.essex.gov.uk/armyandnavy.

 

Beaulieu Park Station and North East By Pass

The development of Chelmsford’s second railway station at Beaulieu is a long-held aspiration to support growth in north east Chelmsford. Outline planning permission for the station was secured in 2014 and the parties are working in partnership to develop the station design which includes a central passing loop and three platforms. Plans are also being progressed for the accompanying integrated walking, cycling and bus strategy which will be supplemented by approximately 1,450 parking spaces. 

The new station will help to assist with pressures on the existing Chelmsford rail station, which currently services 8.5 million passenger trips a year. It is the busiest two platform station in the country outside of London.

£218 million funding for Beaulieu Station has been secured through the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund. This will be administered by Homes England and sits alongside contributions from the Beaulieu development and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Beaulieu Station is a key part of the sustainable transport infrastructure needed to support housing development in Chelmsford. The new rail station, along with the new Chelmsford North East Bypass, will help enable an additional 10,500 new homes to be built in this part of Essex. It will support the delivery of infrastructure to foster long term sustainable housing growth.

Work is already underway on this project. Construction of the new station is a deeply complex project as it involves moving both the Eastbound and Westbound Main Line railway tracks, as well as all the signalling and infrastructure that are associated with this track. This is to allow for a passing loop, and three platforms, at the new station. The passing loop will provide additional capacity and improved network resilience, enabling more trains to run along the entire Great Eastern Main Line. It is my understanding that there will be trains that stop at both the new Beaulieu Station and the exiting Chelmsford station, as well as trains that just stop at one or the other.

The Network Rail team are currently completing the option selection phase of the project and expect to start design and consents work later this year. Network Rail believe construction could start in 2023 and complete in late 2025, with the station coming into service in 2026.
You can find out more about Beaulieu Station and the Chelmsford North East Bypass here https://www.essexhighways.org/Transport-and-Roads/Highway-Schemes-and-Developments/Major-Schemes/Chelmsford-North-East-Bypass.aspx.

 

National Infrastructure Strategy

The Government is committed to delivering once-in-a-generation investment in our infrastructure. In the 2020 Spending Review the Chancellor announced the biggest investment in new roads, railways, cycle lanes and zero emission vehicles, schools, broadband and housing, in order to build back better from coronavirus and level up across the United Kingdom. The Government is investing more than £17 billion in our nation’s railways over the next three years.

The Government are providing a number of multi-year capital settlements for roads, rail, hospitals, schools, broadband and housing. The Government will also publish a National Infrastructure Strategy, outlining a long-term vision for infrastructure investment. This will go alongside a refreshed Green Book, to ensure that infrastructure projects deliver the Government’s key priorities to level up the country.    

  • A £7.1 billion National Home Building Fund, on top of the £12.2 billion Affordable Homes Programme.
  • Better mobile connectivity with 4G coverage across 95 per cent of the UK by 2025.
  • The biggest investment in new roads, railways, cycle lanes and over 800 zero emission buses.
  • £15 billion of new funding for research and development next year.
  • Delivering the Prime Minister’s ten-point plan for climate change, creating 250,000 new green jobs across the UK.

News

Kids Insipre

A week in the life of Vicky Ford MP

Monday, 7 December, 2020

 Monday 30th November  A foggy morning and lots of accidents on the roads, so not a great start to the week as I head off towards London and the Department for Education for a catch up with the officials leading on our review of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Train improvements and the plans for Beaulieu Station - July update

Friday, 10 July, 2020

This morning I had a long meeting with Network Rail, the Department of Transport, Greater Anglia and other MPs along the Great Eastern Main Line to discuss train improvements and the plans for Beaulieu Station.

Cycle Routes

Cycle and Walking Lanes for Central Chelmsford

Wednesday, 1 July, 2020

You may have seen that new lanes for cycling and walking are to be introduced in central Chelmsford. This is part of the Government's investment in new improvements to help people to travel safely by walking and cycling over short distances.

Update on issues with Greater Anglia

Monday, 20 January, 2020

Train update - On Monday 20th January 2020 I arranged for a number of MPs with representing constituencies on the Great Eastern Main Line to meet with Greater Anglia.

Embedded thumbnail for Vicky's Five Point Plan for Chelmsford

Vicky's Five Point Plan for Chelmsford

Monday, 11 November, 2019

Listen to my five point plan for Chelmsford to hear how we can make our city a better place to live.

Should rail companies have to pay higher compensation if they provide a terrible service?

Thursday, 31 October, 2019

Chelmsford’s railway station is the busiest two platform station anywhere outside London.  Very many Chelmsford residents commute to work or school every day.  It’s important that trains get them there on time and home safely.

I want streets that work for blind and partially sighted people

Tuesday, 8 October, 2019

Vicky Ford MP met Diesel and spent time with the charity Guide Dogs at the Conservative Party conference last week discussing the challenges that blind and partially sighted people face when walking the streets, including pavement parking, street clutter and shared spaces.   

Army and Navy taskforce - Update 2nd October 2019

Thursday, 3 October, 2019

"The closure of the flyover is making travel around the city extremely challenging and I know many people are facing very frustrating delays. However I am pleased that work to develop a long-term replacement solution has been accelerated.

Keeping Chelmsford moving as Army & Navy flyover remains closed

Friday, 30 August, 2019

Please see my Facebook page for my up to date statements on the Army and Navy closure https://www.facebook.com/Vicky4Chelmsford/  

Here is a statement from Essex County Council with some helpful information:

Stop Press - Beaulieu Park Train Station latest news

Tuesday, 20 August, 2019

It’s great to be able to share the truly excellent news that the Chancellor has now approved a £218m funding package to complete Chelmsford’s second railway station at Beaulieu Park and a North East Bypass connecting the A12 to the A131.  Once completed this will mean fewer vehicles travelling in

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