I wanted to give readers an update on infrastructure plans in Chelmsford. I recently met the Rail Minister to discuss progress with Beaulieu Park Station. The plans to construct the station and the new Chelmsford Bypass were awarded the largest ever housing related infrastructure grant.
Plans for the new station are on track and moving though various stages of planning and design. In the coming months there will be a process to award construction contacts. This will be a crucial period especially as there is a very significant amount of infrastructure development happening nationally. I am told this is the first time a new station has opened on the Great Eastern Mainline for around 100 years. It is an incredibly complex project especially as it involves moving the pathway of the current tracks. It was good to hear that the Rail Minister is very supportive of our new train station.
In recent months we have seen more of the new design trains arriving in Chelmsford. This is part of an investment project worth over £1 billion to replace all trains and rolling stock on the Great Eastern Mainline with new, more reliable trains. This also adds more seats to service. The minister also and I also discussed the recent changes to the timetable for trains to and from Chelmsford. This has added additional carriages and therefore more seats to some of the trains at peak hours. However, I do want to make sure that there are sufficient seats for people. The minister has offered to personally look again at the timetable if there are specific times when more trains are needed, or carriages added. If you are a train user and are facing over-crowding on any services please do email me and I will press for additional services.
The plans for a new junction at the Army and Navy are also moving forward through the next stages of detailed design and engineering before an outline business plan can be submitted. This is again a complex project and it will need to go through a full planning approval process which is due to commence later this year.
I am also planning a meeting shortly with the building company Countryside to discuss the progress on delivering the new medical centre at Beaulieu. I know how important this is to local residents and am urging for construction to be completed as soon as possible.
In Chelmsford City Centre I recently went on patrol with members of the Essex Police “Town Team”. These dedicated officers work to keep the city centre safe. We discussed work they are doing to reduce antisocial behaviour in the city centre. It was good to hear that thefts of cycles from bike racks have reduced following recent arrests, but if you are a cyclist please do make sure you get your bike properly marked as there have been thefts from garages and sheds in some parts of Chelmsford. The police provide a security marking service.
As ever please do contact me if you have any questions or need my help on any issue. My email is Vicky.ford.mp@parliament.uk
