A Safe Walking Route Between Oakley & Clapham

In May 2025, Bedford Borough Council removed the raised walkway under the railway bridge in Lovell Road, between Clapham and Oakley, after installing a new pump system, stating it would finally put an end to the frequent flooding.

Since then, the situation has become more dangerous, not less. The pump has failed to keep the water clear on a number of occasions, leaving the pavement under several inches of water. As a result, people walking between the villages — including many schoolchildren — have been left with an unacceptable choice: walk through dirty floodwater or tiptoe along a narrow kerb beside oncoming vehicles.

Until a long-term fix is delivered for the underlying drainage failure, we are calling on the council to reinstate the raised footway immediately to protect the safety of everyone who relies on this route.