Mayor told to think again over Mayes Yard scheme

A cross-party scrutiny committee is unhappy with published proposals to develop the Mayes Yard area in Bedford town centre. Concerns for this key area of the town (which includes the former Beales and Debenhams buildings) include the lack of an overarching plan leading to a high risk that little will actually be delivered, as well as concern about the poor return for the council with the willingness to see the council get only £1 for the Debenhams building.

The committee referred the Mayor’s proposal back to his Cabinet for a re-think and improvements. 

Leader of Bedford Liberal Democrats, Henry Vann, said, “It is great that there is now a chance to get a better plan in place to redevelop and regenerate our town centre for future generations; we want to see something positive for residents rather than the Mayor’s current empty building, and a disappointing piecemeal approach that would risk a half-finished development, delivering no transformation, and costing taxpayers half a million pounds already.”