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Potential New Universal UK Park

GooseOnTheLoose said:
Enabling works cannot take place before planning permission is granted for the main development. Planning permission hasn't even been applied for.

The fences will be for site security and to prevent the ever increasing number of vloggers turning up to use the site as a backdrop, whilst wearing hard hats and/or sitting on camping chairs.
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There's a public footpath that goes right through the Park Zone, that is how the vloggers get onto the parcel to use as a backdrop or sit around in camp chairs. So, if this fencing is purely to 'stop vloggers' it seems redundant.

*edit* They've also cut down the edges of the tree-line and projectuniversal (the drone yt guy) says a guy went along and removed flytipping and trash that was there. So this fencing feels like a part of a planned procedure, not something done cos of the annoying 'vloggers'. Maybe it's not 'enabling works' but it does signify that they are gearing up to do something.
 
As this project ramps up, the general public will become increasingly interested, and many will likely try to visit the site. I agree with Goose that this fencing appears to be more of a security measure to prevent people from entering the land. It seems that the public footpath is still open, so it will be interesting to see if this gets closed off or rerouted to coincide with this new fencing (I'm unsure on the legalities/how that works though).

It's a good sign and certainly shows that things are moving forward rather than backwards, but it feels like we're still in the early stages.
 
They're clearly just securing the land that they own, nothing unusual about that, especially as there becomes more interest in the project! Yes I think we'll hear fairly soon that they plan to go ahead with the project and a planning application, but fencing does not equate to any sort of construction. It wouldn't go down well if they just built a theme park without planning permission...!
 
Went for a walk through the "Core Zone" along the public footpath yesterday, some fencing has now been delivered to the area near Coronation Pit/Broadmead Road Farm. Location - https://maps.app.goo.gl/aJP5TDkRgNRBZU7N6

IMG_4184.jpeg


Doesn't look like they've moved a great deal of fencing that way yet, not much remains on the former brickworks but I expect they're securing the perimeter of the site, one side by fence, another by railway, other parts to be fenced in due course.
 
Realistically, he's either feeling excited, or he's trying to waste away time, to stop people asking more difficult questions about the cuts to disability benefits. 👀

*I'm half joking, but they were discussing this kind of thing on Radio 4 a couple of days ago. The programme seemed to feel that Labour are currently getting back benchers to ask a lot of pointless questions at Prime Ministers Questions, to try and deflect attention away from more controversial topics. But I'm sure the local MP is genuinely excited by this project as well, and this may or may not be an example of time wasting. Without watching Prime Ministers Questions and seeing it in context, it's hard to say. It certainly does feel like the kind of 'softball' the prime minister would get from their own party.
 
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Another piece of interesting news is this.

www.theguardian.com

Reeves to reveal biggest UK spending cuts since austerity in spring statement

Labour MPs uneasy as chancellor prepares even deeper reductions that economists say will harm key services
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

‘The Department for Transport, for example, has submitted plans for cuts to the proposed rail line between Oxford and Cambridge, which Reeves herself confirmed funding for just two months ago.’

This is the east west rail project, it runs through Bedford and whilst it’s not the stations that are being discussed for universal directly it’s slightly worrying if they’re putting forward proposals to scrap it in order to save money.

Obviously it’s just a proposal and nothing has been decided but it surely would have helped Universal in the long run.
 
I don't think this will really deter Universal tbh

True, it would have been handy for them to get that full connection, but I think the priority for transport for them is getting Kempston Hardwick rebuilt and changing the plans at Wixams to include 4 platforms instead of the 2
 
The East West rail project is well under construction including the massive station at Cambridge South. It’s also a critical piece of infrastructure to help grow the economy. It’s not being cancelled.

Also, in the same article:

“A spokesperson for the transport department said: “This is speculation. East West Rail is already well underway with the infrastructure now in place on the first phase of the line for services between Oxford and Milton Keynes.” “
 
havaska said:
The East West rail project is well under construction including the massive station at Cambridge South. It’s also a critical piece of infrastructure to help grow the economy. It’s not being cancelled.

Also, in the same article:

“A spokesperson for the transport department said: “This is speculation. East West Rail is already well underway with the infrastructure now in place on the first phase of the line for services between Oxford and Milton Keynes.” “
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The First Phase being the key bit in that quote. The second phase that goes through Bedford hasn’t officially been signed off yet.

Very similar to HS2 which was also a critical piece of infrastructure and look at that.
 
Hopefully it doesn't get delayed massively. I'd imagine this key infrastructure being in place and operating is fundamental before the potential park could open.
 
Funcone said:
Just for a bit of balance here, even if the railway lines don't work out, the government might look at putting on some kind of rail replacement bus. It's got a bit of a ring to it, 'Get to Universal Bedford using the Rail Replacement Bus'.
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Appreciate the humour.

Can't imagine a bus from Central London to Bedford at rush hour would be massively pleasant though.
 
Hidden away in this Financial Times article from last week, was a non-update that the proposed Universal Studios project, which according to Bloomberg was "poised to be signed off" by the government in January, is still being negotiated.
Reeves will be anxious to present some good news in her statement and has been looking for announcements to raise the spirits of Labour MPs.

She has been rushing to finalise a financial package to secure the construction near Bedford of Europe’s biggest theme park, as she looks for good news to announce in next week’s Spring Statement.

People briefed on negotiations between the Treasury and Universal Destinations & Experiences, owned by the US media group Comcast, say the discussions are “progressing well”.

But other government officials cautioned that the deal had not been nailed down and was unlikely to be ready by next Wednesday.
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I would have expected that Civil Servants would have advised the Chancellor of the poor optics of announcing significant government spending commitments for a theme park, in the same speech as the deeply felt cuts to benefits, if they had managed to get it over the line.

I wouldn't expect much more public government movement on this until at least September, based on upcoming Parliamentary recess sessions and the speed at which such things progress. I wouldn't like to hazard a guess on if/when Universal might make an announcement though.

Full article: https://www.ft.com/content/f590840e-f7d2-41e8-8c8e-40848628634e

Paywall removed link: https://archive.is/rI1vd
 
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