Biggleswade and the A1 corridor can’t take any more development but towns like Sandy, Filtwick and Ampthill should get more homes and employment sites.

That’s the categorical message spelled out by Biggleswade Town Council to Central Bedfordshire Council in response to its consultation on its draft Local Plan which says Biggleswade is ideal for more development.

The two main findings they spelled out were: ‘Biggleswade does not have the infrastructure’ and ‘transport links are already overloaded’.

Fifteen councillors put their heads together at a specially convened meeting to respond to six questions asked by Central Beds in its online consultation. The questionnaire is normally completed by individuals, but the councillors did it together because they said they can ‘provide the local knowledge and expertise to put forward relevant points’.

They strongly disagree with development in ‘area B’ of the plan – which covers Biggleswade and the east of the district – but said towns like Flitwick, Ampthill and Sandy could be developed more.

The councillors said Sandy could take more development because of potential upgrade to its railway system through the Crossrail scheme and Flitwick and Ampthill are ideally placed for development because of the A6-M1 link road.

Conversely, they said proposed upgrades to the A1 and the mainline railway line to London would only be enough to cater for the existing populations in Biggleswade and not for new houses.