Council Neglects Environmental Protection in Flagship Town Centre Development

11.42.32am GMT Mon 27th Nov 2006

Michael Headley is dismayed that the Mayor and his Cabinet have failed to insist upon high environmental standards for Bedford's flagship Riverside Square development

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have reacted with dismay at the news that the specification for the flagship Riverside Square Development has been allowed to go forward without including key environmental sustainability measures.

The developers are now saying that the design is not suitable for many sustainability measures to be added in and those that are possible will have to be paid for by the Council.

Commenting on the issue, Liberal Democrat Group Leader Michael Headley said:

"The Mayor and his cabinet should have insisted upon the highest environmental standards as part of the original specification. After all, the council claims to want to be green. Instead, sustainability has been treated as an afterthought. The council is now being told by the developers that some measures to ensure high environmental standards are impractical due to the design of the building and the council will have to pay extra to add in other environmentally-friendly features. This is simply not good enough. In the simplest of terms why are we looking at a flagship development with only 40% low energy lighting. Why not 100%?"

"Borough residents need to know that their council is serious about protecting the environment, but unfortunately the actions of the Mayor and his cabinet can only serve to give the opposite impression."