25 signatures reached
To: Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council
Petition for Pub, Cafe and Restaurant (Food & Beverage) Provision in Wixams
We, the undersigned, call upon Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council to work together with Urban & Civic, Universal Destinations & Experiences, local businesses, residents and other stakeholders to undertake a comprehensive review of Food & Beverage provision in Wixams.
Why is this important?
Wixams is entering a period of unprecedented change.
The Town Centre is now progressing through the planning process, a new four-platform railway station is being delivered, thousands of additional homes are proposed around Wixams, and Universal’s UK theme park and resort is set to become one of the country’s most significant visitor destinations.
These changes create both opportunities and challenges.
The current Town Centre plans include a single dedicated Food & Beverage unit of approximately 2,000 sq ft, alongside a limited number of retail units that could potentially accommodate additional cafés, restaurants or takeaways.
However, these plans were developed before the full implications of several major changes became clear:
- The arrival of Universal UK and the millions of visitors it is expected to attract.
- The delivery of a significantly expanded four-platform station.
- The growth of surrounding communities that will increasingly rely on Wixams for services and facilities.
- The evolving role of town centres as destinations for leisure, hospitality and social activity rather than simply places to shop.
Specifically, we ask that the councils:
1. Undertake a Strategic Review
Review whether the currently planned Food & Beverage provision remains appropriate in light of:
- Universal UK and its anticipated visitor numbers.
- The expanded four-platform Wixams Station.
- Growth in Wixams itself.
- Growth in surrounding developments that may look to Wixams for services and facilities.
- Changing consumer behaviour and the role of town centres as social and leisure destinations.
2. Develop a Long-Term Food & Beverage Strategy
Prepare a strategy that identifies:
- The appropriate level of Food & Beverage provision for Wixams today.
- The likely level of provision required over the next 10, 20 and 30 years.
- The type of venues that would best serve residents and visitors.
- Opportunities for independent businesses, local operators and Bedfordshire producers.
- How Wixams can develop a distinctive identity that complements, rather than competes directly with, Universal.
3. Safeguard Land for Future Expansion
Identify and safeguard land within or adjacent to the Town Centre that could accommodate future Food & Beverage development if demand grows.
This land should not be allocated for housing until its future role has been properly assessed through an agreed review process.
4. Establish Formal Review Points
Create a programme of regular reviews to assess whether additional Food & Beverage provision is required.
These reviews should:
- Be evidence-led.
- Include meaningful resident engagement.
- Consider visitor numbers, station usage, population growth and business demand.
- Take place at agreed intervals, such as every five years.
Following each review, safeguarded land should be:
- Developed if demand is demonstrated.
- Retained for future consideration if further growth is anticipated.
- Released for alternative uses only if there is clear evidence that additional Food & Beverage provision will not be required.
5. Put Residents at the Heart of the Process
Ensure that local residents are fully involved in future reviews and decisions regarding the future of Wixams Town Centre and its Food & Beverage offer.
Our Request
We support the delivery of the current Town Centre proposals.
However, we believe they should be viewed as Phase One, not the final destination.
We ask Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council to work together to establish a clear, evidence-based framework that:
- Delivers the right level of Food & Beverage provision for Wixams today.
- Plans for the Wixams of 2040 and beyond.
- Responds to the opportunities created by Universal, the station and surrounding growth.
- Safeguards future options before land is lost permanently to other uses.
Good planning does not attempt to predict the future perfectly.
Good planning ensures that communities retain the ability to respond when the future arrives.
Deliver Phase One. Plan Phase Two. Safeguard the Future.
The original vision for Wixams was that of a sustainable, self-sufficient community. Today, there is an opportunity to consider how Wixams can develop a distinctive Food & Beverage offer that serves residents, visitors and commuters alike.
This does not mean building everything immediately.
Instead, it means planning responsibly for future demand, safeguarding opportunities for future growth, and ensuring that decisions taken today do not prevent the Wixams of tomorrow from developing the facilities it may need.
We therefore believe that Food & Beverage provision should be subject to a formal review process that reflects changing circumstances and allows future decisions to be based on evidence rather than assumptions.
