The East West Railway Company (EWRCo) will hold a series of information events next month to help people to understand how the formal application process to build the line works.
Nine events will be held at venues across the length of the proposed route between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.
EWRCo says the events will provide information about the statutory consultation process, which will begin in June.
The details of the route’s proposed design will be shared when the statutory consultation starts.
EWRCo said that during a series of community sessions in November 2023, people indicated that they would like to learn more about the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, and how they could get involved.
This latest round of drop-in events aim to explain what the different stages of the DCO application are and how that process works.
These sessions are not formal consultation events and there will be no specific design information or proposals available to view. However, that design information will of course be available at the statutory consultation where there will then be the opportunity to share feedback about our proposals.
EWRCo CEO Beth West said: “EWR is a once in a generation opportunity that has the potential to positively impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people by improving access to jobs, educational opportunities and public services.
“If you live or work around the line of the route and are not aware or unsure about the process for us getting consent to build the railway, I would encourage you to get involved and attend one of these events to find out more.”
East West Rail, which will connect Oxford to Cambridge via new stations at Cambourne and Tempsford, near St Neots, is intended to form a crucial part of boosting the Oxford Cambridge Arc.
During the first stage of the statutory consultation, EWRCo says it will share its updated proposals, as well as provide an overview of potential environmental impacts and mitigations.
It has also committed to presenting the proposals in more detail than in previous rounds of non-statutory consultations.
The events are open to everyone and take place as follows:
\- Tuesday, 7 May – Bedford Rowing Social Club, The Boathouse, Duck Mill Lane, Bedford, MK42 0AX, from 2pm-7pm.
\- Wednesday, 8 May – Cutteslowe Pavilion Hall, Cutteslowe Park, Oxford, OX2 8ES, from 2pm-7pm.
\- Thursday, 9 May – Weyland Hall, 8-10 North Street, Bicester, OX26 6ND, from 2pm-7pm
\- Friday, 10 May – South Cambridgeshire Hall, Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, CB23 6EA, from 2pm-7pm.
\- Monday, 20 May – Roxton Village Hall, High Street, Roxton, MK44 3EB, from 2pm-7pm.
\- Tuesday, 21 May – St Philip’s Church Centre, 185 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 3AN, from 2pm-7pm.
\- Wednesday, 22 May – Comberton Village Hall, Green End, Comberton, CB23 7DY, from 2pm-7pm.
\- Thursday, 23 May – Bletchley Masonic Centre, 263 Queensway, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2BZ, from 2pm-7pm.
\- Friday, 24 May – Marston Moreteyne Community Centre, Great Linns, Marston Moreteyne, MK4 0DD, from 2pm-7pm.
