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We are living through unprecedented times and my work has been dominated by the effects of the pandemic, so it was a welcome change to attend the latest Zoom meeting today regarding progress on step-free access at Biggleswade train station. Attendees at the meeting included lead designers and sponsors from Network Rail, Richard Fuller MP, GTR management and representatives from Central Bedfordshire and Biggleswade Town Councils. A number of options were considered in previous meetings, discussed in a previous blog here. These meetings resulted in one option being chosen to go forward to the Department for Transport for approval, the draft design of which is set out in the diagram below. Draft Design Option – image courtesy of Network Rail An option report, containing all the information compiled on the scheme to date and the reasons behind the preferred option, was forwarded by network Rail for review and sign off by the Department for Transport (DfT) on 22nd June. The response from the DfT is expected imminently. To give an idea of where we are in the timeline from start to end, below is the ‘Governance for Railway Investment Projects’ commonly known as ‘GRIP’ (the UK rail industry process for infrastructure projects) for Biggleswade station. Network Rail Project Timeline In the next few days, once the option has been approved by the DfT, we will be at ‘GRIP 4’ on the chart. There didn’t seem to be a concern that it wouldn’t be signed off, but you never know! As you can see there is some way to go and detailed design and a tendering process still needs to be carried out before any actual construction work begins. Richard Fuller and I both queried the length of time required for these stages, currently estimated to be completed by early to mid 2022. We raised the fact that step-free improvements are a tried and tested process, completed many times previously and it should be possible to avoid lengthy delays. I got the impression that Network Rail are being cautious, rather than give us an unachievable date which they would later have to backtrack on. Network Rail agreed to look at previously completed lift installation schemes to get a benchmark timescale and would aim to beat this benchmark if possible. We will have a better idea of timescales at our next meeting. There are a number of potential risks for the project. A potential second wave of Coronavirus could cause issues with supply chains and the project will be required to work within the timescales of the operational railway. Major works within the project construction will be done when there are planned engineering works on the line and it is vital that the project is ready for these gaps. The availability of an adequate power supply will need to be checked, as this has been an issue for previous projects, where it was only discovered at a very late stage that there was not enough power for the kit that was being installed! Fortunately, Network Rail are already aware of this and other issues such as the lift design. I asked again that the new bridge be ‘future-proofed’ for a potential Eastern span at a later date (bearing in mind the potential for significant future development to the East of Biggleswade) and they confirmed that this will be taken into account. There is still work to be done on plans for the proposed bus interchange, which is vital to promoting an integrated transport network for the area. However, as the entrance to the step-free option being put forward is not located in the proposed area for the bus station, any delays shouldn’t directly affect the step-free project. Projects like this always face setbacks and I asked that there is transparency when these occur. There will be ongoing consultation, including public consultations as the project continues and as I continually remind everyone, the views of people with disabilities must be heard and acted upon, before and not after the work has been carried out. It is too early to hazard a guess at a completion date yet (other than it must be completed by 2024) but all parties are working well together and Richard Fuller and I are pushing for the process to be sped up as much as possible. Our next meeting is set for early September and we are likely to have a clearer timescale at that time. When I receive further updates I will post them on my Facebook page which you can follow here. Due to the pandemic I have had little time to carry out any activity on the wider issues of step-free access across the UK rail network, but will do so as soon as more time becomes available. We are a long way from truly step-free access and the rail network remains a ‘no-go area’ for many people with disabilities as well as those with restricted mobility and parents of young children. Bedfordshire also lacks an adequate and safe cycle network which would provide a viable alternative for commuters and I will continue to push for improvements in this area. If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to email me at: bedsrailaccessnetwork@gmail.com Julian Find me on Twitter here #stepfreeaccess #biggleswade #Bedfordshire #accessforall #railways

Many questions arise from the events in Bristol over the weekend. Should demonstrators have free rein to take part in criminal damage? No. Am I delighted that the statue of Edward Colston now lies at the bottom of Bristol harbour? Yes, absolutely! While I don’t condone the criminal damage I can certainly understand why it takes place. However, while I can empathise, I am not in a position to fully understand the pain that the honouring of such a person causes to people whose race and ancestors suffered and died through his actions. Many trials have not gone ahead due to not being ‘in the public interest’. I suggest that a similar line should be followed in this instance of ‘criminal damage’. Further, I won’t accept the hypocrisy of people such as Home Secretary Priti Patel, who condemn the ‘lawless’ behaviour of those who pulled down a statue while at the same time supporting a hostile environment for immigrants. The Labour leader Keir Starmer has been criticised in some quarters for saying that it was ‘completely wrong’ for the statue to be pulled down. However, this is a selective quote as he continued by saying it shouldn’t have taken down in that way and that it should have been removed many years ago. Do we really expect the leader of the government’s opposition to condone criminal damage? Apart from being a highly unlikely position from a former Director of Public Prosecutions and a gift for a rabid right wing media desperately looking to pull him apart, it’s difficult to draw a line in the sand when you have backed a criminal act, no matter how justified the reasons. You can watch the full interview here: https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/special-shows/call-keir/keir-starmer-protesters-were-wrong-colston-statue/ While legally the action was a breach of the law, morally the removal of the statue was long overdue. The scars of slavery and colonialisation will never heal as long as we celebrate the lives of slave traders and don’t acknowledge the pain and suffering inflicted by our past actions. One small step, even if just purely symbolic, should be a review of the continued presence of any statue of people that directly benefitted from slavery. Of course bad people also do good things, but the honouring of slave traders is completely unacceptable, no matter how many almshouses they built. I believe we must also look at some form of reparations for the descendants of slaves. £20 million was paid to reimburse slave owners through the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, around £17 billion in today’s prices. It was such a large amount that the UK government’s debt to fund these payments was only cleared in 2015. This means that British residents, including descendants of slaves, paid off the debts caused by payments to slave owners. Not a single pound was ever paid to the people the British enslaved, or their descendants. There are precedents for these reparation payments. Since 1952 Germany has paid more than $70 billion to Jewish victims of the Nazi regime and in the United States people of Japanese descent who were forced into internment camps during World War 2 each received $20,000 dollars and a formal apology. While the process of reparations will be a challenge and could take a number of different forms, it is not an insurmountable one, as shown by a number of institutions that have already carried out this process. The call for reparations was most recently dismissed in 2015 by David Cameron in a visit to Jamaica where he declined to apologise and urged Caribbean countries to “move on” (where have we heard that recently?!) from the painful legacy of slavery and build for the future. We also need to rectify a political system that permits the injustice suffered by those of the ‘Windrush’ generation and other ethnic minorities and permits the casual indifference and callousness of the bureaucracy that sits underneath the policies created by government. Finally, I believe we need to re-examine the effect that our colonialist past had on the people who we oppressed during the years of the British Empire, and as a part of this educate ourselves about this part of our history. One of the recommendations of the Williams Review into the Windrush scandal (full link below) was that all existing and new Home Office staff “learn about the history of the UK and its relationship with the rest of the world, including Britain’s colonial history”. Britain’s role in colonialism and slavery must be included in school curriculums, in the same way that every student in Germany has to learn about the holocaust. This should include the huge debt Britain owes to colonised people in terms of their sacrifice in both World Wars and how Britain was built on the backs of colonised people. Only by learning the lessons of the past and providing an honest account of the British Empire will we enable the deep scars of prejudice to heal and set a foundation to reduce racial inequality in the UK. Below is an incredibly powerful video from Kimberley Jones that explains structural racism in the United States. Strong language, but an even stronger and more important message. “In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist.” Angela Davis Julian Vaughan 8th June 2020 – amended on 18th July to remove a link to content that was behind a paywall. Further reading: Windrush Lessons Learned Review – published 19th March 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-lessons-learned-review Legacies of British slave ownership – University College London https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/ When will Britain face up to its crimes against humanity? – Guardian article March 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/29/slavery-abolition-compensation-when-will-britain-face-up-to-its-crimes-against-humanity Recommended reading: ‘The Windrush Betrayal” by Amelia Gentlemen “Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race” by Reni Eddo-Lodge #slavery #Politics #government #inequality #Colston #windrush

Many questions arise from the events in Bristol over the weekend. Should demonstrators have free rein to take part in criminal damage? No. Am I delighted that the statue of Edward Colston now lies at the bottom of Bristol harbour? Yes, absolutely! While I don’t condone the criminal damage I can certainly understand why it takes place. However, while I can empathise, I am not in a position to fully understand the pain that the honouring of such a person causes to people whose race and ancestors suffered and died through his actions. Many trials have not gone ahead due to not being ‘in the public interest’. I suggest that a similar line should be followed in this instance of ‘criminal damage’. Further, I won’t accept the hypocrisy of people such as Home Secretary Priti Patel, who condemn the ‘lawless’ behaviour of those who pulled down a statue while at the same time supporting a hostile environment for immigrants. The Labour leader Keir Starmer has been criticised in some quarters for saying that it was ‘completely wrong’ for the statue to be pulled down. However, this is a selective quote as he continued by saying it shouldn’t have taken down in that way and that it should have been removed many years ago. Do we really expect the leader of the government’s opposition to condone criminal damage? Apart from being a highly unlikely position from a former Director of Public Prosecutions and a gift for a rabid right wing media desperately looking to pull him apart, it’s difficult to draw a line in the sand when you have backed a criminal act, no matter how justified the reasons. You can watch the full interview here: https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/special-shows/call-keir/keir-starmer-protesters-were-wrong-colston-statue/ While legally the action was a breach of the law, morally the removal of the statue was long overdue. The scars of slavery and colonialisation will never heal as long as we celebrate the lives of slave traders and don’t acknowledge the pain and suffering inflicted by our past actions. One small step, even if just purely symbolic, should be a review of the continued presence of any statue of people that directly benefitted from slavery. Of course bad people also do good things, but the honouring of slave traders is completely unacceptable, no matter how many almshouses they built. I believe we must also look at some form of reparations for the descendants of slaves. £20 million was paid to reimburse slave owners through the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, around £17 billion in today’s prices. It was such a large amount that the UK government’s debt to fund these payments was only cleared in 2015. This means that British residents, including descendants of slaves, paid off the debts caused by payments to slave owners. Not a single pound was ever paid to the people the British enslaved, or their descendants. There are precedents for these reparation payments. Since 1952 Germany has paid more than $70 billion to Jewish victims of the Nazi regime and in the United States people of Japanese descent who were forced into internment camps during World War 2 each received $20,000 dollars and a formal apology. While the process of reparations will be a challenge and could take a number of different forms, it is not an insurmountable one, as shown by a number of institutions that have already carried out this process. The call for reparations was most recently dismissed in 2015 by David Cameron in a visit to Jamaica where he declined to apologise and urged Caribbean countries to “move on” (where have we heard that recently?!) from the painful legacy of slavery and build for the future. We also need to rectify a political system that permits the injustice suffered by those of the ‘Windrush’ generation and other ethnic minorities and permits the casual indifference and callousness of the bureaucracy that sits underneath the policies created by government. Finally, I believe we need to re-examine the effect that our colonialist past had on the people who we oppressed during the years of the British Empire, and as a part of this educate ourselves about this part of our history. One of the recommendations of the Williams Review into the Windrush scandal (full link below) was that all existing and new Home Office staff “learn about the history of the UK and its relationship with the rest of the world, including Britain’s colonial history”. Britain’s role in colonialism and slavery must be included in school curriculums, in the same way that every student in Germany has to learn about the holocaust. This should include the huge debt Britain owes to colonised people in terms of their sacrifice in both World Wars and how Britain was built on the backs of colonised people. Only by learning the lessons of the past and providing an honest account of the British Empire will we enable the deep scars of prejudice to heal and set a foundation to reduce racial inequality in the UK. Below is an incredibly powerful video from Kimberley Jones that explains structural racism in the United States. Strong language, but an even stronger and more important message. “In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist.” Angela Davis Julian Vaughan 8th June 2020 – amended on 18th July to remove a link to content that was behind a paywall. Further reading: Windrush Lessons Learned Review – published 19th March 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-lessons-learned-review Legacies of British slave ownership – University College London https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/ When will Britain face up to its crimes against humanity? – Guardian article March 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/29/slavery-abolition-compensation-when-will-britain-face-up-to-its-crimes-against-humanity Recommended reading: ‘The Windrush Betrayal” by Amelia Gentlemen “Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race” by Reni Eddo-Lodge #slavery #Politics #government #inequality #Colston #windrush

Many questions arise from the events in Bristol over the weekend. Should demonstrators have free rein to take part in criminal damage? No. Am I delighted that the statue of Edward Colston now lies at the bottom of Bristol harbour? Yes, absolutely! While I don’t condone the criminal damage I can certainly understand why it takes place. However, while I can empathise, I am not in a position to fully understand the pain that the honouring of such a person causes to people whose race and ancestors suffered and died through his actions. Many trials have not gone ahead due to not being ‘in the public interest’. I suggest that a similar line should be followed in this instance of ‘criminal damage’. Further, I won’t accept the hypocrisy of people such as Home Secretary Priti Patel, who condemn the ‘lawless’ behaviour of those who pulled down a statue while at the same time supporting a hostile environment for immigrants. The Labour leader Keir Starmer has been criticised in some quarters for saying that it was ‘completely wrong’ for the statue to be pulled down. However, this is a selective quote as he continued by saying it shouldn’t have taken down in that way and that it should have been removed many years ago. Do we really expect the leader of the government’s opposition to condone criminal damage? Apart from being a highly unlikely position from a former Director of Public Prosecutions and a gift for a rabid right wing media desperately looking to pull him apart, it’s difficult to draw a line in the sand when you have backed a criminal act, no matter how justified the reasons. You can watch the full interview here: https://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/special-shows/call-keir/keir-starmer-protesters-were-wrong-colston-statue/ While legally the action was a breach of the law, morally the removal of the statue was long overdue. The scars of slavery and colonialisation will never heal as long as we celebrate the lives of slave traders and don’t acknowledge the pain and suffering inflicted by our past actions. One small step, even if just purely symbolic, should be a review of the continued presence of any statue of people that directly benefitted from slavery. Of course bad people also do good things, but the honouring of slave traders is completely unacceptable, no matter how many almshouses they built. I believe we must also look at some form of reparations for the descendants of slaves. £20 million was paid to reimburse slave owners through the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, around £17 billion in today’s prices. It was such a large amount that the UK government’s debt to fund these payments was only cleared in 2015. This means that British residents, including descendants of slaves, paid off the debts caused by payments to slave owners. Not a single pound was ever paid to the people the British enslaved, or their descendants. There are precedents for these reparation payments. Since 1952 Germany has paid more than $70 billion to Jewish victims of the Nazi regime and in the United States people of Japanese descent who were forced into internment camps during World War 2 each received $20,000 dollars and a formal apology. While the process of reparations will be a challenge and could take a number of different forms, it is not an insurmountable one, as shown by a number of institutions that have already carried out this process. The call for reparations was most recently dismissed in 2015 by David Cameron in a visit to Jamaica where he declined to apologise and urged Caribbean countries to “move on” (where have we heard that recently?!) from the painful legacy of slavery and build for the future. We also need to rectify a political system that permits the injustice suffered by those of the ‘Windrush’ generation and other ethnic minorities and permits the casual indifference and callousness of the bureaucracy that sits underneath the policies created by government. Finally, I believe we need to re-examine the effect that our colonialist past had on the people who we oppressed during the years of the British Empire, and as a part of this educate ourselves about this part of our history. One of the recommendations of the Williams Review into the Windrush scandal (full link below) was that all existing and new Home Office staff “learn about the history of the UK and its relationship with the rest of the world, including Britain’s colonial history”. Britain’s role in colonialism and slavery must be included in school curriculums, in the same way that every student in Germany has to learn about the holocaust. This should include the huge debt Britain owes to colonised people in terms of their sacrifice in both World Wars and how Britain was built on the backs of colonised people. Only by learning the lessons of the past and providing an honest account of the British Empire will we enable the deep scars of prejudice to heal and set a foundation to reduce racial inequality in the UK. Below is an incredibly powerful video from Kimberley Jones that explains structural racism in the United States. Strong language, but an even stronger and more important message. “In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist.” Angela Davis Julian Vaughan 8th June 2020 – amended on 18th July to remove a link to content that was behind a paywall. Further reading: Windrush Lessons Learned Review – published 19th March 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-lessons-learned-review Legacies of British slave ownership – University College London https://www.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/ When will Britain face up to its crimes against humanity? – Guardian article March 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/29/slavery-abolition-compensation-when-will-britain-face-up-to-its-crimes-against-humanity Recommended reading: ‘The Windrush Betrayal” by Amelia Gentlemen “Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race” by Reni Eddo-Lodge #slavery #Politics #government #inequality #Colston #windrush

Dear Richard I am writing to you regarding the actions of Boris Johnson’s special adviser Dominic Cummings, the subsequent actions of Boris Johnson himself and the potential consequences of the actions of both. Although it will not be tested in Court it is clear to many, including those with considerable legal expertise, that Dominic Cummings breached the regulations and the accompanying guidance. Dominic Cummings during the Q&A after his statement in the Downing Street rose garden, stated that his wife did not have symptoms, while in his statement he said there was a distinct probability that he had already caught the disease. He cannot have it both ways. If his wife was not displaying symptoms, then there was no ‘emergency’ so no need to travel. If he believed he had caught the virus then he was breaching the regulations and the government advice. Cummings admitted that he drove to the hospital while ill and highly likely to be suffering from Covid-19. Again, this was not an emergency situation as his wife and child were at a hospital. Why didn’t someone from their support network, the reason for them travelling to Durham in the first place, carry out this task? These regulations and the accompanying guidance have been followed to the letter by the overwhelming majority of the population. As you will be aware this has led to both considerable anguish and self-sacrifice for many people across the UK. The public have embraced a collectivism where the needs of the many have been prioritised over individual benefit. This is one of the reasons why there has been so much anger over the actions of Dominic Cummings, which has been further compounded by the lack of an apology and Johnson’s defence of his actions. We all make decisions which with the benefit of hindsight we can see are incorrect and we of course are all human and emotions can get in the way of clear logical thought. However, I would point out that when dealing with a young child nothing is quite ‘spur of the moment’ as there is much to prepare. On balance I am not convinced by Cummings’s argument for making the decisions he did, and it seems the majority of the public are of the same view. In any case whether we accept his explanation or not, we all have to accept that there are consequences to our actions, whatever our motivations for carrying them out. As Dominic Cummings has an extremely high profile, his actions have more potential consequences and this is why people in positions such as his are bound by higher standards than others. For example, if I were to have taken the same actions it would have had little consequence for the UK as a whole. In your position as an MP if you were to have done the same it would have received a higher profile and the consequences would have been greater as your actions would have set a bad example for your constituents and the general public. The actions taken by Cummings and the lack of consequences from taking those actions, including a ringing endorsement from Boris Johnson that Cummings had behaved “responsibly, legally and with integrity” has significant potential consequences for public health, including an increased number of deaths. This endorsement by the Prime Minister, the lack of any apology and the absence of any disciplinary action has meant that the belief that there is one rule for the UK public and a different rule for those in high office is widespread. You will be aware from your inbox that this is not just anger from the ‘Westminster bubble’ or resentful ‘Remainers’ as some commentators have indicated. Success in defeating Coronavirus relies on a number of factors including clear messaging, trust in the government and for us all to behave in a way which while curtailing our freedoms, benefits our communities as a whole. The actions that Dominic Cummings took and the robust defence by Johnson have risked all three. The frankly bizarre explanation of the Barnard Castle trip has led to general ridicule which further weakens the government message. We are in a critical phase of dealing with Coronavirus, which unfortunately is likely to play out for a considerable length of time. It seems that the government has brought forward the relaxation of lockdown for political rather than scientific reasons and against ‘the science’. Some have argued that this is to distract from the ongoing anger around Cummings. Two questions come to mind. Have the actions of Dominic Cummings and the defence of them by Boris Johnson increased the likelihood that critical government messaging will be ignored, with potential public health consequences? Has the lack of an apology from Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson’s endorsement of his special advisor fractured the trust between the government and the public, with potential public health consequences? If your answer to either of these questions is yes, then I believe your action on this matter should have been the same as that of many of your colleagues, who have called for the resignation of Dominic Cummings. I ask you to reconsider your stance. I hope you and your family are keeping well and I hope we will be able to catch up soon on the step-free issue we were dealing with pre pandemic. Yours sincerely Julian Vaughan Sent to Richard Fuller, Conservative MP for NE Bedfordshire, on 30th May 2020 #UKpolitics #coronavirus #Bedfordshire #government #borisjohnson

On Wednesday afternoon (27th May) Boris Johnson appeared in front of the Commons Liaison Committee. A Prime Minister normally appears in front of this committee around three times a year. This was Johnson’s first appearance in front of it. To very loosely paraphrase his hero, never was so much revealed by someone saying so little to so few. I give my summary of it below. For those who would like to see the whole session you can view it here. Johnson was asked how much he thought the Cummings episode had undermined the moral authority of the government. He replied that he was deeply sorry for the pain and anguish people have been going through during this period – yet again no apology. He was asked why he had not asked the Cabinet Secretary to hold an enquiry, to which he replied that he was not certain that an enquiry was a good use of time and that we should ‘move on’ – a phrase he was to use six times during the meeting. When asked what advice he sought from the Cabinet Secretary or whether the Cabinet Secretary had an opportunity to ask questions Johnson brusquely said he wasn’t going to go into this matter. When asked if he had consulted with the cabinet before agreeing to Cummings’ Downing Street rose garden appearance (an unprecedented occurrence) Johnson refused to directly answer, saying that he thought it was ‘a very good thing’. You can only assume he didn’t consult anyone. Trying to deflect the continuing questions and imploring everyone to move on he said “there is a very good plan – and it’s working!” I would suggest that the highest death rate in Europe would imply that it hasn’t worked very well. Johnson repeated that lots of the allegations were totally false – without giving any indication which specific allegations were false. This lack of detail was raised several times by different members of the committee. Perhaps one of the best quotes of the meeting came from Simon Hoare, (Conservative MP for North Dorset) when he said in relation to the Cummings issue “People know what your views are, but have no idea why you hold these views”. I sensed a collective nod from all the viewers of the meeting! Yvette Cooper (Labour MP) said Johnson was putting political concerns ahead of public health messaging and above the national interest. Johnson responded that they had been very clear about what they wanted people to do – I suggest not clear enough for some! Greg Hands (Conservative MP for Chelsea and Fulham) enquired about whether instructions that arose from contact tracing would be advisory or mandatory. Again Johnson was unable to provide a clear answer, stating only that people ‘should’ self-isolate if they are contacted. Considering that I have a very low opinion of Jeremy Hunt (Conservative MP for SW Surrey and former Secretary of State for Health and Social care) I was impressed with his questioning. He asked Johnson why Germany had quarantined people entering care homes from hospital but the UK hadn’t. He also pushed Johnson on a 24 hour turnaround time on testing. Incredibly, the Prime Minister of the UK replied that he had been forbidden from announcing any more targets! When pushed further about whether this would be achieved in weeks or months he would only meekly say “as soon as possible”. Johnson was also pushed on ‘track and trace’ and asked why regional experts in this field had only seemingly become involved as an afterthought. He gave rather a long- winded answer but said “I’m accountable for everything” during it, which he may come to regret. One of the most shocking aspects of the meeting was Johnson’s response to Stephen Timms (Labour MP for East Ham) when he asked about two of his constituents who had leave to remain in the country, but no access to public funds for 10 years. You can read more about the ‘no recourse to public funds’ condition here. The husband had not been furloughed and the small income from his partner did not cover their rent. Johnson seemed totally flummoxed by this question and couldn’t understand why they couldn’t apply for Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance. For a Prime Minister to be so ignorant of this law that affects up to (he didn’t know this either) 100,000 children in the UK according to The Children’s Society is unforgivable. Matters didn’t improve when he was questioned by Caroline Noakes (Conservative MP  for Romsey and Southampton North) on the disproportionately negative effect on women of the government’s policies relating to Coronavirus. These included child care issues and the lack of representation of women on the various bodies that dealt with government policy. Johnson was reduced to virtually incoherent waffle as he desperately looked off camera for guidance – presumably from Cummings. If it was Cummings he didn’t offer any help! Johnson also seemed unaware that self employed income support ends from this weekend, as he blathered on about income tax deferrals and ‘bounce back’ loans. In answer to a question about whether a full economic recovery package would be presented to Parliament before the summer recess, it was notable that he said one would be presented – but not confirming the date when this would take place. Perhaps an innocent omission, perhaps not. Johnson was questioned why quarantining was being introduced now rather than at the beginning of the pandemic. He responded by saying the government was following scientific advice. It was pointed out that between 1,000 and 10,000 people arrived in the UK from Spain and Italy in those early weeks, countries where Coronavirus was at high levels. This is likely to be one aspect of the government decision making that will be closely scrutinised in the inevitable enquiry to follow. Further to this Johnson stated that the scientific advice that guided this decision would be published in due course – without giving a deadline for its publication. Those waiting for the ‘Russia Report’ (an enquiry into Russian interference in UK democracy) will be familiar with the lack of clarity. Johnson would not make any form of commitment to appearing again before the committee prior to the summer recess, citing as the reason “the huge amount of preparation time” required. Going by his performance and his complete lack of grasp of details, little preparation was undertaken prior to this meeting – and any that was carried out was clearly wasted as he floundered under close scrutiny. It was actually quite distressing to see the Prime Minister of the UK so clearly out of his depth and wilting under what was challenging, but perfectly reasonable cross examination. It did reveal why Johnson is so keen to keep Cummings, no matter what the consequences – he obviously totally relies on him to ‘do the detail’ which so clearly is of no interest to Johnson. His undeniable charm has got him so far, indeed to the very top. However, people are judged on how they deal with adversity, not how they deal with success. In this regard he has proved to be sorely lacking. The burden of the highest office already seems to be weighing heavy upon his shoulders and his response to the Coronavirus pandemic is set to define his Premiership. With further difficulties ahead will he see the game as one worth playing? #UKpolitics #selectcommmittee #labourparty #coronavirus #Parliament #Politics #houseofcommons #borisjohnson

So overwhelming has been its effect, as it has reached into every nook and cranny of our daily lives, it’s difficult to remember a time before Coronavirus. A few months on from a thumping election victory and apparently ‘getting Brexit done’, Johnson must be wistfully thinking whether he will ever see his sunlit uplands again. The consequences of the pandemic cannot be overestimated and the full effects of it have yet to be felt. However partisan you are, it is inevitable that whichever government had been holding the reins, mistakes would have been made. This government has made its fair share, but it is the nature of how they have reacted to these mistakes that is such a concern. The Cummings trip to Durham is just the latest mis-step, but it encapsulates the true nature of this government. During this national emergency collective action, self sacrifices for the greater good and above all trust in our government is essential. These have now all been thrown in the air, as a result of a scramble to protect one person, who didn’t believe the rules applied to him. The consequences of his actions are a potential threat to public health and may well cost further lives. A quick zoom through the mis-steps; Johnson’s non attendance at COBRA meetings; herd immunity;  Boris Johnson 3rd March,  “I shook hands with everybody”- on the day the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) advised against it; confusion over key workers; delays to lockdown; abandoning of  containment phase and contact testing; building sites kept open; PPE shortages and the non apology from Priti Patel; missing out on the EU PPE scheme; the care home crisis, discharging of hospital patients to care homes without testing and delayed lockdown; downgrade of Covid-19 as a high consequence infectious disease, allowing reduced standard of PPE equipment for health workers; lack of testing and double counting of tests to meet targets; lack of ventilators; Immigration Health Surcharge u-turn; rail season ticket refund rip-off; Hancock’s patronising watch your tone response to Dr Rosena Allin-Khan; “Stay Alert” messaging; Boris’s Sunday night announcement; Gove’s guarantee that teachers will be safe in schools, contradicted 10 seconds later; the highest number of deaths in Europe. The impact of the virus has been devastating for so many families across the UK, with landmark events postponed and the unbearable anguish of relatives having to die alone, save for the attentions of our wonderful health workers. I’m no fan of Boris Johnson, but I was concerned when he went to hospital and shocked when he was admitted to intensive care. In times of national emergency people do cling to institutions whether it be royalty, government or the Church and it felt like we were in a time where there was no limit to the bad things that can happen. The public rightly got behind the government and there was no willingness for them to fail, the consequences were too severe for that. This collectivism was matched by the government opposition who supported the government and were studious in being anything more confrontational than a mildly critical friend. It’s difficult to over-emphasise the amount of goodwill that was behind the government. However cracks began to show and credibility ebbed away, a trickle at first, then a steady stream. As the mis-steps added up, the true nature of the key players was revealed. Whether it was Hancock’s patronising tone, Johnson’s lack of attention to detail, or Patel’s plain arrogance, the masks steadily slipped. A mounting concern about how health workers were being let down by a lack of Personal protective Equipment and a rapidly increasing death toll shook the public’s confidence. The ‘stay alert’ message confused just about everyone and for the first time during the crisis the government was becoming the target of ridicule. But on to Cummings. So many government ministers lined up behind him that there are too many too mention, but the most bizarre intervention came from the Attorney General Suella Braverman, who cast all worry about the potential breach of the law aside in favour of doing what’s best for your family. On this basis theft or shoplifting would now seem to be permitted under the defence of “I was just looking after my kids gov!”. If Cummings goes, the Attorney General must go too. The problem is that Boris Johnson and the obedient line of ministers have now boxed themselves so tightly into a corner that they are damaged whatever happens to Dominic Cummings. If he stays it will cause inevitable damage to the credibility of the government. If he goes, they have defended him so resolutely, in the face of basic facts, that their credibility will be severely damaged. It won’t be terminal for the Conservative government as a majority of 80 can’t be easily eroded, but it may set the tone for the rest of the parliament. The same cannot be said for Boris Johnson, he is now so intertwined with Cummings that the fallout whatever it is could be fatal to his premiership. I know what I’m about to say is a bit ‘left field’, but is this actually some sort an exit strategy by Johnson? If it is he’s playing a blinder, if he’s not he’s in deep trouble. Johnson’s defence of Cummings on Sunday evening was shambolic and genuinely one of those jaw dropping moments where he said Cummings acted responsibly, legally and with integrity. This was not just a defence, but a thumping endorsement of his behaviour. The die was cast, there was no going back now. However it was clear that this approach hadn’t worked. A UK wide collective approach to fighting the virus was now matched by a UK wide ‘WTAF’ moment. In an attempt to clear up this debacle Cummings was permitted use of the Downing Street rose garden to attempt a further defence. Excerpt from Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions England ) Regulations 2020 I actually thought Cummings delivered his statement quite well, but it was during the questioning that it all seemed to fall apart and some cross referencing of his answers both with previous articles and his recent statement threw up a number of anomalies. When questioned why he had travelled to Durham with his wife who potentially had Covid-19 he answered that she didn’t have symptoms. However, in his statement he said that there was a distinct probability that he had already caught the disease and discusses being worried if they both became ill. He can’t have it both ways. Either they suspected they had Coronavirus and shouldn’t have travelled – or they didn’t think they had it and therefore there was no exceptional need to travel for child care? Further, have they seriously got no friends within a 260 mile radius who could have helped out? I also distinctly remember being advised not to travel on the roads as the potential for accidents would place an extra burden on already overstretched emergency services. The reasons given for the trip to Barnard Castle were totally bonkers, although that was topped by Michael Gove’s attempted defence of it! Above all the complete lack of contrition or even the weakest apology was remarkable and confirmed the arrogance of a person who thought the rules didn’t apply to him. One of the defences put up by Cummings supporters is that the whole affair is just froth from the metropolitan elite, sore loser remainers and a lazy and entitled political class. This is patently untrue. The UK public can see when they are being taken for complete mugs. While there may be a certain amount of leeway, a flagrant disregard of  rules which have been strenuously adhered to at great personal cost by the vast majority of the population plays very badly. Johnson may feel that he can brazen it out, but I don’t see a good way out of this for him. Any future claims that he is on the public’s side will ring hollow. In the medium term while the number of Covid-19 daily fatalities are falling, there remains the threat of a second peak – the risk of which has been increased by the actions of the person he has so resolutely defended. Even if the pressure becomes too much and Cummings falls or is pushed, the damage has been done. Economic news is likely to be extremely dire for the foreseeable future and any enquiry into the response to the pandemic may not portray the government in a favourable light. Further, while previously for many there may have been no palatable alternative to Johnson, this is now no longer the case. A forensic Starmer, with an attention to detail and gravitas that Johnson sorely lacks, is likely to run rings around a PM who is rarely on top of his brief. Johnson may well as his hero Churchill said “keep buggering on”, but there may come a time where his Party may just prefer him to “bugger off” if he is seen as a liability. Once you ‘lose the dressing room’ you rarely get it back. There would be a certain irony if a Durham minor was to lead to the eventual downfall of a Tory prime minister. #Covid19 #UKpolitics #dominiccummings #coronavirus #Parliament #Politics #socialdistancing #borisjohnson #lockdown

I believe it’s time for the ‘clap for carers’ to stop. This is not because I’m ‘unpatriotic’ or don’t recognise the incredible work carried out by our NHS, I love both dearly. Like huge numbers of people across the UK I’ve been moved by the show of affection for our brilliant NHS and carers. However, I’ve become increasingly uneasy about the fundamental issues, such as the lack of PPE and underfunding, that have led our NHS and care workers to be classed as heroes and how our weekly clap may seem to absolve us from taking action. While NHS staff appreciate the recognition, rather than be treated as heroes risking their lives, I’m sure they would prefer to work in a safe environment, with adequate PPE and be adequately rewarded for their vital role in society. For far too long we have taken advantage of their sense of duty and this must change. One of the most striking lessons we have learned from the pandemic is how vital our low paid public workers are to our communities. As far as one person can make a difference (and Captain Tom has shown us what can be done) I’ll push for better conditions for our public service workers, an adequately funded NHS – and recognition for migrants who contribute so much to the UK.

It is said that most political careers inevitably end in failure. I seem to have turned this statement on its head and started my journey with a series of defeats! I’ve been reminded that it is a year since the local government elections. This made me reflect what a year it had been and how the events within it impacted, not just on me, but on the family as a whole. The last 12 months involved a gruelling local election campaign, of which being a candidate was only one aspect, followed by a challenging General Election and lastly, in my day job as an ASLEF union Health and Safety Representative, the impact of dealing with the consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic. All three of these events have resulted in me effectively ‘self-isolating’ from my family for lengthy periods. This blog covers the various positive and negative aspects of political campaigning and the effects on personal relationships. I hope it will be an insight for people wishing to tread the same path, hopefully with a little more success than I have achieved – to date! Being a candidate in the local elections was actually the easiest part and took up the least of my time. Most of my time was spent on either social media, creating infographics, assembling the manifesto or creating the printed material for the fifty nine Labour candidates standing across Central Bedfordshire. One of our infographics for the May 2019 local elections in Central Bedfordshire. However, despite the fantastic work undertaken by the campaign team the results were disappointing both across Central Bedfordshire and on a personal level. Politics is all about numbers and 588 votes was nowhere near enough to get elected. However, our post election bash, was a far more cheery event than you might expect, and gave my wife Juliette a new perspective. Not the more familiar one of absence and detachment, but an insight into the dynamics of my political ‘world’. As the campaign team kindly gave me an impromptu thank you for my (fruitless) efforts, she became emotional as it was the first time she had actually seen what my work had meant to people, much to the embarrassment of our daughter. Next up of course was the General Election in December 2019 and I was delighted, after a hustings alongside two other candidates, to again be selected as the Labour candidate for NE Bedfordshire. The dynamics of a General Election campaign are completely different from a local election as there is only one person to focus upon, but the need for collaboration between colleagues is even greater as there is much more work to do. I was so fortunate to have a brilliant team and an amazing agent. What makes a great team? A variety of abilities is of course essential, as well as the candidate being able to delegate – I think I managed this in most cases! Probably the most important quality is to be able to communicate with complete honesty, at the same time as treating all with respect and valuing the different qualities brought by different members of the team. Further, everyone must be clear about what their role is, the decision making must be clear and ideas must be judged on merit, not on egos. Is the above easy? No it isn’t, but I think in most cases we managed it well. I was proud to receive this endorsement from Bedfordshire Fire Brigades Union during the December 2019 General Election campaign. Like the 2017 General Election, which I’ve written about previously here the campaign involved me spending many hours either away from home, or being at home spending many hours on the computer – and virtually no time with the family. Juliette knew what to expect, but as it was the second time within a year that I was in an election, a metaphorical rolling of eyes was fully justified, actually I don’t think it was metaphorical! I’ve yet to master the art of feigning interest in domestic affairs while in the back of my mind thinking of an answer to a potential hustings question, whether the latest leaflet delivery had actually taken place or the wording of a press release. As I said in my speech on election night, your family don’t choose to get involved in politics, but they are significantly affected. I was very aware that I was pushing the boundaries to a limit – I now have a greater understanding why the marriages of politicians fail. Speaking at the last of three hustings during the 2019 General Election campaign. Of course yet again, locally and nationally, we experienced defeat and this was a defeat that hit particularly hard. I remember just after ‘that’ exit poll being asked by one of my colleagues if I was ok. In truth I was ok as it had yet to sink in. I never used to understand how sports people could speak to the media just moments after some agonising defeat, which from my perspective had turned my world upside down and left me an emotional wreck. I now believe they are so deeply involved in the game that they are in a virtual state of shock, the realisation and the pain comes later. The defeat completely floored me and it was difficult to motivate myself to do anything pre-Christmas. I know the last thing Juliette wanted after weeks of campaigning was someone moping round the house, unfortunately that’s exactly what she got! As we moved into the New Year I gradually got my motivation back and, in addition to my role as an ASLEF Health & Safety Representative, got back into campaigning mode on public transport and step-free access issues. Of course as we know, everything was again to change very quickly as the last week of normality was in mid-March and Juliette’s birthday, followed by a meeting at the the local Conservative H.Q. (an away leg if ever there was one!) with the new MP, Richard Fuller and various rail user group members the next day. What has happened since is a workload which has completely outstripped that of a General Election campaign, involving effectively starting work literally before I’d got out of bed and often ending around midnight with text message conversations on the latest developments of that particular day. As part of a small team of H&S Reps looking after around 2,500 drivers across London Underground, we had to look at different ways of working and find a balance between running a service for essential workers and keeping our members safe. It was, and continues to be, a seemingly never ending game of ‘whack-a-mole’ where as soon as you find a solution to one problem another one pops up. Yet again, for the third time within a year, Juliette had an ‘absent husband’ in attendance as work took over home life. A deserted London Underground concourse at Kings X during ‘rush hour’ on 24th March 2020 as the lockdown took effect. Life is going to be very different post Covid-19 and there will no doubt be a significant financial shock to endure. We can’t have ‘Austerity 2’, this time the pain must be shared by those who can most afford it – not the most vulnerable in our society. Naomi Klein’s book ‘The Shock Doctrine’ is worth reading for a view on how the fallout from disasters can and has been manipulated to entrench economic inequality. The political dynamics of the pandemic have yet to play out, but the importance of the work carried out by often low paid staff is clear for all to see. We’ve also seen the crucial roles played by the NHS and social care staff, supported by immigrant workers from across the world. What lies ahead personally on the political front? Although currently feeling drained, my motivation for ‘social justice’ and fairness remains undimmed. Political opponents have been generous in their comments privately and publicly (although victors of course can always be magnanimous!) and my team have been incredibly supportive. It’s clear that I’m going to have to look further afield to achieve success, but two General Election campaigns within the last three years have been a good grounding for a political novice. Former NE Beds MP Alistair Burt gives me a namecheck during a Westminster Hall debate I’m also aware that I’m now a member of a political party that is in huge transition. I supported and voted for Jeremy Corbyn in both leadership elections, but voted for Keir Starmer in this one. This was not due to a lack of principles, but because of pragmatism. Political purity is all well and good, but in politics like in a relationship, compromise must take place. As Juliette and I approach 20 years of marriage in June, we have had to make many. The findings of the leaked report into anti-Semitism within the Labour Party must be dealt with head on and not kicked into the long grass. The contents of the report have caused a great deal of anguish among many members and supporters. However, for the Labour Party to return to power we must end the ‘tit for tat’ factionalist battle and work together to enable us to enact our values in government. If we can’t work together within our party we have zero chance of working with our political opponents to get issues resolved. In-fighting, particularly in public, is not attractive behaviour, but a gift to those in power, as evidenced at the last election. I believe I have the qualities to both work with others and the determination to take on the challenges ahead. I couldn’t have done any of the above without Juliette; her unwavering support and patience has been a constant. Yes, I think I really should put the bins out more often! Julian Vaughan 6th May 2020 #UKpolitics #2019GeneralElection #labourparty #Bedfordshire #Politics

On Monday I sent out an update to all Labour members across our local Labour Party in NE Bedfordshire. I realised that our day to day lives had changed monumentally since I previously sent out an update – just five weeks earlier. Further, and although seeming almost trivial in comparison to drama and tragedy of the Coronavirus pandemic, a new Leader and new Deputy Leader of the Labour Party had been elected. In addition to this an internal Labour Party report was leaked, which many of you will be aware of. Just below is the update sent on Monday and below that (in bold) is a statement on the importance of inclusion that I sent to all members in July 2018. Bearing in mind some of the issues arising from the leaked report it seems relevant today. I’ve re-read it and, although I may have re-worded it slightly if I wrote it now, I still hold the same views. It will be for others to say if I have held to the spirit of the statement! “Since I last emailed on 15th March our world has changed immeasurably. Many of you will know people who have passed away due to Covid-19 and for some tragedy will be very close to home. For those that have lost loved ones, on behalf of NE Bedfordshire Labour Party I send our deepest condolences. If any of our members need any assistance, please do get in touch as we have volunteers across the constituency who will be happy to help. If any good has come out of these terrible times it is the incredible community spirit shown across our villages and towns, which I hope will last long past the time we get through this. I would also like to pay tribute, not only to our amazing NHS and care workers, but also firefighters, the police, shop workers, pharmacists, teachers, utility and refuse workers, who have done such vital work to keep us safe and keep at least some semblance of normality. To all key workers, a massive thank you on behalf of NE Beds CLP. During these exceptional times, as a local Labour Party we wanted to assist those across our constituency who are carrying out vital work supporting the most vulnerable in our community. Yesterday we transferred donations to a number of local community projects. Of course many of you will have views on how the government have reacted to the pandemic, I know I have, particularly on the provision of PPE for key workers, but this is for another discussion at another time. While other issues pale into insignificance compared to the Coronavirus pandemic I’ll cover them very briefly below. As you will know Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner were elected Leader and Deputy Leader respectively, in what was in my view a ridiculously long contest. The results are below. Some of you will be delighted, some of you will be unhappy, some will have more pressing issues at this time. Following on from this of course many of you will have seen the leaked anti-Semitism report, or at least seen excerpts of it. I know this has caused a lot of anger among the membership, with a number of you considering resigning. As I’ve said previously whatever shade of red you are, you will be warmly welcomed within NE Beds Labour Party. I have little or no time for factionalism – and it is a luxury we cannot afford if we want to make progress nationally. Whatever the rights and wrongs of what has gone on, we must learn from it – and then move on. You can’t influence this from outside the tent. Of course I can’t make anyone stay, but I can assure you I’m not going anywhere! We must not have ‘Austerity 2’ when this is over. The financial burden which will no doubt follow must this time be shared on the shoulders of those who can carry it most. We face challenging times ahead. I’m up for it, I hope you are too!” Julian 20th April 2020 Chair’s Statement on Inclusion within NE Beds CLP – July 2018 “As the Chair of this CLP I’m determined that the many strands of the Labour Party are made to feel welcome within our local Labour Party. From a personal perspective my campaign team during last year’s election covered a broad range of different views within the umbrella of the Labour Party and this team was able to work in a collaborative and productive way. Again, on a personal level, while I lean to the left of the Labour Party and voted for Jeremy Corbyn in both leadership elections, I have not joined ‘Momentum’ as I’m not in favour of factions within a political party, although I fully respect a member’s decision to do so. I believe it can be unhealthy just to listen to people that agree with you and we can learn a great deal from listening to those that have different opinions to ours, both from within and outside of the party. While of course labels are sometimes hard to avoid we should be very cautious in how we use them and ensure they are not used in a derogatory manner as that may create an unwelcoming atmosphere within the Constituency Labour Party. Different views within the party should be able to be expressed freely in a respectful environment. Our local Labour Party meetings should be conducted in a manner where all members feel able to air their views and take a full part in the meeting. As Chair this is my responsibility in the meeting and I will do all I can to make sure this takes place. While we have achieved a great deal, we must always be aiming to improve and it is in this spirit that I help guide the CLP for the benefit of its members and the Labour Party as a whole. Working together there is no limit to what we can achieve.” Julian Vaughan Chair NE BEDS CLP 31st July 2018 Stay safe and if you can, stay home! Julian Vaughan 22nd April 2020 #Covid19 #UKpolitics #labourparty #coronavirus #Politics

Following on from the conference call that took place between Network Rail, Richard Fuller MP, Central Beds and Biggleswade Town Councils, Govia Thameslink Railway and me on Monday, I’ve received the plans of what, at this time, are the two remaining options for the ramp/lifts layout at the station. During the conference call I stressed the importance of being open and transparent and asked that the plans be shared. I sensed a little reluctance at first, but pleased that they gave me permission to do so! These two options are set out below. They are indicated as Option 4 and Option 5. At this time Option 4 is favoured for reasons I set out below. I should stress that nothing within the options are set in stone at this time. Option 4 – a ramp (over the green section) towards the bridge with lifts and stairs to each platform. To get your bearings the blue area is the current smaller car park and the top of the map is North. Option 5 – the proposed entrance point would be behind the current location of the bike shelter. The proposed bus interchange is the triangular yellow shaded area to the left of the station on both options. Many factors have been considered before the narrowing down to these two options. What I should point out straight away is that we stressed the importance of retaining the current bridge, both as a ‘right of way’ for non-rail users and also an addition access/exit route for rail passengers. Among the items considered were: Design and safety standards in relation to platform widths Distance of the various routes from entrance to platform Gradient of the ramps per each route option Integration with the proposed bus interchange ‘Future proofing’ of the station Access from the East of Biggleswade Operational issues during construction The blue gate is the site of the entrance point for Option 4. When choosing the options it’s a balancing act of the pros and cons of each option. I initially favoured Option 5, as it was closer to the proposed bus interchange. However, Option 4 involves a ramp which has a shallower gradient to the ramp in Option 5 ( 1 in 20 as opposed to 1 in 16.5) and also has the benefits of a shorter route from the Eastern side of the station as well as being closer to the ticket office. Looking South from the current bridge towards the proposed location of the additional bridge. This is planned to be located just to the South of the buildings on the S/B platform. The ramp would extend from this bridge over the wasteland you can see to the right of the picture. You will see in both options that there is no extension to the East side of the station. This is one reason why we insisted that the current bridge remains fully open – incidentally there was option that involved removing the bridge and the stairs – this has been 100% discounted! One of the proposed improvements to the station is to install sliding gates at the top of the current stairs, to stop access to the platforms outside of operating hours. I had asked for the proposed additional bridge to be extended to the East side, but this has been discounted at this time. This is partially due to cost, but mainly due to the fact that the options set out are compliant with DfT standards of accessibility and therefore anything on top of this would be unlikely to be granted funding. I did however stress the importance of ‘future proofing’ the station. Network Rail agreed that the bridge would be designed in a way that would enable an Eastern span to be added at a later date, or sooner if additional external funding could be found – over to you Central Bedfordshire Council! For information one of the options, which has been discounted, involved adding lifts to the current footbridge. Unfortunately the limited width of the platforms in this area would rule out this option on safety grounds. Further, this option would have only allowed ‘8 person’ lifts to be installed to each platform, rather than the ’16 person lifts’ permitted with all the other options. In the conference call I emphasised it is essential the views of people with disabilities or reduced mobility are heard before anything is finalised. Network Rail have agreed to this principle and said they will undertake this before any construction begins. I do still have a number of concerns. It is not clear yet how level the access will be from the bus interchange to the entrance to the step-free route at the station. I’m also surprised that the plans for the bus interchange aren’t yet firmed up, considering they have been in the pipeline since 2011! I’m led to believe that previously no agreement could be reached locally on the bus interchange proposals – this must not be allowed to cause any delays to the project for the station. As Biggleswade has waited so long for step-free access I’m also impatient that no commitment has been given on a completion date, other than before May 2024, the end of the railway Control Period. However, I do understand the reasons for this and I’m fairly hopeful that the improvements will be completed well before this deadline. So what will the future look like? A fully accessible station, ‘future proofed’ to cater for increased footfall and additional access points, with seamless and step-free interchange between bus and rail services and links to an enhanced cycle network reducing our reliance on the car. A station fit for the 21st Century, which removes the barriers to people with reduced mobility playing a full part in our society. I’ll do all I can to bring that future to Biggleswade as soon as possible! We look forward to continuing to work with all parties to bring this to a conclusion. Please be advised that Biggleswade station isn’t the end of our campaign, it just the beginning. We are looking at other inaccessible stations across Bedfordshire and wider access issues across the UK. Some of the Bedfordshire Rail Access Network team (Rhiannon, me, Fiona) delivering our petition to the department for Transport in November 2018 Any questions please do get in touch with us via email at: bedsrailaccessnetwork@gmail.com You can follow my Facebook Page at: https://www.facebook.com/jpvaughan66 And follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/BedsRailAccess #stepfreeaccess #biggleswade #accessibility #Bedfordshire #railways #Transport

On Monday 6th April we held a Skype Conference Call regarding step-free access at the station. Network Rail, Richard Fuller MP, and representatives from Central Beds Council, Biggleswade Town Council and GTR were on the call. This was the follow up to the meeting on 9th March, which was a bit of a car crash as I’ve set out previously. I’m pleased to say this meeting was far more productive. Many of you will by now know the perils of video conferencing, but it was a constructive meeting and while not getting everything on our ‘shopping list’ there has been progress. A summary is set out below and I will be able to share draft plans with you by the end of this week: Three options (which included lifts off the current footbridge) were ruled out for a number of reasons – impracticable, not meeting minimum safety standards etc. I was in full agreement with the reasons given. The Bedfordshire Rail Access Network proposal, including an Eastern span to an additional bridge over the station, with a connection to the cycle path to the East of the station, was not regarded as feasible in the remit of funding from the Department for Transport. Any additional bridge as part of another option could be ‘future proofed’ to enable an Eastern span at a later date, or earlier if additional external funding could be found. The importance of retaining the current bridge, both in terms of a ‘right of way’ and as an access point to the platforms was set out clearly. Two options remain at this time – both include ramped access from near the current station buildings to a new bridge across all 4 platforms, a little to the South of the current buildings on the S/B platform, with lifts and steps down to each platform. I’ll send out the plans asap. Of the two options, the ramp with the shallower gradient 1 in 20 as opposed to 1 in 16.5 is favoured at this time. I reiterated that people with disabilities must be consulted before any plans are finalised. I raised a concern about the proposed bus interchange (just to the South of the small car park next to the old mini-cab office) in terms of gradients from the interchange to the train station. Network Rail have not received detailed plans from Central Bedfordshire Council re the bus station, but said they would look into this and report back as soon as possible. I discussed the importance of being open and transparent about the scheme, which is such an important one for the town. I asked if I can share the plans, which I should be able to do by the end of this week, on the understanding that it’s made clear they are not set in stone. Network Rail, GTR, Central Beds and the town council must work together to ensure that any issues are speedily resolved. I was pleased to see progress in this area. While the next full meeting is planned in around three months time, I will be in touch with all parties before then to discuss the issue in further detail. On this issue Richard Fuller and I are on the same wavelength. I’m sure that a number of challenges will arise, as in any project of this nature, but I’ll be doing all I can to keep the pressure on until we finally have step-free access at the station. Do follow me on social media for further updates or email us at: bedsrailaccessnetwork@gmail.com Stay safe! Julian Vaughan #Bedfordshire #railways #stepfreeaccess #Transport