Universal Great Britain

[Lost Meerkat]

Hopefully this report about Rachel Reeves speech today points towards the Gov approach to things such as Universal.
"Despite sticking to the gloomy script, Reeves argued a serious “prize” would await Britain from taking the right decisions. There would still be “shovels in the ground [and] cranes in the sky, the sounds and sights of the future arriving,” she said, in the beginnings of a pivot to a more optimistic message."

 

[Lost Meerkat]

Heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours around Bedford has caused some serious flooding, including a part of the A421 road which will be the main access route to the Universal park. Hope none of our local correspondents are caught up in this too badly. Photos from the BBC:

View attachment 23617

For a close up of the object in the bottom righthand corner of that overhead shot:

View attachment 23616

I saw a single tanker here this afternoon, sucking up water. By my humble estimate, this is going to take some time, especially as water is still flowing off the fields and into the cutting. Me thinks National Highways are going to have to do some serious remedial work.

 

[Altonsky]

Flyover would be ideal.

 

[rob@rar]

Hopefully this report about Rachel Reeves speech today points towards the Gov approach to things such as Universal.
"Despite sticking to the gloomy script, Reeves argued a serious “prize” would await Britain from taking the right decisions. There would still be “shovels in the ground [and] cranes in the sky, the sounds and sights of the future arriving,” she said, in the beginnings of a pivot to a more optimistic message."

Rumours in the press today suggest that the Chancellor is considering changing the government’s fiscal rules to make it easier to borrow to make capital investments in infrastructure which will have a long term return. Perhaps this makes it easier to commit to the infrastructure needed for the Universal park.

 

[Altonsky]

Rumours in the press today suggest that the Chancellor is considering changing the government’s fiscal rules to make it easier to borrow to make capital investments in infrastructure which will have a long term return. Perhaps this makes it easier to commit to the infrastructure needed for the Universal park.

Rumours in the press also said they’re removing the 25% discount for single occupancy in households and a whole load of others things.

I’ll wait and see.

 

[Rhian]

More opinion in the local news today.

Universal theme park Bedford: Young people speak about plans

Students say a theme park could be good for the local economy, but question its sustainability.

www.bbc.co.uk

My favorite quote:

"Bedford is not seen as a globally known area. I was shocked they picked Bedford as it's such a rubbish area compared to all the other possible areas they could have chosen in Europe or the UK," he added.

Has anyone asked Universal if they're sure about this place? lol

Heavy rainfall in the last 24 hours around Bedford has caused some serious flooding, including a part of the A421 road which will be the main access route to the Universal park. Hope none of our local correspondents are caught up in this too badly. Photos from the BBC:

View attachment 23617

For a close up of the object in the bottom righthand corner of that overhead shot:

View attachment 23616

Universal offers boat rides to the park in Orlando. They can do the same here.

Rumours in the press today suggest that the Chancellor is considering changing the government’s fiscal rules to make it easier to borrow to make capital investments in infrastructure which will have a long term return. Perhaps this makes it easier to commit to the infrastructure needed for the Universal park.

Very likely income generated from Uni will be taxed to help pay it off or Comcast may help fund a portion once approved? I think something like that was done in Orlando for the road expansions around and leading to EU? I know there was discussion about that elsewhere on this site but I can't recall the details of what was shared. I wonder if we'll see a similar deal for this park as well.

Basically once the infrastructure plans and funding are finalized Universal will give the final go ahead. Seems like that's what's holding all this up which makes sense. "If you build it they will come" but they need to be able to get there first.

 

[Chessy]

Ah yes young people and all their life’s wisdom being shared on that bbc article

I’m pretty sure Orlando wasn’t a place people thought about until Disney came along…just saying.

 

[ProjectUniversal]

That BBC young people article was painful to read. I decided against sharing it on my facebook page.

I saw a single tanker here this afternoon, sucking up water. By my humble estimate, this is going to take some time, especially as water is still flowing off the fields and into the cutting. Me thinks National Highways are going to have to do some serious remedial work.

I wonder where they will take the water? When the copper cables were stolen from the pumping station at Wootton in the summer Anglia water were pumping all the **** into a truck then taking it to Bedford water works. I wonder if thats what will happen with this water? They can't dump it in a watercourse as it'll be tainted with oil and they can't pump it to the verge as it's just cause someone else a problem. Bedford water works it the only viable option.

I noticed Starmer was calling for the release of the Sausages in his waffle today. For anyone who watches my videos, you'll get why I picked up on that.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

@ProjectUniversal @Lost Meerkat might be a good thing to do (might be me overstepping) but in the future; please try to edit your original posts to have the comments added on included in it.

Mods here don't like double or triple posts this close together.

(from @Rhian)
My favorite quote:

"Bedford is not seen as a globally known area. I was shocked they picked Bedford as it's such a rubbish area compared to all the other possible areas they could have chosen in Europe or the UK," he added.

Has anyone asked Universal if they're sure about this place? lol

I love the youth having no idea on logistics and planning. Gotta love it.

 

[yepthatguy]

This flooding is interesting in its timing regarding the universal project talks.

There’s not any other junctions between that flooded one at Marston Services and the M1, so the entire section is shut which I think I mentioned the other day.

I do wonder if this has highlighted how fragile this area is road wise. If the theme park was built right now with its proposed slip roads it would not have made any difference I don’t think.

I’ll guess this will be a big talking point in the next project meeting. If something like this happens with either freak weather or just collisions or break downs, it’s essentially taking Bedford back to 2010 when the A421 dual carriageway bypass to the motorway was opened until it’s resolved, ie all traffic had to go through single carriage roads from the motorway through Brogborough, Lidlington, Cranfield, Marston, all villages, like I had to yesterday and today, crawling past beautiful pubs that I should be sat in enjoying a nice cold pint like that Brickdust chap.

Nothing that can’t be sorted!

 

[MangoDance]

This flooding is interesting in its timing regarding the universal project talks.

There’s not any other junctions between that flooded one at Marston Services and the M1, so the entire section is shut which I think I mentioned the other day.

I do wonder if this has highlighted how fragile this area is road wise. If the theme park was built right now with its proposed slip roads it would not have made any difference I don’t think.

It's a major problem, I was on the A4280 just yesterday then a rogue parasaurolophus came out a puddle and knocked my van straight onto the B660 to Brickhill!

​

 

[yepthatguy]

It's a major problem, I was on the A4280 just yesterday then a rogue parasaurolophus came out a puddle and knocked my van straight onto the B660 to Brickhill!

​

Can you remember which puddle? I might need it’s assistance again shortly.

 

[pbin]

Marston Junction has always been prone to flooding. It’s been an issue since it was built in 2010 but this is definitely the worst it’s been. Water levels of up to 2.5 metres/8 feet. Conversely, the other junctions along the A421 fare quite well.

 

[Luke Hutchinson]

Did anyone listen to tonight’s update on Universal from the Environmental & Sustainable Communities Committee? If not I don’t mind transcribing it if anyone’s interested in what was said but didn’t get to listen in

 

[rob@rar]

Interesting update from Bedford Council's project officer for the Universal project. Nothing dramatically new, mostly confirming what has been discussed here for a few months, but perhaps indicating a bit more info on timetable for consultation on the final submission of the planning application - mid to late November. The draft submission from Universal is in a near finalised state and the project consultant said there was nothing in the submission which was a red flag for the Council.

Negotiation on the financial support package is ongoing, having started in ernest a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was encouraging that there has been no change to the way in which the new government is taking forward the proposal. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport continues to act as the sponsor for the project within government; the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government will continue to give the final approval (or not) for the project; and the project will be subject to a Special Development Order (even if that is proving to be a 'learning experience' for all concerned as this mechanism has never been used for a commercial project).

All very encouraging, I thought.

 

[Scott W.]

My favorite quote:

Has anyone asked Universal if they're sure about this place? lol


Universal offers boat rides to the park in Orlando. They can do the same here.


Very likely income generated from Uni will be taxed to help pay it off or Comcast may help fund a portion once approved? I think something like that was done in Orlando for the road expansions around and leading to EU? I know there was discussion about that elsewhere on this site but I can't recall the details of what was shared. I wonder if we'll see a similar deal for this park as well.

Basically once the infrastructure plans and funding are finalized Universal will give the final go ahead. Seems like that's what's holding all this up which makes sense. "If you build it they will come" but they need to be able to get there first.

Ask any kid in the UK in these types of towns, and they'd probably call it rubbish.

You have to remember what central Florida was like before Disney and Universal arrived on the scene:


It's not so much what the area is like but how much potential it has. Bedford ticks all the correct boxes.

 

[xtpower]

@ProjectUniversal has posted the video from the recent council meeting on his channel.


So context for the rundown Rob gave.

 

[Steeb]

Just got back from a trip to Universal Orlando yesterday, and now I need USGB to happen more than ever!

Still blows my mind that this is even on the table.

 

[yepthatguy]

Just got back from a trip to Universal Orlando yesterday, and now I need USGB to happen more than ever!

Still blows my mind that this is even on the table.

Hope you had an excellent trip. Jealous here

 

[bedfordmassive]

@ProjectUniversal has posted the video from the recent council meeting on his channel.


So context for the rundown Rob gave.

This all feels like a quite positive update - a project plan that is progressing through its phases rather than stalled.

By Christmas it sounds like we'll have a much clearer idea and a greater level of certainty. That's about a year since it came to light which isn't bad given the scale of the project and the political upheaval.