MP calls for repairs on ‘ownerless’ road

A Member of Parliament has urged a local council to undertake repairs on a road that, notably, lacks a designated owner or responsible authority. Old Bridge Way, located in Shefford, Bedfordshire, has been without an owner since the liquidation of the company formerly responsible for its upkeep. Alistair Strathern, the local Labour MP, described the road’s state as “horrendous condition” and asserted that Central Bedfordshire Council ought to “step up and do the right thing”. John Baker, who serves as the executive member for finance and highways at the council, stated that the local authority “acknowledged concerns”. In correspondence sent to the council, Strathern communicated that the road’s condition had “reached a stalemate” and characterized its status as “ownerless limbo”. The BBC has discovered that Freshfield Planning Limited, the road’s previous owner, had its liquidator disclaim the road in March 2024. Legally, this action renders the road subject to the uncommon escheat legal process, a procedure under which the Crown Estate usually manages the land. Strathern initiated a petition urging the council to allocate supplementary highways funding to collaborate with the Crown Estate to “get the road into a fit and proper state”. The Crown Estate chose not to provide a comment regarding the matter. Kathy Murden, a cyclist who has resided in Shefford for 27 years, was among the signatories of Strathern’s petition. She explained, “Every winter the road deteriorates a bit more.” “The potholes are completely lethal and they are on both sides of the road so all the cars that drive down will try and dodge them,” she added. She mentioned having cycled 2,200 miles across 10 European countries during the summer, yet asserted that Old Bridge Way was “head and above the worst bit of road”. Baker stated that the council had resurfaced the sections of Old Bridge Way under its ownership last month. However, he clarified that the disputed road section was “not an adopted public highway so does not fall under our management or jurisdiction”.