Principles and key components – Ampthill and Flitwick Green Wheel consultation
Consultation closes: Thursday 3 September 2026
Consultation opened: Thursday 25 June 2026
Where possible, linear routes should:
- be free of traffic
- be safe and inspire confidence in visitors
- offer ‘easy access’ i.e. be reasonably easy to use for users with a wide range of mobility levels, including pushchairs and walking aids
- have the potential for future upgrading to use by cyclists (where not already possible)
- have designated, safe crossing points over motorised routes
- provide connections between where people live and where they want to travel (for recreational or employment purposes)
- be clearly signed and easy to follow
- be well maintained
- provide enhanced user enjoyment through the provision of information boards and benches in attractive locations
- where appropriate, provide access for horses, particularly links to existing bridleways
- be protected from future development (housing, employment, industrial and associated infrastructure)
- where future development does occur, replacement provision must be provided to mitigate any impact
- any existing sections of the green wheel should remain as inner route options and new outer sections will be created
- cause no damage to archaeological sites and their setting
- provide safe passing places on those paths with shared vehicular use
- have appropriate management of vegetation to the sides
Accessible green spaces should:
- be safe spaces that inspire confidence in visitors
- cater for a wide range of user-types (dog walkers, playing children, joggers, family groups, older people)
- provide attractive landscapes
- provide opportunities for wildlife, heritage conservation and interpretation
- provide informal recreation opportunities (including playing, bird watching, etc.)
- provide interactive interpretation through information boards, play structures/ natural play environments and art features to encourage more people and a wider audience into the countryside
- be well maintained to enhance and improve the existing environment through collaboration with partners and communities
The wider landscape should:
- protect, enhance and create aesthetically pleasing views
- have well maintained hedges, benefitting landscape and wildlife and allowing ease of use of access routes
- enable interconnectivity of habitats
- protect, manage and enhance the historic environment
Key components
It is anticipated that the Ampthill and Flitwick Green Wheel will be approximately 18km or 11 miles in length; with the exact length to be determined once existing missing links within the ‘areas of search’ have been identified. This will make it one of the largest green wheels in Central Bedfordshire.
For the purposes of developing and delivering a clear and coherent plan, the green wheel has been divided into 3 sections:
Green wheel ‘rim’ , comprising:
- Ampthill west: Flitwick Road (Steppingley) to Woburn Road
- Ampthill north: Woburn Road to Church Street
- Ampthill east: Church Street to A507/ Flitwick Road/ Maulden Road
- Flitwick east: A507/ Flitwick Road/ Maulden Road to Greenfield Road
- Flitwick south: Greenfield Road to Church Road/ Manor Way
- Flitwick west: Church Road/ Manor Way to Flitwick Road (Steppingley)
Green wheel ‘spokes’, comprising:
- central east-west spoke
- other spokes
Links to neighbouring settlements, including:
- Millbrook
- Maulden
- Flitton and Greenfield
- Westoning
- Steppingley