Residents' views of Universal resort in Bedfordshire

People who live near land that could become a major theme park have had the opportunity to hear directly from Universal Destinations and Experiences about its early plans for a new resort south of Bedford. As hundreds queued at its first public engagement event, the BBC asked about their hopes and concerns.

Sarah Chick, 47, is assistant head teacher at Wootton Academy Trust, which includes Kimberley College in Stewartby, a stone's throw from the 480-acre (194-hectare) site bought by Universal.

She enjoyed Universal in Orlando "10 to 15 years ago" and hopes the experience could be replicated in Bedford.

"If we can have something like that here that can really put Bedford on the map. I think that's going to be a really great thing locally," she says.

"It's really exciting, for the local community and the students at Kimberley College.

"To have the opportunity to partner, potentially, with Universal, and take advantage of some of the opportunities they can offer us is a really good thing for the young people of the future, and the college as a whole."

Neil Cusack, 39, of Stewartby, says he and his sons, aged 11 and 13, loved visiting Universal in Orlando and Hollywood but he is not a fan of having one in his "back garden".

"Traffic is a concern," he adds.

"They (Universal) reckon 35 to 40% of the attendees will go on the train but I don't know if they realise the cost of train travel in the UK; I'd be interested to know if Universal will subsidise that, maybe with the ticket entry.

"I bought a house here five years ago because of the location, then if you smack this in the middle of it, it kind of ruins that.

"With the weather over here you'd assume a lot of it would be indoors, so at least that will help with the noise.

"I don't want to look out of my kitchen window and see some ginormous rollercoaster in the skyline.

"They do a good job, their parks are top class - I just wish it was about 30 miles away."

Emily, 16, and her dad, Kevin, 51, both feel positive about the park and what it could do for the area.

"I think it'll be really good for jobs and Bedford will be redone, so it will help Bedford a lot," says Emily.

Her dad adds: "I think it will bring a lot of tourism and money, my only concern is the infrastructure.

"Where are the [employees] going to live, where's the housing, where's the schools, where's the doctors, how are they going to get all the visitors here?

"As long as they put the infrastructure in I think it will be absolutely fantastic."

He says he is also keen to find out the timescale as his three children would no doubt be "a lot older" if and when a park materialised.

Clare, 48, and Tony Gallego, 50, of nearby Wixams, are keen to hear about the benefits for Bedford.

"It would be great for Bedford town centre; it would bring some money and some jobs," says Mrs Gallego.

"I think it can only be good for everyone."

"I'm interested to see how it will integrate with the area," adds her husband.

"Things like transport and what they plan in terms of the economic benefit."

Marcin Mieczkowski, interim chief executive of Wootton Academy Trust, which runs Kimberley College in Stewartby, said he was "more excited than nervous" about the resort on its doorstep.

"We are very glad they have chosen Stewartby, we have been in discussions with them already and we are very excited about all the opportunities it will bring.

"There will no doubt be challenges when the infrastructure is built, but because we are a STEM college we will be able to support Universal Studios with apprenticeships and other opportunities that may present."

He said the college specialised in the key skills - technical, engineering and media - that would be a key competent in the majority of the 8,000 jobs at the park.

"We are really excited to fulfil all those requirements that Universal will have in the future."

Bruno and 10-year-old son Hugo are from Ampthill and are excited by the prospect of the park.

"I'm very optimistic; I think it will be a great opportunity for kids to get jobs there and I'm looking forward to visiting," says Bruno.

"I think it would bring a lot of tourism and be a benefit to the local economy."

Asked if he would like a job there, Hugo says: "I'd quite like it, especially if you got a free trial to get in the park."

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