The word is that the huge new Universal Studios theme park will actually happen - that the plans are to be given the formal go-ahead from the UK government.
Rumours circulated at the end of last week and both Sky News and the American Bloomberg site confirmed that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will make the announcement later this month.
The park would give a massive boost to tourism and is eagerly backed by the residents of Bedford, the nearest major town to the planned site.
Universal’s parent company, Comcast, has bought 476 acres of land just south of Bedford and has spent several months on a campaign among local and national stakeholders to win approval of its plans.
Universal Destinations & Experiences commissioned an economic impact analysis that suggested a major theme park and resort in Bedford would generate £50bn in long-term economic benefits for the UK, create thousands of jobs and would quickly become the highest-attended attraction in the country.
