To answer my own question upthread, I attended a consultation. They were marketing soft soaps, and actually quite aggressive in their positivity what with the local mayor, councillors and MP (all present) all telling us it will be wonderful and even the nearest school being used for marketing opps (PM was there last week).
It all felt a bit brainwashy. It was difficult to answer their 'questionnaire ' in a way that didn't appear mildly supportive. A similar thing happened with the incinerator 'consultation'. So their high level of alleged enthusiasm from locals is dubious to me. The Facebook site of my village is far more split. Mainly men (those I can identify are the boy racers...) and those with young families telling anyone voicing concern to pipe down. The same happens if anyone dares mention a rave in a field - so I can't help but think their default is to tell people they are killjoys. Plus local tradespeole seem hopefully their skills will be used,and I get that. Those voicing concern are long term inhabitants mainly but also people concerned about traffic, construction and the village turning into a place full of rentals. The local borough councillor lives on the main road through the village and , at present, seems very supportive of the plan. He's a nice man but it is true the borough never turns down plans the parish object to.
I think the PP is right that locals are underestimating disruption and a change to the characters of Wootton and Stewartby. Change is inevitable and both have seen many over the last 10 years. But this is on a different scale.
Wixams is a red herring and it's why it keeps being mentioned by publicists. It'll get the big obvious benefit. For those who don't know Wixams is entirely a new build estate with constant construction works and the inhabitants have no real sense of / outlook on traditional Bedfordshire where they are (the PP who moved away had a village also beginning with a W swallowed up so she knows what major construction looks like!). I think OP might actually benefit on your side of the park, to be honest. Traffic aside perhaps.
The reactions to the East West rail link and this have been so different from politicians locally. The Mayor lives in North Beds and has been vociferous and very politically bitchy in opposition to developments that will tear up farmland and countryside in North Beds (I am a total agnostic on this route as it affects me either way). The folks of North Beds have a right to be alarmed and annoyed. However, they keep telling mid Beds people we can't feel the same way about Universal (not saying this of any posters here but there is a long tradition of 'posh' North Beds looking down on lesser south of the river Beds.Some believe there is nothing precious to destroy here).
At the consultation and in the print and TV media afterwards all the enthusiastic quotes came from people in North beds , Ampthill and Flitwick and as far away as Shefford. Our postcodes were taken at the time and I am sure those so far away that they might reap benefit and receive no detriment will have been more unequivocal in their praise. It'd be really interesting to see views broken down by postcode!