Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses after a teenage boy was robbed of his mountain bike in Kempston yesterday (Monday). The incident happened at around 5.45pm...

Unison is appealing to the public to sign its petition to save Bedford control centre from closure.

Our Highways Capital Programme uses a data-led approach to prioritise improvements across more than 1,400 km of roads and 220 bridges.

Resurfacing has already been completed in key locations, including South Street in Leighton Buzzard, Shefford Road in Meppershall and Saffron Road in Biggleswade.

At these sites, worn and damaged surfaces were replaced, defects beneath the surface repaired and overall road conditions improved to enhance safety and driving comfort.

Further schemes are scheduled to for completion in August, including High Street in Wrestlingworth and surface dressing sites.

These upcoming works will address deteriorating surfaces and extend the life of these important routes, continuing our proactive maintenance strategy.

In addition to patching schemes and resurfacing, micro surfacing will be carried out later this summer. This process seals road surfaces, improves skid resistance, and helps prevent future damage, supporting longer-lasting roads and reducing the need for emergency repairs.

As a result of these preventative treatments, the number of potholes on Central Bedfordshire’s roads has fallen for the second winter in a row. More have been repaired, and the time taken to fix them has also improved. They are now being fixed in half the time they were 2 years ago.

Our 3-year capital programme enables better planning, coordination, and value for money when delivering improvements across carriageways, drainage systems, structures, street lighting, and walking and cycling routes. It is informed by condition surveys and asset data, helping to prioritise the most important work that will have the greatest impact on safety, resilience, and journey quality.

Councillor John Baker, our Executive Member for Highways, said:

We are making real progress in improving roads across Central Bedfordshire. Thanks to data and long-term planning, we can prioritise the areas that need it most. In total 13 resurfacing schemes are being delivered this year. I’d like to thank residents for their continued patience as we carry out these vital improvements to keep our roads safe and reliable.

Alongside these planned improvements, we will continue routine essential maintenance to repair potholes, fix streetlights, and clear gullies, helping to keep roads across Central Bedfordshire safe and in good condition.

Find out how to report an issue on our roads.

This decision is part of a wider strategy to expand specialist provision across Central Bedfordshire. The new provision will be delivered as a satellite of Larwood School, operated by Brighter Futures Educational Trust, and will offer up to 50 places for children with complex needs. The school is expected to welcome its first pupils in the 2025/26 academic year.

The long-term home for the school will be the former Pulloxhill Lower School site, a council-owned asset well-suited to educational use. To ensure no delay in meeting urgent demand, interim provision will be based at Beech Road in Dunstable while refurbishment works are carried out.

Councillor Steve Owen, Executive Member for Children and Families and Community Safety, said:

Demand for specialist provision is growing and we know families are looking for reassurance and action. This decision shows we’re listening and delivering.

While, in the long term, Pulloxhill will provide high-quality education for children with SEMH needs, closer to home, utilising the site in Dunstable will allow us to do that even sooner, so it’s a significant milestone in our broader plan to ensure every child with SEND can access the right support, in the right place, at the right time. And by repurposing an existing site, we’re also reducing reliance on expensive, out-of-area placements.

The approved proposal is expected to save us between £1.24 million and £2.6 million annually compared to the cost of independent placements, while also reducing transport costs and improving outcomes for children and families.

The Pulloxhill site will undergo phased refurbishment tailored to SEMH needs, including enhanced security, accessibility and suitable learning spaces. The Beech Road site, a former special school, has been assessed as suitable for temporary use and will be adapted to meet the needs of the new cohort.

Bedford Borough Council confirmed that a senior officer signed a lease for the former Paddington Pub on Midland Road – without the decision being approved by councillors, the executive, or the former mayor.

A planning application has been submitted to turn a detached house in Bedford into a shared home for up to four people.

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Do you have the passion to make a difference in your community? Do you want to influence how we run our services?

If your answer is yes, you could be our next Tenant Board Member for the new Landlord Assurance Board.

We’re looking for enthusiastic tenants to join our Landlord Assurance Board and help put tenants’ voices at the heart of everything we do.

What matters to us is that you have a passion to make a difference that benefits tenants and leaseholders. As a member of the Landlord Assurance Board, you will play a key part in shaping how we are run and how we plan for the future, whilst considering what is best for our tenants, leaseholders and communities.

We’re looking for someone who understands the communities we serve and who can use their lived experience to consider the interests of our communities and drive change.

Purpose of the Landlord Assurance Board

The objective of the board is to ensure tenant voices are central in overseeing our compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing’s Consumer Standards. The board will promote safety, service quality, and accountability through timely reporting, collaborative decision-making, and transparent governance.

As a board member you will be able to work as part of a team, sharing our vision, values and commitments, and able to share your views confidently and effectively contributing to service improvements.

Our vision

Central Bedfordshire will be a great place to live and work.

Our values

• respect and empowerment – we will treat people as individuals who matter to us
• stewardship and efficiency – we will make the best use of the resources available to us
• results focused – we will focus on delivering the outcomes that make a tangible difference to people’s lives
• collaboration – we will work closely with our colleagues, customers, partners, and residents to deliver on these outcomes

Previous experience on a board is not essential, but you may have experience of meetings – perhaps in a community or voluntary setting. You will understand social housing and have a view of what great customer service looks like.

You will have the energy and commitment to be able to attend board meetings, either in person or virtually (access to Microsoft Teams) as well as occasional learning and development sessions.

If you live in a Central Bedfordshire Council home as a tenant or leaseholder, and you’re ready to put your hand up and be counted, make a genuine difference and develop your own skills, then get in touch!

The application process and timeline

To apply, please request an application form from tenant.involvement@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk and tell us why you are applying for the role with examples about how you meet our requirements by the closing date of Monday 18 August 2025 at midday.

After the closing date applications will be shortlisted by Tpas, an independent organisation, against the person specification for the role (PDF).

All applicants are invited to an online drop-in session on 7 August at either 2pm to 3pm or 6pm to 7pm, where you can find out more or ask any questions to enable you to apply for the role. If this is something that you are interested in then please email tenant.involvement@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview on 1 or 2 September. The interviews will include Tpas and someone representing us.

Closing date: Monday 18 August at midday.

Time commitment: Meetings will take place every 2 months – so 6 times per year. There may also be training sessions for you to take part in.

We value your time, and each tenant board member will be provided with incentives and reasonable expenses as detailed in the Tenant Membership Policy (PDF).

Keep it safe, keep it sunny

A quick guide to shared outdoor spaces

We don’t want to pour a bucket of cold water over any fun you’re having in the sunshine, but we do need to ask you to think about your neighbours when you’re outside in the communal gardens. Here’s an easy guide to making it a good time for you and everyone else:

Sharing is caring. Have lots of fun out there, but please remember to make some room for everyone who shares the outdoor space.

Please think about the noise, if you’re sitting by a neighbour’s window.

Leaving toys out overnight? It’s the garden version of towels on sunbeds but it’s not just cheeky, it’s also unsafe.

Ash could be all that’s left of a tree if a barbecues catches fire nearby. Please don't light barbecues in the shared outdoor space.

Safety – we can’t say it enough. Water, flames, glass, trip hazards. Make it a safe fun sun time.

Have fun, relax, be kind and keep communal areas clear for all to enjoy.

To chat to one of the team, contact: neighbourhoodhousing@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

Meet the Tenant Involvement team

Have a housing query? Come and meet the team!

We have set up hubs where you can chat face-to-face with housing officers on topics ranging from engagement and involvement, repairs, income management, neighbourhood management and tenancy support.

The next drop-in sessions, where you can speak to a member of the team about our services and give your feedback, are:

• Tuesday 12 August from 10am to midday at Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, SG17 5TQ in the foyer
• Thursday 14 August from 4pm to 6pm at Leighton Buzzard Library
• Tuesday 19 August from 10am to midday at Dunstable Library

Get involved!

If you would like to learn how you can have your voice heard and influence the way your housing service is delivered, come and talk to one of our team to find out more. Email: tenant.involvement@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 6880.

Reminder: you may get a call from Acuity who are carrying out a survey

The survey started in mid-July and will gather feedback on your experience of our repairs service

Acuity will contact a random sample of 85 tenants per month who have recently had a repair made to their home by Wates, our main contractor. This will be by phone, and the team will undertake a survey that should last approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

When will Acuity call?

Calls will be made between 9am to 8pm on weekdays, and 10am to 6pm on Saturdays. The number displayed will be 01582 323045. If you miss the call, you will hear a recorded message explaining that it was related to the survey.

The survey is confidential. Results can be shared anonymously with us if you prefer.

Data protection and quality standards

Acuity adheres to strict data protection rules and quality standards. All calls are recorded for training and quality assurance. They are members of the Market Research Society and comply with the Data Protection Act.

Questions

If you have any queries about any of the survey, please email housinginfo@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call Acuity on 0273 287114. You can also find out more on Acuity's website.

Fire and building safety

Please help keep your building safe for everyone

Building safety is one of our top concerns. Making sure that we service your gas boilers, give advice and treat damp and mould, and keep the walls and roofs sound are a priority. However, there are some steps we need you to take to ensure you remain safe in your homes.

Keep corridors clear

To reduce fire risk and help everyone evacuate safely, communal areas must be always kept clear. Please do not leave shoes, mats, furniture, bikes, pushchairs or other items in corridors or stairwells.

Obstructions can:

• delay evacuation in an emergency
• increase the spread of smoke or fire
• block access for the fire and rescue service

Any items found in communal areas may be removed without notice for safety reasons.

Do not wedge fire doors open

Fire doors are designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke. Please help keep yourself and those around you safe by making sure you fully close doors behind you and do not prop or wedge them open.

These doors must remain closed at all times unless fitted with an approved automatic hold-open device linked to the fire alarm system.

Keep the building secure

Leaving entrance doors open allows access to anyone. Always check doors are closed behind you to help protect everyone’s safety.

Storage of mobility scooters, e-bikes and e-scooters

To make sure you and everyone else can leave your homes quickly in an emergency, never block exits and doorways with your e-bike, scooter or wheelchair. These vehicles must never be stored in communal spaces, shared areas or corridors and if you live in a flat must always be kept inside your property.

Batteries must be charged safely and never left unattended while charging.

It is vital that you have a working smoke alarm in the area where you keep or charge your electric bikes, scooters, wheelchairs or other items with lithium batteries.

Please contact our repairs department if you live in a flat and your smoke alarm is not working. Please call 0800 0740263 or report an issue online.

Need to report a maintenance issue?

If you notice anything in the building that you consider to be causing a safety or security issue – such as a faulty door closer, damaged floor coverings, or non-working lighting problems – please let us know as soon as possible so we can address the concerns quickly and return full safety to the building.

There is a lot to consider when thinking about remaining safe and preventing incidents. Find out more about building safety. Thank you for your support in keeping your building safe and secure.

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Bedford’s mayor has approved a £300,000 investment to build new padel tennis courts at the Mowsbury Golf and Squash Complex, marking the first publicly available facility...

Bedford’s mayor has approved a £300,000 investment to build new padel tennis courts at the Mowsbury Golf and Squash Complex, marking the first publicly available facility in the borough.

Bedford’s mayor has greenlit a £2.5 million refurbishment of Kempston Pool and Fitness Centre, with construction work scheduled to begin in April 2026.

Residents of Bedford borough are being given the opportunity to inspect the council’s accounts for the financial year ending March 31, 2025 – a month later than originally promised.

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Families will receive a £17.50 voucher per week, per child who is eligible for free school meals. The vouchers can spend at supermarkets including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Aldi and Waitrose.

In total, around 8,500 children in Central Bedfordshire will receive support during the break. Families who are eligible have been contacted by us directly.

The vouchers are being funded by the Household Support Fund, which was introduced by the Department for Work and Pensions in 2021 to support vulnerable households with essentials like food and energy costs.

Our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is also returning, offering free holiday activities to children entitled to free school meals. Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), children who attend face-to-face activities will receive a free lunch and snacks throughout the day.

Councillor Steve Owen, our Executive Member for Children’s services, said:

The summer holidays can be a difficult time for some families, especially with the rising cost of living. By providing supermarket vouchers, we hope we can help to ease some of that financial pressure and making sure children don’t miss out on meals just because schools are closed.

The HAF programme also gives children free access to fun activities, making sure they have a fun and memorable summer. This support makes a real difference, and we’re pleased to be able to offer it again this summer.

Parents whose children are eligible for the HAF programme should already have received their codes telling them how to register for activities. We'll contact any families eligible for support through the Household Support Fund directly.

Restrictions on dogs in Bedford have been expanded to cover dozens of new locations in the town.

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