Latest news with #BedfordBoroughCouncil
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Bedford's St Paul's Square closes for five weeks for regeneration
Part of a town centre square will be closed for over a month as part of a £4m renovation project. The south side of St Paul's Square in Bedford is shut to all vehicles until Friday 29 August so drainage and resurfacing work can take place.A closure will be in place from the junction with the High Street to Horne Lane as part of "revitalisation" work, Bedford Borough Council councillor Andrea Spice said there would be "some short-term disruption" that the council was working to minimise. The project includes replacing paving slabs and kerbs, widening pedestrian walkways and creating a space for outdoor events, with funds coming through the Bedford Town Deal, which has seen £22.6m worth of government investment in the town. Samantha Laycock, chairman of the Bedford Town Deal Board, said it was part of "our vision to transform Bedford town centre into a more attractive, accessible, and people-focused place". "The improvements to St Paul's Square will not only enhance the look and feel of this historic space but also support local businesses and encourage more people to spend time in the town."Spice, portfolio holder for economic growth, planning and prosperity, said: "While this phase of the project involves some short-term disruption, we're doing everything we can to minimise the impact and make sure people are kept informed throughout the works."Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times, the authority said. Traffic approaching from the High Street will be diverted via St Mary's Street, St John's Street, Kingsway, Cauldwell Street and Prebend StreetTraffic approaching from Cauldwell Street will be diverted either via Prebend Street or via St Mary's Street, The Embankment, Newnham Street, St Cuthberts Street, St Peter's Street, Dame Alice Street to Bromham RoadAccess for residents and businesses will be via River Street and Horne LaneBus services travelling from south of the river, will be diverted via Prebend Street, Midland Road and Greyfriars to the bus stationSouthbound bus services will operate as normal through St Paul's SquareNorthbound bus stops will not be in use outside Borough Hall, Bedford College and Horne Lane Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Plans unveiled for 400 homes in countryside north of Bedford
A significant new planning application for about 400 homes has been submitted just as a council is set to withdraw its local plan that guides Borough Council is likely to rewrite its 2040 local plan after the planning inspector deemed its strategy "unsound", and also in light of the proposed Universal Studios theme plan allocates areas for house building across the borough and planning applications must broadly align with Manor Oak Homes is proposing a large residential development at Renhold, north of Bedford. The application was being prepared "in response to the drastic need for new homes across the borough and the imminent withdrawal of the local plan 2040", a covering letter said there was a deficit of at least 2,000 homes for the area, which has increased to potentially 5,000 in response to the Universal project. The removal of the plan creates a policy vacuum, which developers are now seeking to a meeting on 9 July, councillors were told that a planning inspector had raised serious concerns as far back as November 2023 over key elements of the plan, including housing need, employment growth, and strategic heard the process was now complicated by assessing the potential impact of the proposed Universal Studios theme park. Conservative councillor Marc Frost, who represents Wixams and Wilstead, said: "I'm very concerned about where we are because of the speculative development that's already hitting my ward."He told the BBC that withdrawing the plan meant "the balance is tilted ever so slightly" in favour of the developers."Assuming the local plan is withdrawn, a lot of people may try their luck to see what they can get away with."However if it's not right for the area, we can still say no", he projects consultant Sam Fox told the meeting: "We do still have an ability to refuse schemes that we believe don't make the tests and aren't right for the area."There are policy tests still in place, so it's not that we would have to just accept everything". Before submitting the full outline planning application, Manor Oak Homes has formally requested a "screening opinion" from the is a formal check to determine if a proposed development is likely to have significant environmental so, a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would be Frost said the council must engage with the public over the local plan."I would like the planning team to ensure that we consult and listen to our residents properly and not just pay lip service."We know we need houses for young people and affordable homes, but it's got to be the right houses in the right place, with infrastructure first," he said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Bedford council wins Bees' Needs award for wildlife corridors
A council that transformed intensively mown areas into thriving wildflower corridors to help insects and wildlife has won an award. Bedford Borough Council was honoured with the Bees' Needs Champion Award 2025 for its pollinator-friendly initiatives. It previously won in 2021. The authority said it had worked to provide food and shelter for animals, as well as "safeguard open spaces from vehicle incursions by planting wildflower-rich landscape features along park boundaries". Independent councillor Nicola Gribble said: "By creating these wildflower corridors, we are not only safeguarding biodiversity but also enriching the green spaces our community loves." Since 2023, corridors at Putnoe Park (also known as Bowhill), as well as open spaces at Newnham Avenue, Woodcote Open Space, and Chiltern Avenue, have created "vital nectar-rich habitats for bees, bugs, and other pollinators", the council said. "This work supports biodiversity, enhances visitor experience, and encourages the wider community to take action in support of pollinators," it added. Gribble said protecting pollinators was essential for a "healthy environment and a vibrant borough". She added: "This award recognises the hard work of our teams and the positive impact we can have when we prioritise nature in urban areas."The wildlife-friendly schemes were funded through Council Capital Funding. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Political row erupts over Bedford Borough Council's finances
A council is facing a claim that it is effectively bankrupt following a review of its finances.A study of the financial position of Bedford Borough Council by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) has highlighted a number of leader Henry Vann, a Liberal Democrat, said he had been "told that Bedford Borough Council is in effect bankrupt".But Conservative group leader Graeme Coombes said "Bedford Council is not bankrupt" and it was "a staggering attempt by... Vann to mislead the public". The CIPFA review found that the council needed "a robust, credible strategy" to secure its longer-term financial future and that it needed to be "prepared to act boldly and make 'politically unattractive' decisions", reports the Local Democracy Reporting report highlighted a projected overspend for the current financial year that could deplete the authority's entire general reserve, and it added that "we believe the council is already in S114 territory".An S114 means a council's forecast spending exceeds its income, and it cannot meet its financial obligations without drastic measures. It is a formal notice that freezes all non-essential spending.A spokesperson for the authority said it had "commissioned CIPFA to undertake a review of the council's financial resilience and financial management".They added that it "reflects a shared commitment from the corporate leadership team and cabinet to ensure the long-term sustainability of the organisation".The council said the report confirmed it was facing financial challenges, which were "driven by high spending on temporary accommodation and growing pressures in children's services and adult social care".An improvement plan is being prepared to "return the council to a sustainable position". The authority is under no overall control but its cabinet is made up of nine Conservative members – including the mayor, Tom Wootton – and an report has sparked a political row with the Lib Dems, who are the largest opposition said: "It is deeply sad that, despite our repeated warnings, we now see the Conservative mayor's decisions leading us to this disastrous point."He added that he "urgently called on the mayor to produce a recovery plan" and "cancel wasteful spending that does not protect residents".However, Coombes said: "The CIPFA report confirmed the root causes of Bedford's financial situation are not just recent, and stem from over a decade of financial recklessness and poor governance by the previous mayor, in whose cabinet Vann served."He added that "Vann's fingerprints are all over the current financial predicament and it's Bedford residents who are paying the price". Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Green bin collections to resume after Bedfordshire waste site fire
Green waste bin collections that were suspended for nearly two weeks after a large fire at a waste site will begin again on 21 July. The fire at Elstow Waste Transfer Station near Bedford broke out at about 21:00 BST on Friday, 4 July and was finally put out on Thursday, 11 July. The fire involved a large quantity of non-hazardous mixed recyclable household waste. The building was demolished to enable firefighters safe access to extinguish the flames, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed. Bedford Borough Council confirmed collections will start again from Monday and thanked residents for their "kind words and patience whilst we made sure your recycling service was not impacted by the fire". Central Bedfordshire Council said the fire caused some delays to collections, but crews had since caught up. It confirmed it was still not operating its bulky waste collections and the Thorn Turn Trade Household Waste Recycling Centre would remain closed until the end of the week. The fire service said a number of contractors would remain on site so the deconstruction of the building could continue. "This may result in dust being seen from the site," it said. At the height of the blaze areas including Wixams, Shortstown, Hayes and Houghton Conquest were affected by the smoke. People were told to keep their windows and doors closed, but that no longer applied. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
