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Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Times
The Bitcoin businessman battling to save Bedford from the brink
Town centres are in decline. Coffee shop chains replace independent businesses, department stores lie empty long after closing. Disillusionment grows on crime-ridden streets. Yet few have the money or blind ambition to try what Peter McCormack has set out to do in Bedford, a market town that finds itself on the brink. 'When you ask people why they do not come to the town any more, they'll say either it's a shithole or it's dangerous,' the 46-year-old said. 'I warned the police that if they didn't fix it that I would. And they haven't.' The businessman, who made a small fortune on bitcoin, has hired ten private security guards to patrol the streets every Saturday in August, armed with body cams and radios. It's a £10,000 pilot which he hopes will provoke a civic response. 'Because look, I could spend all this money and nobody comes into the town. And then it's pointless. It can't be saved. If people do not come to the town, it will die.' There's a lot at stake. 'In less than a few years time, less than three miles from where we stand there's going to be eight million visitors and they're looking at this town and they go, 'Well, should we invest here, or should I go to Milton Keynes or […] anywhere else?' said Tom Wootton, the Conservative town mayor, indicating the Universal Studios being built next to Bedford. 'We've got a short window and a short time and we've got to make it work.' On a drizzly Thursday in the town centre, more than 60 people, including those who work in support services and business owners, piled into McCormack's café, Real Coffee, to hear McCormack and Wootton speak. They murmur agreement. People don't feel safe. They are angry. McCormack laments the loss of the police station in town, while others share frustration at littered needles and bike thefts. They share horrifying stories of violence, including wielding shovels to scare criminals away from a rundown apartment block. Then a woman chimes in: 'The fear of crime everywhere, nationally, is greater than crime itself.' She could have a point. John Tizard, the police and crime commissioner, told local press that antisocial behaviour was at a long-term low, and that McCormack was pulling a 'political stunt'. The council, in partnership with Bedfordshire police and others, have launched a new public spaces protection order. The police meanwhile have promised more visible patrols and a crackdown on shoplifting, antisocial behaviour and drug crime. Some have seen the efforts: Ghulam Khan, 55, has run the Al-Badar restaurant since 2006 and while business is slowing down, he often sees police apprehending suspects while he is delivering food at night. 'Three to four years ago it was dangerous, but in the last couple of years it is getting better,' he said. When McCormack mentions reports that crime is declining in Bedford, laughter breaks out among the crowd. They don't believe it, pointing out a lot of crime goes unreported. 'Even if it is getting better, I want people to feel safe,' McCormack said. How people feel about crime rates matters as much as, maybe more, than cold hard data. 'My son always says, no one will remember how often you steam clean the streets. It's how unsafe they felt,' Wootton added. Born and raised in Bedford, McCormack now owns the Real Bedford football club and bar as well as the café in town. He's the 'homegrown Bitcoin millionaire' bigged up by the mayor, and it's clear that McCormack feels a personal drive for Bedford's improvement, not least because of his own experiences. On the morning of his community meeting, he walked back into his café, saying 'He was threatening someone with knuckledusters,' a little breathlessly, pointing towards a grey-haired man who had just been bundled into a police car, a woman blowing kisses to him through the blackened window. Most worryingly, there has been a sharp increase in assaults on women in the town, McCormack said: 'I would like to improve the safety for everyone in the town. But I'm the father to a daughter and the partner to a girlfriend. They're my primary concern.' The security guards will function almost as scarecrows, deterring crime and calling the police when a crime is committed, he said. 'Will they be using their statutory powers to do citizen's arrests? No. That said, if one of them down the alley catches somebody sexually assaulting a young girl, I absolutely fully expect them to sit on top of that person and have the police come and look,' McCormack explained. But some people are worried about McCormack's plan. 'I agree with the initial incentive but I still feel it's shortsighted, and will make already marginalised people feel more pushed out,' said Siobhan Moriarty-Jones, who works at the Cavalier Club Barbershop that offers free haircuts to homeless people. 'This feels like a neanderthal approach. We don't have mental health provisions in Bedford so that is the repercussions, such as drug misuse.' McCormack returns again and again to discussing the 'plague' of drug addicts and drug dealers he sees pass by his café. He is sympathetic — he used to struggle with drug addictions himself — but 'cares more about those in the town who get up and work'. Dawn Manu, a 65-year-old with lupus, has a list of complaints about the town, and its services. Yet she worries that using force ignores the struggles people face and could simply push them into prisons. 'I've kicked off in town, I looked like I'd lost the plot, but I am annoyed,' she said. Perceptions matter, and people are wary of talking down a town that has much to offer. 'It breaks my heart when I come and I see all the problems because we've got some really fantastic shops and offerings,' Wootton added. 'A small element is ruining it for everybody, so I support anything that helps.'
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
5 Theme Parks That Offer Middle Class Families the Most for Their Money
While many families flock to Universal Studios to experience Epic Universe for the first time, or take advantage of Walt Disney World deals like 50% off kids' tickets this year, Orlando isn't the only theme park destination. Families can find sunny weather, welcoming parks and tremendous value for their money all across the U.S. Read More: Check Out: As you plan your summer getaway, consider the following five theme parks with affordable prices and world-class roller coasters. Whether you're the road-trip type or prefer to fly, these popular destinations are near major airports and hotels packed with amenities to make your vacation easy to plan. Make sure to check out restaurants and attractions in the surrounding area; each region has a unique vibe to appreciate. Hersheypark: Hershey, PA Hersheypark now boasts the title of theme park with 'the most coasters in the Northeast.' With 15 roller coasters plus other thrill rides including the new Twizzlers Twisted Gravity (listed as the world's tallest 'Screamin' Swing') plus a zoo and waterpark, Hersheypark offers fun for the whole family. Purchasing a one- or two-day pass gives you access to free extra hours the night before your first full day visit — just visit the park with your ticket two hours before closing. Grab dinner at the park, make a game plan for the following day, or hop on a few of your favorite rides. Hershey offers deals when you purchase tickets online, including a discounted family four-pack that includes a voucher for general parking and two-day deals for $45 per day (parking is not included). Fast Track passes to skip the lines use surge pricing and range from $45 up to $300, so it's best to plan ahead and visit at off-peak times if you're on a budget. Explore Next: Busch Gardens: Williamsburg, VA Williamsburg, VA, offers so much value as a family vacation destination, it's no wonder Westgate Resorts recommended staying in the area seven days to immerse yourself in the history and thrills. 'I expected a bunch of old buildings and some people dressed up in old-fashioned costumes… I got [an] immersive mix of living history, thrill rides, amazing food and super chill vibes,' wrote the Westgate blogger. If you have only two days in the area, spend them at Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens. While U.S. history permeates the region of Williamsburg, Busch Gardens offers European flair. Now through July 31, the theme park presents the Summer of Wonders, showcasing art and décor throughout the park's villages — plus concerts and exclusive food selections. Members, Pass Holders, and Military Pass holders get free beer, while other guests ages 21+ can enjoy up to two 7 oz. pours for 50 cents each. The Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf's Revenge is an all-new, family-friendly inverted coaster you won't want to miss. Six Flags Fiesta Texas: San Antonio, Texas Have you ever imagined riding a roller coaster over an old rock quarry wall? If so, soar out to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio for the Superman: Krypton Coaster. Along with the breathtaking scenery and better-than-average food, this park has one of the best lineups of roller coasters for thrill enthusiasts, plus excellent theming throughout. The storyline and animatronics on Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger rival what you'd see at Disney or Universal, and Pirates of the Deep Sea, an interactive, dark shooting gallery ride, gives Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom a run for its money. Get to the park at opening to beat the lines. Keep an eye out for characters in DC Universe, and ride the monorail for a superhero's view of the park. Fiesta offers such an all-around great experience, it earned the No. 2 spot behind Cedar Point in the Six Flags Entertainment family, according to an enthusiast site that ranked all 26 Six Flags / Cedar Fair parks for 2025. Be sure to leave time to explore the city of San Antonio, including the River Walk and Pearl, the city's historic district, where reclaimed materials from the city's brewery add unique character to the streets, hotels and restaurants. Cedar Point: Sandusky, Ohio Not surprisingly, ranked Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio the No. 1 park in the Six Flags Entertainment family. While Orlando may be known for top-tier theme parks, Sandusky is often called the 'roller coaster capital of the world,' mostly for the line-up of rides at Cedar Point. In addition to the top-ranked Cedar Point, Sandusky is also home to Kalahari Resorts and Great Wolf Lodge, indoor waterparks offering fun for the whole family. Cedar Point has five resorts of its own, too, including the affordable Castaway Bay. Park admission to Cedar Point also includes access to a mile-long beach on the Lake Erie shore, with family games, watersports and live entertainment at night. When you purchase a Gold or Prestige season pass to Cedar Point (or any Cedar Fair or Six Flags park), you can also buy an All Park Passport add-on, giving you access to all 26 parks Cedar Fair and Six Flags locations, making this one of the best values in theme parks today. Dollywood: Pigeon Forge, TN Dollywood blends the magic of the Smoky Mountains with world-class roller coasters and rich country music culture. Coaster enthusiasts will love the Lightning Rod, a steel and wood hybrid, and Wild Eagle, a wing coaster set amid mountain scenery. The theming at Dollywood is unlike any other park, creating an immersive experience that Dolly Parton fans will especially appreciate. The food has a Southern flair, with selections like fresh-baked cinnamon bread with apple butter, and a menu of classics like pot roast, catfish or Southern fried chicken at Aunt Granny's. Stay on-site in the HeartSong Lodge & Resort, the DreamMore Resort & Spa, or in the nearby Bear Cove Cabins. Dollywood also offers discount packages to stay in other Pigeon Forge hotels, with Dollywood passes and a hotel stay starting at $219 per night. More From GOBankingRates 6 Big Shakeups Coming to Social Security in 2025 This article originally appeared on 5 Theme Parks That Offer Middle Class Families the Most for Their Money
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
We swapped Disneyland for this German theme park – it could be Europe's best
These are great days for theme parks, at home and abroad. Universal Studios has announced plans to transform Bedfordshire, England, into a 700-acre movie fan's utopia. The original Legoland is now easier to reach with new flights from London Gatwick to Billund, Denmark. And Efteling in the Netherlands is opening its first fully-fledged hotel within the theme park this summer. In many others, you'll notice more creativity and technical wizardry, more commitment to sustainability and healthier food options, and an overwhelming focus on quality over quantity. More whizz-bang-pop, basically. But there's one European theme park — a colossus in roller coaster terms — that most Brits haven't even heard of. Europa-Park is located in Rust, Germany, almost at the triangulation point between Freiburg im Breisgau, Strasbourg and Basel, and, this year, it's celebrating its 50th birthday. Come for the anniversary on 12 July, and the gates will be open for 24 hours. Theme park newbies might scoff at the thought of going anywhere else apart from Europe's most-visited theme park — that's Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée, for the uninitiated — but enter into the spirit of post-Brexit travel and there's something for every mood in the Baden-Württemberg borderlands. If you don't fancy the Grimm Brothers' vibe of the fairy tale Germany area (which includes a flying theatre), there's France to explore with a Moulin Rouge-themed can-can coaster. Switzerland boasts a bobsled run, while in Iceland, there is a Norse saga wooden coaster. And there are 16 other areas of attractions to explore. Portugal has a water ride that winds through a Conquistador-era temple before climbing above a panorama of noodling rides and then plunging off a heart-stopping 30m drop. Croatia, the park's newest area, which opened last year, has Voltron Nevera, a steel jumble of inversions and corkscrews that takes as its premise Nikola Tesla's hair-raising electricity experiments. A mussed-up hairdo is guaranteed. You'll quickly learn the Germans are crazy about theme parks, so it's quite a shock to zoom into what feels like the ether on Silver Star, the park's tallest, longest and fastest coaster at 79 miles per hour. Afterwards, you'll want to calm down on Italy's easy-going pedal monorail or get a pint in Ireland (only German beers, but that's a bonus). Perhaps, it's also because of its manageable visitor numbers — six million compared to almost double that at Disneyland Paris — that Europa-Park is so gratifying. If the theme park's opening on 12 July 1975 brought a shot in the arm to a part of Germany bypassed by visitors, this anniversary year feels like a victory lap. Among the big news from the park's owners, the Mack family, is this summer's release of Grand Prix of Europe, the first feature-length film starring the park's two furry mascots, Edda and Ed Euromous. The Warner Bros.-backed animation features the likes of Hayley Atwell, Gemma Arterton, Lenny Henry and Rob Beckett, but the immediate tie-up inside the park is the new interactive 3D dark ride in the Gameplay Theatre. Other draws for the rest of this year are a calendar of new shows (the standout is the horsemanship of The Legend of Zorro in the Spanish amphitheatre), a new party piece parade and the creation of a sculpture avenue in the town of Rust. All of this somehow acts as a tribute — and portal — to the past half century. Accommodation-wise, meanwhile, new rooms are on offer at the Wild West-themed Silver Lake City, with dozens of period-detail cabins and caravan pitches, a gold rush-type bar and mini golf. This being Germany, a brewery will also arrive in 2026. Inevitably, given that there are themed lands dedicated to most of Europe — Liechtenstein has a themed balloon ride, Luxembourg has a restaurant where food arrives on looping rails, and Monaco will debut as the newest themed land in 2026 — you'll be wondering about the UK's place in things. The bad news is it's clumsily packaged as England (sorry, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), but here there is plenty of low-hanging fruit for younger kids. After riding the spinning Hackney black cabs, it's an easy transition onto the top deck of a pendulum-swinging London double-decker. Among other things, there's a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and with a carousel of shows playing throughout the park, it's the ideal place for a breather between the freneticism of dangling upside down or racing with a VR headset on. As the coaster riding ends most evenings around 6pm, most people begin to leave, but the smart move if you're not staying overnight is to grab dinner at one of the themed restaurants in one of the six surrounding themed hotels. Highlights a short walk away are inside the medieval Spanish tower Castillo Alcazar and the pizzeria overlooking Hotel Colosseo's piazza. With tiered seating, faux arches and fountains, it's a hokey version of Rome, but one delightfully free of the same summer crowds. In short, it's a rollercoaster of a ride and well worth a trip. As it was for its first visitors 50 years ago. Mike MacEacheran travelled as a guest of Visit Germany ( and Europa-Park ( How to get there Fly to Basel with Ryanair from Stansted, easyJet from Luton and Gatwick or British Airways from Heathrow. From Basel, take a train to Freiburg Hauptbahnhof, then another to Ringsheim/Europa-Park. Alternatively, fly to Zurich from London Gatwick or Luton with easyJet or London Heathrow with British Airways or Swiss Air and then take a train direct to Ringsheim. Tickets for Europa-Park cost from £44 for adults and £37 for children aged 4-11 (€52/44). Stay at Castillo Alcazar on-site, which includes breakfast and park entry. Children under 4 stay free. Stay at El Adaluz hotel on-site, which includes breakfast and park entry. Children under 4 stay free.
