council news COMMUNITY
BEDFORD BOROUGH SELECTED FOR HIGH STREETS HERITAGE ACTION ZONE Bedford Borough Council will receive £1.76 million from Historic England to deliver building works and a cultural programme to regenerate Bedford high street. The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership and LoveBedford are also contributing funding. In Bedford funding will be used to reinstate the historic features of buildings across the high street, reducing traffic and bringing the wider community back into the area. Bedford Borough Council has currently earmarked 43 buildings as eligible for funding under the HSHAZ programme. Improvements to these buildings could include: • Reinstatement of traditional shopfronts. • Conversion of vacant floor space for retail and/or residential use.
• Repair and reinstatement of architectural details to the façade of buildings. • Undertaking structural works to help achieve these improvements. The High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) programme is run by Historic England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with a contribution from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. If you are a building owner in Bedford Borough and your premises falls within the High Street Heritage Action Zone, you can speak with the HSHAZ team about possible refurbishments to your property. Please contact Jessica Mittler, HSHAZ Project Manager, Tel: 01234 276452 Email: jessica.mittler@bedford.gov.uk
BOROUGH SUPPORTS HIDDEN DISABILITIES SUNFLOWER LANYARDS Bedford Borough Council has teamed up with Cambridgeshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, The Harpur Centre, Love Bedford (Bedford BID), Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum and Access Bedford to support a project to help people in the Borough feel more confident when going into the community. Hidden Disabilities sunflower lanyards can help people who have disabilities that are not immediately obvious to others. This can include people with learning difficulties, those living with dementia or poor mental health, as well as mobility, speech, visual or hearing impairments. Wearing the sunflower lanyard indicates to others, including shop workers, members of the community, colleagues and health professionals that additional support, help or a little patience may be needed. 4
Please mention bedslife when responding to adverts
To get a free lanyard for yourself, a family member or friend with a hidden disability, visit one of the following places in Bedford Borough. Please continue to follow social distancing guidelines: • Bedford Central Library • The Higgins Bedford • Halifax Bank
• Lloyds Bank • Morrisons • Sainsbury’s • Tesco • M&S food halls
If you or someone you know has a hidden disability and you want more information about services, support, information and advice, clubs and activities then visit the Bedford Borough Local Offer.
