Bedford Borough Bulletin August 2021

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‘TOP COP’ RESPONDS TO OUR READERS BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

FOLLOWING the Bulletin’s front page last month: Enough is Enough, Assistant Chief Constable Sharn Basra suggested that a meeting with us to explain the how Bedfordshire Police are active in so many areas.

ACC Basra was at pains to point out that the level of crime in Bedfordshire is down on previous years – he admitted some of which is the result of the Covid lock-down.

He wants to reassure the general public that his on-going commitment to neighbourhood policing is proving successful.

Officers are under instruction to interact with the general public along with their other policing tasks of routing out trouble-makers and gathering crime intelligence.

Recent successes have involved cracking down on ‘cuckooing’ at Chandos Court tower block near Roff Avenue, which has been the subject of on-going attention.

Beds Police have recently been increasing their profile on social media, showing them on various ‘action days’ in towns.

But ACC Basra points out: “You may not always see a uniform, but rest assured we are out there.”

The Bulletin put it to him that if

he had more resource in the form of officers on the ‘beat’ we would have even less crime.

His response was an uncompromising Yes to that – so again the question is: Shouldn’t more money be given to the police for additional front line officers?

Towns and villages across Bedfordshire need more support to tackle the problem of drugs and stop the ‘low level’ crime that so

much impacts on the lives and businesses of ordinary people.

It’s anti-social behaviour and low level crime that puts off wouldbe shoppers from visiting our town centres.

This is why the Bulletin is urging all leaders and politicians to work together to ensure more money spent on increased police numbers to reassure the public and take actually action.

We want to see the county’s MPs being more actively engaged with the police here in their constituencies, and reporting back to the public who pay for the police every more heavily through Council Tax, and indirectly through other forms of taxation.

The Bulletin is hopeful that Central Government will insist that police activity and public funding supports our ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign.

See letters – page 10

New chief for Wixams schools

ALAN Evans has been appointed as Interim Chief Executive of the educational trust overseeing Wixams Academy and Wixams Tree Primary.

Alan was previously a Finance & Resources Director, and Interim CEO at another multi-academy trust in the East of England. Prior to this he was Chief Finance Officer and CEO of a unitary local authority.

One of his his main priorities will be the opening of a sixth form facility at the academy in September 2022.

‘I have already made an assessment of the current situa-

tion and I am looking forward to working with the team and building upon the current successes enjoyed by BCAT schools.

“At Wixams Academy, preparation for the Year 11 cohort and for the opening of the sixth form in September 2022 is underway.

‘There will of course be regular briefings to keep parents and staff informed of developments.

“I want to reassure the Wixams community, that educational well-being will always be at the forefront of any decisions taken by the schools and the Trust.”

ISSN 2634-453X

AUGUST 2021

REGULAR WORK-OUT BEATS THE STRESS OF LOCK-DOWN

When the Covid restrictions got too much for Ellysee Robertson she headed for the gym equipment.

And when Ellysee from Wixams was able to get into a gym proper, she was soon noticed by the trainers there!

So much so they encouraged her to take up the sport of body-building.

Last month she competed in a NPC World-Wide competition in Maidenhead where she came in second place in the ‘First Timers’ category and third in the Open class.

During the lock down, Ellysee who for the past six years has been teaching sport and public service at Oaklands College, St Albans, has developed her own on-line sports instagram feed see: instagram.com/finessingfitnessx1/ Originally from Luton, Ellysee studied teaching at Hertfordshire University and in the next academic year she will be studying for her ‘finals’.

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AUGUST 2021 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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Phase Two of High Street improvement works set to begin

Staycation Summer Take a trip into Bedford this summer to find something to enjoy for all the family.

We have a collection of museums with fun exhibitions as well as geeks and games arcades opening.

There is an Elvis evening at the Bedford Swan Hotel and TV’s Jimmy Carr at the Bedford Corn Geek Retreat in Harpur Exchange.

Centre opening this summer Of course the river is our main attraction. Book a trip on board the John Bunyan Boat.

And so many places to eat: Have an ice cream, coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, an early supper or full blown evening dinner.

Full details on lovebedford.co.uk Directory

BE THERE, OR BE SQUARE THIS AUGUST: 7th Jamaica Day with Levi Roots, Harpur Square 8th Bedford Flea Market, St Paul’s Square 27th Eat Feast at Riverside Square

SINCE February 2021, Bedford Borough Council have been delivering high quality regeneration works to Bedford High Street in order to permanently make it one lane only for traffic and create more space for shoppers and pedestrians.

Phase one of these works, which ran from St Peters Street to Mill Street are now complete and the Council plans to begin phase two on Monday 26 July, with traffic calming measures being put in place the night before. The second phase of works will stretch from Mill Street down to St Paul’s Square and is planned to last until November 2021.

As part of these works, the Council will be making the pavement wider and repaving the section of the high street with high quality York paving and granite kerbstones. Speed cameras will be installed along the road to enforce the 20mph speed limit on Bedford High Street.

Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said: “Phase one of the improvement works was a

“Businesses on our High Street will still be accessible while the works are ongoing and a signed diversion will be in place.”

Judith Barker, Director of Programmes and Governance, added: “Bedford Town Centre not only offers a wealth of history and character, it’s also a key location for people to come together to shop, catch up and connect. The Transporting Bedford programme will enhance these spaces enabling greater movement and space in centre of the town. After visiting the works with the Mayor, I’m even more excited about the opportunities phase two of the improvements will unlock.”

Christina Rowe, Director of Bedford BID, said: “The improvements to High Street are a welcomed part of the changes happening to Bedford town centre, changes that are welcome from both businesses and visitors who appreciate that the work is necessary to help bring a ‘new’ future to Bedford.

“Whilst more accurate details

great success and after visiting the site last week, we’re really looking forward to the second phase beginning. By making the high street one lane, we’re improving access to our High Street businesses and providing opportunities for them to make greater use of the space outside their premises. This unprecedented investment in our High Street will make it a nicer place for residents and visitors to the town centre to shop, dine out and relax. It will also help to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution on the High Street.

“Through the Transporting Bedford programme, we plan to reduce congestion on some of the other pinch points across our road network, which will help to alleviate the pressures of making the High Street one lane only.

will evolve over the coming months as they unfold, it is clear that this is an exciting period for the town which will not only benefit the trading environment of existing businesses but will nurture future patronage.”

The works are part of the Council’s “Transporting Bedford” programme, an £18M project to tackle congestion hotspots in Bedford, funded by both Bedford Borough Council and £15.5M funding from the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), through the Local Growth Fund. It has also helped secure an additional £1.76 million worth of investment from Historic England, backed by SEMLEP and Bedford BID, which will help improve shop fronts and bring unused spaces back into use.

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BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

Bedford Borough’s eligible families continue to get free school meal vouchers

BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN AUGUST 2021

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‘Marcus Rashford’ bakery boosts hospital charity

BEDFORD Borough Council is providing free school meal vouchers to parents of thousands of children and young people in the Borough throughout the summer holidays.

Bedford Borough children from families that receive income-related free school meals are again eligible for a £15 voucher per week each, for the full six weeks. To date, £665,090 worth of vouchers have been directly issued to parents of 6,609 eligible children and young people to help with the cost of shopping for food.

The free school meals food vouchers scheme is part of the package of support launched by Bedford Borough Council and voluntary sector partners earlier in the school year for families and households.

Cllr Michael Headley, portfolio holder for finance said: “Once again I am delighted to say we will be continuing our support for children, young people and families in Bedford Borough by providing supermarket vouchers to those eligible for income related free school meals.

“We know free school meals are a welcome lifeline to many families, so it is good news that we can once again provide vouchers for all eligible families during the holidays.

“Due to the impact of the pan-

demic, even more families are struggling and I hope that by issuing these vouchers families can focus on enjoying the school break, rather than worrying about where their child’s next meal is coming from.”

Children are eligible for the vouchers if their family receives one of the benefits listed below: l Universal Credit – with an annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax l Income Support l Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance l Income-related Employment and Support Allowance l Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 l The guaranteed element of Pension Credit l Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit) l Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 The Council and Bedford Borough schools are encouraging

Bedford Borough Council Appoints New Chief Exec’

FOLLOWING approval at Full Council on Wednesday, July 14, Laura Church, is set to become the new permanent Chief Executive at Bedford Borough Council and will take on the new role later this year.

Laura has been at Luton Borough Council since 1988, working initially in planning and since taking on roles such as the head of Regeneration and service director for Business and Consumer Services.

She then led the Council’s work on Place and Infrastructure as the Corporate Director, before becoming Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director for Population Wellbeing with responsibility for adult social care, public health and housing.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said, “I am delighted that Laura will be joining Bedford Borough Council later this year and look forward to working with her. She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership that I know we will all benefit from.”

Laura said, “I am very much

looking forward to joining Bedford Borough Council as the new Chief Executive. After all my time working just down the A6, I am excited to make this move and bring my experience to deliver my best for the Borough.”

more families to register and apply for free school meals, so that they begin to receive the support they need.

Conservative Councillors continue to stand behind the local scheme which is underpinned by the Holiday Activities and Food Programme which has so far provided Bedford Borough with £637,280 of government funding during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wootton Councillor John Wheeler said: “I welcome the continued Government and local authority support of children’s families in the greatest need.

People are wrong if they think the Covid-19 emergency is behind us, for so many children and their families this programme will continue help to deliver square meals going forward.”

Debbie Inskip of the charity and Sav at La Rondie in Queen Street, Bedford.

LA RONDINE patisserie is helping to promote a new campaign in support of the Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends.

The Italian cake-creators of Queen Street, are long-standing supporters of the NHS and now are spreading the word for the One Million Miles challenge.

The aim is to raise £1 Million for a Children’s A & E, and for a new A & E CT Scanner.

Full story of how to get involved by walking, swimming, biking or hiking is at www.onemillionmiles.co.uk

The La Rondine team led by Salvatore (Sav) Garganese, are no strangers to sporting success they were mentioned by Marcus Ashford MBE in his free school meals campaign in 2020.

The very generous team donate pastries to those manning vaccination centres and thus are regular backers of Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends.

The onemillionsmiles.co.uk campaign is led by Ismail Anilmis DL, a former volunteer member of the Love Bedford BedfordBID board and multi McDonald’s franchisee.

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AUGUST 2021 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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Suspended sentence for ‘All the money goes north of the river’ possession of ‘Category A’ claim gets ‘categorically’ slapped down pornographic images A BEDFORD man who over six years amassed a sickening collection of child sex abuse images a well as extreme pornographic images has narrowly avoided being sent to prison.

Instead 45-year-old Gary Scott was given a suspended sentence.

Scott from Bedford appeared at Luton Crown Court for sentence after pleading guilty to three offences of making indecent images of children and one charge of possessing extreme pornographic images.

The court heard it was on June 11, 2019 when police went his home armed with information that he might be in possession of the images.

Prosecutor Douglas Page said their suspicions proved correct and a forensic examination of a device at his home revealed a sickening stash of still and moving images of youngsters, some as young as five or six, being abused.

Judge Steven Evans was told that some of the material found was classed as Category A, which is the most serious level.

The court was told Page had been viewing the material between 2013 and 2019 and he had a long standing drug habit.

Passing sentence the judge told Scott: “You will receive a custodial sentence because you accessed images of very young children being sexually assaulted and

abused over six years.”

The judge said Scott had found the images on the “dark web” and he said it was because of men like him, who got sexual gratification from viewing such abusive images, that a “market” for such material was created.

It meant, said the judge, that providers of images took children away from their families to sexually assault, rape and abuse them so that images could then be put on the internet.

The judge said as a result the youngster grew up knowing such images of them being abused were on the internet.

“These children are damaged for the rest of their lives because of men like you who want to sit in front of a computer screen enjoying it.”

Scott was given a 12 month prison sentence which was suspended for two years. He was ordered to carry out a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement and he will also be subject to a nine month drug rehabilitation requirement.

In addition his name will go on the sex offenders register for the next 10 years and he will also be subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same amount of time.

That last order means that police can inspect at any time and without warning, any computer in Scott’s possession and examine what he has been looking at online.

by David Tooley Local Democracy Reporter

A COUNCILLOR who said many residents believe most council money is spent on areas north of the river provoked a senior officer’s rapid denial.

The topic of potholes was on the agenda at a meeting on Thursday, July 15, where Bedford Borough Council officers were quizzed about how they decide which issues get dealt with.

The environment and sustainable communities overview and scrutiny committee was told that this year’s budget for footway and carriageway works this financial year is £6.64 million.

They’ve bolstered it by £1 million after there was an underspend in the council’s adult social care budget.

But Cllr Fouzia Zamir (Lab) said many people believed areas like her own Cauldwell ward, Kingsbrook, and Queens Park get a raw deal.

Cllr Zamir said: “The question residents are asking is if you go the other side of the river to the north all the roads and grass cutting is tip top, like a lot of money has been spent.

“But if you come south of the river, especially Cauldwell, Kingsbrook and Queens Park people ask why are they not spending the money on this area.

“People think it’s getting worse day by day.”

But Jon Shortland, the council’s chief officer for planning and highways, denied money is spent on a ward basis.

“I can say categorically that it is not true that we spend money on a ward by ward basis. We spend it where the money needs to be spent.”

He added that residents living outside Bedford believe the town gets all the money.

“If you had attended the town and parish council forum as I did a couple of months ago, the mainly northern villages were convinced that we spent all the money in the town,” he said.

Conservative councillors Graeme Coombes

(Wilshamstead) and Roger Rigby (Bromham & Biddeham) quizzed officers how they decide which roads to fix and how quickly the work can be done.

Cllr Coombes claimed that the road surface at the Causeway in Wixams is “dangerous” and it should be fixed quickly.

He was told that officers inspect potholes and grade them according to a manual, with issues like missing manhole covers fixed in two hours.

They used to judge them by width and depth but they now rate them according to risk, the committee heard.

Cllr Coombes said: “When you speak to people there are lots of seriously dangerous potholes out there.”

Appeal for information on rape

OFFICERS from Bedfordshire Police are appealing for information after a woman was raped in Bedford in the early hours of Monday, July 12.

At around 12.30am, the woman, who is in her 20s, was walking along Castle Road, near the junction with Newnham Road, when a man forced her into some bushes and raped her.

Officers are looking to trace a man who was near the scene, he is described as around 6’2”, white, with brown highlighted hair, worn in a ‘man bun’. He was wearing a navy blue flanneltype checked shirt, with a white top underneath, and was headed in the direction of the John Bunyan museum.

Anyone with information is asked to report via the force’s online reporting centre, quoting Operation Identify. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Victims of rape and sexual assault can receive support and guidance from Bedfordshire Police and partner agencies including the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), as well as support through the criminal investigation process.

Reports can be made to police on 101. You can

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But Mr Shortland interjected and said: “With respect, there aren’t there aren’t a lot of dangerous potholes out there because our accident data doesn’t show people having repeated accidents on the basis of having hit a pothole.”

Cllr Coombes is due to get a personal response to his query.

Cllr Rigby queried why the council had a 24 hour response for urgent work and eight weeks for less serious jobs.

“Some potholes have been hanging around for so long that the paint has disappeared,” he said.

Mr Shortland said some other councils respond in five days rather than 24 hours and 13 weeks instead of eight.

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also contact Bedfordshire’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) the Emerald Centre, by visiting www.emeraldcentre.org A man in his 20s from Bedford has been arrested and bailed with conditions in relation to the incident.

Bedford street stabbing

A PSYCHIATRIC report is being prepared on a man accused of a stabbing in a Bedford street.

Mahmood Amime, 21, of Iddesleigh Road, Bedford, is accused of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, burglary and possessing an offensive weapon.

The victim needed hospital treatment following the attack in Maitland Street on Saturday June 5. Amime appeared at Luton Crown Court on Monday, July 19, 2021, via a link from Bedford prison. Prosecutor Kuljeet Singh Dobe said a psychiatric assessment on Amime was awaited. Recorder Andrew Johnson adjourned the plea hearing until August 26. He remanded Amime in custody until his trial in January 2022.

Sunflower Lanyards

In 2020, Bedford Borough Council, Cambridgeshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, The Harpur Centre, Love Bedford (Bedford BID), Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum and Access Bedford announced their support for hidden disability sunflower lanyards in the borough.

Sunflower lanyards are free and can help people who have disabilities that are not immediately obvious to others. 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.

BedfordBID recently received funding from the Town Centre Grant to purchase sunflower window stickers and tuition packs for town centre businesses. So far, almost 50 shops are now displaying stickers and posters in their windows, this will allow those customers with hidden disabilities to easily identify those businesses that have trained their staff in recognising hidden disabilities and what the sunflower lanyard means.

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: Bedford Central Library, The Higgins Bedford, Halifax bank, Lloyds Bank, Morrisons, Sainsbury’, Tesco, M&S food halls If someone you know has a hidden disability and want more information about services, support and activities then visit the Bedford Borough Local Offer. To see the businesses that have opted to join the scheme and received training from the BedfordBID visit www. lovebedford.co.uk/sunflower.php

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BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN AUGUST 2021

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AUGUST 2021 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

Gold award winners in the green category!

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many of us are not used to anymore after such a tough year for everyone! It was great to see so many businesses there, especially after so many businesses have struggled through the pandemic and it was nice to have a positive feel in the air when talking to business owners.”

As Gold winners in The Green Award category at the SME Luton & Bedfordshire Business Awards 2020/21, this automatically puts them in the finals of the same category at SME National Business Awards 2020/21 which will be held at Wembley on Wednesday, July 28, 2021.

Business Partner Vincenza Ciampa said: “We will have our fingers crossed for this, we can’t believe that a small family run independent business like us has made it to the National awards final!” We are so grateful for all the recognition we have had showing the work we put in to running our business.

As always we would like to thank all of our customers and people that have supported us over the years, without your help and support a business like ours would not have survived!”

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‘Torn in two’ – proposal to split historic Elstow ELSTOW village, which is famed as the home of global best-selling author John Bunyan, is facing a battle.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has proposed splitting Elstow into two and putting the parts in different council wards.

This would mean ripping the historic Elstow Abbey Church, Moot Hall and Bunyan’s Mead apart from the rest of the rural parish, and dumping them in the urban Cauldwell Ward.

Pilgrim’s Progress, the best selling book of all time, second only to the Bible for centuries (and only recently taken over by the Harry Potter franchise), was written by Elstow preacher Bunyan and features many rural locations.

These include countryside which spread as far as Stewartby village, with which Elstow currently shares a council ward.

This means it has the same Borough councillor and can campaign on rural issues relevant to the historic settings. The proposal by the Commission would break that ward currently held by Cllr Tim Hill.

Chair of the Elstow Parish Council Jon Miles, pictured centre, at Elstow Green and fellow locals are encouraging people to object the changes by logging on to the website before July 5th: https://consultation.lgbce.org.u k/have-your-say/20441 “It is absolutely absurd for this to even be a consideration. Elstow Parish Council objects in the strongest possible way. Elstow’s character is unique, and it is simply

BEDFORD-BASED Cartridge Depot are Gold winners in The Green Award category at the SME Luton & Bedfordshire Business Awards 2020/21!

The award is for the business that has and is reducing or removing the harmful impact that products and/or services have on the environment. In their case it shows how hard they have worked to help save all the empty cartridges that go through their doors from ending up in landfill, instead they are sent away for recycling.

The awards ceremony took place on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at the Bedford Corn Exchange.

On the night they were also finalists in this year’s Positive Impact award which represented how businesses have changed the products or services they produced to benefit a crisis.

Business Partner Guy Ciampa commenting on the their success: “It was a surreal experience, not only for the fact of being finalists and winning, but also just to be out at a venue sitting at a table and meeting new people and businesses, this is something that

M

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shocking to see it being thought acceptable for the rural parish to be split in two,” said Mr Miles.

Elstow Parish Council is currently surrounding the parish with new signage, using imagery which features John Bunyan’s pilgrim Christian in the revolutionary book published in 1678.

The Pilgrim’s Progress, from This World, to That Which Is to Come, is a Christian allegory. It is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious, theological fiction in English literature. It has been translated into more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print.

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN AUGUST 2021

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Police get £7m to fight violence, exploitation and organised crime

BEDFORDSHIRE Police has been handed its biggest ever grant funding pot to take the fight to criminal gangs and organised crime groups in the county.

Ministers have awarded the force more than £7 million in special grant funding to respond to the extraordinary challenges posed locally by organised crime.

The latest money comes in two batches of around £3.6m. One grant will pay for the force to run Operation Costello, its biggest ever operation to tackle organised crime, over two years.

The second grant will cover the cost of Bedfordshire Police’s Boson guns and gangs team, which has benefitted from direct government funding for a number of years.

Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said: “We are committed to tackling organised crime across our country – protecting the public is one of our top priorities.

“I’m delighted that we have been able to provide Bedfordshire Police Force with more than £7m in special grant funding to support the force in their tireless work to cut organised crime in their area.”

Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye said: “This is a major funding boost for all our communities in Bedfordshire and I am delighted to see this level of investment coming into our county.

“The key thing is this investment is being seen at all levels of a comprehensive response to tackling violence, exploitation and organised crime.

“Policing is getting the tools

and resources it needs to tackle the big players involved in things like drug importation and weapons trafficking, as well as the gangs which often act as a gateway for young people into a world of criminal exploitation.

“But I remain adamant that while this funding is welcome and hugely needed, we cannot arrest our way out of this problem, nor can the current core funding arrangement continue.

“That’s why at the national level, I continue to engage with the Home Office on resolving the outdated funding formula for Bedfordshire, and at the local level – my office continues to fund prevention and early intervention projects to address things like domestic abuse, drugs and alcohol addiction, as well as other known causes of criminality.”

Operation Costello will see the force recruit an entire new team to carry out investigations into criminal gangs identified under the national Operation Venetic, where international law enforcement cracked an encrypted communications network used by organised crime.

Some 10% of the firearms seized across the country in the first phase of Operation Venetic were seized in Luton.

Under Operation Costello 50 people have already been arrested and almost 100 warrants carried out, with nearly 100 kilos of Class A drugs and more than £1m in assets seized in Luton by Bedfordshire Police and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit.

Meanwhile, Boson played an instrumental role in Bedfordshire

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Police seizing record amounts of illegal drugs over the past 12 months.

The unit runs proactive patrols in areas targeted by gangs and drug dealers, while the team’s investigation into a shooting in Luton recently featured on 24 Hours in Police Custody.

Boson also plays a leading role in prevention, working with different agencies to safeguard young people at risk. Both grants cover 85% of the costs bid for by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Bedfordshire Police Chief Constable Garry Forsyth said: “There is a whole range of research

and statistics that demonstrate the stark challenge we face here in Bedfordshire from gang violence, exploitation and organised crime.

“Yet for so long we have been fighting these challenges with one hand tied behind our back, with the funding formula failing to recognise the seriousness, volume and complexity of threat in our force area.

“We have argued this case repeatedly to ministers for a number of years and it is really pleasing to see this level of funding come into policing in Bedfordshire, after similar successes in the recent past.

“However, we will continue to

argue for a longer term and more sustainable funding solution for us here in Bedfordshire, so we can continue this work over a number of years and really eradicate the systemic criminal networks operating in our county.”

Recorded incidents of serious youth violence fell by 24% in Bedfordshire in the 12 months to April 2021 compared to the same timeframe to April 2019.

While police say the pandemic has played a big part in a drop of this scale, serious youth violence had reduced significantly year-onyear just prior to the first national lockdown, after a number of investments by government.

Ministers had already pledged £2.1m to cover 85% of the costs to

Bedfordshire Police for running the first year of Operation Costello in 2020/21, in addition to the £3.6m of funding over two years recently announced. The £3.6m for Boson is the fourth special grant the unit has been given, following on from previous grants of £4.571m, £3m and £2.9m respectively.

Bedfordshire Police is one of 18 police forces to be given ‘grip’ funding to tackle serious youth violence, which used to be known as surge funding. This year Bedfordshire has been awarded £559,000, with previous awards of £1.38m and £908,000 respectively.

Bedfordshire’s Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit (VERU) has been awarded grants of £880,000 for the past three years.

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135 scouts have fun at Bromham camp

135 members of Flitwick Scouts enjoyed a wide range of activities at Bromham camp site. Despite not being able to camp, the adult volunteers were determined to provide an experience the children would remember.

The Beaver Scouts (boys and girls aged 6 to 8) enjoyed the adventure course (where they got rather muddy) archery, backwoods cooking, climbing on the bouldering wall, games and science. Backwoods cooking was popular as the children made “camp doughnuts” made out of bread, jam, batter, sugar and then fried in a pan. Science was probably the most popular activity as the children made “screaming balloons, fired film canisters towards the sky and poked pencils through plastic bags of water – without them leaking!

Their day was finished off with a camp fire.

The Cub Scouts (boys and girls aged 8 to 10) took part in the adventure trail, archery, athletes badge, cooking, craft and pedal carts.

They also finished their day with a camp fire. The most popular activity was making and lighting a fire with a steel flint, some cotton wool, and some small pieces of wood. Every child with different levels of support managed to make a fire. The children then took the opportunity to cook noodles on an open fire.

The Scouts (boys and girls aged 10 to 14) were kept very busy.

Their activities included cooking, orienteering, making a camp gadget, using an axe and saw, pitching tents and teamwork. The teamwork activity involved having to give instructions to another member of their team to get round (or over) a series of obstacles that were set on a course whilst blindfolded.

Beaver Scout, Ben Coates said, “I wouldn’t give it 10/10, I’d give it 20/10 and it was the best Beaver activity EVER. In fact, I don’t think anything will ever beat it.”

Parent Vicky Jellis said, “Thank you to everyone who made the day happen. I really enjoyed my day helping and can fully appreciate all the efforts involved. Evie and Katie had a great day and were still talking about it the following day.

Adult volunteer, Nigel Taylor said, “There are many times when Scouting brings a smile to your face. When a Cub says, ‘This is the first time I’ve lit a fire’ and then follows that a few minutes later with, ‘This is the first time I’ve cooked noodles’ then you know you are teaching them skills for life.” Nigel added, “Volunteering is good for you as it gets you outside, you make friends, you see people trying different activities and you know you’re having a positive impact on people in the community.”

Flitwick Scouts can be found: www.flitwickscoutgroup.org.uk/

CAMP FIRE

TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com

HM Lord-Lieutenant’s British Empire Medal presentation ceremony held at Luton Hoo AT A special ceremony held at Luton Hoo Hotel, by kind permission of General Manager Mr Matthew Long, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis brought together six Bedfordshire recipients who received British Empire Medals in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday and 2021 New Year’s Honours Lists to present their medals on behalf of HM Queen.

Vice Lord-Lieutenant Mr Chris SharwoodSmith MBE was the Master of Ceremonies at the reception and the following dignitaries were in attendance: High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Eric Masih, Mayor of Luton Cllr Mahmood Hussain, Chief Fire Officer Andrew Hopkinson and Deputy Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst. They were joined by recipients and their family members to hear details about their achievements which were read out by the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets.

The recipients honoured and presented with their British Empire BEM – For services to Policing Medals were: and Diversity Chief Inspector Mohammad Aziz Mrs Rani Kaur BEM – For servBEM – For services to Policing ices to the community in and Diversity Bedfordshire during Covid-19 Ms Haley Ethridge BEM – For Mr Geoffrey Michael Dimmock services to Radio Broadcasting and BEM – For services to the commuYoung People during Covid-19 nity in Leighton Buzzard Police Constable Ruth Honegan Bedfordshire

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Empire Medals on behalf of HM The Queen. Their stories were so inspiring and demonstrated how, as a County, when ordinary people pull together and look out for their neighbours, they can make a real difference to the lives of others.

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School’s entrepreneur-in-residence wins prestigious Diana Award ENTREPRENEUR in residence, Zubair Junjunia, has this week been recognised with The Diana Award, the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts.

The entrepreneur in residence at leading independent boys’ school Bedford School has this week been recognised with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts.

Zubair Junjunia has received The Diana Award which was established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, from the charity of the same name and has the support of her sons, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duke of Sussex.

Tessy Ojo, Chief Executive of The Diana Award, said: “We congratulate all our new Diana Award recipients from the UK and all over the globe who are changemakers for their generation.

“We know by receiving this honour they will inspire more young people to get involved in their communities and begin their own journey as active citizens.

“For more than 20 years The Diana Award has valued and invested in young people encouraging them to continue to make positive change in their communities and lives of others.”

Zubair’s role at Bedford is part of the school’s strategic focus on ensuring that all boys are equipped with the skills they need to succeed in the working world. Entrepreneurial thinking is a key area, alongside digital technology and community partnerships, where emphasis is placed on developing boys to meet the demands of a technological world, but also, importantly, a world where it has never been more important to accentuate the wonders of being human.

His work to date has included an Entrepreneurial Day, which involved series of tasks and presentations where boys worked towards a UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target and a Prep School workshop on the art of storytelling. Importantly, his role at Bedford School extends beyond the traditional definition of entrepreneurship – it’s not simply about making money or starting a business.

Prison officer prosecuted for Blue Badge abuse

BEDFORD Borough Council has prosecuted a prison officer from HMP Bedford for misusing his wife’s blue badge in November 2020. The perpetrator has been ordered to pay back over £1,000 in fines, council costs and a victim surcharge.

James Cooper of Bevery Close, Bedford was prosecuted for two counts of blue badge misuse after a Civil Enforcement Officer witnessed him parking in Adelaide Square with a blue badge on 12 November 2020, despite his wife not being present.

During the investigation that followed, it was found that Mr Cooper had committed the same offence on the previous day. On both occasions, Mr Cooper had used the badge to park before going to work at HMP Bedford, which resulted in the space being unavailable to someone who needed it for a lengthy period.

When interviewed under caution by post, Mr Cooper admitted to both offences and was then summonsed to attend Luton Magistrates Court on Friday 25 June 2021 where he plead guilty and was fined £534.00.

Mr Cooper was also ordered to pay £500.00 towards the Council’s costs, alongside a £53 victim surcharge.

Councillor Michael Headley, Portfolio Holder for Finance, said: “The blue badge scheme was set up to assist disabled people in getting to

their destination and many people rely on it.

“In the interest of disabled residents, we will always take action against those we suspect of misusing a blue badge, which could result in a fine of up to £1,000 and a criminal conviction.”

If you suspect that someone is committing Blue Badge misuse, you can report it by completing the

online form on the Bedford Borough Council website: www.bedford.gov.uk/parkingroads-and-travel/parking/disabledpeople-parking-bays/blue-badge-mi suse-fraud/.

Blue Badge misuse can also be reported by contacting their Customer Service Centre via email customerservices@bedford.gov.uk, or by calling 01234 267422.

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‘Patient’ developer gets go ahead for 390 new homes in Bromham

by David Tooley Local Democracy Reporter

PLANNERS have given the go ahead for up to 390 new homes to be built on the outskirts of Bromham.

A committee was told that the principle of developing the site, off Stagsden Road, had been democratically accepted by the village in May when residents voted to approve their neighbourhood plan.

Developers of the site near the junction of the A422 and the A428, were thanked for their patience in agreeing to set aside normal time limits for deciding big planning applications until after the referendum. The developer had lodged the application in 2019.

Janine Laver, Bedford Borough Council’s development manager, said she was confident that planners are “getting the best we can for the borough.”

The debate at the planning committee

on Monday revealed some of the behind the scenes negotiations between the council and the developers.

Cllr Sue Oliver (Lab, Kempston North) said halving the amount of affordable housing on the site from 30 per cent to 15 per cent went “against the grain” for her.

But Ms Laver explained that the reduction was part of the normal “push and pull” in planning where there is a “balance to be struck” between competing priorities.

The council is allowed to set conditions

where developers have to make contributions to community projects. But the cost of those conditions when added up cannot make projects unviable.

And in this case the developer has agreed to pay £390,000 to help repair a culvert that is in danger of collapse as well as £342,260 for phase two of the new Biddenham surgery.

Martin Grant Homes had been able to prove to the council that if too many demands were made on them the develop-

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Sue Ryder nurses turn star bakers in fundraiser

SUE Ryder Nurses from a hospice providing care for families in Bedfordshire switched their nurses’ uniforms to aprons last month to hold a cake and craft sale raising vital funds for families needing their care.

Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice Inpatient Unit Ward Manager, Jacqui Ackroyd and Staff Nurse, Viccy Cullip, held a stall in Bedford selling delicious cakes kindly donated by Sue Ryder staff and the local community, raising a whopping £625.

The cake sale, which was held outside Serendipity Salon, Denmark Street, in Bedford, forms part of the pair’s fundraising ahead of a planned charity trek to Iceland later this year. They hope to be joined by other members of the Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice team to hike for five days through stunning Icelandic scenery in support of families needing their care.

Jacqui said: “Viccy and I would like to thank everybody that has supported us. We have been overwhelmed with people’s generosity.

Many of the delicious cakes were kindly donated by members of our local community and Sue Ryder staff at the hospice. Viccy made and sold some of the creative crafts too.

“We’d like to share a huge thank you to everyone who has been so very generous and supportive. We’d really like to thank Serendipity Hair and Beauty, Castle Deli, Mikala from D Air and Veronica from the Gluten Free Home Baking Company for supporting us too. We couldn’t have raised this amount without their support.”

Jacqui hopes their fundraising, and planned trek in Iceland later this year, will help raise muchneeded funds for local families needing their expert and compassionate palliative care.

“I know I speak for everyone on the team when I say we all feel so proud to work at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice,” adds Jacqui. “It truly is a special place, full of the most wonderful, caring people who have continued to work tirelessly throughout this pandemic.

“Despite everything we’ve faced professionally and personally over the past year, the energy at the hospice has continued to be positive. We’ve continued to do all we can to help people in our care make memories, trying our absolute hardest to go above and beyond for our patients.

“During this time, we’ve received incredible support and understanding from our patients, their families, our volunteers and supporters. We wanted to take on this fundraising challenge to give something back.”

Ellie Burke, Community

Fundraiser at Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice, said: “The past year has been really tough for everyone, with many families experiencing loss.

“Our Sue Ryder nurses and healthcare teams have been there for patients and families at the most difficult time of their lives.

They take away some of the tough things that come with losing a loved one, helping to fill rooms with favourite music, photographs and the people that mean the most.

This leaves families free to focus on the most important thing of all – love.

“We’re truly humbled by how Sue Ryder care teams go above and beyond to help ensure the very care they give can continue – taking on fundraising challenges of their own, raising funds in their

own time, so they can help fill last days with love.”

To support you can donate to Jacqui’s Just Giving Page or Viccy’s Just Giving page.

For more information on Sue Ryder St John’s hospice visit www.sueryder.org/stjohns The national healthcare charity, Sue Ryder, which runs Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice which provides care to people in Bedford, Bedfordshire, St Neots and parts of Huntingdonshire launched an appeal last month asking people to help them fill families’ final days together with love. By supporting their ‘Room Full of Love’ campaign, you can help Sue Ryder Nurses like Jacqui, Viccy and their colleagues give families a better goodbye. For more information visit sueryder.org/rooms

ment would not be viable. The planning committee on Monday was told that the village would get a new sports ground, and a new roundabout as well as being able to achieve a large part of their neighbourhood plan commitment.

Having up to 390 homes on the site means the village is well on the way to meeting its commitment to find space for 500 new homes, the meeting heard.

The committee voted unanimously to give the green light to the development.

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AUGUST 2021 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

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TO THE EDITOR:

Hurrah and thank you for highlighting the ‘elephant in the room’ or ‘county’ regarding crime in Bedfordshire. It seems like the constant low-level crime being ignored in the county is at last being acknowledged rather than not being addressed.

As a local resident in the Manton Heights area of the town, I’ve witnessed crime in residential

areas escalating in recent years.

With drug dealing taking place daily in Bedford Cemetery, together with drug dealing also being administered via late-night vehicles driving around residential areas.

It appears that local authorities and Police have accepted this level of crime as the ‘norm’ which is a very sad state of affairs and inevitably leading to more serious crime, as highlighted in your front page article.

One wonders what can we

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I can assure readers that this issue has been top of my agenda ever since the bridge was found to be unsafe at the beginning of the year.

The bridge is used by countless Kempston and Great Denham residents who use it for recreational walks, dog walking, angling, cycling, and getting to work. It’s one of most popular rights of way in Kempston and of course sorely missed since it’s been closed. And it matters to me personally – I live nearby and run the riverside path most mornings.

There have been numerous setbacks and complications along the way, but I understand that the Borough Council has now taken possession of the previously privately-owned bridge and is hence able to repair it. Tenders are going out to suppliers, and I trust that the repair will be completed by the autumn. I’ll keep in frequent contact with Borough officers to ensure that the work is done on time.

James Valentine Ward Councillor – Kempston West

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TO THE EDITOR: I was concerned by the tone of the recent front page editorial on crime in Luton.

While I’m sure whoever wrote it is aware of the ineffectiveness and racial bias of increased stop and search, they give no indication as to how this could be addressed.

And the idea of teachers identifying future criminals may have merit, but has it worked anywhere else?

Would it suffer from the same problem of racial bias, and merely push troubled youths further into a life of crime?

Reducing crime is a goal we all share, but the message of this article is also weakened by the childish stereotyping of people like me who have the temerity to suggest that just ‘cracking down’ and ‘getting tough’ is not nuanced enough to address these complex issues.

Magnus Coney, Bedford

I was surprised to read Richard Compton’s letter bemoaning lack of contact about Kempston Mill Bridge – we’ve communicated several times!

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This week (w/c July 18) marks a significant easing of all restrictions and I know each person reading this will have concerns for how this will affect them and their loved ones.

I understand that for many this marks a long-awaited opportunity to get back to normal, but others without full vaccine protection may be filled with dread as cases rise again.

Bedford and Kempston residents have shown incredible resilience and community spirit and I urge us to all look out for and consider each other as we navigate these changes.

In politics, “Freedom Day” got off to a farcical start as the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Health Secretary began their second day of Covid isolation.

In one of his first acts as the new Health Secretary, Sajid Javid tested positive for Covid and the PM and Chancellor were subsequently “pinged” by test and trace to isolate. They then dodged the law and declared themselves participants in a trial that, aside from a daily test, continued business as usual.

The ensuing public outcry forced the fastest U-turn in history, with the PM hot-footing it to Chequers where he could isolate in more pleasant surroundings.

It’s one rule for them, another for everybody else.

So here we are again; Covid infection rates are soaring and the clinically vulnerable feel forced back into hiding. Meanwhile, so many are being pinged that the economy is struggling.

To bring infections down, the pilot scheme for testing should be open to all vaccinated individuals.

We need to finally fix financial support for isolation and provide Government backed grants to fund a mass ventilation programme for workplaces and schools.

Until then, like many double vaccinated people, I will continue to wear my mask while using public transport and in poorly ventilated areas indoors. Unlike the PM, I want to stop the virus spreading and ensure that I protect those not-yet vaccinated.

Whilst enjoying the easing restrictions, please be respectful to others, follow the Covid-19 safety guidance, and get your vaccine. If not for yourself, then for the sake of others - whose lives may literally depend on it.

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Richard Atkinson

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FREEDOM FOR…

By the time this is published Step 4 on the Prime Minister’s Road Map will have been reached. Most restrictions will have been dropped, facemasks will no-longer be mandatory, theatres will be full and even night-clubs will be back in business.

Hopefully, we will be singing in church once more!

Even if the Prime Minister has been increasingly cautious about describing July 19th as ‘Freedom Day’ there will have been a profound sense of release. The temptation to have a mask burning day is all too strong. I am sure you are enjoying the freedoms that have come your way.

‘Freedom’ is however not a simple concept. For whilst it is tempting to interpret it solely as an escape from restriction and constraint, a purely libertarian approach can lead to one person’s expression of freedom being another person’s experience of oppression. I may want to be free to drive my car wherever and however I like, but a freedom to drive on the wrong carriageway can be deadly – not just to another’s freedom, but also in a very fatal way.

Freedom is never purely ‘freedom from …’ – from constraint, restriction, or regulation. It is always ‘freedom for …’; freedom for living responsibly with others where respective freedoms are honoured and where my freedom is never solely about my needs but rather about ensuring the freedom of all.

It is the freedom to live for others. To ask always how can I use my freedom to ensure the well-being of others. As much as I might want to burn my facemasks, I must take note of those who are still vulnerable to the virus and its impact on their health.

Facemasks may not be mandatory (even if required in some contexts) but they may be the loving action that is right.

As churches who take seriously Jesus’s command to love our neighbours, we are thinking hard what does it mean to go forward with that freedom for others that allows all to flourish. At the very least it will be sensitivity and awareness of the needs of those around us; it may well be continuing limitations on what we do for the good of all.

To put it simply, it isn’t just about me. The continuing infection rate, the numbers of those who aren’t yet vaccinated, the vulnerability of the chronically sick and more require us to use our freedom for all!

In Focus with

Dave

by Dave Hodgson Mayor of Bedford

LOCAL PLAN 2040 — PLANNING FOR GROWTH

The Government has decided Bedford Borough needs to allocate land for a minimum of 12,500 additional new dwellings and space for around 8,650 jobs in the period up to 2040.

Whilst I disagree with the methodology, we have no choice but to plan for this level of growth.

As a result the next phase of the Local Plan 2040 consultation has started and the Council wants to hear from you on a development strategy to 2040 and where growth can be delivered.

Local Plans set out where growth and development will take place - everything from homes and jobs to schools and infrastructure.

Last year, the Council asked for your thoughts about the different kinds of location where growth might take place.

These have fed into four short-listed options focused on the urban area, the A421 corridor and existing and planned rail stations.

Three of these include one or two new settlements. More details and maps are available on the Council’s website at www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2040.

This consultation is also asking for views on town centre and retail policies, and updated policies looking at impact on the environment, the quality of development and self and custom build homes.

Please take a look at the information on our website, and take this opportunity to have your say on the future of our Borough.

The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 3 September.

The full consultation paper, a summary leaflet, and a set of frequently asked questions about the paper can be seen at www.bedford.gov.uk/localplan2040.

The summary leaflet will be delivered to every home in the Borough and you can also request a paper copy of the consultation document and/or response form by calling 01234 718070.

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN AUGUST 2021

— 11

Bedford man banned from having E-scooters children’s clothing in his home targeted A BEDFORD sex offender has been banned from having children’s clothing in his home.

Frank Breen, 60, was caught with five pieces of children’s underwear when the police carried out a raid.

Luton Crown Court heard on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, that officers had gone to his home after being tipped off by staff at the EE store in Bedford, who were concerned about what they had seen on a mobile phone he had handed in.

Prosecutor Harry MacDonald said that on December 13, 2019 officers seized a laptop, computer tower and iPad. He said: “On the search of his address, five pairs of children’s underwear for five or six-year-old children were also found.”

When the devices were examined there were 817 stills images at Category A – the most serious level. There were 795 at Category

B and more than 2,000 at Category C. Breen, a driver, appeared for sentence having pleaded guilty to three charges of downloading indecent images of children and one of possessing indecent images of children.

He had 10 convictions for 22 offences.

Michael Heyward, defending, said it had taken 19 months since his arrest for the case to come to court and he had not offended since then.

He said he had been disowned by his family and had sought help from the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, a charity that works against child abuse.

He said Breen had not accessed the Category A material for some time, having been downloaded in 2012 or 2013.

Judge Rebecca Herbert passed

DISOWNED

a 20 month jail sentence suspended for two years. Breen must attend 12 sessions of a Mental Health Treatment Programme, 35 sessions on the Horizon Sex Offender Programme and a minimum of 20 rehabilitation days.

In addition he must pay prosecution costs of £340 and register as a Sex Offender for 10 years.

The judge made a Sexual Harm Prevention Order which allows the police to check on his internet use and bans him from unsupervised contact with children.

She said he is prohibited from having in his possession any item of clothing made for anyone under the age of 16.

She told him: “There is no reason for you to have children’s clothes there.”

Referring to the images the judge said: “These are not victimless offences. These are real children. You are assisting in their exploitation.”

BEDFORDSHIRE Police have launched a new operation to tackle the illegal use of electric scooters (e-scooters) as crime related intelligence in Bedfordshire increases by 300 per cent in the last year.

Over the last six months, e-scooter related casualties on the roads of Bedfordshire have also doubled.

Privately owned e-scooters are currently illegal to use on public roads and in Bedfordshire if you’re found to be using one you could receive up to six points on your licence, a £300 fine and your scooter could be seized.

It is only legal to use a private e-scooter or powered transporter on private land with the permission of the land owner.

E-scooters fall within the legal definition of a ‘motor vehicle’, meaning the same laws that apply to motor vehicles apply to them.

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AUGUST 2021 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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film review Top Gun: Maverick Scheduled release: November 19 In ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, Tom Cruise is back on screen to reprise his role as the famous military pilot Maverick from 1986’s cinema hit ‘Top Gun’, after more than 30 years.

The sequel portrays Maverick as he enters his fourth decade of service, still working with the US Navy as one of their ace aviators.

The embodiment of the perfect military man shows off his skills, adjusting to current technologies of modern aviators flawlessly.

Unfortunately, details about the plot are still kept secret. According to IMDB, it was rumoured that the plot would be focused around drone warfare, but Tom Cruise himself has confirmed in an interview that it would be centred around fighter jets instead.

Kelly McGillis, who played Mavericks’ love interest in the original film, Charlie, has said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2019 that she was not contacted to reprise her role.

Instead, the movie cast Jennifer Connelly to play Penny Benjamin, the man’s new love interest

who happens to be a bar owner, a single mother, and the daughter of a former admiral.

Other notable casts include Milles Teller as Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Jon Hamm as Vice Admiral Cyclone, and Val Kilmer as Admiral Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ was supposed to come out on July 12, 2019, but its release date was delayed due to the pandemic.

It will be released on November 19, 2021, in the UK. It will also be available on streaming service Paramount+ 45 days after the worldwide theatre release.

out & about

mealtime

All-electric community boat gets the ‘green light’

Quiche Lorraine

Serves 8

A time honoured favourite for lunches, buffets or packed lunches. If you don’t want to make the pastry you can use a packet of shop-bought shortcrust.

INGREDIENTS For the pastry: - 200g plain flour - 75g softened butter - 5-6 tbsps cold water - ½ tsp salt For the filling: - 250g bacon, cut into thin strips - 3 eggs, plus 2 egg yolks - 500ml cream - ½ tsp salt - 1 pinch of nutmeg - black pepper to taste METHOD 1. Preheat oven to 220ºC. 2. Mix the flour, salt and soft butter

into a crumble, using a mixer on a low speed. Add water and then use hands to make a dough, but don’t knead.

3. Cover the pastry with cling film and put into the fridge for half an hour to cool.

4. Fry the bacon in a pan without oil over a low heat until crispy, then dry on kitchen paper and leave to cool.

5. Grease a springform tin, then line with the pastry. Prick with a fork several times and place in the fridge.

6. Mix the cream, eggs, egg yolks, salt, pepper and nutmeg together.

7. Spread the cooled bacon pieces over the pastry. Then pour the creamy egg mixture over the pastry.

8. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 180ºC and bake for another 15-20 minutes.

Serve hot or cold.

Roasted Carrot Hummus Serves: 8 This is a tasty alternative to traditional hummus. The addition of carrots gives it a nutty sweetness to complement the garlic and chickpeas. Delicious served with warm pitta bread.

INGREDIENTS - 6 to 7 large carrots - 1 tsp olive oil - 4 large cloves of garlic, chopped - 800g cooked or canned chickpeas - 4 to 5 tbsps extra virgin olive oil - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil - ½ of a lemon, zested and juiced - 1 tsp smoked paprika powder - 1 tsp cumin powder - salt and pepper to taste

METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC / Gas 5.

2. Chop and coat the carrots with the olive oil before roasting in the heated oven for about 40 minutes.

3. Add the garlic and cook for a further 20 minutes until the carrots are golden brown and soft.

4. Allow to cool, then blend the carrots and garlic with the chickpeas, paprika, cumin, basil, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, salt, pepper, and sesame oil in an electric blender. Keep blending and stirring down, slowly adding some water if needed to get the consistency you require.

5. Chill in the fridge and serve with pitta bread and/or chopped, raw vegetables.

Following the relaxation of the government’s COVID-19 restrictions and successful ‘sea trials’, Electra is now open for business.

Lead Cabin Host, James Clifton said: “Guests may now choose from several public trip and private charter options, cruising along the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes. These include Family Cruises in the school holidays, Cream Tea Cruises on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons, Friday afternoon ‘Relax on the Art Trail’ Cruises, plus a Friday night Fish & Bubbles Cruise. Two-hour morning or afternoon Private Charters are available on Thursdays and Saturdays.”

“Now that our crews are fully trained and qualified, we are excited by the prospect of launching our first public cruises in early August.”

“Electra is well-ventilated and designed for up to 12 guests on board, but we accept government advice to ‘proceed with caution’ with regard to COVID-19 and will start by taking a maximum of 8 guests per cruise” James explained.

Electra is a brand-new fully electric, 54-foot narrowboat,

crewed by trained volunteers from the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust. It is accessible, with a lift and lavatory that can accommodate a standard size wheelchair.

Cruises depart from Campbell Wharf and last between 1 -2 hours during August. Full details, including booking instructions, can be found at https://www.bmkwaterway.org/ mkcommunityboatelectra/ Cruises include: l Relax on the Art Trail, Cream Tea, and Fish & Bubbles Public Trips are two-hour cruises from Campbell Wharf to Linford Wharf and return. Fish & Bubbles tickets are Adult only. l Family Eye-Spy Cruises last 75 minutes and run from Campbell Wharf to Milton Keynes Marina and return. l Family WOW (Walk One Way) Cruises are run in conjunction with the Canal & River Trust and combine a 60-minute cruise with an easy 90-minute guided walk along the towpath. l Two-hour Private Charters are from Campbell Wharf to Linford Wharf and return.

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN AUGUST 2021

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gardening

with Milton Ernest Garden Centre

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Euonymus Gaiety or Brunnera Jack Frost.

Uncinia rubra is an evergreen small sedge grass with reddish green leaves and black flower spikes in summer plant in groups near brightly coloured perennials like Heuchera Marmalade.

The low growing grasses are excellent ground cover plants which decorate bare soil and smother weed growth. They are good edging plants for paths or ponds and the evergreen varieties for winter colour in patio containers.

Carex Evergold is an evergreen with long golden leaves with deep green edges and has won the RHS Award of Garden Merit. It is a tough little plant for all the above uses. Carex Prairie Fire is a stunning evergreen with green leaves with brilliant orange tips. It turns a burnt orange colour in autumn that stays all winter.

Festuca Glauca Intense Blue is another evergreen grass with amazing bright silver blue narrow arching leaves which forms a delightful small mound. The biscuit coloured flowers appear in summer on upright stems. It is very tolerant to drought and requires little maintenance or water so ideal for patio pots.

Grasses are a great addition to any garden often looking their best towards the end of summer when many plants are winding down for a winter rest. You can achieve traditional and contemporary combinations with other plants in pots or garden sculptures making magical artistic designs with the simplest of all plants The Grass.

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RNAMENTAL grasses are one of the most versatile groups of plants for garden planting. They are unfussy, free from disease and easy to grow being tolerant to a range of conditions. They are very diverse in size, colour and texture giving architectural shapes with gentle rustling sound and movement as the breeze blows through the stems. They associate especially well with herbaceous perennial plants and can be used as accent plants screens or focal points in mixed borders.

Most varieties will accommodate extreme temperatures and drought and still look good regardless of weather. Grasses establish quickly and can be divided in early spring when the new shoots are starting to emerge to either replant in other areas or give to gardening friends. Early spring is also the best time to prune established ornamental grasses. Deciduous grasses should be sheared back to 10cms leaving an uncongested tuft from which the new growth emerges. Large varieties can even be pruned with a hedge trimmer.

Evergreen Grasses can be tidied at any time but if rejuvenation is needed early spring is recommended. Cordylines should be protected from winter damage by tying the leaves together with string but tend to shed the lower leaves naturally as the plant grows. Phormiums need protection in severe weather so grow in tubs that can be moved to shelter.

Tall Grasses can be used very effectively to create screens for privacy hiding unsightly areas or providing a backcloth to other plants. The bamboos are very effective in these situations being evergreen and only requiring trimming to restrict the size but they can be invasive.

Panicum virgatum Warrior The Switch Grass with lovely flowers in late summer that are green orange and then red or Panicum virgatum Rehbraum whose leaves turn from green to deep red in late summer.

Stipa Giganteum The Golden Oat Grass is semi evergreen with arching stems of golden oat like flower heads above grey green leaves. It is an excellent specimen plant perfect for introducing movement and gentle sound and looks stunning under planted with purple Alliums and Agapanthus.

Cortaderia The Pampas Grass is another evergreen with long evergreen silvery green leaves and beautiful feathery plume flowers in late summer and autumn which provide winter interest or if cut and dried for decorating the house. It is a very effective accent or focal plant.

Miscanthus Gold Bar The Zebra Grass a real favourite with neat arching stems of green leaves striped creamy white plant The Red Hot Poker Kniphofia Bee’s Lemon nearby for a dramatic effect.

Miscanthus Morning Light is deciduous producing fresh new growth every spring. A very elegant grass which has slender grey green leaves with cream margins. The red brown flowers appear in autumn and hold throughout winter.

Calamagrostis Karl Foerster planted in a tall narrow pot gives a dramatic profile to a modern patio. The upright grass has feathery plumes in summer and bleached stems that catch frost in winter giving a dramatic ghostly shape. Another contemporary effect is by planting Juncus Curly Wurly an evergreen grass which forms a clump of corkscrew like leafless stems in an egg shaped cream glazed pot.

Ophiopogen planiscarpus Nigrescens is a smaller grass which forms clumps of black leaves and violet flowers is summer followed by black berries. It looks good planted in groups with brightly variegated

Tel: 01234 857800 2a Howard Street, Kempston MK42 8EA

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by Maureen Catlin

— 13

Member of Parliament for North East Bedfordshire

ADVICE SURGERIES Richard holds regular surgeries across North East Bedfordshire.

If you would like to book an appointment, please call 01767 313385

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR LICENSE

TAKE NOTE that an application for the grant of a Premises Licence has been made to Bedford Borough Council by Robert Kimm on behalf of Kimm & Miller (UK) Ltd., in respect of premises known as:

Kimm & Miller (UK) Ltd., Unit E, Bedford Business Centre, Mile Road, Bedford, MK42 9TW

The proposed licensable activities are as follows: The supply of alcohol (for consumption off the premises) from Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 17:30.

Representations: ANY PERSON wishing to make any representation to the application should write to the Licensing Authority, Bedford Borough Council, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP specifying the grounds for making representations.

Interested parties or responsible authorities may make written representations, these should be sent to the Licensing Authority within 28 days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given to the council (by 21st August, 2021).

Applications can be viewed during office hours at the Council or via the council’s website at https://www.bedford.gov.uk/licencing It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum fine is liable on summary conviction.

Dated: 23rd July, 2021

14 —

AUGUST 2021 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

TEL: 07894 935952 EDITORIAL: editorial@rosettapublishing.com

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out & about

comedy

Spooky festival in the Great Meadow

Talent packed shows in August

out & about Edwardian women’s history in

Yoga: Priory Methodist Church,

Newnham Avenue, Bedford MK41 9QJ. 2pm Mondays Contact June for details: juandhannigan@yahoo.co.uk 8/21

Car Boot Sale: Milton Ernest

Garden Centre, Radwell Road, Milton Ernest MK44 1SH, Cars £5, vans £10. Sellers setup 9am, Buyers 10am-2pm. Sunday 1st August, Sunday 5th September and Sunday 3rd October. No need to book a stall, bring your own table Contact: (01234) 823033 or enquiries@miltonernestgarden centre.co.uk Advertise your event here from as little as £7 per month, email: advertising@rosettapublishing.com

The newly-opened exhibition includes many items never seen on display in the Museum before.

Visitors will have the opportunity to see personal items belonging to Members including clothing, books and musical instruments.

Of the 12 women who first formed the Panacea Society, most were in their 50s or 60s. Joining the Panacea Society gave them freedom from previous family ties.

Despite their wealth and education, is was common to have spent years fulfilling domestic expectations, such as looking after elderly relatives.

Those women who had received an academic education and had professional ambitions felt unfulfilled and marginalised by society. A woman could study religion and theology at University, yet the most she could hope for was

running the local Sunday School.

The world of politics was maledominated and seen as an unsuitable path for women to follow in Edwardian England. As for the Church of England, only men could be priests and preach.

Joining the Panacea Society gave frustrated women an opportunity to pursue political, academic and religious activities and to have their voices heard.

See Edwardian textiles, numerous archive materials, personal objects and artworks which help tell the story of some truly incredible women.

The exhibition is open now until October 24, Thursday – Sunday, 11.00am - 5.00pm.

Entry to the exhibition and main Museum is free, with no need to book. www.panaceamuseum.org/visiting

“Sweet as a nut”

Saturday, August 21– Rufus Centre, Flitwick. Bob Mills is the headline act. He is a bona fide comedy legend with over 30 years at the top of the UK circuit. You will recognise him from his cult classic 90’s TV show ‘In Bed with MeDinner’ and his presenting of ‘Win,Lose or Draw’ on ITV. He is one of the current stars of TalkSport Radio where he co presents with Jim White and TalkRadio where he has his own show ‘Tragedy Plus Time’ where he talks comedy to the biggest stars in the country.

Perhaps his biggest achievement in radio was being crowned BBC 5Live’s ‘Fighting Talk’ champion of champions in 2010.

Glenn Moore opens the show.

He is an Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee and one of the best and most prolific joke writers in the country. Glenn is a regular face on TV, having appeared on Mock The Week, Rob Delaney’s Stand Up Central and The Stand Up Sketch Show.

He can be heard daily as one quarter of The Dave Berry Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio, the UK’s biggest commercial radio breakfast show.

“Glenn Moore is tipped for great things” GQ Doors Open at 6.30pm and the Shows Start at 7.30pm/8.00pm.

Tickets: www.castlecomedy.co.uk

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Peter Hook was the founder of both Joy Division and New Order, Peter keeps the legacy of both of these bands alive through ‘The Light’ band covering nostalgic hits

fusing magic and comedy has made him one of the most in demand magicians working on British television.

“The new poster-boy for British comedy magic” The Telegraph Opening the show is Diane Spencer (pictured above right).

She delights audiences worldwide with her cheeky, dark and often edgy stand-up comedy. A dazzling performer, Diane captivates the crowd with her charming demeanour, cutting wit and skilfully crafted material. She is best known for her online stand-up comedy specials which have amassed over two million views on Youtube!

The show also features Adam Vincent, an Australian who has made Bedford his home! His career in the UK has gone from strength to strength and he is a main writer on the hugely successful Last Leg on Channel 4.

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by Tony Hendrix

from both bands where he played an integral part in cementing these bands into the British music scene.

The Great Meadow Halloween festival doesn’t end here the whole weekend is action packed with some amazing artists world famous Craig David headlines at the Festival on Friday, October 20 with his awesome world renowned TS5 experience. Craig will be performing his classic club anthems alongside some of his latest material.

Saturday, October 30 – world renowned DJs Andy C and DJ EZ co-headline this event show delivering an unmissable evening of ‘Drum & Bass and UK ‘Garage’.

This is guaranteed to be an amazing festival so please do not waste any time.

Tickets for these events are available from https://halloweentownfestival.com

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Following months of speculation surrounding the opening of scheduled outdoor events crippled by government restrictions there could well be a glimmer of hope for a huge out door Halloween festival scheduled for October.

Bedford-based promoters, Superclub Industries, are delighted

to announce that the legendary Levellers will be performing live at The Great Meadow, Bedford on Sunday, October 31. The Levellers are still going strong after 30 years in the game, the festival coincides nicely with the anniversary of their seminal platinum-selling album ‘Levelling The Land’, featuring many of the band’s big hit singles like One Way, 15 Years, Far From Home, The Game, Liberty Song, Sell Out, Another Man’s Cause, Riverflow and the incendiary Battle Of The Beanfield.

The band also released a studio album during lockdown back in summer 2020 called ‘Peace’ which crashed into the UK at number eight, this was the bands highest charting entry since 1997s Mouth to Mouth.

Special supporting guests on the night will be Peter Hook & The Light band, with Dreadzone.

Castle Comedy will be bringing laughter in the sunshine this August with two brilliant outdoor comedy shows. They will feature star names, beautiful surroundings, and big laughs!

Thursday, August 12 – Brewpoint Bedford (this is just off the A6 at Bedford’s northern gateway. Pete Firman is the headline act. He is recognised as the UK’s leading comedian/ magician. He starred in BBC1’s prime-time Saturday night programme The Magicians and made special guest appearances on ITV1’s The Next Great Magician, Live at the London Palladium and The John Bishop Show. His skill for

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN AUGUST 2021

— 15

sport

Bumper crowd of 1,400 watch Eagles v Hatters

THE Eagles face a tough start to the new season when things get underway on August 14 as they travel to Pitching in Southern League Division One Central new boys, Waltham Abbey.

The following Tuesday they entertain another team who were plying their trade in the Isthmian League last season Harlow Town.

Those League fixtures are closely followed by Bedford’s first foray into the FA Cup the following weekend for what will be the first of our league rivals St Neots Towns three visits to the Eyrie this season, having also been drawn as Bedford’s opposition in the FA Trophy.

Speaking exclusively to Bedford Bulletin, Eagles Manager Gary Setchell said its unlikely to be an easy start to the season, “I think we’ve been handed a tough start. I think Waltham Abbey were top of their league when things stopped for Covid last year, and if they have retained the same team, they will be a tough act, and Harlow are always quite strong, so we’ve got two tough games early. Then we have St Neots in the FA Cup. They will all be challenging games, but if we can get our injured players back, they will be tough games for them as well.”

Friendly matches continue into early August with St Albans City coming to the Eyrie, before the

by Michael Jarman-Webb

Eagles travel to Hitchin and Stratford Town to round off the extended preseason. Results so far have been mixed with a heavy defeat to Peterborough United, before a more respectable score line in front of a bumper crowd of over 1,400 fans when Luton Town visited. Both Championship teams brought their first teams to the Eyrie, giving a first opportunity to see some of the new additions to their squads.

Setchell said results so far have been broadly as expected, “Results have been mixed and results have gone as they should, losing to higher opposition that we expected to lose to, and we did lose to, and getting results against teams just below our level.

“The biggest concern is the injuries, we have picked up a few, and they are all different, so you can’t say we are doing something wrong, it’s just been a bit of bad luck, a bit unfortunate.

INJURY CONCERNS

AUGUST FIXTURES Saturday July 31........St Albans City Home (friendly) Tuesday 3 August ........Hitchin Town Away (friendly) Saturday 7 August .......Stratford Town Away (friendly) Saturday 14 August .....Waltham Abbey Away (league) Tuesday 17 August.....Harlow Town Home (league) Saturday 21 August....St Neots Home (FA Cup) Saturday 28 August .....AFC Dunstable Away (league) Monday 30 August ....Biggleswade FC Home (league)

“The boys have given everything they’ve got, the results aren’t important, its about gearing up for the 14th August.

“We are looking at bringing in another one or two players, ironically a couple of lads we have brought in have got injured straight away, but that’s football. There will be ups and downs during the season, hopefully we are having our downs now, and when the season comes, we will have a few ups.”

For the latest fixture updates visit: www.bedfordeagles.net

ATHLETICS

Respectable performances THREE bronze medals, two sixth places and two lifetime best performances represented a good return for the tiny team of only seven Bedfordshire and Luton Athletes at the English Schools Athletics Championships held at Manchester’s Sportscity stadium last weekend.

Covid restrictions resulted in only 16 athletes being invited to compete in each event, with the Beds & Luton team, down to just seven athletes after suffering two withdrawals – one through injury, whilst the other Alex Alston (BMS) kept his powder dry for the bigger stage of the European Junior Championships to be held in Tallin where he is racing this week.

Hurdlers took two of the bronze medals with Stephen Simmons (Bedford School) clocking a new personal best time of 14.35 seconds in a dramatic Senior Boys 110metres race full of thrills and spills.

Despite hitting three of the barriers, a strong and determined finish secured the third place.

Etienne Maughan (Bedford Girls Schools) was no less impressive in the Inter Girls 80m version her time of 11.23seconds shaving another

three hundredths off her recent Bedford Club record and only the same margin shy of second place. Etienne’s race was notable for the winner, Mia McIntosh of Hertfordshire setting a new UK U17 record of 10.95 seconds.

Gracie Wall (Samuel Whitbread) gained the team’s third bronze medal in the Inter Girls High jump. In her first competition since a serious ankle injury, Gracie was only a centimetre shy of her season’s best with a clearance of 1.65metres, losing the silver medal on the count back rule, having suffered more failures at earlier heights.

With two places in each event up for grabs in the Schools International meeting (for Intermediates only) Etienne and Gracie have both been named as first reserves for the England Team.

Elsewhere Leonie Brunning (St Thomas More) took sixth place in the Senior Girls High Jump, whilst Zack Grinsted (Ashcroft) also placed sixth with 42.75 metres in the Inter Boys Discus.

For Goldington Academy students Jasmine Wilkins and Daniel Forbes-Harding, this was a first foray on the national stage. Both were close to their lifetime bests which had been set under more

favourable conditions. Jasmine was 4th in the Inter Girls 100 metres “B” final , in a time of 12.35 seconds, whilst Daniel ran 23.03 seconds also for 4th in the Inter Boys 200 metres “B” Final.

Full results: INTER GIRLS 100m – Jasmine Wilkins – Goldington Academy 5th Semi-final 12.56 sec. 4th B final 12.35 sec.

INTER GIRLS 80m HURDLES – Etienne Maughan – Bedford Girls School – Semi final 2nd 11.50 sec. Final 3rd Bronze medal 11.23 sec. (PB) (Reserve for international) INTER GIRLS HIGH JUMP – Gracie Wall – Samuel Whitbread – 3rd Bronze Medal 1.65m – Reserve for international.

INTER BOYS 200M – Daniel Forbes-Harding – Goldington Academy – Semi final 7th. 23.19 sec.

4th B final 23.03 sec Inter Boys Discus – Zack Grinsted – Ashcroft High – 6th 42.75m SENIOR GIRLS HIGH JUMP – Leonie Brunning – St Thomas More – 6th 1.65m SENIOR BOYS 110M HURDLES – Stephen Simmons – Bedford School – Semi final 3rd 14.54 sec. Final 3rd Bronze medal 14.35 sec. PB

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