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REVISED LOCAL PLAN BACK FOR CONSULTATION
CENTRAL Bedfordshire Council has announced another public consultation on its Local Plan for development.
The Local Plan attempts to show where houses will be built, in the central Beds area, over the next 15 years. This will involve a large numbers of houses to be constructed around Biggleswade, Arlesey, Stotfold and Cranfield. In 2018 the Plan was approved by CBC, despite opposition from some councillors, parish and town councils and a significant numbers of residents. Since then the Plan has been rejected by inspectors at public inquiry and heavily criticised in a damning Inspector’s report which highlighted 91 points of concern. The Inspectors sent it back to CBC and asked for further work to be done which will likely lead to a series of major changes. This is set against a number of personnel changes at the Council. Last November the council lost Jason Longhurst, the Director of Regeneration and Business who was responsible for the Local Plan and last week Richard Carr the Chief Executive gave six month’s notice of his resignation. CBC has begun another public consultation on
JULY 2020
Chief Exec:“I’m off”
CENTRAL Beds Council’s Chief Executive is to step down later this year. Richard Carr joined Central Bedfordshire Council in October 2009, he will be leaving at the end of his notice period in six months time. As the unitary authority’s senior officer, Mr Carr’s salary is £190,000 a year. His decision was revealed by council leader James Jamieson at a recent executive meeting. Independent group leader and Potton Cllr Adam Zerny said: “I believe CBC is in desperate need for reform and I can only hope his successor will show the energy and determination needed to make real changes. “A number of councillors are already asking how Mr Carr can carry on for six months when all around him know he’s on his way out.”
There is deep concern amongst many councillors over the state of CBC, with many issues needing to be resolved. Not least the highly critical OFSTED report of the children’s services department. The council’s local plan which is still subject to inspection is another cause for concern.
the latest changes to the Local Plan, which originally proposed up to 6,600 homes east of Biggleswade, of which 1,500 now have planning permission. On the basis of this scheme, the Council has received a £70m grant from the Government for infrastructure in Biggleswade – an electricity ‘superstation’; a transport interchange at the station; funding for secondary schooling and a bridle bridge for a notorious level crossing which forms part of the Biggleswade Green Wheel. There has been a further £150,000 of Government money made available to develop the 1,500 houses as a Garden Community. Madeline Russell, Mayor of Biggleswade commented: “The Town Council recognises that there will be development because of the town’s position on the A1 and the East Coast Main Line and with the proximity of the proposed East/West Rail. The Council therefore supports development to the east of the town as being more sustainable than in other areas.” View at https://centralbedfordshire.oc2.uk/
Futures in farming
BRITISH agriculture is going through dramatic changes creating opportunities for young people who can see a future in farming. At Shuttleworth College, part of The Bedford College Group, set in the Old Warden country park, Bedfordshire, a wide range of courses covering everything “outdoors” from agricultural to zoological careers await. In farming terms, Shuttleworth has an international reputation with agricultural expertise being shared across the globe by former students. Closer to home, British farming is ever more important for feeding the people of the UK. Head of Agriculture Education Anne-Marie Hamilton, the daughter of beef farmers, is keen to ensure that Shuttleworth College is seen as the “future of farming”. To that end she was part of a committee which set up a “virtual” Herts County Show enabling entrants in classes including livestock, equine, and even guinea pigs. AnneMarie gave a talk on Red Poll Cattle which are bred at the college farm at Old Warden. The herd was founded by a bull called Zulu which was bought with a donation made by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver who filmed an episode of a TV show on campus. If you want to sign up for land-based learning courses go to www.shuttleworth.co.uk Anne-Marie is pictured here with her collie Blue who is a great aid in the farming ‘classroom’.
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Virtual birthday parties to help support mobile zoo
Police donate unclaimed stolen bikes to help doctors and nurses BEDFORDSHIRE Police is donating 25 bicycles to doctors and nurses at Bedford Hospital to help them with transport issues during the coronavirus pandemic. All the donated bikes have been recovered by police, and their owners could not be traced. They have been sent to local bike shop Flamme Rouge Cycles in Bromham Road, to ensure they are safe before being handed over, and which has been offering free bike services to all key workers during lockdown, PC Rich Dawson, who helped to organise the donation, along with Property Sergeant Vicky Stoughton, said: “The initiative came
about when I was made aware of bikes being stolen from key workers at the hospital. “Following on from this, we realised there were around 25 we could donate to the wonderful doctors and nurses across the county who have been working so hard throughout lockdown to save lives.” Debbie Inskip at Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends said: “We are very grateful for the donation of the bikes which will be invaluable to our doctors, nurses and staff who are currently without transport. “This will save them having to use public
transport which puts them at greater risk of catching the virus. Our thanks go out to PC Dawson and Sgt Stoughton for organising the donation and Flamme Rouge Cycles for checking the bikes are road worthy.” The first bike has been handed over to A&E nurse Elaine Gillard, who had her bike stolen on a night shift. The others will be donated once they have all been checked over and any repairs carried out.
Significant donation for Sue Ryder A LARGE donation from the Connolly Foundation has helped Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice in Moggerhanger to keep running and continue to provide its expert care. The hospice cares for people with life-limiting conditions across Bedfordshire, as well as supporting their families. For example, the donation
could pay for more than 2,300 hours of care, which helps people live the best life they possibly can. Sue Ryder cares for people with life-limiting conditions across Bedfordshire, as well as supporting their families. The nurses, doctors and staff help patients and their loved ones with everything from pain and
Photograph shows: Elaine Gillard being presented with her new bike by PC Dawson, Sgt Stoughton, Debbie Inskip and Jamie Quiggan of Flamme Rouge Cycles.
symptom management to emotional and practical help. The services include an inpatient unit giving specialist care round-the-clock and a Palliative Care Hub offering palliative support to people in their own homes. The hospice also provides family and bereavement support. Allison Mann, Interim Hospice Director at Sue Ryder St
John’s Hospice, said: “A huge thank you to the Connolly Foundation for this incredible donation of £50,000 – we are really grateful for the on-going support, especially at this time. “The donation will help to keep the hospice running and continue to provide expert care to local families when they need them the most.”
Due to COVID-19 the multi-award winning and Bedfordshirebased animal encounters company/mobile zoo, Teaching Talons has had to temporarily close. They have a wonderful collection of animals from owls and hedgehogs to snakes and stick insects to still care. Like zoos, they have encountered a total loss of revenue and high overheads. But they’ve been getting inventive during the closure to fund raise for the animals’ care. Two initiatives have been put in place, firstly a series of Live Lessons on their Facebook page tailored to the Schools’ National Curriculum to help parents treading the unknown waters of home schooling! The Live series has now ended, but it has all been uploaded in full to their Facebook page as a learning resource. It’s been really popular and the parents and children have loved it (you just have to click the videos tab to find the Live Lesson series). The second idea, was Zoom animal parties! Zoom has become a normal way of life for meetings and socialising. They have been organising Lockdown birthday parties for groups and then asking for donations through their Just Giving page. Donating is optional. It’s been great to bring family and friends together with the animals. They have even done an online Birthday party in Scotland! Since lockdown, Teaching Talons have managed to raise over £1500 for the animals care through Just Giving, as well as purchasing the animals various treats, food, bedding and enrichment from their Amazon Wish List.
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committee asked for a late item to residents rights of representation.” Recent planning committees be added to the committee agenda on June 22 recommending that the had been very well attended by amendments made to the scheme of community groups such that a numdelegation at the March meeting be ber of committee meetings had to cancelled and that the prior scheme be moved into the Council of delegation be reinstated. This Chamber. Across the country many councils have moved to fully virtual was not allowed. their planning comCllr Foster said: “Since MEGC the meetings July 2020for ADS.qxp_Layout 1 15/06/2020 11:13 Page 1 March decision, things have mittees, Central Bedfordshire changed and we are now able to Council for example, using their hold virtual meetings. I and my fel- existing rules for decision taking. Councillor Foster. low Conservative planning committee members therefore are very unhappy this decision hasn’t been revoked. We are now seriously concerned that it may be extended further. As a result we all abstained from the vote at the last meeting where the decision was deferred to the next planning meeting. “As a Councillor I know how deeply important planning is to communities and that is why it is so important to have Councillors input into decision taking and not just officers. This isn’t simply a case of being able to object, communities can also support applications that officers have recommended for refusal. As elected councillors we understand how planning impacts positively, and negatively on people’s lives. “I feel strongly that with the current amended scheme officers have too much power and too much conRadwell Road (just off the A6) trol which, in my view, is Milton Ernest MK44 1SH highly undemocratic and a denial of
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COUNCILLOR Alison Foster, a member of the Bedford Borough Council Planning Committee, has expressed her concerns that applicants and objectors no longer have the same rights to be heard as before the COVID-19 pandemic. At the last physical meeting of the planning committee on March 23, 2020, the day after lock down was announced, a decision was taken under pressure to give officers extra powers for four months so that the Chief Officer for Planning and Infrastructure had power to decide all planning applications other than those that were allowed to be called in to the committee only by a political Group Leader, the Chair of the Planning Committee or the Chief Executive. The previous ‘scheme of delegation’ allowed for all councillors to call in applications to be heard by the planning committee where they or their residents had genuine concerns about a planning application. Cllr Foster was unhappy about this decision at the time of the March meeting and asked to hear the recording of the meeting. Unfortunately this was not available. Since this decision was taken Bedford Borough Council has been able to arrange virtual meetings using ‘Webex’. Cllr Foster, as Conservative Spokesperson on the
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A MAN from the Wixams who caused his grandmother a serious ear injury when he hit her with a stick was given a suspended sentence on Wenesday, June 23. Edward Fower, 24, lost his temper with his grandparents at their home in Luton when they argued about the neighbours and his girlfriend. Luton crown court heard he damaged a phone belonging to his grandfather and then picked up a stick which had a nail sticking out. He grabbed his grandmother and hit her with a stick that had a protruding nail. Fower of Piper Lane, Wixhams had initially been chargeD with wounding with intent, but prose-
WITH the infection rate remaining high in the Borough and residents advised to continue to stay home where possible, Bedford Borough Council is reminding everyone of the support and advice available to look after your mind and body. In April, the council created a new webpage, www.bedford.gov. uk/wellbeing, offering advice to Bedford Borough residents on how to look after themselves whilst at home during the coronavirus outbreak and beyond. With regular updates, the site offers advice and signposting to help residents stay healthy such
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Man who beat his grandmother with stick gets suspended sentence cutor Daniel Siong accepted his guilty plea to the lesser charge of wounding. Mr Siong said the grandmother had not wanted her grandson to be prosecuted. Defending, Minal Raj said: “The defendant accepts that in the course of prodding his grandmother with a wooden stick from a broken door it is most likely a nail from the stick caused the injury to her ear.” In a letter sent to the judge Fower said he had acted out of character and had been suffering stress and mental health issues. Judge Rebecca Herbert told him: “It is appalling that you find yourself her for a serious offence
against your grandmother. “You grabbed her when you lost your temper. You laid hands on her and prodded with the stick, causing an extremely serious injury to her ear. “If it was not for fact you have not been in trouble before and that you pleaded guilty you would be going straight to custody.” She passed a two year jail sentence suspended for 18 months. He must carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work and abide by a two month curfew between 8pm and 6am. He was also banned from going to his grandparents’ Luton home for five years. As he left the dock Fower said: “Thank you your honour.”
Council urges residents to look after their wellbeing
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as this Sunday’s free online yoga sessions, as part of International Yoga Day. This page also includes a range of materials: n Exercise tips including indoor games for kids, live fitness classes, and seated exercises n Mental health advice and links to services that can provide help n Food and nutritional guidance including Change4Life resources, recipes and cooking videos n Further Public Health advice including sexual health, stop smoking, drugs and alcohol,
health checks and emotional wellbeing Cllr Louise Jackson, portfolio holder for public health said, “It remains vitally important that people can continue to look after their health and wellbeing while staying safe at home. “For all of us, where possible, this means keeping active, eating healthily and looking after our mental health. To help this we set up our webpage www.bedford.gov.uk/wellbeing. It’s full of useful advice, information and links to help you stay on top of things and offer support through this difficult time.”
Zooming into new opportunities New funding available for local support projects in Bedfordshire / Northamptonshire / Milton Keynes
The lockdown measures brought about rapid change to working conditions. Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Hangouts have become integrated within our daily schedules for lots of people. Some changes may be long-term. Remote working, where this is possible, may become the norm for many. Two specific local community projects have quickly adapted to embrace the situation, seeing new opportunity to help disadvantaged people develop the skills needed to secure employment in a postlockdown world. Disabled jobseekers are excelling through the Buckinghamshire Disability Service (BuDs) Reach4Work programme, using their own experiences to redevelop a website to support other people with disabilities to access key employability information. While unemployed people over 50 ‘Zoom’into new opportunities with the support of the Impactful Governance: Social Enterprise & Community Work programme. “In the last four months I have achieved more personally, then I thought was possible. I have newfound confidence and skills.” The Reach4Work project supports disabled people, or people with long-term health conditions, to realise their potential and use their talents without barriers, through digital work experience. Project Co-ordinator, Michael Broadley said “For many of our participants, working from home is a real benefit. Some people can struggle to get out of the house and into an office. In the home environment, productivity can rocket.” “BuDS gives me a daily focus, something to get up and dressed for in the morning and some sort of structure in these crazy and very lonely times.” The Social Enterprise & Community Work programme helps unemployed over-50’s to develop the valuable insight, experience and skills needed to create their own charity or social enterprise and
secure employment in the community and voluntary sector. “We help people to realise that they have really valuable skills just waiting to be used. For example, one participant, due to family circumstances, hadn’t had social interaction with another person in over a year. “By being in a supportive environment (Zoom call) with people of a similar age in similar circumstances, her confidence dramatically improved. Using her newfound confidence, she is now making facemasks in the voluntary sector.”Andrew Waite, Chief Executive at Impactful Governance – Community Interest Company described. Both projects, funded through SEMLEP’s Community Grants programme, support local communities to come together, a community even more crucial and valued at a time when some people risk becoming more isolated. SEMLEP’s Community Grants programme will re-open for funding applications on 17August 2020. The programme offers local community organisations 100% grant funding up to £20,000 to support people back into work or training. To find out more information, visit www.semlep.com/community-grants/
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INFECTION RATE IN BEDFORD BOROUGH REMAINS HIGH Keep up-to-date go to: www.rosettapublishing.com/bulletin
FOLLOWING the announcement from Central Government that lockdown measures are due be eased next month, Bedford Borough Council is urging residents to continue to stay home where possible and continue to follow current social distancing rules. Rates of infection in Bedford Borough remain higher than anywhere else in the South of England. So the council is asking everyone to continue to follow these measures to reduce the rate of infection. The Council is working with Public Health England and the Joint Biosecu-
SEMLEP’s Energy Champion – Top 50 Women in Engineering: sustainability announced
DR KERRY MASHFORD OBE is announced as a winner, in the Top 50 Women in Engineering: sustainability awards.
Now in its fifth year, the 2020 WE50 celebrates women who have made a significant contribution within sustainability. Winning nominees were required to provide evidence of their successful support of UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals or the Net Zero Carbon Programme. Dr Kerry Mashford said: “I am really pleased that WES chose sustainability as its focus for this year’s awards. The need for action is urgent and engineers have a huge contribution to make as we strive to create a better world. “I’m even more delighted to have been selected for the WE50 award this year. For many years, long before sustainability was a recognised topic, I’ve been using my engineering knowledge and systems engineering skills to make more sustainable products, places, processes, systems and value chains. “As SEMLEP continues its work to make our area a great place for people, for nature and for business, I will use this award as a way to bring focus to sustainability, putting it at the heart of business, individual and public sector decision making, to bring a thriving sustainable future for the area.” The WE50 awards seek to recognise the wealth of female talent within engineering and related disciplines; an annual celebration aligned with the campaign International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) taking place today, 23 June. INWED celebrates the achievements of women in engineering and related roles and highlights the opportunities available to engineers of the future; this year the campaign is partnering with UNESCO UK. Sally Sudworth, WE50 Head Judge, the Environment Agency’s National Programme Manager for Asset Management & FCRM
Sustainability Lead (Net Zero Carbon Programme) and WES Honorary Secretary said, “The panel of judges was thrilled by with the outstanding achievements demonstrated by all of the winners and were thrilled by the difference being made by the candidates”. The 2020 winners are published on the INWED website and celebrated during WES’ own virtual INWED event on 23 June and across social media and press throughout the world. A full list of the WE50 winners is available at www.inwed.org.uk/we50/2020wi nners. Hilary Chipping, Chief Executive at SEMLEP wished Kerry, “huge congratulations. Kerry has been at the forefront of championing our work on the South East Midlands’ energy strategy, our strong sustainability and clean, green growth priorities and commitments in the Local Industrial Strategy, and now latterly keeping sustainability high on the agenda as we put in place plans to rebuild our economy. “The South East Midlands and right across the Oxford Cambridge Arc has major opportunity to be a beacon in sustainable growth. Kerry’s achievements will certainly help to inspire engineers, particularly the next generation of female engineers, to come forward.” INWED is only made possible through sponsorship and in 2020 the following organisations are providing their support: Boeing, Dialog Semiconductor, ECITB, GCHQ, Institute of Refrigeration, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, NSIRC, OPITO, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Air Force, Sonnedix, V12 Footwear and Wiley. The WE50 theme changes each year to recognise women working in different fields and from varying routes into engineering.
rity Centre in an in-depth investigation of the local situation. This will look at why rates of infection here aren’t falling as quickly as other areas, and most importantly, what can be done to bring the rate down and slow the spread of the virus. Signs advising visitors to the town centre and the Boroughs parks will continue to advise everyone to keep 2 metres apart. While the council is reminding everyone that the best way to reduce the rate is to stay home wherever possible. Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford
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Borough, said: “As we have said, we know that the rate of infections is high locally. While these rates remain high we’re asking everyone to continue to stay home where possible and when you go out make sure you social distance. Continue to keep two metres apart, wear a face covering particularly when indoors or on public transport, and regularly wash your hands with soap and water, or using a hand sanitiser when that’s not available. “These simple measures are things we can all do that are key in helping to slow the spread.”
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JULY 2020 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN
Lawn Doctor PERHAPS as a consequence of people spending more time at home, I have happily received a bumper amount of correspondence this past month, and thank you all for getting in touch. It’s fascinating to hear from you and please keep them coming. As always, hopefully by addressing some of these questions now, they might also be applicable to others. The first question, asked by a number of you is what can be done to stop a lawn looking ‘beige’?. Two options, do nothing and wait for a couple of decent downpours or get yourself a sprinkler and watch your water bill increase almost as quick as your lawn returns to its emerald lustre! For the most part, the only lawns not able to withstand long periods of hot dry weather are those that have
been recently sown or turfed. In that instance, a daily watering is essential and as with all watering, remember that plants take their moisture through their roots so a thorough drenching preferably at a time of day when evaporation can not take place will work wonders. Next question is a little more exotic: A lemon tree has outgrown its pot, what kind of soil does it require? The type of soil required by any plant is an absolute key question, whether in a pot or in the garden, and the consequences of getting it wrong are that the plant will deteriorate and die. As a rule of thumb, plants need the same soil as they would get where they come from. So, if for example, your plant thrives in nature in dense woodland, replicate these conditions and you stand a very good
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MID BEDS
chance of nurturing a healthy plant. The Ph of the soil is also crucial. I get many questions about this so, before addressing the lemon tree, if you are unsure about what Ph means and what are its implications, imagine an horizontal line. On one side, write Acid/ Ericaceous, on the other write Alkaline. Now, every plant can be located somewhere on this scale. Simply put, acid loving ericaceous plants cannot thrive in alkaline conditions and vice versa. Now, back to our lemon tree, a soil based compost is the best option, and in particular, John Innes No.2. Add up to a fifth of sand or grit to aid drainage and all being well, your yummy smelling plant will be delighted! And as we all know, happy plants make for happy owners! Remember though, John Innes
is not a make of compost eg., Humax, Levington, it is a type of compost made with distinctive ingredients. Similarly, I had another question regarding a camellia that was transferred into a larger pot and immediately looked unhappy, before shedding its leaves and dying. Talking with its owner, it would appear that neither ericaceous compost nor fertilizer were ever used. The latter is a simple to use additive that one mixes with, ideally rain water, in a watering can and will keep acid loving plants happy. As I always say, plants want to grow, and the gardener can make it easier or harder for that to happen. Next item on the agenda is a photograph received of a young apple tree, bearing a strange mass
of cob web type material just where the branches emerge. The tree’s owner wondered what it was and what could be done? It is woolly aphid and using nothing more harsh than washing up water in a garden sprayer it can be brought under control.
The answer to last month’s just for fun quiz question is: Green Alkanet’s, Pentaglottis sempervirens, (Pictured) flowers are rather similar to Forget Me Nots or Pulminaria, ranging as they do, from pink through to blue although the plant is considerably taller and its leaves are rough to the touch. For my money, it is an attractive plant but with the normal caveat: in the right location. This month’s question is again, following on from that above, prompted by a reader’s enquiry, ‘you often mention a plant’s Ph, what does it actually mean’? As usual, many thanks to all of you for contributing to this column and please contact me with any gardening tasks or queries you may have, lawndocgardens@aol.com or tel: 01767 627 581 or 07796 328 855.
SANDY TOWN COUNCIL formation Poinbyt putting social Town Council In re-opened its reception to the public
On 15th June Sandy Town Council distancing measures in place. ing times for into the office during our regular open Members of the public can now call . bags ling recyc as collecting local information and services such e residents to g guidelines nationwide, we encourag ncin dista l socia with line However, in must. only use this in-person service if they at in office hours on 01767 681 491 or with acted cont be ys The Council can alwa bers of the public to use mem urge ld wou we and v.uk admin@sandytowncouncil.go queries, wherever possible. these methods to contact us with any ays from 9am times are on Mondays and Wednesd The Council Office reception opening . to 4pm and Fridays from 9am to 2pm
Scarecrow Success
Streets around the town were brigh tened by the clever, humorous and inventive creations of local residents during our Summer Scarecrow Festival last mon th. We loved seeing the great variety of entries and didn’t envy the difficult job of the judges, representatives of Town Cou ncil, Sandy & District Horticultural Asso ciation and Sandy Carnival. Thank you to everyone who contribut ed an entry to the festival, and to our partn ers, the Horticultural Association and Sand y Carnival, who helped to make the even ta great success. re All of the scarecrows, including the re and mo winners all experienced, mo are still available to view in the phot e weather we have green spaces for some muchnic e th d an s o gallery ek During recent we ing our recreation grounds and pinned on our Facbook page, at us ir. en -a be en ve op ha e th le of op nt pe n areas are facebook.com/sandytowncouncil. ercise and enjoyme y’s public recreatio needed leisure, ex w important Sand ho d ise as ph em s n ha The current situatio mmunity. at has co amount of litter th od to everyone in our go ge increase in the g lar a kin en loo se d o an als an ve them cle e, we ha Sadly, over this tim . We are asking you to help us keep u. Together we can make yo rks been left in our pa bin your litter or take it home with u n. yo tow re r su ou g in kin joy ma en by ve green spaces to sure all residents ha
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Outdoor Gym
The Council has agreed to invest in the health and wellbeing of Sandy resid and enhance our public sports and ents recre new outdoor gym equipment. It is inten ation facilities through the installation of located in Sunderland Road recreation ded to start with a bank of equipment ground, as this is a hub for sports and in the town. The Council is applying fitness for project, which will give great benefits grant funding towards the costs of the to a wide section of the community. At a Full Council meeting on 29th June , quotes will be considered, and a prov agreed. The Council will work with ider the chosen provider on a plan for the equipment, which it hopes will be insta lled by the end of this year. Although outdoor gym equipment should not be used at present, after the current, unprecedented health crisis has pass ed, and social benefits to the whole com this asset will offer great physical, mental munity for years to come.
g Summer Plantinthe re. summer planting for our town cent
In June, the Council began installing ets in the ting by adding four new barrier bask This year we have expanded our plan town centre. Summer ents who are enjoying the splash of We have heard lovely things from resid inue to look at ways of enhancing our cont colour in the town centre and we will planting for future seasons.
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Town Council Meeting Dates
nt’s lockdown, the Following the governme scheduled Full Council its cel can to Council had gs. etin me and committee ly Council meeting remote The Council held a Full Monday 29th June on via Zoom video calling l continue to be held via 2020. Future meetings wil nt advice on public me ern gov il this method unt meetings changes. d meeting is due to be hel The next Full Council lcome to join we are nts ide Res st. gu on 17th Au be ails on how to join can zoom meetings and det ail em by rk Cle n obtained from the Tow il.gov.uk clerk@sandytowncounc the Council’s website Residents should check meetings. ttee mi for details on com
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Will Twinning survive Covid-19?
THE current pandemic will undoubtedly place another hurdle in the path of twinning groups and it is likely there will be little or no meaningful exchanges in the foreseeable future. As things stand, most twinning organisations are made up of predominantly people in the over-60s bracket, many of whom are considered vulnerable. This group will not want to travel much abroad for some time to come and may lose interest as a consequence. If one adds the growing uncertainties over Brexit and the future relationship with our near neighbours, uncertainties over schools, inevitable travel restrictions and social distancing which may last well into the future and until a widespread vaccine is made avail-
able, it seems inevitable that traditional twinning visits will at best be put on hold. Perhaps individual and smallgroup initiatives such as Sandy’s summer school initiative in Poland, can continue and that will be welcome, but family to family exchanges will probably only continue on an individual basis. We shall see!
IT now looks as though the best that can be hoped for in the current season is a sprinkling of friendly games from August onwards. All the seniors’ leagues have been abandoned and no social cricket of any kind will be played before mid-July at the earliest. Limited net practice has however resumed but with strict social distancing guidelines as laid down by the ECB.
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Special deliveries at Priory Primary School help pupils stay in touch
Priory Primary School has a new way to connect with children learning at home. A special new red post box that enables pupils to deliver their homework and assignments has been made and fixed to the school gate. This means that work can easily be dropped off at any time without the need to enter the school site. The box is the brainchild of Site Manager Wayne Berlin, who made it from 95% recycled materials, even down to the nails. Head teacher Juliet Fraser said, “We are delighted with our excellent ‘post box’ and so are parents and pupils. “These are challenging times and we are happy to do anything that makes the lives of our families a little bit easier. “The children are enjoying using it too.”
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Teenage father with long string of convictions gets 15 months detention A POLICE officer was sent flying in the air when teenager Theo Cranfield drove a scooter at him. Cranfield, 19, was sentenced to 15 months’ detention on Thursday, June 11, 2020, by a judge who told him: “ It was more by luck than judgement that he had not killed or seriously injured somebody.” The police had spotted a missing, vulnerable teenager on the back of the bike in the Hillgrounds and Hartwell Drive area of Kempston. Luton crown court heard the officer produced a baton and shouted: “Stop” as the scooter when through a pedestrian alley.
But Cranfield, accelerated, put his head down and elbows in and drove towards him. The officer was hit by the wing mirrors and handlebar, suffering injuries to his arm, knee and foot. Cranfield himself was treated for a broken ankle when the scooter
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crashed. Josephine Teale, prosecuting, said the scooter had been stolen overnight on the July 24 last year. Cranfield and the missing teenager were spotted the next day by the police. It travelled about a mile before the crash. Cranfield of Ashburnham Road, Bedford appeared for sentence from Bedford prison, having pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicle taking, assault of an emergency worker, driving with no insurance and no licence and driving while disqualified. He had prevous convictions including offences of domestic burglary and aggravated vehicle taking. Shaher Bukhara, defending, said he had pleaded guilty at his first opportunity in the crown court. She said before being remanded in custody in February he had secured a job in Poundland. She said: “He showed a lack of maturity. He is extremely remorseful. He want to grown up. He had a two month old baby he has not seen.” Judge Rebecca Herbert told him: “You have an appalling record for a 19-year-old. You have been completely lawless over the last three years or so. “You appear to take absolute no notice of sentences passed on you. You have been a complete menace on the road. “I am told you have a baby – I hope that may be the start of you approaching life in a different way.” The judge added: “Let me make it clear police officers are entitled to perform their duties without assault. This court won’t tolerate assaults on officers.” She also banned him from driving for four years and three months and said he must take an extended retest saying: “Your driving record is appalling. To protect the public you have to be prevented from getting behind a wheel until you grow up.”
Average speed cameras in Turvey
THIS summer, the existing spot speed cameras in Turvey will be removed and replaced by a new average speed camera system. These cameras measure the average speed a vehicle travels over a length of road, rather than measuring it at a fixed point. This encourages people to maintain a safe speed rather than just slowing down for the camera.
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A KEMPSTON drug dealer who had stored a gun in his bedroom has been jailed for five years. Umar Javid, 19, of Hastings Road, Kempston, had pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition, two charges of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs and possession of cannabis. It was reported to police earlier this year that Javid was believed to be in possession of a firearm.
In April armed officers recovered a gun from Javid’s bedroom and established that it was a blank firing weapon that had been converted into a viable firearm. Prior to this, on 21 June last year, Javid was arrested when officers stopped a vehicle in Bassett Road, Leighton Buzzard. He was captured as he dropped cling-filmed packages containing Class A drugs while he attempted to run away from police. He also had a small amount of cannabis in his possession as well as a mobile phone, which when investigated indicated he was involved in dealing drugs.
Cartridge depot launch new online service
CARTRIDGE Depot has launched a new online shop to help those isolating at home. They are offering free same day delivery to selected postcodes. Cartridge Depot is Bedford’s award winning specialist stockist of printing consumables including original, compatible and re-manufactured printer cartridges. They supply from their shop in St Loyes Street, Bedford. Husband and wife team Guy and Vincenza Ciampa said: “During these uncertain times we really wanted to help our regular and new customers. This is why we have chosen to offer free delivery on any order as well as offering free same day delivery to selected postcodes.” Tel: 01234 910908 or visit www.cartridge-depot.co.uk. The shop has now re-opened to walk in customers, however in order to help keep their customers safe and to stop the spread of the virus they have made some temporary changes to how they operate. Opening times have reduced slightly, to ensure that they can continue offering their same day delivery service, which is in high demand.
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Javid appeared at Luton Crown Court on Monday, June 8, via video link. He was handed a five-year term for the firearm and ammunition offences, as well as custodial sentences of three years for both the drugs supply offences, which will be served concurrently. Javid will serve his five-year sentence in a young offender institution. It marks the latest major sentence secured by Bedfordshire Police’s Boson guns and gangs team, which has secured almost 500 years in jail terms for offenders linked to serious violence over the past two years. Detective Sergeant Wil Taylor, from Bedfordshire Police’s Boson Team, dedicated to tackling gangs and serious youth violence, said: “We are really pleased to see Javid behind bars. Drug dealing and firearms cause significant harm to our communities and we will never tolerate this in our county. “ “We hope this sentence serves as a warning to those who are involved in the supply of illegal drugs and guns in Bedfordshire. “We must also commend the family who reported the matter to the police. “We cannot tackle these issues alone, and work together with our communities and partners to disrupt this type of criminality.”
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View from the Rt Revd £169,000 to support domestic abuse and serious violence victims Richard BEDFORDSHIRE’S Police and Crime Commissioner, Kathryn Holloway, has launched a new fund for services supporting Domestic Abuse and Serious Violence victims during the Covid-19 pandemic, distributing £169,000 which she won from the Ministry of Justice after a rise in violence within the home nationally. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has allocated funds made up of £113,000 for services the Police and Crime Commissioner already commissions and a further £56,500 for additional projects. The Commissioner instructed her office to engage with local organisations and specialists in the causes of Domestic Violence and most effective way to help victims escape from it to understand where the money would be best put to use. “It’s hugely welcome that this extra emergency help is being made available by the Ministry of Justice during the pandemic. It’s incredibly disturbing that national helplines have seen a surge in calls and this is, naturally, reflected in those needing help right now in this county and those who are likely to have their first chance to access support when the lockdown is raised further,” said PCC Holloway. The fund was advertised by the Bedfordshire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and partners were invited to an online meeting where the fund distribution was explained and discussed against the needs of victims, identified by charities and victim support organisations in the county. The applications were reviewed with an ambition to support organisations and charities of
all sizes, reaching as many victims across the county as possible. Applications needed to address how the funding would support the rise seen in Domestic Abuse during the pandemic and had to relate to the following areas: • IDVAs; Independent Domestic Violence Advisors • CHIDVAs; Child focused Independent Domestic Violence Advisors • Family Court support • Face to face or remote counselling for individuals and/or their families • Support for particular groups such as Disabled, LGBT victims or those from Black and Minority Ethnic community groups. “It’s very important to me that these funds are available to help
all victims of Domestic Abuse, whatever their gender, cultural background or whether or not they have a disability. Nobody should have to suffer in silence, imprisoned in the very place where they have every right to feel safest; within their own homes,” said Commissioner Holloway. The following organisations were awarded funds: Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust; The Safer Luton Partnership; Home Start; ACCM UK; Reactiv8 the Nation CIC; Living Your Life (Bedfordshire); Luton All Women Centre; Counselling Foundation; Mindfulness Support Service CIC; The Hope Programme; FACES; TOKKO Ltd; Embrace; Azalea The projects Commissioner Holloway is supporting range
from specialist counselling advice to secure smart devices to allow victims of Domestic Abuse to access ongoing help without having to share a phone, tablet or computer while under the care of the Bedfordshire Family Drug and Alcohol Courts, working to keep families together in care proceedings. After informing organisations of their allocations, many shared emails of thanks to the OPCC for its understanding of the need for such emergency provision. Helen Snowden, Community Relations Manager for Azalea, which works to support women being exploited within the sex industry, often through human trafficking, gave a stark example of the type of victim the funding will now support “The money will go directly to supporting clients that have suffered extreme trauma, like ‘Olivia’. After being gang raped by five men ‘Olivia’ came to Azalea and wanted to feel safe. She could not talk after the disclosure and simply stayed at the location for a period of contemplation. After a while ‘Olivia’ spoke and told the team that the space in Azalea has been a healing place, not a place of patronising platitudes but of actual peace and healing.” The PCC also received messages of support for the way the fund is being distributed from the Chief Executives of voluntary organisations the Hope Programme, Embrace, The Children’s Charity and from Domestic Abuse specialists who were asked to give their time to help her office ensure the funds were allocated to those on the front line of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.
by Tony Hendrix
WELL finally it looks like July 4, 2020 will see the reopening of some of our pubs and bars in town with government restrictions. Following lock down the debts accumulated by many of the town’s bars and pubs has led some publicans to seriously consider the option of remaining closed and returning the keys back to their landlords. Covid-19 lock down for many publicans was the final nail in the coffin. Public houses throughout the UK have been closing at an alarming rate with a staggering 10,000 closures between 2001 and 2019. I had the pleasure speaking with Dave Bergin who is the area manager for Aston’s Nightclub, The Empire and Vogue. Despite rumours that some of these venues will not re open Dave confirmed that Vogue will reopen on July 4, followed by the nightclubs in August, this bar has an outstanding beer garden which will be utilised
The Bishop of Bedford
PRIORITY FOR THE POOR
The announcement today, as I write this, that the Department for International Development will be merged into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has if I am honest deeply irritated and angered me. One of the strengths of our country is our commitment to international aid to support the poorest in the world. Britain is only one of seven countries to meet or exceed the UN’s target for international aid spending of 0.7% of gross national income. It is something of which we can be rightly proud as a nation. In contrast the United States only achieved 0.15%. It is not just the allocation of resources that matters – although these are vital in bringing both relief and opportunity to some of the poorest people in the world. In the words of the Chief Executive of Save the Children, British aid has among other impacts advanced ‘child and maternal health, education’ and the fight against ‘poverty’. It is also the expertise that our country has developed and its world-wide reputation for being an agent of humanitarian relief. A friend in the development field said to me that the more we give to well-off countries, the more we will be seen as an unreliable partner. The announcement of the merger of the two departments remarked that we gave more aid to Zambia than we do to Ukraine and implied that this was daft since the latter was a strategic ally. Whilst the latter point is true and Ukraine needs our strategic and foreign policy support, we aid Zambia because it still has people in absolute poverty. A 2019 World Bank overview reported that Zambia ranks among the countries with the highest level of inequality globally and ‘as of 2015 58% of Zambians earned less than the international poverty line of $1.90 per day (compared to 41% across sub-Saharan Africa)’. Sadly, Zambia is far from being the only example of profound need. Our reputation and standing around the world is at risk. The commitment of many currently working in the field of international development is at risk. Most importantly the lives of some of the poorest people in the world are at risk. In words from the Book of Proverbs: Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:9)
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out & about as an area for serving both food and drinks. Easing lockdown within public bars also comes with some very disturbing government guidelines: n A temporary record of customers for 21 days must be kept to support the test and trace system. n The venues capacity could well be lowered, staggering entry times to avoid queues, arranging one-way travel routes between transport hubs and venues, advising patrons to avoid particularly crowded forms of transport or routes. n Plan for social distancing in the event of adverse weather conditions. n Ensure customers do not need to ‘unduly’
Atkinson
raise their voices to hear each other by not playing loud music or TV. n Reducing number of surfaces touched by staff and customers – so ordering food and drinks directly to the table instead of at the counter via an app. n Finally not forgetting the new social distancing one metre rule! The above is not an exhaustive list just a few mainliners which I feel will be very difficult to enforce. As lockdown restrictions continue to ease we will eventually see clubs bars and pubs reopening but I cannot see them ever operating as they did before, I fear there will be many casualties before the end of this year 2020 with the worse impacting nightclubs
CYCLING AND WALKING IMPROVEMENTS
Cycling and walking is important for a number of reasons, not least our health and particularly now as the Government would rather we did not use public transport. I recently announced a number of schemes for pedestrians and cyclists, which will also help businesses in Bedford town centre. We will see four new cycle lanes and markings on four roads in Bedford: River Street, Greyfriars, Bromham Road and the Embankment later this summer. By the time you read this work will have begun on the High Street with wider pavements for pedestrians. The High Street scheme will also see a reduction to one lane for traffic with average speed cameras to reinforce the 20mph speed limit. This scheme will help pedestrians to visit High Street shops whilst socially distancing, particularly around people who may be queueing for shops. This scheme has been partly funded by the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund. We have been working to find ways to make it easier for people to visit our town centre businesses, and to be able to walk and cycle to where they need to go. These improvements will help people to feel safe and welcome when they visit for their essentials, and the schemes for cyclists will hopefully give more people the confidence to try commuting by bike. Creating this additional space for pedestrians by widening the pavements on the High Street will create a more comfortable and pleasant environment for shoppers, and make it easier for businesses to keep operating at what is a very difficult time. Bedford Borough Council is committed to supporting cyclists and pedestrians. If you have any suggestions for further cycling and walking routes please do email me at Dave.Hodgson@Bedford.gov.uk and we will look into them.
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with Milton Ernest Garden Centre
Stay at home in the garden this summer
MEGC July 2020 ADS.qxp_Layout 1 15/06/2020 11:13 Page 1 are start watering and feeding again centre pieces or accent plants in yellow and orange flowers tenance and are now available in a the following March. If growing in large bedding plant displays. They now accompanied by new red vast range of bright hot colours. pots stop watering completely and varieties. Butterscotch is the honey will flower from July onwards but They are excellent when planted at put somewhere frost free for when the foliage turns yellow and and orange colour that the name the front of the borders or in pots winter. Tropicana Black is a must droops down stop watering and suggests. where they produce nonstop flowvariety to grow with the electrifyallow the plant to dry completely Canna Lilies are perhaps the ers from June to October. to over winter successfully. Protect ing contrast of the orange flowers most tropical plants we can grow. Alstromerias should be grown in and very dark leaves. with a thick layer of mulch and They are traditionally grown as well drained soil in a sunny place and covered with mulch in winter until really established. If you are growing these plants in pots use John Innes No. 2 compost and give protection during severe winters. Two gorgeous new varieties to look out for are Indian Summer with vivid orange and yellow petals and striking dark markings and Prince Diana golden protected in a conservatory, and apricot petals with dark markcovered porch or greenhouse. ings. Plant the tubers or plants in a rich Dahlias are another group that organic soil or compost and have enjoyed a lot of Growers protect the young plants from WHILST STOCKS LAST attention over the last few years. frost. Remove the growing tip There are now some lovely perenfrom young plants to encourage nial varieties which although branching and so more flower subject to frost damage if planted buds. The plants are very easy to six inches deep in the ground and grow but can be subject to aphids covered with thick mulch in winter or earwig damage so spray with Radwell Road (just off the A6) will survive and thrive. Dahlias Provado when any are seen. By Milton 1SH grown in tubs they should be continually cutting theErnest flowers MK44 for vases indoors encourages a lot more flowers. Dahlia Goldalia Scarlet is a gorgeous decorative with stunning Scarlet flowers with yellow frilly centres. Crocosmias are a vibrant range of hardy perennials that grow well in sun or shady places. There is an ever increasing range of varieties with more being added every year. They flower from July until a really hard frost often into SCRUMMY THE BEST LUSCIOUS AFTERNOON December. The dazzling range of colours becomes more and more BREAKFASTS CHEESE SCONES LUNCH TREATS tropical. They are always a successful plant to grow in normal well drained soil and are pest and disease free. Columbus and Buttercup are both good shining golden yellow varieties with Emily Mckenzie a dramatic orange with red centres. Rudbeckias are very hardy daisy like flowers which arewaiting also We’re to welcome our customers again very easy to grow in normal well when the Coffee Shop opens on Saturday July 4th drained soil in full sun. There are annual and perennial types and if We put your safety first at all time – During the Corona Virus pandemic, Roadin(just off the A6) the annual Radwell seeds are sown we have continued to provide all of our services. We have made over 10,000 hours of home Milton Ernest MK44 1SH March they will be flowering by visits without incident. This is due to the diligence of our team in following the additional July until October. The vibrant safety measures we introduced at the beginning of March 2020.
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S I write Milton Ernest Garden Centre has been open for two weeks after the 8 week lock down at what is normally the busiest time of the gardening year. In spite of all the new shopping measures we had to implement it was a great pleasure to see our lovely customers again when we could finally open our doors in the middle of May. Thank you for supporting us in these really difficult times. We are now working on ways that we can open the Coffee Shop when the government allows. While we have all been in this unbelievable science fiction lock down existence many new projects have been undertaken and with the wonderful spring weather we have spent a lot of time in the garden. Now is the time to add the plants to decorate those new pergolas raised beds and plant summer flower pots for the new patio. Alstromerias are a great group of low growing summer flowering perennials that require little main-
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