Over 160 people from across the Marston Vale turned out in the cold and rain on Saturday morning to join the “Our Marston Vale “ protest outside Stewartby Village Hall against the proposed Covanta Incinerator.

Covanta were holding one of their public consultation events at the Stewartby Village Hall. “Our Marston Vale” had organised the protest to make it absolutely clear to Covanta and the Infrastructure Planning Commission that the incinerator is vehemently opposed by the residents of the Marston Vale.

Liberal Democrat Cllr for Stewartby and Wootton Tim Hill says; “Residents turned out in force to say a big fat no to Covanta and its crazy proposal.

-       A big fat no to a 3 tonne lorry every minute along Stewartby’s village roads.

-       A big fat no to chimney emissions that Covanta won’t say what’s in them.

-       A big fat no to a massive blot on the landscape.

-       A big fat no to re-using only 15% of waste.

“And a massive no to Covanta’s misleading “spin” on how “traffic won’t be a problem””.

You may have picked up in the local press that the Borough Council had applied for grant funding from the “Homes and Communities Agency” for amongst other things, the construction of two additional permanent pitches at the Kempston Hardwick Gypsy and Traveller site. 

The Government had decided that the Council has to provide 46 permanent pitches for Gypsies and Travellers by 31^st March 2011. The two additional pitches on this site assist in meeting that target.  

Just to let you know that the grant application has been successful. The grant provides 100% funding for this provision, which means at least the Council Tax will not have to increase because of it.  The terms of the acceptance of the funding state that work must be started on site by 31^st March 2011. It is anticipated that work will start on site well before the end of 2010. However, the Council is currently reviewing the timescale for the 2 new pitches. There are a number of technical and legal issues the Council needs to consider. It will also consult the residents and your Ward Councillors on any play equipment that the Council might provide. Please let me know if you have any queries on this issue.

See http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php#!/group.php?v=wall&gid=332658045783

We are in the middle of conducting in Elstow a survey of what local residents think on several local and national issues. 

I am very pleased to report that the replies are flooding in – either being left by people in their letterboxes for us to pick up later or being sent to the Freepost address on the survey. 

Once all of Elstow has been surveyed by the Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team, I will send everyone a summary of the results for the whole of the village. 

I am also determined to take action as soon as I possibly can on all casework issues raised by residents.  

Thank you once again if you filled in our Survey – the results will really help us in our campaigning all year round for Elstow.  

If we haven’t called yet, please be patient. We will get to you eventually!

ApologiesDue to my attendance at my first Marston Vale Landfill Community Liaison meeting at the Village Hall the same night, I will be unable to attend the Parish Council meeting. 

Covanta IncineratorI arranged a meeting for 18 Dec 09 between the Mayor, Judith Cunningham, myself and residents campaigning against the Covanta proposal. The Mayor suggested, and it was agreed, that a wider meeting of all people campaigning against the issue will be held on 4 Jan 10 at the Borough Hall.I currently plan to attend the Covanta Community Liaison Panel meeting on 11 Jan 10 at the Forest Centre.Around 50 residents from Elstow and Stewartby have signed and returned to us our anti-Covanta petition at their own expense. 

Boundary Committee ReviewPart of the all-party Borough Council’s Warding Proposals Task Group’s official recommendation to the Borough Council’s General Purposes Committee meeting on 7 Jan 10 is that Stewartby should form a single member Ward with Elstow. The Liberal Democrat Group is opposed to this part of the Warding Proposals Task Group’s recommendation. However, the Liberal Democrat Group does support the part of the recommendation that moves all of the properties to the north of Manor Road, Kempston Hardwick into the same Borough Ward as Stewartby, whatever that Ward turns out to be.  

Ward Councillors FundEach Borough Councillor has an amount of money based on its population to donate to local organisations to spend on capital improvement projects in his/her Ward.I have donated part of my Fund for the Stewartby Parish Council to spend on improving/repairing a number of street lights. 

Local IssuesI formally objected to the planning application by G Moores to the Borough Council to effectively double the operations at their Manor Road, Kempston Hardwick site. I also spoke against it at the Planning Committee on 14 Dec 10. The Planning Committee agreed to do a site visit on 8 Jan 10.I formally objected to the application by C Jackson & Sons to the Environment Agency for an environmental permit for asbestos waste transfer at their Manor Road, Kempston Hardwick site.

I have sent the following objection to this application to the Environment Agency. For further details on the application, please see:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/consultations/114217.aspx 

I write to formally object to the above application for an Environmental Permit for C Jackson & Sons (Bedford) Ltd. I wish to object on the following grounds:  
a) Its detrimental effect on the amenity, environment and noise levels of local residents due to the inevitable outcome of increased lorry movements and hours.  
b) The detrimental effect of the increased movements and hours on the existing road network. Manor Road is simply not built for the increased amount of traffic and there is nothing in the conditions that will alter that.  
c) I believe permits would not normally be given for such operations where residential properties are within 500 metres. There are 4 properties within 200 metres and a further 31 within 400 metres.  
Although a 12 month temporary planning permission was given on 31 Mar 09 related to this permit, it is relevant to state that this permission was given despite 2 errors: 
i) The permission states that there are no properties within 200 metres. See above. 
ii) No residential property was consulted at all during the planning process. This was possibly due to error i)?  
I would be very grateful if you could confirm on the e-mail address below: 
a) You have received this objection. 
b) The final decision on the application

Planning Committee tonight will be discussing an application from G Moore’s of Manor Road, Kempston Hardwick to double their number of lorry movements and to extend their hours of operation deep into the night.

I believe this application is a step too far for the local community surrounding the site in question.

Most people will know that although there have been businesses on this site for many years, the road and the surrounding community is essentially that of a rural backwater with houses dotted here and there for the old brickworks managers and a small terraced estate for some workers.

The applicant at the moment occasionally receives permission for one-off applications for operational hours outside the current 7am – 7pm restrictions. That is just about acceptable and manageable for the local community. This application turns those one-off occasional permissions into a permanent permission for another 4 hours of operations and the capacity to double the throughput from 75,000 tonnes to 150,000 tonnes and increase the daily vehicle movements from 170 to 340. This is unacceptable to the local community, and is also unacceptable to Stewartby Parish Council.

Planning Committee will know that the applicant provides an environmentally useful service as one if its purposes is recycling, but that should not be considered as an issue applicable to this application.

Manor Road is in places barely more than one vehicle width. Manor Road is a serious accident waiting to happen. This application will only make that more likely.

In detail, the condition relation to no change until the A421 is meaningless. The problem is the current and potential amount of lorry traffic on Manor Road, not at its junctions with or on the A421 or B530. The applicant’s transport assessment is therefore not worth the money that has been spent on it.

The effect on the amenity of this site on local residents has recently been adversely affected by the removal of a wall from its waste transfer building. This application will only make things worse for the local community.

Therefore I will ask the committee to refuse this application on the grounds of:

a)     Its detrimental effect on the amenity, environment and noise levels of local residents due to the inevitable outcome of increased lorry movements and hours.

b)    The detrimental effect of the increased movements and hours on the existing road network. Manor Road is simply not built for the increased amount of traffic and there is nothing in the conditions that will alter that.

c)     The extended hours and increased operations are not in keeping with a small rural backwater and a small amount of local industry.

I will ask the Committee to please refuse and allow its planners to manage the site in keeping with its local community as it just about does know.

Mayor Dave Hodgson launched Bedford Borough’s first ‘Meet the Buyer’ event, where small local firms got the chance to meet buyers from nine major local organisations, at the Barns Hotel in Bedford last week. The event was designed to give small local firms, who do not usually have access to major buyers, the chance to develop contacts and seek to develop potentially lucrative relationships with the larger organisations.

The major buyers attending the event included Wells & Young’s, Bourns, Lockheed Martin, Autoglass, Axis Electronics, University of Bedfordshire, London Luton Airport, Bedford Borough Council, and General Motors.

Mayor Dave Hodgson, who has campaigned for both businesses and individuals to ‘buy local’ to support businesses in the Borough, has declared that the event must be the first of many designed to boost local procurement. Commenting, he said: “”In the current financial climate it’s essential that we do all we can to help local businesses. That’s why this excellent event must be the first in a series to take place to support local small and medium sized firms and provide them with the sort of access to major buyers that they wouldn’t usually have. I hope to hear of many cases of local firms developing their contacts and securing work which will help them prosper, and will in turn help create jobs and wealth in Bedford Borough.”

The Meet the Buyer Event was held at the Barns Hotel in Bedford on 25th November from 2 p.m, and was supported by the Bedford Borough Council through the Bedford Development Agency. Early feedback from the event from both buyers and suppliers has been positive.

At a packed council meeting at Bedford Corn Exchange last night, it was decided by 19 votes to 17 that the two-tier education system will replace Bedford’s existing three-tier system.

There was a 30 minute open session for questions from members of the public which was understandably very passionate at times. 

I spoke calling on the Council to retain the 3-Tier system for three reasons:

a) Small is beautiful. The 2 tier proposals will create monolithic supper structures for upper schools.

b) Disruption. 4-5 years of school years will face tremendous disruption to their education for impossible to prove benefits.

c) Finance. David Cameron has already stated to Tory Councillors that he cannot guarantee the £340m will be ring-fenced for Bedford IF the Tories win the next election…..and we all know what a catastrophic affect Thatcher had on education in the 1980s amongst other things.

However I did state the proposals that Mike Berrill is building for the Biddenham School site were worth a look as an alternative to the 2 tier proposals for the rest of the Borough.

After an intense and at times raucous 2 hour debate, a recorded vote was agreed and each councillor voted whether they were in favour of an amendment to return the proposal to the Executive for them to re-consider. This was lost by 17 votes to 19. The 2 tier proposals then won by the same margin.

Despite my passionate objections to the proposals, democracy has spoken and we must now all work together to make sure all our children get the best education. 

After a discussion lasting over an hour the decision was taken to support the Officers’ recommendation. They voted as follows:  

Mayor Dave Hodgson - For

Cllr Nicky Attenborough - For

Cllr Nick Charsley - Against

Cllr Michael Headley - Against

Cllr Barry Huckle - Apologies

Cllr Will Hunt - For

Cllr Sue Oliver - Against

Cllr Charles Royden - For

Cllr David Sawyer - For

This now means it will be debated at Full Council and decided by all Members present, including those that have already voted at Executive.

The scale of the task faced by the new regime of Mayor Dave Hodgson in delivering a budget which keeps tax down and protects vital services after the Tory County Council left its finances in a perilous state has been revealed. Newly-appointed Finance Portfolio Holder, Liberal Democrat Cllr Michael Headley, has set out Bedford Borough Council’s current financial situation and declared that the council must make sure that ‘every penny’ of its budget delivers for local residents.

Commenting, Cllr Headley said: “The Unitary Council has taken on a toxic legacy from the Conservative County Council.

It charged the country’s second highest rate of County Council tax while providing failing services which saw, for example, crumbling unsafe roads and adult social care services on the point of emergency government intervention.

Our task is to improve those services while keeping the council tax level down.

We have inherited a predicted 11.5 per cent council tax increase and an overspend of £4.2 million.

This has been caused in part by inadequate financial information provided by the County Council, in addition to pressures caused by the current economic situation.

Staff from the former County Council were let down by the political leadership, and many of them are now an integral part of the Borough unitary authority.’

“To give an idea of the scale of the task we face, every one per cent reduction in Council tax equates to £700,000 in savings.

We are totally committed to achieving the vast savings required to keep council tax down and protect front line services. Local residents will expect nothing less, particularly in these difficult economic times.

Over the coming weeks and months we will be poring over the budget line by line, challenging every part of the council to ensure that there is a need for all council expenditure and that residents are getting full value.

We must ensure that every single penny of the council budget delivers for local residents.”

The long-awaited report is out! Go to:  http://www.councillorsupport.bedford.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=116&MId=604&Ver=4 to read the 200 page report - let me know what you think.

Mayor Dave Hodgson has delivered an early Christmas Present to shoppers in Bedford town centre by announcing a week of free parking beginning on November 30th. All council-run car parks in the town centre will be free for all users during this week, with this initiative just one of several which make Bedford the place to go for Christmas shoppers this year.

I am delighted the Mayor has announced this week of free parking in the run-up to Christmas. It will provide a real boost for residents and town centre retailers towards the end of what has been a tough year economically for everyone. Along with the range of promotions and events in the town centre that are coming up, the free parking scheme will make Bedford an even more attractive place to come for Christmas shoppers.

The Car parks involved in the free parking week are:

· River Street

· St. Peters Street

· Lurke Street

· Queen Street

· Allhallows

· Riverside Square

· Duckmill Lane

· Melbourne Street

I am pleased to say, I will be able to take part in the debate – there are enough councillors having to declare an interest in the matter. 

I expect to receive the papers on this tonight and at that time we will be able to understand the Officers recommendation in full, and of course this will take into account the responses to the consultation.

Last night there was a briefing to Members, from those that support the current organisation structure, and those who support the proposed two tier structure. Both camps gave impressive cases but I remain unconvinced that the case for change is sufficiently strong for the disruption the re-organisation will cause to several years of pupils.

The Council’s Executive meeting is on the 11th November, when this will be discussed and decided upon, and in the event the decision is to change it will then go to Full Council for further discussion on Monday 16th November. As soon as the papers are available I will try to place them on here.

Judith Cunningham and I will be holding our regular Advice Surgeries on Saturday 7th November:

10am - 11.30am - Wootton Library.

11.45am - 12.30pm - Stewartby United Church Hall.

Liberal Democrat Dave Hodgson has been elected the new Mayor of Bedford at the Bedford Corn Exchange. Lib Dem Dave led the vote by just over 300 votes at the end of the 1st preference votes, and when second preference votes were redistributed, extended his majority to just over 2,000 votes over the Conservative candidate.After the bottom four candidates were eliminated and their 2nd preference votes redistributed, the final result was:

• Dave Hodgson (Liberal Democrat): 13555 votes
• Parvez Akhtar (Conservative): 11543 votes

In his acceptance speech, Dave Hodgson paid tribute to the past Mayor Frank Branston, and committed to working hard for Bedford. He said:“I’ll work every day to improve Bedford as much as we can. It’s down to work now.”

Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats held his latest public meeting in Bedford last night. You can hear a webcast of the event at http://meet.nickclegg.com/live

Judith Cunningham and I will be holding our regular Advice Surgeries on Saturday 5th September:

10am - 11.30am - Wootton Library.

11.45am - 12.30pm - Stewartby United Church Hall.

Frank, we didn’t agree on too much but you were a big, larger than life character who didn’t allow political disagreements to get in the way of getting things done for your beloved town.

I bet you had a right old argument with St Peter at the gates and are still having a right ding dong now with God on who should sit where.

All the best.My deepest sympathies are with your wife and family. They must be missing you like anything.

I’ve received phone calls from residents of Rousbury Road, Stewartby regarding who owns the land at the rear of Rousbury Road and Stewartby Way that the old parish play area used to be on.

This arises from letters they have received from O & H Properties telling residents O&H will be blocking off their access to the play area and illegally attaching panels to residents private fences that open out onto the this land. This seems a little heavy-handed and over the top, especially as the fence gates in some cases have been in place for many years and the land until recently hosted the old parish play area.

Why can’t O&H just let sleeping dogs lie on issues where in this case it is a welcome amenity for local people ?

One can only say this is another classic case of this absentee landlord being heavy handed stripping the green areas of Stewartby for all the money it can get and not caring about local residents?

It seems I spoke too soon.

Yes, the Full Council will get the chance to have a vote if the Mayor’s Executive recommends a change to 2-Tier.

However, it became apparent at last nights Full Council meeting that the undemocratic nature of the processes of the directly-elected Mayor system will come into force, even though the Mayor wasn’t even sure last night what his own system means.

if the Full Council votes against the change, the Executive will then discuss the Council’s view. It can agree with the Council or as seems likely, it will send it back to the Council to vote again on the Executive’s view for a change to 2-Tier.

Now the undemocratic process really comes into play. Full Council has to vote by a 2/3rds majority to over-ride the Executive’s view !

I’m pleased to report that the motion was passed overwhelmingly with all the Liberal Democrat group supporting it, all the Tories supporting it and a couple of courageous Independents supporting it as well.

The Labour Group all abstained. This is better than voting against but it does betray the liberal instincts I know some of the Labour Councillors have.

What greatly dissapointed me was that the Mayor left before the debate even started. This is a shame as the motion calls upon him and his Executive to take some actions in support of the Council’s view if they so choose.

But then he copped out of attending 2-tier/3-tier school consultation meetings even though it’s him who’s pushing for the change.

The phrase “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” doesn’t come to mind.

There is a Full Council meeting of Bedford Borough Council tonight.

The last item on the Agenda is a motion I am proposing that calls on the Council to advise the Mayor’s Executive that it does not wish to take part in any trial on ID Cards if asked to do so by the Government.

I will be saying:
- The proposals are not just for a card. The card is the least of it…
- There is no evidence the system will produce the stated benefits.
- Less liberty does not imply greater security.
- The Card and Register will be using overcomplicated, unproven technology.
- Identity Cards will cost over £10m, money that could be better spent elsewhere.
- The proposals mean unchecked executive powers.
- The National Identity Register creates specific new threats to individuals.
- People should not have to justify their identity to the state when going about their business.

I am very pleased to report that the Borough Council has informed all Councillors that the Full Council will get the opportunity to vote on whether the school structure should be changed.

He told us yesterday by e-mail that:
“if the Executive, at its meeting on 16 September 2009, considers that the school structure should be changed it will need to make a recommendation to Full Council. Given the importance of the decision Group Leaders have agreed that a Special Full Council will be held on Thursday, 24 September 2009. For clarity, if the Executive decide that there should be no change to the school structure there will be no need for the Special Council meeting.”

This is a victory for democracy and accountability. It follows consistent calls from myself and other Liberal Democrat Councillors for teh decision to be made by the Full Council rather than the much smaller Mayor’s Executive.

I haven’t totally made up my mind which way I shall vote on this issue…..if I get the opportunity to do so!

I like the sound of the modular proposals coming out of Biddenham Upper.

Given a blank slate and a choice between 2-tier and 3-tier, I would probably prefer the 2-tier system.

But we’re not.

I believe the emphasis is on the 2-tier proponents to prove their case that the massive change is needed and that the advantages of the massive change will far outweigh the disadvantages the massive change will cause the pupils facing the disruption caused by it.

Only Chris Hilliard and Mike Berrill have given me cause to think the massive change will be worth it. The consultation meetings and the Mayor’s words elsewhere have singularly failed to do so.

I also think it is totally wrong that the Mayor has not been present at consultation meetings, meetings that affect the biggest decision this Borough faces for the foreseeable future.

The Borough also has to find a way to ensure that the whole Council votes on this issue rather than the Mayor and his smaller Executive. If it does, given a choice between 2-tier and 3-tier only, I currently intend to vote 3-tier.

Several residents of Keeley Lane, Wootton were in touch earlier this year about the blocked drainage pipe across the road. I immediately asked the County Council to take action.  

I have recently asked local residents to let me know if it is still blocked. 

Local residents have been in touch with me to advise it is indeed still blocked.

I have now directly contacted the Borough Council’s Director of Environment and Street Services asking him to take prompt action as this delay is simply not good enough.

Now we are the largest party on the Borough Council, we want to make real improvements to the services local residents get from the Council.

The Liberal Democrat Group on the new Environment Regeneration and Corporate Services Committee is pressing for it to look at the following items at its Agenda Planning Meeting on 1 July. 

* highways contractor performance including:
        - amount of re-work required.
        - way customer satisfaction is measured.
        - other local authority insurance company checking time periods.
        - comparison of performance and costs between DSD and Amey.
       
* physical environment
        - tree care
        - cycle route strategy/plan

* zero waste strategy
        - learning from best practice local authorities.
        - waste recycling strategy.

* regeneration
        - learning from best practice local authorities.

We want to express our thanks to the residents of Wootton, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick for re-electing us as their Borough Councillors.

Local residents gave us each our highest ever individual number of votes and the highest ever majorities recorded for Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team candidates in the Ward.

We are humbled at the massive vote of confidence placed in us by local residents and they can rest assured we will do our very best to live up to it.

The work goes on ! 

2009                                         Votes   % 

Beardmore        Lab                   87         4.32% 

The Liberal Democrats’ Manifesto for Bedford Borough has identified ‘Six to Fix’ for Bedford Borough. These are the areas we have identified as being in the most urgent need of action to improve things for local residents. One of these areas is education, where standards are too low. We must raise GCSE results to above the national average. 

Currently, 46% of children in Bedford Borough schools are achieving five A* - C grades (including English and Maths) at GCSE level. This is lower than the national average of 48%, and a shocking 6% lower than average achieved by schools in Bedford Borough’s ‘Comparator Areas,’ which are selected by the government as areas which share a number of characteristics and across which comparisons can be made. These figures are not acceptable. We will raise GCSE results to above the national average as a first, urgent step to improving education performance for children in Bedford Borough. 

Tim Hill and the Liberal Democrats have been successful in demanding that Bedford Borough Council opens up to local residents by allowing Members of the Public to question Councillors at public meetings without providing written notice of the question in the previous week. 

With a new Council, we have an opportunity to open up these dusty corridors to the public once again. Removing the ludicrous notice period required for questions from the public at Council meetings would be a good start. Public participation is clearly discouraged by the requirement for questions to be submitted, in writing, in the week before meetings. The retention of this barrier between the Council and the residents to whom it is accountable suggests either that the Mayor or his Cabinet Members cannot be trusted to give coherent answers or that they might have something to hide. Neither is an acceptable reason for restricting the public’s right to question elected Councillors 

Our amendment was successful at the 8^th April Full Council meeting. It is a great shame that all bar one of the Conservative Group and all of the Independents voted to carry on with the ludicrous notice period. It is about time the Mayor and his Executive started earning their crust by being properly prepared for Council meetings. 

You can just see me at the back of the photo - I’m the tall one

http://www.bedfordlibdems.org.uk/news/000613/julia_goldsworthy_mp_launches_lib_dem_manifesto_for_bedford_borough.html

Haven’t been able to post a new thread for a while due to pressure of work related to:

a)     New job (I didn’t get the job I was first interviewed for but was referred to another manager by the interviewer for another post and was successful at that interview)

b)     Casework taking priority over new threads in limited spare time left due to a).  We have a new Unitary Council after what seemed like ages. The only difference I’ve noticed so far is that all Councillors and Officers now have a new e-mail address – mine is Tim.Hill@bedford.gov.uk.  

You won’t be surprised to learn that no one has officially told us this! Our Group Researcher noticed it on a new e-mail to him on1st April.

Several local Residents are greatly affected by the current application from G Moores in Manor Road, Kempston Hardwick to the County Council to effectively double the size of their operations. 

I understand from local residents that the application is to increase the yearly tonnage from 75,000 to 150,000 and the daily:

a) Movements (in and out) from 170 to 340.

b) Time limits from 7am-7pm to 7am-11pm. 

I also understand that although the residents consultation deadline is Mon 2 Mar 09, the application decision deadline is not until May. Therefore the final decision will be taken by the new Unitary Planning Authority. I have requested that this application is placed on the agenda of a future relevant Planning Committee of the Unitary Authority.   I have formally objected to this application for the following reasons:

a) Detrimental affect on the amenity, environment and noise levels of local residents due to the increased tonnage, movements and hours.

b) The current permission allows for movements from 7am. Movements are currently taking place from 6am without any enforcement to address this.

c) Detrimental affect of the increased tonnage, movements and hours on the existing road network. The existing road network is not built for extensive heavy lorry use in terms of size, structure and exits.

d) There is also no current footpath in place. The existing road network is an accident waiting to happen. This application will only make things worse.

e) The effect on the amenity of this site on local residents has recently been adversely affected by the removal of a wall from their waste transfer building. This application will only make things worse. 

Several local residents have been in touch with me to raise their concern about the number of cars who speed along Church Road, Wootton. 

Just to let you know that I am in contact with the Bedfordshire & Luton Casualty Reduction Partnership. I have asked them to investigate to see what can be done to provide a permanent solution to this long-running issue.

I have pointed out that I suspect a number of the speeding cars come from the nearby Wootton Upper School.

The first budget of the unitary Bedford Borough Council is set to include a raft of proposals to meet residents’ priorities, including an additional £1 million for road and footpath repairs and a freeze on short-stay car park charges, thanks to the Liberal Democrats.

The Borough’s council tax increase will be remain at the proposed low level of 0.9%, with our package of vital initiatives and funding boosts for essential services to be paid for by cutting back spending on council PR and ceremonial events and releasing unused council reserves.

The only opposition to the plans came from the Tories, who voted against the package which in addition, includes more funding for protecting green spaces from unauthorised camps, activities for young people in the borough and tackling climate change.

After years of chronic under-funding, an additional £1 million investment for roads and footpaths will enable the vital task of tackling the severe backlog of repairs. Roads and footpath maintenance is just one area where residents have been sorely let down, and we are delighted that thanks to our proposals the budget will address real concerns of local people.

The Tories by voting against measures such as extra road repairs and protection of land from unauthorised camps were simply adding further insult to the injury caused by their long record of misrule at County Hall. It is that record that the Borough unitary authority must turn around, and our budget proposals should form part of the first step in that direction.

Our proposals, which will now go forward as part of the budget for approval by the Full Council, include:

·         An extra £1million for roads and paths repairs.

·         £40,000 to tackle the problems of verge parking.

·         £35,000 to protect open spaces from unauthorised traveller encampments.

·         A total of over £100,000 added into the budget for children and young people to enhance youth services, boost holiday ‘play schemes and ’street schemes’ and provide facilities for young people.

·         £20,000 for action on climate change and cutting council energy bills.

·         £12,000 for the repair, replacement or provision of new bus shelters.

The FOCUS Team has been making enquiries on what the latest is on Hanson’s 1,200 homes application on the former Brickworks site in Stewartby. 

It seems that Hanson is refusing to divulge essential information that will make it easier for the Planning Department at the Town Hall to propose a recommendation for this application.  The Planning Department had written two letters to Hanson many months ago now, one asking for more information on the details of the application and the other on monitoring the site such as why Hanson are proposing to demolish the listed buildings including the chimneys. Hanson responded after a period of silence saying they were refusing to answer the detailed queries as it says it is not practical to provide such detailed information!!!!! 

WHAT HAS HANSON GOT TO HIDE? 

The Marston Vale Eco-Town application also puts a spanner in the works for Hanson as that application is prepared to meet the Dept of Communities & Local Govt. demand for the chimneys to be kept.

I have sent to all pensioners in Stewartby that I know of a Booklet the Borough Council has called “Keep Warm Keep Well” for the Over-60s. 

Whether you come into this age group or not, I think you will find it full of useful tips on keeping warm.  

If you haven’t received a copy, please let me know and I will send you one. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any queries on anything in the Booklet.

I have sent to all pensioners in Wootton that I know of a Booklet the Borough Council has recently published called “Information and Activities for the over 50’s”. 

Whether you come into this age group or not, I think you will find it full of useful information on all sorts of activities in and around Bedford Borough.  

If you haven’t received a copy, please let me know and I will send you one. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any queries on anything in the Booklet.

Local residents in School Lane, Stewartby have been in touch with me to raise several local issues. One is that when parts of School Lane were resurfaced some time ago, the white lines showing:

a)     Where to stop at its junction with Stewartby Way

b)     Parking restrictions outside the driveway for 1, Stewartby Way

were not reinstated. 

Just to let you know that I have reported this issue to the County Council’s Highways Department.

I have reported the pothole in the footpath outside 18, Elmsdale Road, Wootton to the County Council’s Highways Department. 

I have asked for it to be filled in as soon as possible. I will let you know their reply as soon as I can.

I find it astonishing that Housing Minister Iain Wright MP considers that local residents were given sufficient notice of recent eco-town consultation events in a number of villages in the Marston Vale.

The ‘publicity’ in the local press in September for village hall exhibitions was limited, to say the very least. In November, a single caravan was parked at Marston Vale Country Park. Parish Councils were given six days notice of this, and I as a local Borough Councillor was informed of it just two days in advance.

I would encourage people to visit the eco-towns consultation website and have their say. I have made clear my view that the proposals are utterly unsuitable and must not be allowed to go ahead.

It seems that there is a new Housing Minister for each stage of the consultation. Perhaps each new Minister is having trouble believing the degree of opposition expressed in the views expressed to date. I can assure this one that the opposition is very real, it’s very strong and it is not going to go away, especially if ‘consultation’ events are held without giving adequate notice to local residents.

If you agree with our opposition, please sign our on-line petition at http://www.campaigns.libdems.org.uk/incinerator

Local residents have been in touch to advise that although there is still some litter in the ditches close to the school, the situation has improved considerably.  I believe this is a combination of:

a) Getting the Borough Litter Pickers to do a litter pick.

b)     Getting the Borough to do a Pride In Bedford Community Clean up in Wootton in November every year.

c)     Persuading the Pride In Bedford Team to approach Wootton Upper to get some 6th form students to do a Project on educating the school about litter.

Local residents have been in touch with me regarding the need for the bollards at the top of Popes Way to be re-instated. 

I have asked the County Council to do this work.

Many thanks indeed for your time if you were in when I was calling on local residents in Studley Road, Wootton on Sat 18^th Oct 08. 

I was really pleased to see that the road surface at the entrance area to Studley Road is in good condition after my pressure on the County Council in Oct 06-Jan 07 to get it done.  

However, I was concerned to see the amount of weeds on the footpath verges. I have asked the County Council to arrange for the area to be cleared of weeds.

The Liberal Democrats want to know your views on plans to build a waste incinerator near Stewartby. The project has been driven to date by the Tory-run Bedfordshire County Council. With the County Council being abolished on 1 April 2009 it is down to Bedford Borough, Central Beds and Luton Councils to decide whether to progress with the plans.

Bedford Borough Lib Dems have consistently opposed the plans for the giant incinerator, believing that it will work against the goals of reducing waste and increasing recycling and arguing that there are better waste disposal options for the environment. The options include Mechanical and Biological Treatment, which is a process whereby as many useful materials are extracted from the waste as possible before any sort of treatment of the remaining waste takes place.

We want to know what your views are. Do you want think that burning the County’s domestic rubbish in an incinerator near Stewartby is the right thing to do, or do you think that local councils should be pursuing a different option? Please let us know by using the on-line poll on the Bedford Liberal Democrats web site at http://www.bedfordlibdems.org.uk/.

I met with several Parish Councillors, the local beat bobby Jamie Quinney and the new Area Inspector Mark Everett for an on-site meeting on this issue on Tuesday night. I’m very pleased to report that we agreed a way forward.We will be approaching the Town Hall for a temporary Mobile CCTV camera to be placed for a few weeks to cover most of the lay-by with suitable signs placed nearby.

If this is agreed and it has the desired effect, the Parish Cllrs present agreed the Acting Chair should propose to the Parish Council that is should set up 2 permanent CCTV cameras to cover all of the lay-by with suitable signs placed nearby. 

If it doesn’t have the desired effect, various options will be discussed that could include setting up Gates or laying temporary blocks. 

I promised all those present at the on-site meeting that I would approach County Hall to discuss the urgent need for some work on Stewartby Way to slow down the majority of drivers who speed along Stewartby Way. The local Police Constable confirmed on Tuesday night that he is regularly catching people speeding and giving out tickets. Action is required before someone is fatally injured.

Just to let you know that I recently received a letter from Bedfordshire County Council.  It relates to the temporary closure of Keeley Lane , Wootton for:

-        2 days during the period Mon 6^th Oct 08 to Wed 31^st Dec 08.

-        One day during the period Fri 1^st May 09 to Tues 30^th June 09.

-        One day during the period Tues 1^st July 09 to Sun 31^st Aug 09.

Why they cannot be more precise on the dates involved beggars belief! 

I would very much appreciate it if you could give me your feedback on the following issues:

a)    Did you receive a copy of the enclosed letter yourself?

b)    If you did, did you think it was enough notice?

My current view is that the County Council does not give enough notice to a large enough number of local residents on such issues. However, I would like your views before I can lobby the County Council to improve the way they do this. Please let me know by either e-mail, letter or phone what your views. I look forward to hearing from you.

You may remember my article in July advising why the County Council contractors made such a “botch” of their attempt to meet my request for Bourne End Road to be resurfaced and that they will be back on site in Sept 08. 

Just to let you know that I have today asked the County Council contractors exactly when in Sept 08 they will be returning to do the proper job that they originally promised to do. 

I will let you know their reply as soon as I can.

I’ve posted several articles about the cruising cars causing problems to local residents near the lay by outside

Some local residents have been in touch with us regarding the ongoing problem of the overgrown bushes in Neale Way.   The County Council have advised that:

1. A letter has been written to the farmer concerned requesting that the bushes be cut back.
2. This will be followed up by another inspection.
3. If the farmer does not comply, he will be further advised of an expected completion date.
4. If the work is not done as expected, County Highways will carry out the work and charge him.

You also need to know that the Parish Council have been working very hard to investigate how they can best address this issue. This may include taking on the ownership of the bushes and being responsible for their maintenance programme. The Parish Council’s hard work is not helped by the farmer disputing that he is responsible for the bushes and the nearby ditch. I will keep you up to date with any further news as soon as I can.

Proposed housing style - The proposed housing styles are totally out of character with the houses in the Stewartby “Model Village”. Stewartby houses need to keep their distinct character to help Stewartby maintain its distinct identity. New development should respond to its context and create or reinforce local distinctiveness. This application does none of those.

Number of houses - The application proposes 1,200 additional homes in Stewartby. This is on top of the over 600 already approved in Outline pending a Section 106 agreement for the “New Stewartby” development and the potential 15,000 in the Eco Town application. This application on its own would treble the size of the existing village. Stewartby “Model Village” has a long history with a distinct identity that should be retained as much as is possible.

English Heritage listing - The four chimneys and the 10 kilns were listed as sites of heritage importance by English Heritage in Feb 08. The applications seek to ignore the listings by demolishing all the chimneys and kilns. They are representative of a history of brick-making in the Marston Vale and at least one chimney and other related properties should be preserved to recognise that history.The site is large enough not to be commercially prejudiced by the retention of a kiln and chimney.

Railway line - The provision within the application for safe crossings for the potentially busy railway line is minimal at best. The principle of residential use extending across the railway line is highly questionable.

Road infrastructure - The access may well be from Green Lane and/or Broadmead Road. Both these roads are typical of the area in that they are only just wide enough in a majority of their lengths for 2 vehicles to pass each other. They are also poorly maintained. It is difficult to imagine either or both coping with the projected tripling of traffic along them. 

Alleged Chimney movements and deteriation - There are many local residents in Wootton, Stewartby and Kempston who have past employment connections with the Stewartby brickworks. I have anecdotal evidence from these residents that the chimney with “Stewartby” written on it was the chimney used for the boiler until about 20 years ago. It has never had a brick fire up it. There is no apparent movement from that chimney despite it not being used fore 20 years. The need to demolish the chimneys even on health and safety grounds is therefore not proven.

Change of use of land from employment to residential - The applications do not give sufficient reasons to approve the change of use of land from employment to residential. The justification for the amount of retained employment land has not been made.It is also difficult to believe in today’s housebuilding recession that approx 300 houses next to a landfill site would sell.

Gypsy and traveller site provision - The original proposals in Oct 07 certainly contained suggestions for a 15 pitch traveller site. There is anecdotal evidence that this suggestion did not form any part of the limited consultation done with local residents some time ago. Stewartby already has a clean and well maintained gypsy site for approx 15 permanent pitches. An additional site within the village of Stewartby therefore would be out of proportion to the pitch requirements of the immediate locality.

Potters Cross residents have been left fuming after the County Council’s road contractor left road maintenance works unfinished after striking two water mains, one of which continued to spew out water over a week after being burst.  The works on Potters Cross remain incomplete despite the legal notice for the works stating that they would be finished by July 7^th.  The legal notice for the works also stated that the entire road would be resurfaced, when in fact just a few metres have been repaired. 

The long overdue resurfacing of Potters Cross has become an absolute farce.  It beggars belief that with no improvement works having been done on the road for over thirty years, nobody thought to check if there were any obstructions such as water mains.  For one of the burst mains to then be left unrepaired for over a week is utterly inexcusable.

As the different parties squabble over who should take responsibility for mistakes, the interests of local residents seem to be the very last consideration.

For residents to be told by the County Council that the entire paved road would be resurfaced, only to find that the contractors are working on just a short stretch is simply unacceptable.

Details of the proposed post office closures have been announced. This will be followed by a six week period of consultation with the local community.

The loss of the post office will hit Stewartby hard. It is a vital asset for many local people and closing it will cause many difficulties for older people and others with mobility problems, in particular.

Despite the decision of Labour MP’s to help the Government press ahead with closures, Liberal Democrats are continuing to fight the demolition of the post office network.

Our plan would give a real investment of £2 billion in the post office, would increase the services offered at local post office branches and improve the network so that every community that needs a post office gets one.

We are the only party with a fully-funded plan to save the post office, give it a long-term future and not just manage its decline.

Our plan would see:
· £2 billion invested in post office network;
· New branches opening where needed;
· Government services continuing to be available at the Post Office;
· The Post Office freed from Royal Mail restrictions to let it develop new business;
· A new legal requirement for the Government to maintain the local Post Office network.

We will keep you posted

Despite being at business meetings in Birmingham and Milton Keynes on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, I was able to find out from the Borough Legal Team that the County Council Legal Team are “on the case”.

They are hopeful that the travellers can be moved on within the the next week.

I have delivered a leaflet to about 2/3rds of Stewartby outling the Borough policy and what we as Cllrs can do to help. Stewartby Way and the closes off, Kitchener Place and Russet Court all got it. Time and energy prevented me from delivering the whole of Stewartby.

Local residents have reported to me the travellers on Green Lane Stewartby. 

I have reported this to the relevant Borough Solicitor and let the current Chair of the Parish Council know I have done so. 

I will provide more updates as and when I have more information

Just seven months after the historic chimneys at the Stewartby Brickworks site were given listed building status, Landowner Hanson is seeking to demolish them as part of plans for a new 1200-home development.   A planning application has been submitted to Bedford Borough Council for the proposed development, which would more than triple the size of Stewartby village and involve the demolition of the four remaining Grade II listed chimneys.  I believe the chimneys must be preserved as a heritage site of international importance. These are the last of over 100 chimneys in the Marston Vale, and have only recently been awarded the formal status they deserve as listed buildings.  A museum and heritage centre should also be included as part of any new development. This has been done by other brick-making companies in other parts of the world, so it should know that there is no need to consign history to the dustbin in the rush to maximise land values.We have also attacked the details of the planned new development, which propose tall, dense housing out of keeping with the distinctive character of Stewartby.  They would also see the village more than triple in size.  My friend Cllr Judith Cunningham has said: “The proposed development is far too large, and would swamp the existing village.  The plans for the housing must also be re-drawn to reflect the special character and style of Stewartby.”  Judith has also criticised the proposed location for some of the new housing: “It is absurd to build houses on the west side of the railway line, cut off from the rest of the village, alongside the landfill site.” 

NOTES 

·         Hanson Building Products has submitted a planning application to Bedford Borough Council for the demolition of all buildings and structures within the Stewartby Brickworks site, including the remaining four grade II listed chimneys and two grade II listed brick kilns.  An application has been submitted alongside this for the construction of a new development on the site including 1200 homes.

·         A copy of the Government’s decision to give the chimneys and the kilns listed building status, which includes a brief history of the site, can be read here: http://www.bedford.gov.uk/GetResource.aspx?file=2%20kilns%204%20chimneys%20at%20Stewartby%20Brickworks%20Stewartby.pdf ·         On April 16th,  Bedford Borough Council approved its Core Strategy and Rural Issues Plan, which sets the framework for development in the Borough until 2021.  This document states that 610 new homes, only just over half the number proposed by Hanson for the brickworks site, are to be built in Stewartby during this period at a site already identified.

Potters Cross residents will remember my letter of 13^th June 2008 regarding the resurfacing works in Potters Cross. Several local residents have contacted me seeking re-assurance that the resurfacing is for the whole of the tarmaced road. I did confirm that according to the correspondence I had received from the County Council, it is for the whole of the tarmaced road. I have today contacted the County Council to seek final written confirmation that the whole tarmaced road is being resurfaced. In the meantime, I would very much appreciate your feedback on the following issues:a)     Do you think the workmen have been doing everything they can to ensure reasonable access for you?b)     What do you think of the standard of the surface laid?c)     Does it look as though the whole length of the tarmaced road is to be re-surfaced?I would like the feedback as I want to ensure the County Council contractors do the agreed work and to a standard they are being paid for. If necessary, I will lobby the County Council to improve this. 

Wavell Close residents will remember my letter to them of 8^th May 2008 regarding the request to the County Council by the Parish Council, local residents and the Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team to “tidy up” the Wavell Close green. Local residents had told us and the Parish Council that the layout of the green was too big for the Close. Local residents have been in contact with us to advise that the requested scheme has not been implemented by the County Council. Indeed what has been implemented not only makes the square look odd, but it does not meet the purposes of why the work was done.  I have today contacted the County Council to ask why the agreed scheme has not been implemented and will let you know their reply as soon as I can. I will of course be pressing the County to then implement the agreed scheme. 

Dear Sir/Madam (DCLG)

As one of the Bedford Borough Councillors for the Borough Ward of Wootton and following receipt of a letter from our Head of Planning, I wish to formally object to the Eco-town proposals of New Marston and Marston Vale.

I support the basic principles of new housing that responds to climate change, a sustainable future and an increased housing supply. However, I believe the Eco-town proposals of New Marston and Marston Vale are flawed for the following reasons:

a) They will mean effectively no green fields in a direct line from Junction 13 of the M1 to the Marsh Leys roundabout near Kempston.

b) Existing development plans in place such as Stewartby 2000 will, together with these proposals, mean that the Marston Vale will have almost 3 times the existing expected development in the current Growth Area. Thus these proposals will far exceed existing projected demand.

c) Even once the A421 is dualled, the A421 and the B530 will really struggle to cope with the likely increased traffic from the Eco-towns.

d) The Eco-town proposals of New Marston and Marston Vale merge existing, settled communities into one great mass of housing.

In summary, whilst the Eco-town proposals of New Marston and Marston Vale meet the increased housing supply principle, they are a direct opposite to the other two principles.

I look forward to further correspondence on this matter.

Local residents have been in touch with me regarding the issue of the poor state of the road surface in Potters Cross. I contacted the County Council in March 2008 asking them to take action on this issue.  I am now very pleased to report that resurfacing works for Potters Cross are now scheduled for two weeks commencing 23^rd June 2008. The works may or may not leave the road as an absolutely perfect surface but at least it should be a lot better than it is now. I would very much appreciate it if you could give me your feedback on the following issues:a)         Did you receive a copy of the closure consultation letter yourself?b)         If you did, did you think it was enough notice?I would like the feedback as I want to ensure the County Council gives enough notice to a large enough number of local residents on such issues. If necessary, I will lobby the County Council to improve the way they do this.

Controversial new policies for the future development of Bedford Borough have been branded ‘deeply flawed’ by Liberal Democrats. The Core Strategy and Rural Issues Plan, passed at the recent meeting of the Borough Council but opposed by the Liberal Democrats, imposes weak environmental standards on the 17,500 new homes due to be built in the borough by 2021 and will leave no green fields ona  direct route between Junction 13 of the M1 and the Asda roundabout.

The Lib Dems took their stand in spite of being told that government regulations do not allow local representatives to oppose or amend these crucial policies affecting the local area.

It should be of grave concern to local residents that the document which will guide the large amount of development due to take place in the borough between now and 2021 is deeply flawed in several respects. With 17,500 new homes due to be built in the borough in that period it is a sad indictment of the council that they could now be built to inadequate standards of sustainability and in unsuitable locations.’

Instead of a zero carbon growth policy, we have the council asking timidly for developers to achieve a 10% reduction on carbon emissions only if it is ‘feasible.’ The document is also completely lacking any safeguards for the sustainability of our urban and suburban communities. For example, it is missing any protection for essential local services such as post offices. Equally alarming are the weaknesses within the new policies which are likely to encourage over-development, especially along the A421 from the M1 to Kempston.

To have a situation whereby local councillors are advised that it is unlawful to vote against or amend a plan with such far-reaching consequences for the local area is absolutely disgraceful. Councillors were presented with a document full of a range of planning policies which will manage the future development and growth of this borough, and were told they must approve it or else they would be acting unlawfully. This is the democracy of a tin pot dictatorship.

Local residents have been in touch with the Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team over the past couple of years expressing their concern about cars speeding along Stewartby Way. The Tory-controlled County Council has said several times to us that any measures to control traffic speed along Stewartby Way are not a high priority for them. Spending nearly £600,000 of council taxpayers’ money on their doomed bid to save the County Council seemed obviously a higher priority for them!  However, I am pleased to report that the Stewartby Police Constable has now been trained on the use of speed guns. He will be using his new gun regularly on Stewartby WayAlso, Stewartby Parish Council and the Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team are continuing to work hard to address this urgent issue. I have proposed that the Parish Council should formally invite an officer from the County Council to attend its May 08 meeting to lobby him/her for any measures to control traffic speed along Stewartby Way to be done. 

Local residents contacted me 15 months ago to express their concern about local kids climbing the tree outside 3, Sanders Way and looking into various bedrooms.

After months of trying to find out who owns the tree, the Borough have thanfully now finally put their hand up to claim ownership.

The tree is decaying in several palces so the opportunity will be taken to solve the issue raised and help the tree at the same time.

After 3 weeks off following my radical mastoidectomy on 7th Feb, I’m fully back in action as from now.

My right ear cavity is still stuffed with antiseptic material that is itchy and annoying. The 8cm scar behind my ear is still sore but I’ve had enough of rest :-) 

I’ll be at our Advice Surgeries tomorrow morning so hope to see you there.

I’m pleased to report that a couple of residents rang me last night to thank me as the light is now back on.

Amazing what a bit of co-ordination can do