Local Issues:
Since my last Elstow, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Echo, here are some of the local issues I have progressed, in some cases with the valued help and support of the relevant Parish Council.

Ward-wide

Covanta – Representatives of Covanta and the Environment Agency are to attend a public meeting at 6.30pm on the 21st June to answer questions from Councillors who sit on the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Bedford Borough Council. The meeting will be held at the Stewartby Village Hall. It will enable members of the public to ask questions to the Committee who in return can ask Covanta and the Environment Agency, why permits have been allowed for this monstrosity.

Litter in lay-by near by-pass bridge on B530 – The two wheely bins in the lay-by by the by-pass bridge on the B530 were always overflowing after weekends and had sometimes been pushed over. I asked the Borough to provide an extra wheely bin and to make all three secure in the ground. This has now been done.

Elstow

West End Proposed Temporary Road Closure – This was originally planned to be in the Easter school holidays. With the road being totally closed, I was not happy with the arrangements for the bus services and the emergency services. The closure has now been put back to the summer holidays and I have asked for overnight closures only to be considered.

Dog litter from Hillesden Avenue to Elstow Primary – There is an ongoing issue with inconsiderate dog owners not picking up their dog’s litter. I arranged for a full clearance in March 2018.

Fly-tipping and general litter on the B530 – The stretch of the B530 from the bypass bridge to almost the old Chimney Corner pub has recently suffered from some extensive fly-tipping and general litter. I reported this and at the beginning of April, I was pleased to see a Borough Council Litter Team doing a full clearance. I have asked the Borough to prosecute should there be any evidence of the offenders.

Abbey Fields Retail Centre – The units are now being marketed. See the RightMove entry here: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-to-let/property-64338514.html. In response to my query in April, the developers advised they have had no expressions of interest yet.

Abbey Fields Retail Centre – The contractors had to do some work which involved digging up the main road. Unfortunately, when they finished, the standard of work was not good. Residents complained that driving over it was unpleasant. I got the Borough to get the contractors to finish it off properly and impose a “fine” of the cost of the street inspector’s time.

Stewartby

Massive pot holes on Green Lane – Many residents had reported to Tim and/or the Borough three great massive potholes that appeared during the recent snowfalls. All three are in Central Beds. I forwarded the complaints onto Central Beds Highways and I am pleased to report they have been filled in.

Retail Centre on Hanson’s Reach – The application for a new Retail Centre at the junction of Kiln Drive and Clay Avenue on the Hanson’s Reach development, has been given planning permission. The layout comprises one large unit and two smaller ones. The staff car park and bicycle rack will be by the electricity sub-station. The customer car park will have 31 car bays, including 2 disabled ones and a rack for 5 bicycles. It will be where the green open space is at this junction at the moment. More details of the layout of the Retail Centre can be seen at: http://edrms.bedford.gov.uk/OpenDocument.aspx?id=kIJQX7J9YxfYnRFra8YxLQ%3d%3d&name=17 02267 REM V02A.pdf. There was some confusion caused during the consultation process as the site temporary name of Chatsworth Drive was used. That is now Clay Avenue. The Parish Council and I fought hard for this to be included in the development. When the whole development is finished, Stewartby will have over 1,200 homes. It is important that local residents have a wide retail offer to choose from for their day-to-day shopping. In my response to my queries on the issue, the site developers advised that the Co-Op had signed up to the largest unit and local residents have expressed an interest in setting up a pharmacy in at least one of the two smaller units. Please let me know by e-mail, if you would like me to send you an electronic copy of the site layout.

Street lights not working near Kimberley – As the area is yet to be “adopted” for maintenance, I have raised a direct complaint with Keir, the developers of Kimberley that the street lights aren’t working.

Bottle Bank by the Shop – The bottle bank was overflowing. I reported this and also asked for it to be emptied more often.

Clothes Bank and Litter Bin by Shop – I reported the Salvation Army Clothes Bank and Litter Bin by Stewartby Village Shop were both full, and that there were piles of fly-tipping next to them. Some of the fly-tipping items have names and addresses on. I’ve asked for those people to be prosecuted. This is totally unacceptable.

Kempston Hardwick

Used car dealer at Chimney Corner – The deadline for comments on the Enforcement Notice Appeal has now passed. I very much hope the Inspector dismisses the Appeal.

General

Fantastic night for the Liberal Democrats – This year’s local elections on Thursday 3rd May, saw our best result in more than FIFTEEN years – with gains and fantastic results all over England. We held every single Council and Mayoralty we were defending including, Eastleigh, South Lakeland, Sutton, Cheltenham and Watford.

And we took control of Richmond, South Cambridgeshire (where I helped on Polling Day), Three Rivers and Kingston-upon-Thames.

Topping it off, we’ve gained seats across the country in Hull, Liverpool, Cambridge, Sunderland, Gosport, Merton, Portsmouth, Sheffield, St Albans, Winchester, Bolton, Barnsley (electing our first councillor in eight years with a massive majority!) and Haringey and in many, many more!

All told, we’ve made net gains of +75 and elected 536 Liberal Democrat Councillors.

All in all, the results were fantastic, right across England. Liberal Democrats, whatever the result they got, worked incredibly hard and defied all the odds to pull off a fantastic night.

Best wishes

Cllr Tim Hill

Liberal Democrat Focus Team

Bedford Borough Councillor for Elstow, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick

Tel: (day) 07907 150923 only in an emergency

Tel: (eve) 07907 150923

email: tim.hill@bedford.gov.uk

Web site: https://bedfordlibdems.org.uk/en/page/elstow-and-stewartby

 

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