I’ve just sent my latest Echo as below to my Ward distribution list of local residents. Please let me know if you would like to be included in future distributions. Local Issues Since my last Elstow, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick Echo, here are some of the issues I have progressed, sometimes with the help of […]

Unfortunately, due to the Borough Hall IT system experiencing severe problems during the last week of September, the Recycling Calendar was not actually updated until yesterday. A fully up to date calendar is now available at: http://apps.bedford.gov.uk/bcs/search.aspx

I am pleased to report that the recycling bin collection day calendar has now been updated on the Borough Council web site at: http://apps.bedford.gov.uk/bcs/search.aspx. Click on the link, enter your postcode and then click on “Search” and you’ll be provided with an updated recycling calendar for your day.  

You can find maps for the catchment areas of all schools in Bedford Borough online: http://www.bedford.gov.uk/education_and_learning/schools_and_collegescadem/school_admissions/school_catchment_areas/catchment_maps.aspx Let me know if you think these are helpful.  

Malcolm Whiteman, a great friend of Martin’s and a fellow Wilstead Liberal Democrat, rang me on Sunday 8th September to give me the terrible news that Martin had died at 7.20am. He had been in hospital for several weeks after a stroke and on all reports was recovering. His sister had only rung me the […]

Millions of children are going back to school this week. For the schools in my Ward, this means a lot of extra cash on top of the normal school budget, thanks to the Liberal Democrats Pupil Premium. This is much needed extra cash to help every child get on in life. Marston Vale Middle School – £86,400. Broadmead Lower […]

One of many good things which came out of last week’s events in Westminster was that Parliament showed that it was still relevant, still powerful and still able to reflect and respond to the public mood. Our MPs demonstrated that, for all the attacks, belittling and criticisms of recent years, they are still able to hold […]

Elstow residents will hopefully have noticed that the No Verge Parking Scheme is now in place. It covers the High Street and Bunyans Mead. This follows my delivery of a consultation leaflet to every house in High Street and Bunyans Mead on 3 Dec 2012 asking for homeowners’ views on a no verge parking scheme being implemented […]

Every year, I put forward to the local police an area which I believe would benefit from a short-term, one-off, higher police presence called Operation Vision. This is where PCSOs, cadets and staff/volunteers from other agencies go door to door in a particular area giving crime prevention advice and canvassing residents views etc. This year, I […]

Mayor Dave Hodgson and I have been working with Borough Council officers and representatives of the Sir Malcolm Stewart Trust to tackle the issue of replacing rotting windows on the estate.   Unfortunately, the Trust does not currently have the necessary funding to tackle this issue, but I am pleased to report that the Trust […]