Bedfordshire

East West Rail is asking people living along the route to share their opinions on its updated plans to connect Bedford with Oxford, Milton Keynes, and Cambridge with a new consultation opening today (November 14).

People living in and near Cleat Hill, whose homes were evacuated last month (19 October) after an explosion killed two in the area, are to be asked what would help them feel safe enough to return...

Flights and holidays are now on sale with Jet2 as it becomes the latest airline to start flying from Luton Airport.

Borough Liberal Democrat councillors have reacted with “dismay and anger” to the news that Oasis Beach Pool is destined for closure – months after a major refurbishment.

Bedford-based brewery, Wells & Co has launched a new beer to celebrate the birthday of one of the family’s most influential women. In honour of what would have been Josephine Wells’...

Flights and holidays are now on sale with Jet2 as it becomes the latest airline to start flying from Luton Airport.

Bedford Borough Council will be adding 12,000 more homes to its glass collection trial next month. The Climate Change Committee heard this week (Monday, 11 November) that the results...

Don’t land yourself in trouble 😨

Bedford & County Athletics Club celebrated their annual awards evening in person in October, for the first time since the Covid pandemic, with 26 awards handed out at Bedford International...

New bleed control kits will be introduced across the county through a partnership between Bedfordshire’s Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit (VERU) and non-profit organisation, Wingman Mentors.

Real Bedford missed a glorious opportunity to go six points clear at the top of Southern League Central Division One as they missed a 93rd minute penalty against Leighton Town in a 0-0 stalemate...

Borough councillors are due to be asked to agree on the wording to refuse planning permission for a KFC drive-through. The application for a drive-through facility at 498 Goldington Road, Bedford...

As part of Bedfordshire Police’s blitz on knife crime, weapons bins have been set up all over the county.

The last collection for each area will be either the week starting Monday, 18 November or Monday, 25 November. Residents should check which week applies to their area. Other waste collections will continue as usual during this time.

Residents can sign up for email alerts to receive updates about when collections restart and other changes, including future subscription renewals. Find out more about garden waste and collection dates.

During the break, residents can still recycle garden waste at any of our 4 household waste recycling centres. These are open daily from 9am to 5pm, including bank holidays. Read more about our tidy tips, including Christmas and New Year opening hours.

If you have space, you could consider home composting. We offer subsidised eco-friendly composting and water butt products for Central Bedfordshire residents, helping you reduce waste, save money, and conserve resources.

Stay up to date on waste collections over the Christmas period by following us on social media.

A new green energy facility could be built at Stewartby, next to the Encyclis incinerator, which was strongly opposed by villagers and began operating in January 2022.

A "modest dwelling" could be built on land in Biddenham, if planning is approved. Bedford Borough Council has received an application to build a single-storey detached home...

There were six wins, two draws and six losses across Bedford Hockey Club’s adult teams at the weekend, with the junior squads also in action on another busy weekend at Chester Road...

The budget’s National Insurance increase for employers will cost Bedford Borough Council in the region of £600,000, it has said.

We are working ceaselessly with our partners to get new GP surgeries built so residents across the Borough finally have access to the healthcare they need - and this isn’t all talk, as the old...

It’s a costly error that could ruin Christmas 😱

The Integrated Front Door (IFD) team won the Partnership Working Award for their work to support children, young people, and families. The team provides a single point of contact for reporting concerns about child safety and well-being, bringing together agencies, including social workers, health professionals, schools, and the police. This means agencies can share information and support each other, helping families access the support they need at the right time.

The judges said:

The Integrated Front Door epitomises effective partnership working and serves as an amazing initiative bringing agencies together under one roof. This collaborative environment fosters the sharing of knowledge and experience, enabling quick, real-time decision-making. As a result, it significantly enhances the ability to achieve positive outcomes for young people accessing their services.

Furthermore, a social worker was highly commended in the Children and Families Social Worker Award. Suzanne Gayford completed her training with the Council in September 2020 and qualified as a social worker in August 2021.

The judges said:

Suzanne is an exceptional social worker whose personal experience profoundly informs her practice. Her ability to empower young people and families, combined with her leadership in crisis situations, truly transforms lives. By fostering trust and understanding, she inspires hope, helping individuals thrive and achieve their potential. Her dedication is truly commendable.

Councillor Steve Owen, Executive Member for Children’s Services, said:

The National Children and Young People Awards celebrate excellence in care for children, young people, and families, and it is an honour for our staff to be recognised. Congratulations to the IFD team on their well-deserved win and to Suzanne for being highly commended! This recognition highlights the tremendous difference our teams make in our community.

A second flood summit is due to be held in Central Bedfordshire later this month to discuss the widespread flooding in September and chart progress made since storm Henk in January.

Bedford Blues Women continued their fine start to the NC1 Midlands East season, scoring eight tries in a 52-0 away victory at Bletchley to remain second in the division on Sunday afternoon...

Bedford Athletic were well beaten 48-24 by Harpenden at home on Saturday, in a match which was crucial for the outcome of their season against a team in the relegation zone and once place below...