Bedfordshire

NationalWorld’s Silent Crime campaign has caught the attention of the Home Office. And this week readers told Home Secretary Yvette Cooper exactly what needs doing to help make our communities safer

Before going to the station for your train this weekend, make sure you check your journey ahead of time, Network Rail has warned.

Black Cat Radio, who now broadcast on DAB in Bedford, celebrated a double success at the Community Radio Awards last week (16 November) at Cardiff City Football Club in Wales...

Around £440,000 of funding from the Household Support Fund will be used to make an award of £200 to around 2,200 pensioners identified by the Council. These households have had their Winter Fuel Payment – a one-off payment given to most people of pension age, providing them with financial assistance during the colder months – withdrawn due to the Government’s recent policy change.

The Household Support Fund is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and was recently extended for a further six months to March 2025, after being due to end in October 2024. Central Bedfordshire Council received £1,483,073.82 of funding, which it is using to support local residents.

We have already used some of the funding to provide supermarket vouchers to children eligible for Free School Meals. During the October Half Term families received a £17.50 voucher for each child eligible for free school meals; in total 7,800 vouchers were distributed. Eligible families will also receive vouchers to cover the Christmas holidays (worth a total of £35, equating to £17.50 per child, per week), and the 2025 February half term (a total of £17.50 per child).

Councillor Adam Zerny, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, said:

As councillors, we appreciate the impact the changes the government has made to Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners has had a real impact on our residents. This motion has been about us coming together as councillors to try and make a real difference. We realise this financial support is essential for some members of our community, particularly for older residents on low and fixed incomes. Without it, many of our pensioners face the prospect of a difficult winter.

Councillor John Baker, Executive Member for Finance said:

I'm grateful to those councillors who have worked with us to implement the Central Bedfordshire Winter Fuel Allowance award. We're using the Household Support Fund to help to ease the pressure of rising living costs for those who are struggling the most. Pensioner households who qualify for the one-off payment will be contacted directly by the council.

Some of the pensioners on the lowest incomes will be given a £200 payment towards their household bills after a vote by Central Bedfordshire councillors.

Meteorologist Aidan McGivern delivers this weekend’s weather forecast, with an amber warning for snow and ice issued for certain areas - where 20cm of snow is possible and power cuts are likely.

It's been a quarter of a century since Bedford Blues welcomed Bath to Goldington Road, but Mike Rayer's men are now able to test themselves against the best on Saturday...

A couple from near Bedford have been named as a man and wife who died after a fatal collision on the A47.

At the awards ceremony held in London, Elizabeth Badu won the ‘Newly Qualified Adult Social Worker of the Year’ award and Holly Shreeves won the ‘Newly Qualified Children’s Social Worker of the Year’ award.

Photo caption: Elizabeth Badu (second from left) at the awards ceremony

Both Elizabeth and Holly worked for us in support roles before training to become social workers. Elizabeth joined us in 2016, working in various roles in children's services until qualifying as a social worker in November 2023. Holly joined us in 2020 and carried out a number of placements within children’s services, then began her journey to become a social worker in March 2023.

Established in 2006, the Social Worker of the Year Awards are designed to celebrate the outstanding achievements of practitioners and teams up and down the country. The finalists at the 2024 awards were chosen by panels of independent judges including previous award winners, social workers, industry leaders and people with lived experience of social work.

Photo caption: Holly Shreeves (third from left) at the awards ceremony

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

The recognition at the Social Worker of the Year Awards highlights the incredible talent and commitment of our newly qualified social workers. Their hard work and dedication have a real impact on the lives of children and families across Central Bedfordshire, and we’re proud of the contributions they are making to our community.

Councillor Mark Smith, our Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said:

We are thrilled to our social workers recognised on the national stage. These awards showcase the dedication and high standards that our newly qualified social workers bring to their roles, making a positive difference in the lives of our residents. It’s a proud moment that reflects the strength and commitment of our entire social care team.

The switching on of the Christmas lights in Bedford Town Centre planned for this weekend is being postponed. This is a breaking news story, more details will be added shortly...

An investigation by the Charity Commission into The Captain Tom Foundation found repeated instances of misconduct and/or mismanagement by his family, who set up the charity in his name.

A woman has been seriously injured in a collision in Cranfield on Tuesday (November 19).

Our Community Safety Team worked alongside Bedfordshire Police to carry out weapons sweeps in Leighton Buzzard, Biggleswade, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, Flitwick, Shefford, and Sandy, searching public areas to look for discarded or hidden weapons. The team found a number of items including drug paraphernalia, batons, and a hammer, which have all now been disposed of.

Members of the team visited several areas to speak to residents about knife crime, and visited a local college to talk to students about the risks and consequences of carrying knives.

The team also visited independent retailers, encouraging them to sign the ‘Central Bedfordshire Responsible Retailer Agreement’ on the safe storage and sale of knives. This agreement, a collaboration between us and Bedfordshire Police, aims to prevent knives from falling into the wrong hands. Larger chain stores and supermarkets are governed by separate national regulations under a primary authority system.

Councillor Steve Owen, our Executive Member for Community Safety, said:

Last week’s Operation Sceptre highlighted how vital it is to work with our partners to tackle knife crime and keep our communities safe. By teaming up with Bedfordshire Police, local businesses, and organisations like Bedfordshire’s Violence and Exploitation Reduction Unit (VERU), we’ve been able to take practical steps to remove weapons, educate young people, and raise awareness of the risks of carrying knives.

A Bedford drug dealer has been put behind bars after selling heroin and crack cocaine in Bedford town centre.

The switching on of the Christmas lights in Bedford Town Centre planned for this weekend is being postponed. This is a breaking news story, more details will be added shortly...

It’s not a case of cancelling Christmas – but this weekend’s lights switch-on event is being postponed due to predicted high winds.

You won’t want to miss out on today’s Google Doodle! 😍

Bedford Borough Council is inviting Bedfordians and local businesses to share their views on their budget proposals for 2025/26. The Council say they have ambitious plans that they...

Bedford & County athlete, Thaila-Jade Mason, 17, recovered from a slow start and injury to secure a dramatic bronze medal at the Schools International Pentathlon in Glasgow last weekend...

Bedford’s mayor, Tom Wootton, has been asked if permanently closing Oasis after council cash was spent on major renovations was doing his best.

Bedford Borough Council wants you to have your say over its plans for the next financial year – but has warned that it faces ‘difficult decisions’ and a £15.7million budget gap.

Bedford’s mayor, Tom Wootton, has been asked if permanently closing Oasis after council cash was spent on major renovations was doing his best. But the mayor said how Oasis was...

Anti-social behaviour is a blight on our communities says Bedfordshire Police as it reveals it receives around 1,000 reports every month.

Former Bedford School student, Emilio Gay is due to move up north to Durham for the new English cricket season in 2025 but his preparations for the new challenge continued as part...