As is right and proper, announcements about new Government policies were paused during the national period of mourning.
We now look forward to the new Government, headed by Liz Truss who has moved quickly to announce very significant help with energy bills over the next two years for hard-pressed households and a six-month scheme for most business organisations including charities and public bodies.
Then, on Friday during the fiscal event, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced exciting new policies to accelerate economic growth. This included new Investment Zones in 38 local authority areas, including Central Bedfordshire. We are working hard with government to introduce these as soon as possible.
We want to encourage more opportunities to enable our residents to work closer to home and to have rewarding employment. Investment Zones can help us to achieve this.
A possible location could be an 84-acre site in Cranfield where Marshall’s are considering relocating from Cambridge. They would join an existing cutting-edge research and aerospace innovation community. Enabling this to happen at speed will expand local employment and training opportunities.
We are also looking at several other potential sites across Central Bedfordshire and I look forward to sharing more details about this exciting initiative over the coming months.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a new Sovereign has acceded to the Throne.
Charles became our King on the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Yesterday (Saturday 10th September) at the Accession Council which took place at St James’s Palace, he was formally proclaimed King Charles III.
A proclamation ceremony for the county of Bedfordshire took place earlier today in Bedford. This afternoon at 3.30pm the Vice-Chair of Central Bedfordshire Council read out the proclamation at Priory House. It was a great honour to be able to attend both events.
It was clear from our new King’s first address to the nation that he shares the same values as his mother; he vowed to serve the whole nation with loyalty, respect and love. His Majesty has always taken a keen and active interest in all areas of public life with a particular passion about protecting the environment for future generations.
Following the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II, His Majesty King Charles III, will continue to inspire and lead our nation.
I’m sure everyone is very much aware of the extreme heat we’re experiencing today and tomorrow.
Whilst we are used to fluctuating temperatures during our British summers, the heatwave this week is unprecedented. Following the Met Office red weather alert on Friday we’ve been sharing information and advice on how to stay cool and keeping hydrated.
For some people, particularly the vulnerable, the extreme heat can be dangerous. We have several ‘cool spaces’ open for people to keep cool and out of the heat. Even though these places are available to all, we ask that you offer these to anyone vulnerable first, and only to come if it is safe to travel to these buildings. Buildings include some of our libraries and leisure centres, the full list is below.
Building Name
Building Address
Opening Times
Sandy Library
Market Square, Sandy, SG19 1EH
Saturday 9am to 4pm Sunday: Closed Monday: 9am to 6pm (Cool Space only no Library service) Tuesday: 9am to 6pm
Stotfold Library
Hitchin Road, Stotfold, SG5 4GP
Saturday 9am to 4pm Sunday: Closed Monday: 9am to 6pm (Cool Space only no Library service) Tuesday: 9am to 1pm
Shefford Library
High Street, Shefford, SG17 5DD
Saturday 9am to 4pm Sunday: Closed Monday: 9am to 6pm (Cool Space only no Library service) Tuesday: 9am to 6pm
Saturday 9am to 4pm Sunday: Closed Monday: 9am to 6pm (Cool Space only no Library service) Tuesday: 9am to 6pm
Dunstable Library
The Dunstable Centre, Court Drive. Dunstable, LU5 4JD
Saturday: 9 to 4pm Sunday: 9 to 4pm Monday to Friday: 9 to 6pm
Dunstable Leisure Centre
The Dunstable Centre, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4JD
Saturday: 7am to 7pm Sunday: 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday: 6am to 10-pm
Flitwick Leisure Centre
Steppingley Road, Flitwick, MK45 1TH
Saturday: 8am to 8pm Sunday: 7am to 9om Monday to Friday: 6am to 10:30pm
Houghton Regis Leisure Centre
Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, LU5 5PY
Saturday: 8am to 6:30pm Sunday: 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday: 6:30am to 10pm
Sandy Sports Centre
Engayne Avenue, Sandy, SG19 1BL
Saturday and Sunday: 8am to 10pm Monday to Friday: 6am to 10pm
Saxon Leisure Centre in Biggleswade
Saxon Drive, Biggleswade, SG18 8SU
Saturday: 7:30am to 6pm Sunday: 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday: 6am to 10pm
Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre
Mentmore Drive, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2AF
Saturday: 7am to 7pm Sunday: 7:30am to 9pm Monday to Friday: 6am to 10pm
We’re also in close contact with colleagues in the NHS to ensure we share information such as making use of the NHS 111 service to help keep the pressure off the hospitals.
The heat is also impacting some of our services. This week, our bin crews will be out a little earlier so that they too can avoid the extreme heat later in the day and we’ve been rearranging our roadworks schedule so we are only carrying out small-scale fixes which require no tarmacking.
During extreme heat, we work with Noah Enterprise, who support rough sleepers with severe weather advice, water, sun cream, and other resources. You can let us know someone is sleeping rough through the StreetLink app, on the phone (day) 0300 300 4370, on the phone (out of hours) 0300 300 8098. If someone sleeping rough appears seriously unwell and you think they may need urgent medical assistance, call 999.
We know some schools may need to close and headteachers will make this decision based on their facilities. Schools will let parents know directly if they close.
There may be some disruption to public transport, so if travel is necessary, keep a careful eye on the real-time displays at bus stops and train websites. If you do need to travel, take water with you and make use of local cool spaces if you need to.
The extreme heat is only due to last a couple of days and everyone can help by checking in on vulnerable friends, relatives, and neighbours.
Whilst the council invests millions every year building facilities like schools, leisure centres, roads and care homes, we also recognise the value of smaller, community led facilities. That’s why we run schemes to provide financial support to boost these important local services.
Voluntary, community and not-for-profit groups can apply for our Community Asset Grant of up to £25,000 to improve or provide new community facilities. 44 projects have been supported for a range of projects including refurbishing a cricket clubhouse, new children’s play area, church solar panels and wheelchair accessible minibuses.
Ward councillors also have £2,000 that they can allocate to local projects that demonstrate a community benefit. Councillors can also work together across a ward to combine their grants if that’s what is most needed. These grants have been used to pay for new camping equipment for scout groups, podcast equipment for a youth group, picnic benches for a memorial hall, polytunnels for a community garden and much more.
Whether it’s a cultural, environmental, sporting, or social project, large or small we want to help you.
Supporting local community-based groups is incredibly important to making Central Bedfordshire a great place to live. These groups are often run by volunteers who, as was evident in the pandemic, can be the backbone of our communities.
Earlier this month it was Volunteer Week; throughout the week we celebrated our local heroes and the week culminated in a special Cheering Volunteering event where we thanked these amazing individuals and groups for the excellent support they have provided to our communities.
Over 150 volunteers joined us for afternoon tea at the Rufus Centre in Flitwick. The event included stalls and wellbeing sessions to provide volunteers with treats and advice. It seemed a very fitting way of saying thank you for all their time and commitment they give to help others.
An extended bank holiday weekend is approaching to mark 70 years of the Queen’s reign.
To celebrate this unprecedented anniversary, events and initiatives within our community, as well as nationally, have been taking place throughout the year. This is culminating in the holiday from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June which provides an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate this historic milestone.
You may have already seen posters in your local community or received an invitation through the post notifying you of an event in your area. You can also discover events taking place near you on the Platinum Jubilee Map and also submit details if you are hosting your own event.
Town and Parish councils across Central Bedfordshire have events planned, including Houghton Regis which is holding a free Jubilee and Beacon Lighting event for the community, a Jubilee Laser show in Flitwick, a Firework display in Leighton-Linslade and a Big Jubilee Picnic in Barton-Le-Clay.
Across the country, trees have also been planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC). I was delighted to join a tree planting event at Jubilee Wood in Biggleswade led by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis, last October. The idea is to increase and protect the native tree cover and create this ‘special gift’ for the Queen.
The Council has held several tree giveaways and the response was fantastic. Hawthorn, birch, and maple field trees were handed out; over 16,000 trees have been planted and over 1,000 metres of hedgerow across Central Bedfordshire.
If you want to get involved, it’s not too late. In line with the tree planting season, the Council are going to be giving more trees away in the Autumn.
I wish you all a relaxing Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend.
Welcome to Cllr Richard Wenham's blog 