NEWS ROUND-UP for 23 March 2012

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 Posted by Alan Winter on March 23, 2012

Houghton Regis Leisure Centre will be closed between April 1 and April 15 for a £100,000 refurbishment.

MARKET STALLS
There could soon be four market stalls on a Friday, at Bedford Sq. Houghton Regis. The Town Council's Management committee last night agreed to go ahead with advertising plans for stall holders to apply to take part in a four week trial starting in May. If that is successful it is expected to become a weekly regular pull to keep trade in the town.

                               BUSWAY ART PROJECT
  BBC3CR presenter Roberto Perone liked the idea of having a giant flamingo,  as there was once a large paper mache flamingo at the Queensway Hall! Do contribute your thoughts and ideas! The highlighted picture below has something to do with the duck bridge in Dunstable.

    BUSWAY SHELTERS
    As part of Guided Busway project, 32 bus stops on the 38 route through Houghton Regis are soon to be upgraded with raised kerbs and real time information saying when the next bus is coming. Some bus shelters may be replaced. Work will start in about 3 weeks time. Temporary bus stops may be provided close to the original bus stop site.



THOUGHT: If the busway buses allowed people to take bicycles on them imagine how much easier it would be to get from A to B.
COMMUNITY DIABETES SERVICE
Houghton Regis Medical Centre in Peel Street is to provide a new Community Diabetes Service. Patients will not have to travel to the L&D any longer. GPs and healthcare professionals will be able to make referrals locally. Diabetes is estimated to affect 22,500 people in Bedfordshire, mainly caused by unhealthy lifestyles and a rise in obesity.
TOWN CENTRE DEVELOPMENT
A ten week delay to the intended start of works on the new Morrisons store, Houghton Regis means that the store is unlikely to open before November. Difficulties arose arranging for utility meters to be turned off in former industrial units on the High Street site.
Meanwhile, the activities of a car business, in neighbouring King Street, were discussed by concerned town councillors at two meetings this week.
The word on the Co-op site, leased by Central Beds Council and destroyed by  fire in 2006,  is that it is being dealt with by Central Bedfordshire Council's legal team, and an outcome will not be soon.  A definitive statement is awaited from the authority.
FIXING YOUR STREET!
For the period February - through to 9th March locals in Houghton Regis have registered 118 instances of work required to be done by the CBC agents, Amey. They deal with things like roads, trees, footpaths, lighting. To report a problem in your street go to the new-lookhttp://fixmystreet.com - but don't be alarmed by the large number of incident flags for Houghton Regis, it just means that local people are very good at reporting things! For a copy of the incidents spreadsheet, please use the CONTACT link on the left hand panel.
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A New Secondary School For Houghton Regis

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Report by Alan D Winter
An application has been submitted that seeks to deliver a new 900 pupil place secondary school at the Kingsland site in Parkside, Houghton Regis. 
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Go Houghton Restaurant to be Sold

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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT 
It is with deepest regret we announce that we have taken the decision to sell Go Houghton Bar & Restaurant. This was one of the hardest business decisions we have had to make and one which was not taken lightly. There were a number of factors outside of our control which have made us make this decision.
Our foremost priority was to secure the jobs of our fabulous team at GO and we have achieved that by selling the business to a new restaurant operator which allows the staff to transfer with the business.
The new operator has exciting plans for the new site, and we hope you can all support them and the team going forward.
We would like to say THANK YOU again to our entire team and all of our amazing customers for the fabulous journey over the past 5 years, without you, none of this would have been possible.
The full announcement can be found on the below image.
For any queries, please contact info@gohoughton.com
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£1.3m Tithe Farm Recreation Ground Sports Project

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Houghton Regis Town Council has been developing a scheme of improvement for Tithe Farm Recreation Ground at a provisional cost of £1,350,000A report to the Environment and Leisure Committee last week told councillors that so far the project comprises: an all-weather pitch, new changing rooms and car parking on Tithe Farm recreation ground 
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Council Leader's Guide to Spotting Covid-secure Venues

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CBC's environmental health team have produced a guide on what to look out for during the pandemicThis article has been withdrawn. Please refer to:
- GOV.UK
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/maintaining-records-of-staff-customers-and-visitors-to-support-nhs-test-and-trace#sectors-that-this-guidance-applies-to
- CBChttps://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/26/public_health/737/coronavirus_-_covid-19





If you have news for Houghton Regis, please send it in

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Give blood during the Easter holidays

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Council Goes Into Private Session to Discuss new CBC Chief Executive's Renumeration

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Following an extensive recruitment process, Central Bedfordshire Council has confirmed the appointment of its new Chief Executive, Marcel Coiffait.

Council - Thursday, 24th September 2020 at 6:30pm - Central Bedfordshire Council Webcasting Cllr James Jamieson moved a motion 'to seek approval of the appointment of a Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) for Central Bedfordshire Council, in accordance with the recommendation of the Appointment Sub Committee.'
1.approve the recommendation of the Appointments Sub-Committee held on Monday 21 September 2020 to appoint Marcel Coiffait to the post of Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) of Central Bedfordshire Council;
2.note the constitutional requirement that the Head of Paid Service is also the Council’s Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer; and
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Angry Resident Wants Peace Back as Chalk Pit Tourism Takes Off

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By Alan Winter updated 27 May

 An irate resident has contacted Houghton Regis News Desk to vent their frustrations about visitors to the Chalk Pit clogging up their unadopted roads.

The resident, who did not want to be named, wrote, “As a resident on Fieldstone, we’re after some help. The quarry has been advertised on social media so it now has visitors from a wide area. They are blocking our residential roads, leaving rubbish and glass everywhere in the quarry. Having BBQs, drinking and meeting for social gatherings. They are drinking and dancing in the streets gone 11pm. There needs to be parking and the quarry managed before all the recent hard work is undone. We want peace back.

“This parking and quarry issue has been going on for the last few weeks after advertising has appeared on social media. We heard someone say they had driven from Milton Keynes, and a neighbour has stated that 5 people he knows from Hemel Hempstead have attended. Just this morning, a friend from work saw it …
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L&D Hospital Mani Car Park Closes From 13 July - Bigger Car Park To Be Built

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Parking for visitors and patients at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital will get a welcome boost by the end of the year, as work gets underway on a new four-level car park on the footprint of the existing Lewsey Road car park.
The new car park will double the current provision for patients and visitors, and also provide more accessible parking as well as bicycle parking for patients, visitors and staff.










The new design will also improve the flow of cars, and reduce queuing and congestion on Lewsey Road.
The existing main visitor and patient car park (on Lewsey Road, opposite the main entrance to the hospital), will be closing on Monday 13 July.
Alternative parking will be available on site, in Farringdon Fields, off Calnwood Road. The Trust is reallocating staff spaces for the period.
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Report by Alan D Winter
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The proposed new school would initially share the wider CBC site with a Leisure Centre, a Technical College and a SEND School. There would be an opportunity for various site users to share each other’s skills, knowledge, and facilities. 


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Initial designs have been produced for a new 1,120 place secondary school, to be built on the Kingsland Campus, Houghton Regis, for September 2022. The proposal includes all the specialist and non-specialist teaching space required, as well as providing a sports hall, outdoor sports provision and car parking. The external appearance of the school buildings is subject to further design work. 
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Bidwell Heights - Go Ahead for New Build Despite Crime Concerns

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A development of 336 homes has been given the go ahead under delegated powers by Central Bedfordshire Council despite Bedfordshire Police having concerns that the layout would encourage crime.

The site is situated between the SSSI Houghton Regis Chalk Pit edge and Blue Waters woodland.




Bedfordshire Police Liaison Objected to the scheme, 'as it is considered that the proposed layout and design would present opportunities for crime'.

See planning layout - (pdf)

Another key concern came from Wildlife Trusts BCN who also drew attention to anti-social behaviour. Their concerns are listed as,

'Concerns regarding development so close to the chalk cliffs associated with the SSSI. The Trust strongly recommend that a robust engineering operation is designed and incorporated into the plans, at this stage of the process, to ensure that the stability of the chalk cliff is not weakened as part of any development that takes place in this location. The Trust also consider that there should…
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Houghton Regis Academy Closure - Public Meeting 10 March

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Updated 2 March 2020

The Secretary of State for Education, in mutual agreement with the Trust, has now made the substantive and final decision to proceed to the closure of Houghton Regis Academy.  However, in order to reduce the impact of the closure,  a proposed closure transition plan has been agreed to which means the Academy will remain open for some year groups until 31 August 2022.

There will now be a ‘listening period’. The listening period is an opportunity for stakeholders and interested parties such as pupils, parents and staff to be provided with more information about the proposed closure process. It is also an opportunity for stakeholders to submit their views on how the process can best be managed. This period started today, 28 February, and will end at 5pm on 27 March 2020.

Parkside ward Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) councillor said, “I am aware of the concern the current position will be causing pupils, parents and the wider community at Houghton Regis. I am worki…
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Plans For 66 bed care Home, Nursery & Shops at Lower Thorn Village

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(updated 14 June 2020)As part of the already approved outline development plans for the Lower Thorn area of Houghton Regis, detailed planning applications are now being submitted for a local centre. A decision for these applications is hoped for by mid-August 2020.
Houghton Regis Town Council will discuss the plans on Tuesday 16th June. A final decision will be made by Central Bedfordshire Council. The Town Council's virtual meeting agenda is available to download. If you wish to participate in this meeting you will need to supply an email address before 3pm on the day of the meeting in order to attend virtually by emailing your request. Instructions on Remote Meeting Guidance can be found here.
In all, three planning applications have been submitted to develop a local integrated centre on behalf of  HDD Houghton Regis Retail Limited. 



1. 66 Bed Care Home A 66-bed care home and its associated car park, means of access and landscaping.  Split over 3 floors. If permission were granted…
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Police Appeal After Man Robbed in Houghton Regis

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Bedfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was robbed in Houghton Regis.
At around 10pm on Saturday 1st August, the man was on Bedford Square, near the park, when he was approached by five offenders. The group attacked the victim and stole his phone, his bank card, and a quantity of cash.
During the attack, the victim sustained superficial cuts to his face, stomach and forearm, which required medical attention but are not serious or life-threatening.
The offenders are described as young men, wearing face masks with their hoods up, riding bikes.
PC Helen Pecorini, investigating, said: “Thankfully the victim only suffered minor injuries, but was left distressed by this incident. We are appealing to anyone in the area who may have the offenders before or after the incident.”
Anyone who can offer any help in this matter is asked to get in contact with the police, or contact Crimestoppers.  Alternatively, information about this incident can be reported via police reporting webs…
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Amazon Prime Scam Has Cost Victims More Than £1m

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Bedfordshire Police is issuing a fraud warning after a number of Bedfordshire residents fell victim to a scam, with one losing their entire life savings.

Action Fraud has reported that the scam was first reported in October 2019 and since has cost the victims more than £1 million.

The scam is carried out by phone call, with the victim receiving an automated phone message that they have been charged for an Amazon Prime subscription.

How It Works They are subsequently instructed to ‘press 1’ to cancel the transaction. When they do this, they are directed to a fraudster posing as an Amazon customer service representative.

The fraudster advises the victim that their subscription was purchased fraudulently and that remote access to their computer is required in order to fix a security flaw that will prevent it from reoccurring.

The unsuspecting victim then downloads software which grants the scammers remote access to their computer, including personal and financial information.

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Houghton Regis local news, events, council news, going on in Houghton Regis and nearby villages, Bedfordshire, UK. Editor Alan Winter

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