Houghton Regis News Desk

Consultation Period A space in Moore Crescent is proposed for building on. CB/12/03822/FULL - Land adjacent 11 Moore Crescent, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5GZ - Attached house with two car parking bays CB/12/04264/FULL - Thomas Whitehead Lower School, Angels Lane, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5HH  - Retention of temporary classroom portacabin (Application 07/1028) CB/12/04046/FULL - Mobile Home At, Thorn Green Farm, Thorngreen Farm Road, Houghton Regis - Removal of a mobile home, demolition of a barn and erection of a Granny Annex (Resubmission of CB/12/01991) CB/12/03935/FULL - Houghton Regis Lower School, St Michaels Avenue, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5DH - Internal works to create two classrooms and provision of school offices etc. Awaiting Decisions CB/12/04006/ADV - Bierrum House, 105-111 High Street, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5BJ - Advertisement Consent: 2 x Banners Decided CB/12/03915/FULL - 67 Conway Close, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU

grey=old  blue=new Information has been received this afternoon that indicates some interim road improvements at High Street and Bedford Road junction, as well as other parts of the   road scheme. This follows several weeks of letters initiated by Liberal Democrat Central Bedfordshire Councillors for Houghton Regis following concerns over road safety. A young man is known to have been knocked down, and emergency services attended, shortly after the scheme was introduced. A significant contribution to effecting change, was the passing back to Bedfordshire Highways, of comments made by members of the public on this Facebook Page. Cllr Alan Winter, Houghton Regis Town Council's Highways rep, "At the present time, the scheme is only partially implemented, and works are due to restart in the new year. Nevertheless, aspects of safety have been been reconsidered by the highways professionals, and there are promises that before Christmas, these improvements will be made. As

Central Bedfordshire Council received a large number of representations, both opposed to and in support of the proposed 7.5 tonne weight restriction in this area. The matter will be discussed at Central Bedfordshire Council’s Traffic Management meeting on 7 January 2013 at Watling House in Dunstable at 2pm.

By Alan Winter.  The Council approved the minutes of the previous meeting of 22nd October. That had been called especially to consider aspects of the proposed CBC changes to Council Tax , and how this might affect people on benefits. The Town Council  passed a resolution supporting the protection from the changes for current pensioners and future pensioners who might claim support; supported the withdrawal of discounts from those with second homes, empty or repossessed properties. The Council did not support "the proposed reductions in council tax benefit which impact on those on Income Support or Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, receiving Employment and Support Allowance or have low earnings or income are not supported. These households have restricted budgets and any reduction is likely to have a major detrimental impact. Central Bedfordshire Council are urged to 1. consider alternative ways of recovering all the reduction in funding from Central Government; 2. utilize all

Work is currently underway on the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan for Central Bedfordshire that will set out how Central Bedfordshire Council will meet the accommodation needs of the Gypsy and Traveller Community and the Travelling Showpeople Community up to 2031.  The site assessment process outlined at Overview and Scrutiny on 10th April 2012 is nearing completion and the draft Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan (including potential sites) is expected to go to Overview and Scrutiny on 28th February 2013 for comment.  The document will then go to CB Executive and Full Council before it is published in May. Following publication there will be a 6 week consultation period where interested parties will have the opportunity to comment on the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan.  

Money from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund bid is being used to improve this cycle route which runs along Dog Kennel Walk, to Houghton Green, and then broadly follows the route of the brook to Leagrave. New directional signs are to be installed giving the time it takes to get to the destination, rather than the distance. Apparently this is preferred by cyclists.

This report, of the Police Report to the Houghton Regis Town Council meeting on Monday 3rd December was written by guest writer, Tracey McMahon. Joel PCSO attended (all on his lonesome) the TC Meeting on Monday night with an update from the police on local crime. The Sept/Oct [crime] report is 1.1 per cent UP on previous month, but DOWN overall 23 per cent on this time last year. There has been a decrease in serious crimes, burglaries, domestic abuse, violence against persons etc...Theft is also down, criminal damage is also down, as are robberies. They have put initiatives together, targeting specific individuals, and patrolling specific areas. Operation PEAK, targets suspects across the whole county, in marked vehicles and with plain clothed officers. There have been quite a few arrests from this initiative. Over the last 28 days, 4 robberies have occurred involving theft of personal property, the last occurred on 20th Nov. Since then, more officers have been drafted into th

VOLUNTEERS! Dates for your diaries added for January and March for outdoor volunteer activity see http://is.gd/hrdiary Specifically see the leaflet from The Wildlife trusts at https://docs.google.com/open?id=1m9F6cGW4JlnzawtNR5gmys38ezYv6zIDg1p9GtNJ4paQAvybxFhW5gHRi4qz

NEWS DESK'S HOUGHTON HALL PARK SURVEY    Take our survey . Currently the main users of this Park are dog walkers.  There are preliminary proposals from Central Bedfordshire Council and Greensand Trust to create more facilities, including a new building with a café, improve the deteriorating heritage aspects, and make the Park more attractive for everyone to use.  How should it change to get you to use it more frequently? Maybe you think "leave it as it is".  Not even sure where it is? The entrance to it is off Park Road North, Houghton Regis.  So what do you think about these ideas?  Take the Houghton Regis News Desk Survey on Houghton Hall Park.  Learn about the heritage associated with the Park Take the Survey The survey is now closed. Here are the compiled results: Q1.  How recently have you taken a walk around Houghton Hall Park? Q2. Are you proud of the open space of Houghton Hall Park? Q3. Dog walkers are the current primary

Don't Drink and Drive this Christmas.  Bedfordshire Police have announced that they will be out in force now until the new year, carrying out breath tests and, where relevant, Field Impairment Tests* (FIT) to all drivers involved in any road collisions they attend. They will be on the looking for any suspicious driving and will stop and check anyone suspected of committing a driving offence, as part of their usual patrols. Police are also working with the Courts and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to expedite some drink drive cases to court during the campaign. Anyone found  guilty could lose their licence before Christmas . Police advise the following alternatives to drink driving: • Drivers , drink non-alcoholic drinks. Don't risk it by thinking you can get away with having one glass of wine or a pint of beer – you cannot calculate your limit so don’t try to. • Take it in turns to be the driver on nights out. • Taxis and buses are possibly more costly than yo

Another broken bus shelter panel has been reported in Parkside Drive this Sunday morning. From December 3rd 2012 it will be illegal for scrap merchants to buy metal for cash. Scrap dealers will have to record details of who any payments are made to. Fraud victims, whether an individual or a business you can contact Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or going online to www.actionfraud.police.uk Any community or voluntary organisation which supports and benefits residents of Dunstable is urged to apply for a grant from the Dunstable Town Council. http://www.dunstable.gov.uk/news/2012/oct/community-grant-scheme/ Watch Romulus and Remus at Mead Open Farm's Reindeer Cam from 11 until 5.30.pm until 23rd December at http://www.meadopenfarm.co.uk/reindeercam.htm Father Christmas can't go shopping this year as shopkeepers are refusing entry to hoodies. Instead he has a team of helpers who have been working all year round without a break. It's not good for his 'e