Houghton Regis News Desk

Attack Scene: The alleyway between Eddiwick Avenue and Hillborough Crescent Police are investigating an attack on a woman in Houghton Regis that took place on Sunday April 21st in Tithe Farm. Three white males, aged about 17 or 18, one on a bike and with a scar on his face and having an Irish accent, stopped the woman in an alleyway near Eddiwick Avenue. The 43 year old was threatened with a knife and forced to hand over her money. Detective Constable Matt Shepherd, who is investigating the incident, is keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the attack or seen the offenders in the area either before or after the robbery, about 3.30pm. DC Shepherd said: “This was a very distressing attack on the victim who was extremely afraid of what the offenders may have done. I’d urge anyone who may have seen the offenders to get in contact with us as quickly as possible so we can stop them causing any more harm to residents in the town.” If you have information relating to this

Magistrates’ courts, based in Bedford and Luton, handed down 12,098 sentences to men, women and children during 2011, of which 443 were custodial. But the percentage of custodial sentences handed out varies from county to county. The maximum sentence that a magistrates’ court can impose is a six-month prison term, or up to 12 months in total for more than one offence. Ministry of Justice figures show that short-term prison sentences are failing to cut crime. Only 36 per cent of adults who began community orders between April 2010 and March 2011 went on to re-offend within a year. In contrast, 58 per cent of adults went on to re-offend after completing a prison sentence of 12 months or less during the same period. Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform , said: “A short-term prison sentence is a catastrophe for everyone. It does not help change the life of the person sentenced – indeed, it is likely to compound issues such as drug addiction and make them

TOP 2012 - November - 7th BOTTOM 2013 - April - 21st click to enlarge

Councillor Caroline Maudlin is the new Chairman of Central Bedfordshire Council. As Chairman, Cllr Maudlin will be an ambassador for the Council, representing the authority on civic visits and at ceremonial events. She will also raise funds and awareness for her chosen charity, Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Commenting on her new role, she says: "Having recently experienced breast cancer – I wanted to support Breakthrough Breast Cancer which is working to find a cure for a disease that affects many thousands of women and their families. As well as raising funds I also want to spread the message about prevention – particularly in a year when the council is taking responsibility for public health. It's about healthy lifestyles and regular self-examination so you get early treatment if you find anything out of the ordinary." Caroline  has served the Sandy ward since 2011.  She was one of the early members of cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic Airways where she's worked for t

The agreed highways work for Central Bedfordshire in 2013/14  has been issued. More than a million pounds has been allocated by Central Bedfordshire Council just for the resurfacing of Poynters Road from Luton Road to Park Road North. In all, this cash allocation is just under half the budget for all B and C class roads in the Central Beds area, and one ninth of all Highways works budget. Poynters Road work is expected to be scheduled to begin once the works in Houghton Regis High Street are completed. In other schemes affecting Houghton Regis,  £50,000 is allocated to create 20mph zones in residential areas of the town,  and incorporate any proposals for the High Street brought forward by Morrisons.  Agreed works  also include - a zebra crossing for Parkside Drive (£35,000);   - funds are allocated to improve key walking and cycling routes to work - Neighbourhood Improvement Schemes, Sandringham Drive, Houghton Rd, and routes to All Saints Academy (£75,000). - a  drainage scheme

Sarah Driscoll http://www.centralbedsutc.org enquiries@centralbedsutc.org 01582 867756 Kingsland Skills Centre, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire LU5 5PY Kingsland Skills Centre, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire LU5 5PY Central Bedfordshire’s University Technical College Appoints Sarah Driscoll as New Principal The Central Bedfordshire UTC, which promotes technical learning for 14-19 year-olds in engineering, design and technology, has appointed Sarah Driscoll as its new Principal. Sarah has been a part of the UTC since it opened in September 2012 and was a member of its leadership launch group. She said: “The UTC provides a fantastic opportunity for the young people of Central Bedfordshire and Luton to get qualifications rooted in employer and university learning to set them up for these careers. It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity to lead a school which provides students with such advantageous progression routes.” Sarah has worked in a seni

Volunteers today filled some 15 sacks of rubbish - mainly crisp packets, plastic bottles and fizzy drink cans - and removed sundry larger items from an area of Parkside in Houghton Regis.  The project was lead by Parkside ward Town Councillors, Peter Carrington and Alan Winter, as part of the HOUGHTON REGIS TOWN COUNCIL VISION 2011 – 2015, part of which is to enhance public places by facilitating community litter picks. (Download the TC's Vision - pdf file - http://www.houghtonregis.org.uk/downloads/HRTCVision.pdf ).  The approximate area cleared was Brentwood Close, Enfield Close, including the community garden by Sundon Road crossing. Is there an area of town you'd like to volunteer to help clear up?

The Central Bedfordshire Council meet on 18th April. Among their deliberations will be a recommendation to accept the Draft Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan Pre-submission (May 2013). This Plan sets out how the Council will meet Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation needs in Central Bedfordshire until 2018, with aspirational figures to 2031. This presubmission Plan will be subject to formal consultation. Any representations received will be considered by a Planning Inspector, following submission to the Secretary of State (anticipated in October 2013). It is expected that following the Examination process and the consideration of the Inspector’s Report, the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan will be adopted in July 2014. The Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan aims to identify 157 Gypsy and Traveller pitches and 22 Travelling Showpeople plots throughout the CBC area, to be delivered between 2013 and 2031 to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Trav

Luton town hall, a reminder of a one fingered salute. © A D Winter 2013 The proposed redevelopment north of Houghton Regis may yet be scuppered by Luton Borough Council. They have concern over the size of the shopping proposals required to serve the 5150 new homes. Luton Borough Council feel that the vitality of their own major and minor retail areas could be jeopardised. In the proposals for North of Houghton Regis a large supermarket and other retail offering would be  centred  around new roads to the south of the M1 J11a (near the present day Chalton Cross Farm, Sundon Roa d).  Another key issue is that Luton wants access to up to 50% of the affordable housing to be built in the North of Houghton Regis to enable them to address some of their acute housing needs. And some assurances over transport integration. April 15th is the date of the Luton meeting where these concerns will be raised.  Luton fell out with Central Bedfordshire Council  over The Joint Core Strategy  in 2

An area known as The Paddocks has today officially become a  public amenity space, and will be owned in freehold by Houghton Regis Town Council. The space will be managed through Central Bedfordshire Council by The Wildlife Trust. On a bitterly cold morning with snowflakes falling around them, a hardy bunch of council officials, councillors, and representatives of the Wildlife Trust, met up for the official opening ceremony of The Paddocks, adjacent to Blow's Down. Councillor David Jones (Mayor of Houghton Regis), and Councillor Pat Staples (Mayor of Dunstable) cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony. The Busway acquired land from Dog Kennel Downs in Houghton Regis and impacted on the wildlife and ecology along the old railway corridor between Luton and Dunstable.  The Busway project includes an agreement with the Wildlife Trust to maintain and promote a number of plots of land in the Blows Down area for the next 60 years, and a cheque for over £1 million was

Charges have gone up at London Luton airport. It now costs £2 for 15 minutes to drop off and pick up people outside the airport terminal building. But a little known FREE car park also exists. The airport's website says they have a free parking area where people can also board a free shuttle bus to the airport. But if you park in that special area longer than 30 minutes, charges do apply. So, next time you go, wise up at the airport!  twt http://www.london-luton.co.uk/en/carparkmap/

A factual story based on an inaccurate story published yesterday by  http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk Houghton Regis Heritage blog was set up by local resident Alan Winter to hold notes of his investigations into the rich history and importance of the town. Writer Alan Winter, who also writes the Houghton Regis News Desk blog – presents his research findings on his associated blog. On the blog he details the argument in favour of the town hosting a market. Featuring photographs and maps from generations ago, the blog will appeal to any of Houghton’s sons and daughters interested in their town’s past. Mr Winter spoke with a Bidwell farmer about some old photos he had found depicting Drury Lane. He said: “I had a little chuckle when he mentioned that in the past he drove his cows up the road, along the High Street and down the side of the Village Green. I wonder what today’s folks would make of that?” The blog even features a detailed timeline of the town that goes ba