Could You Be A Dementia Friend?

A groundbreaking scheme to raise awareness and understanding of dementia is winging its way to Central Bedfordshire.

The Dementia Friends initiative, run by national charity Alzheimer’s Society, aims to improve public knowledge of dementia by helping people understand what living with the condition might be like, and the small things they could to make a difference to people living in their community.

This could be something as simple as being able to recognise someone with dementia and help them get on the right bus.

Locally we are on the lookout for people to volunteers as Dementia Friends. Anyone of any age can become one and there are lots of reasons why you might want to volunteer.

Perhaps you have a job that means you might have contact with people who you think might have dementia, at public contact points, meetings or directly supporting? Or maybe you want to learn more about the condition so you can better understand the needs of family members, a friend or neighbour? Whatever the reason, you’ll be making a difference.

Sue Wilson, Bedfordshire Dementia Friend Champion, said: "Raising awareness and reducing the stigma of dementia is vitally important, not only to support the one in three people who will have dementia at some point in their lives, but to make the lives of those who care for them less stressful. We owe it to our parents, ourselves and our children to know enough and to care enough".

If you are interested in becoming a Dementia Friend and joining thousands of others up and down the country, then you’ll need to register online and then attend a ‘Dementia Friends Information Session’.

Each session lasts about an hour, and you’ll learn much more about how you can help create a dementia friendly community where you live.

• There is a session being held in Hitchin on the 28th October. See http://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/session/detail/id/2141
• Session in Luton on 29th November. See www.dementiafriends.org.uk/session/detail/id/2142

For more information or to book online visit the Dementia Friends website at www.dementiafriends.org.uk/session .

The web site also has details of additional courses that are also being offered.

Dates set For Woodside Connection Hearings

Dates have been set aside for hearings for the examination of the application by Central Bedfordshire COuncil for a Development Consent Order for the proposed Woodside Link.

The road would connect Woodside Industrial Estate in Houghton Regis to the planned Junction 11A of the M1. Almost 2.5km of new road would be built as a single carriageway, with the remainder as dual carriageway. The express purpose of the road would be to reduce traffic in Houghton Regis and Dunstable, especially HGVs accessing Woodside Industrial Estate.

Plans and other details

This Week's News for Houghton Regis to 13 October 2013

Dunstablians Rugby photos by Anthony McGill ~pictures and comments

Pride of Houghton Award Winners ~ photos ~ pictures and comments

Travellers take to the bus to get to and from the footie ~ picture and comments

SUNDAY BLOGS: Cycling in this area, and the work being done by CBC Travel Choices.

RSPCA are looking for anyone with information about who may have dumped two cats at Georgina petrol station

NEW POLICY ON SEX ESTABLISHMENT VENUES IS MORE IN TUNE WITH WHAT PEOPLE WANT

MP Andrew Selous, "Dunstable, the crumpet capital"

Has anyone tried the latest incarnation of the Indian restaurant on the square?

Arrangements are to be put in place to make Easthill Road, Houghton Regis into two-way traffic for cyclists only. The road is currently one-way for all traffic. A green high friction surface, with white lines around the outside, will further highlight the cycle route.

Walking in Houghton Hall Park at Houghton Regis

A number of high wattage, high maintenance, orange glow lanterns currently situated in Houghton Regis will be replaced with more cost effective ones.The new ‘Induction’ lanterns will provide a white light instead of the bleak orange. The work is expected to finish before the end of the year.Various roads affected: 

Tithe Farm (Yew, Thornhill, Hillborough Crescent, Leaf, Churchfield, Delmont, Vicarage, Camp, Beech, Meadow, Park. Also Cemetery and Dunstable Roads. Parkside: Fensome, Henley, Rosedale, Conway, Hammersmith Close. Story and comments

HOUGHTON ROAD: Construction works to widen the footway in order to provide a shared pedestrian/cycle facility from Cemetery Road to All Saints Academy are due to start on Tuesday 1st October 13. Works are likely to take approximately 12 weeks to complete but will be suspended during the Christmas period and restart in January. Comments

Taylor Wimpey plan 190 new homes - public consultation announced for 17th and 18th October from 5pm. Story and comments

Tribute to 81 year Winnie Smith from St Andrew's Lane, who died 9 days after being attacked by 40 year old Darren Emerson, in March this year. Story and comment

A local private hire cab driver who collected non-booked fares and transported passengers without insurance has been prosecuted by Central Bedfordshire Council Public Protection team. The driver, Tasir Hussain Shah (62) of Lincoln Road, Luton, was ordered to pay £450 costs by the court. Story and comment

Craft Fair 11th October. poster and comment

Does your 4 year old know enough? What are your thoughts on parenting? And before you reply, have a read at these words of wisdom story and comment

PCC looks to charging more Council Tax, increasing Police use of I.T. and closing Police Stations. Story and comments

Motorway junction / Woodside link - reader comment

dog fouling in Houghton Hall park - reader comment

dog, has gone missing from the Vicarage - reader comment

Addressing the Mayor 

80 police officers to be recruited to keep Bedfordshire Police Service at the level it should be at. Story and comment

Growing Celebrated At Houghton Regis Day Centre

A celebration event was held in Houghton Regis on Tuesday this week to mark the first season of a new growing project for people with a learning disability.

The gardening project has  been running since March 2013. Customers at the Townsend Day Centre have been involved in a weekly horticultural and therapeutic gardening session. Additionally the group improved their communication, socialisation and independent living skills.

Over the last 30 weeks, 15 customers from the Day Centre have each learnt about different aspects of gardening; maintaining soil, the importance of watering, sowing seeds, nurturing plants and harvesting crops.

The project received funding from Baily Thomas Charitable Trust, Central Bedfordshire Council, Houghton Regis Town Council, Tesco Charity Trust, Boots plc, and Mrs Karen Lara. The project was set up by Central Bedfordshire Council and local environmental charity Groundwork Luton & Bedfordshire.

If you’re interested in Groundwork running a growing project with you, or for more information about the project, please contact Natalie Sutterby at Groundwork – Natalie.sutterby@groundwork.org.uk / 01582 720147 / 07887 867771.

Olly Tells Houghton Regis Town Council He Has to Make Savings

The Police and crime commissioner, Olly Martins last night addressed a meeting of Houghton Regis Town Council for over an hour.

He gave a talk about his role as Bedfordshire's Commissioner, giving those present an idea of his day-to-day work. At one point he referred to acting like a "yo-yo". It is believed this was a reference to attending a meeting in Bedford, travelling to Luton for another meeting, travelling back to Bedford for another, then back home to Luton. He said this was not a good use of his time ordinarily, but had believed it important to attend all the meetings.

The commissioner explained that crime figures were generally going down. 80 police officers were to be recruited just to keep the Bedfordshire force at the level that it needed to be at.

Mr Martins went on to explain how he intended to make savings of £7.5million, on top of the £15million taken out of the police budget since 2010, to meet intended cuts by HM Treasury.

Olly talked through his 5 point plan to tackle the funding gap.
1. There would be more collaboration between adjacent policing authorities.
2. More use would be made of  volunteers.
3. He would seek to increase the amount of council tax levied on local households.
4. He would encourage greater use of Information Technology in the local police force.
5. He would look to reduce the cost of running buildings.

Houghton Regis Town Councillors cross-questioned the Commissioner, imparticular raising concerns about what the closure of Houghton Regis Police Station in Sundon Road might mean for the town.

The Commissioner said that he had consulted widely with the public about his proposals. An official public survey had ended on October 1st.  Mr Martins had not yet had sight of those findings, so was unable to indicate what may or may not be happening.