Houghton Regis News Desk

Young politicians take part in House of Commons Debate 25-11-2013 Two Members of the Youth Parliament from Central Bedfordshire joined 300 young people from across the UK at the House of Commons for the UK Youth Parliament’s Annual Sitting last week. Eighteen year-old George Nodwell from Tempsford and sixteen year-old Nathan Marshall from Houghton Regis debated five motions, chaired by the Speaker Rt Hon John Bercow MP, including one which called for 16 and 17 year-olds to be given the vote in all public elections. George, said: "I have been lucky enough to attend the Annual Sitting at the House of Commons twice and enjoyed it even more the second time around. As always when I first went it took my breath away and the excitement built rapidly. The debates held were amazing and made what we do worth while. I was particularly lucky as I got to speak on the topic of Work Experience and although nervous throughout, this had to be my highlight of the day. Overall I feel privi

Vehicles Seized During Car Cruising Crackdown Bedfordshire Police have seized two Vauxhall Astra VXRs during an operation to crackdown a recent increase in ‘Car Cruises’ that have been taking place in Houghton Regis. Residents living near Foster Avenue, Houghton Regis, have contacted Bedfordshire Police about a significant increase in the number of vehicles that were attending the industrial area and the drivers who were participating in antisocial behaviour. It was believed that over 100 vehicles would regularly attend the location with some driving in a reckless manner by racing, wheel-spinning, and performing “donuts” along the road. Houghton Regis Councillors are among those who have been asking for police action, as the noise level was particularly acute in the Manor Park Estate. On Sunday evening (November 24) members of the Local Policing Team as well as colleagues from the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Roads Policing Unit and the Special Constabulary attended Foster Av

BEDFORDSHIRE AUTISM AND ADHD TOOLKIT DO YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH AUTISM OR ADHD? Thanks to funding from Central Beds Council, Home Start a family support charity and Outside-iN, a voluntary organisation who support families of children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions and ADHD, have joined together to create an exciting new initiative.   The Bedfordshire Autism and ADHD Toolkit aims to provide a range of services to families who are affected by these conditions.  These are lifelong conditions and our aim is to provide the ‘tools’ needed for success. Linda Johnson, Chief Executive Officer for Home-Start in Central Bedfordshire said “this is a very exciting project and shows the commitment of CBC, Outside-iN and Home-Start to provide tangible practical help and support to parents who have a child or children with these conditions”   Home-Start has been working to support families who are experiencing difficulties since 1984 through a variety of different projects and have a team o

A new page has been added to the Houghton Regis Heritage Society website remembering the men of Houghton Regis who gave there lives in the Great Wars, it includes the Roll of Honour and a link to more detailed information.  http://www.hrhs.org.uk/

Impression of the playing and amenity field if Parkside Drive is connected to "Woodside Connection". How do you feel now about the CBC proposal? Before answering, you may want to read this:   http://j.mp/HWu6zR Extra noise and pollution in Parkside Drive? Unsafe to play on? Would it be used as a rat-run to other parts of Houghton Regis? Detrimental affect on health and quality of life? Safety of children and dogs? Air quality? What about noise at the narrowest point - would residents there be able to sleep with windows open? Removal of hedgerow? Effect on wildlife? Read some representations by others:  http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/eastern/woodside-link-houghton-regis-bedfordshire/?ipcsection=reps Have Your Say. Comment below, or more formally to   woodside@infrastructure.gsi.gov.uk "If you have a legal interest in land affected by a nationally significant infrastructure project and have not already registered to become an in

BBC's The One Show Rickshaw Challenge with Pudsey passes Frenchs Avenue, on the Houghton Regis/Dunstable border at 12:05 15/11/2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey

Report by Cllr Alan Winter, Houghton Regis Town Councillor, Parkside Ward. Updates are now available to read online regarding progress of Central Bedfordshire Council's (CBC) application for the proposed new road for the south and east of Houghton Regis. http:// infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk /projects/eastern/woodside-link-houghton-regis- bedfordshire / CBC have added their comments to the representations made. I have summarised for News Desk readers the main points of this document below (document 3 on page http:// infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk /projects/eastern/woodside-link-houghton-regis- bedfordshire /? ipcsection =docs ). Concerns include: -  potential for more congestion at Park Rd North/ Poynters Rd roundabout:  CBC argue that a rebuilt roundabout will help more traffic to use it. - blight and noise nuisance on properties adjacent to the new roadway: CBC argue that noise reduction measures will be made, and new landscaping will help

Bus passengers have voted with their feet and offered a warm welcome to the Luton Dunstable Busway, Luton Borough and Central Bedfordshire Councils said today as the first patronage figures were announced. The Councils have estimated more than 120,000 passenger journeys were made from 1-31 October, the first full calendar month of operation since the busway opened on 25 September. Detailed patronage data is confidential information to the individual busway operators, nonetheless, these early figures are based on passenger numbers from two and an estimate from the third.  “I am absolutely delighted with this indication of the busway’s strong performance during its first month of operation,” said Cllr Dave Taylor, Luton Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for transportation. “The figures are very encouraging and, if current patronage levels can be sustained, it is estimated around  1.5million passenger journeys could be made on the busway during its first year of operation. That would

You are invited to attend a public event about the quality of Luton & Dunstable Hospital clinical care. It will be held in Dunstable on Thursday, November 14 at 10am in the Salvation Army Worship and Community Centre, Bull Pond Lane. There will be an opportunity at the meeting for the audience to put questions to the panel. Speakers will include South West Beds MP Andrew Selous, hospital chairman Spencer Colvin, medical director Dr Mark Patten, and GP and health commissioner Dr Paul Hassan.

Have your say on proposals to change school admissions arrangements. Central Bedfordshire Council is seeking the views of schools, parents, carers and other interested parties on admissions arrangements for Community and Voluntary schools from 2015/16. Within the consultation there are specific changes that will affect Hawthorn Park Primary and Tithe Farm Primary, Houghton Regis  priority to be given to children attending the Nursery school at each school.  This is to be inserted as criterion five between other siblings and those to be prioritised on straight line distance. The consultation has  now started and runs until Monday 20th January 2013. Send in your views by completing the online response form at   http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations or  by completing a paper copy of the form. Return paper copies of the form to the FREEPOST address provided at the end of the form.  The consultation document is also available to view at http://www.central

Traffic was stopped through Houghton Regis today while those attending a Remembrance Service at the Memorial on The Green heard the last post and paused for a minute's silence. Police held traffic up in the High Street and on The Green following complaints last year when the traffic was allowed to carry on driving through. The Remembrance Sunday Service was conducted by Father Brian Wheelhouse at All Saints Church, Houghton Regis, and the congregation lead by the choir then proceeded along the High Street to the Memorial. The Service for Armistice Day will be taking place on Monday 11th November at 11am at the Memorial Stone. Those attending should start gathering at 10:40am. Photos (can be re-used with credit to): A D Winter

CBC Highways Annual Report   report on Google drive (may not display on IE on older PCs). - Nov 8th Fingers Crossed for Houghton Regis Swimming Pool  NOV 8th DEBATES. BAN THE BOOK: Nadine Dorries is advocating the banning of a book that she claims "... actually advocates the beating of children, under the age of 12 months, using a switch. Facebook Comments Nov 5th: Crime - Garage break-ins Facebook Comments Nov 7th -  Raising money for keech hospice collecting ' beany bears ' to sell after Christmas. Events at Kings Arms , Houghton Regis Nov 7th: Police are seeking witnesses following a spate of robberies by a teenage gang in the area. The group usually travel on bikes. Story and comments . Nov 7th: WATER: Are you a low user? You could be saving money by not paying standing charges. Story and comments Nov 4th: TITHE FARM: Bedfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after two teenagers were taken to hospital for treatment after being ass

Houghton Regis Leisure Centre is among six Leisure Centres identified by Central Bedfordshire  Council as requiring investment. £150,000 is required  to reopen the Houghton Regis swimming pool. The procurement of a new leisure management contract for this centre is underway and will market test the cost of reopening the pool. Should reopening the pool be considered to be affordable then the capital works will be undertaken in 2014. A decision on improvements at Houghton Regis Leisure Centre in Parkside Drive, will be made as part of the new leisure management contract. Cllr Susan Goodchild, for Houghton Hall ward, said, "Fingers crossed. I hope we get our swimming pool". Other Leisure works in Central Bedfordshire also await approval by the full council. Funds approved in the Council’s capital programme between 2013/14 and 2016/17 include: • Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre: £1.4m refurbishment and expansion for fitness, a reception and café, and building work is underway. • S

The next stage of the Woodside Link - CBC's proposed new road around the south and east side of Houghton Regis - is a meeting on the 15th November. The current position of the Houghton Regis Town Council, after taking professional advice, is to support connection of the link road to Sundon Road, and to object to the CBC proposed link to the southern end of Parkside Drive. The documents supporting the TC case are available to view online . To read information about the Woodside scheme etc. see the CBC page at http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/travelling/roads-safety-and-highways/road-and-pavement-maintenance/major-road-developments/woodside-link.aspx The timetable and current representations for this scheme can be found here: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/projects/eastern/woodside-link-houghton-regis-bedfordshire/?ipcsection=exam