Houghton Regis News Desk

Operation Meteor: Nine Section 59 Warnings Issued

Off-road bikers received a shock at the weekend when members of the Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Leighton Buzzard Local Policing Teams carried out an operation across Central Bedfordshire to curb the issue of nuisance motorists.

Bedfordshire Police has been encouraging members of the public to help identify nuisance motorcyclists in an attempt to crackdown on the number of people who think that it is acceptable to ride motorbikes, quad bikes, mopeds, scooters or mini-motos in a dangerous way across public land.

On Sunday (Jan 26), a number of those responsible for creating such issues came face-to-face with officers who were assisted by the Priority Anti-Social Behaviour Team, a vehicle examiner and officers from Hertfordshire Police riding off-road motorcycles.

The team issued a total of nine Section 59 Orders to riders and the 11 eleven bikes that were being ridden.

Inspector Jim Hitch of the Central Local Policing Team, said: “Oper…

see story and omments https://www.facebook.com/houghton.regis.news.desk/posts/10151880641942944?comment_id=28939904

16 Nov 2013

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Volunteering Opportunity in overseeing policing service delivery in Bedfordshire

Have you got?

An interest in our local policing service
Energy and enthusiasm
A desire to make a difference
Readiness to accept responsibility
Are you happy to ask constructive questions, challenge, listen and learn?
Then you could have what it takes to join as an Audit Committee Member of the Joint Independent Audit Committee of Bedfordshire Police.  

You will:

Oversee governance reporting and ensure quality, good value local policing in Bedfordshire.                                                                                    
Have experience of strategic planning, risk, performance management and be able to work with financial information.  All experiences, including life experiences, will be considered.
Be committed to attending 4-6 meeting per year.
Role commences in March 2014 to June 2016.

Closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 7th February 2014.

Interviews will take place on Thursday…

An exercise was carried out today in Houghton Regis around Houghton Hall Park to identify and plot various trees. And additional work was carried out to uncover proof that a wall once surrounded the kitchen garden by the side of Houghton Hall.

The work was in connection with a Landscape Discovery Day, and a Heritage Lottery Fund bid to note the historical and heritage value of Houghton Hall Park.


Alan Winter, one of those taking part, said, "We were given copies of old maps that had been overlain with modern maps, to help us understand where things might have been. I learnt that the new bowling green pavilion in Moore Crescent was once very likely to have been an orchard, for example. And a large beech tree in the small woodland beyond Moore Crescent goalpost, towards Houghton House, was once at the end of an attractive formal garden. In fact if you look closely in that area, you'll see several exotic plants and trees that look out of place. It would be really nice to get th…

Do you think children on bikes cycle recklessly?

One of our readers has written in, saying,

"Have the children and young adults attending All Saints Academy got a death wish? We recently had to drive down Houghton Road just as it was home time for the school. There was boys on bikes travelling against the traffic in the road instead of on the cycle way, boys doing wheelies in the road, children crossing the road en-mass even when the lights were against them. I'm very surprised there has not been a serious incident along that section of road. It's a total nightmare!"

https://www.facebook.com/houghton.regis.news.desk/posts/10151861329757944

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Moped Rider Injured at Chequers roundabout.

Newport Pagnell Fire Pictures

EVENT 20th : Unemployed and seeking work? Work Skills Open Day from 9:30am Tithe Farm Neighbourhood Centre. 20th JANUARY 2014 : POSTER AND INFO:

Work is scheduled for this month for a crossing over Parkside Drive to Hawthorn Park School.

TWITTERPIC ~ Andrew Selous, MP, tweets that he has asked for more policing

Have your say on Central Beds draft budget for next year. Proposals include not raising council tax & £17million of savings

Ever wondered how long it takes to sell a house in Houghton Regis. Analytical site gives you the answer.

Handgun in Dolphin Drive Attempted Hold-Up

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Co-op Robbers Jailed for 26 Years - 1 Fro…

17-01-2014

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee has recommended some changes to the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan and list of sites.

Councillors met to recommend how many new Gypsy and Traveller pitches will be needed and where they should be.

The committee heard from 12  residents at the meeting (14 January) when they considered the results from last year’s public consultation and a new Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA). They discussed making changes to the possible site locations as a result of the feedback.

The committee recommended to Executive a that a compound household growth rate of two per cent  for the Gypsy and Traveller community be used. This would lead to a requirement for or 131 pitches until 2031 for Gypsies and Travellers.

Members of the committee also recommended that one of the shortlisted seven sites be dropped (at Potton) and another swapped for a nearby location between Biggleswade and Dunton, …

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Between 2014 and 2017 schools in Central Bedfordshire will receive £21,219,913. The Government has announced an extra £2.35 billion to create more school places. This is money in addition to the £5 billion already being spent in this parliament.

Link to story

A garage burglary took place in Chelsea Gardens, Houghton Regis between the 6th and 7th January. The offender had cut away the metal in the front door to the garage, and removed two high value mountain bikes. Crime Reference: J D / 7 0 2 / 2014.

A garage burglary took place in Fenwick Road, Houghton Regis between the 2nd and 3rd January. The handle was broken from a door to the garage. Two pedal cycles were taken. Crime Reference: J D / 6 4 1 / 2014.

A burglary took place in Trident Drive, Houghton Regis on 5th January, between 1:30 and 10:00 p.m. A UPVC back door was forced open, a messy search took place, and two plasma TVs, a laptop, jewellery and some money were taken. Crime Reference: J D / 5 8 0 / 2014.

A garage burglary took place in Dolphin Drive, Houghton Regis between the 6th and 7th January. A lock on the door to the garage was forced and a black suzuki motorbike was taken. Crime Reference: J D / 7 1 4 / 2014.

updated 10/1/14 12:44
A garage in Enfield Close, Houghton Regis w…

Jack Goodchild, a former Houghton Regis Town mayor, and a former Bedfordshire County Councillor for Houghton Regis, passed away early yesterday morning. He was 85. For many years, to 2009, he was a personal trainer at the local sports centre. He suffered a stroke in May 2009 and had been cared for by his wife, Cllr Susan Goodchild ever since.


Comments and condolences on our Houghton Regis News Desk Facebook Page.

Shirley-Anne Crosbie of the Chiltern School (a school partly on the Kingsland Campus in Houghton Regis, and partly in Beech Road, Dunstable) has been awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours list. Shirley is the Headteacher at The Chiltern School, and the award is for services to children with special needs education.

Dedicated foster carers Derek and Hazell Phillips from Flitwick were both awarded MBEs in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. The couple were recognised for services to children and families after clocking up an incredible 25 years of fostering in Bedfordshire. They have fostered over 25 children and young people during that time making a huge difference to the lives of those who have been in their care.

Following the announcement the couple have been inundated with messages of congratulations from friends, family and many of their former foster children, including one which read:

 "A well deserved MBE to a wonderful couple (and family) for services to children and …

Free lunch at Tithe Farm Neighbourhood Centre 12:30pm to 2pm on Wednesday 8th January. Forum is open to all Houghton Regis families with children under 5 and those wishing to access Houghton Regis Children's Centre Services.

Central Bedfordshire Press Release
For Immediate Release
PR 1810
06 January 2014


Houghton Regis Leisure Centre pool to re-open

Residents’ dreams for a swimming pool at Houghton Regis Leisure Centre are to be realised after a new, innovative leisure management contract for the centre has been agreed by Central Bedfordshire Council.

The Council has developed a Leisure Strategy with the goal of increasing opportunities for local residents to get involved in sports and physical activities. The strategy also outlines the investments and improvements that will be made across all leisure centres in the area.

Following a detailed procurement process, the Council has awarded its management contract for Houghton Regis, Biggleswade, and Flitwick Leisure Centres and Sandy Sports Centre to Stevenage Leisure Limited.

Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities, Services explained: “As a Council we’re all about making Central Bedfordshire a great place to live and work and we know th…

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - WORKSKILLS Who is eligible to study for a Work Skills course for the unemployed?
1. You must be unemployed, but there is no minimum time restriction.
2. You must be aged 19 or over as at 31st August 2013.
3. You must be in receipt of a state benefit and looking for work.
4. You must have lived in the UK or wider European Economic Area for at least 3 years. If less than 3 years you will still be eligible if your husband / wife, civil partner, parent or grandparent has been a resident for the last 3 years.
5. You must have the Right of Abode to live in the UK  - that is the right to live in the UK without any immigration restrictions.
6. You must live in England now.
7. You must have a Nation Insurance Number.

How much does it cost? Financially, it costs you absolutely nothing. It will however require a degree of tenacity and some discipline to complete each of the courses.

If it costs me nothing and the job centre doesn’t pay - who does?
The cost of the tra…

In Central Bedfordshire, The Highways Agency is responsible for gritting the A5, A421,A1 and the M1. The Central Bedfordshire Council cover much of what main roads remain.

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/transport/salting/gritting.aspx

This pdf file has been produced to explain more.   Gritting - Your Questions Answered

A number of dogs have been taken ill after using Houghton Hall Park in Houghton Regis. Best advice to emerge so far, has been to advise dog owners to prevent their dogs from drinking from puddles. https://www.facebook.com/groups/houghtonhall3peaks/793761927305934/?ref=notif&notif_t=group_comment_reply

Sharon Moore commented on Facebook, "Same thing happened in Hampshire and it was found to be fungal tree spore related."

Houghton Regis Town Council are considering the options to provide a new cemetery for the town. The Cemetery Road site is expected to be full within the next five years. Due to low water table within the proposed development area, and other plots of land being snapped up by prospective housing developers, the town's council have limited viable options as to where to locate it. Land at Windsor Drive and Orchard Close are to be assessed, initially, for their viability.


Follow the HRTC meetings about Cemetery provision in Houghton Regis.

Gymnastics courses starting Wednesday the 8th Jan, and Saturday the 11th Jan, also trampoline course starting on the 10th Jan, all 12 week courses, ring for more info (01582)866141.

Closed 1st January 2014, reopens 2nd January 2014.

Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/LifestylesatHoughton

Bedfordshire's Liberal Democrat Local Parties have restructured themselves. Instead, of the old parliamentary constituency boundaries the new set-up is based on Local Authority boundaries. As a consequence there are now 3 local parties in Bedfordshire: Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton.

Richard Kennedy, Chairman of the new Central Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, explains:
"The Government’s aim to give Local Authorities more responsibility means we need to maintain and further develop a comprehensive overview of the policies and practices of Authorities like Central Bedfordshire Council."

"Our new structures enhance our ability to keep on top of what the Tory administration is about.  It is essential to protect the voters of Central Bedfordshire by exerting more influence on the Council."

"Our new structure ensures we are well-placed to challenge and question the Council whenever necessary.  The residents of Central Bedfordshire need to have a Counci…