Tesco Express in Houghton Regis one of 43 stores to close in cost cutting exercise

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A New Secondary School For Houghton Regis

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Report by Alan D Winter
An application has been submitted that seeks to deliver a new 900 pupil place secondary school at the Kingsland site in Parkside, Houghton Regis. 
The plan includes a 220 place sixth form to be completed by July 2022. The wider site is already occupied by a Houghton Regis Secondary School that currently accommodates around 269 pupils. In recent years this has become less active and is due to close before the new school opens. This proposal has been developed in tandem with the housing developer Barton Wilmore to ensure that the appropriate links between the two are in place upon completion.


The proposed new school would initially share the wider CBC site with a Leisure Centre, a Technical College and a SEND School. There would be an opportunity for various site users to share each other’s skills, knowledge, and facilities. 


The proposed layout is for two buildings which sit to the east of a redundant all‐weather pitch, colloquially known as the Red-Gra, facing the …
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Lidl Plans For 1.2million sq ft Regional Distribution Centre

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by Alan D Winter, Houghton Regis News Desk
Lidl, a family supermarket that takes pride in providing its customers with the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices, is on the verge of starting work on building its biggest ever Distribution Centre on Houghton Regis' doorstep.

Outline plans for the development were agreed under the existing Central Bedfordshire Council consent (CB/12/03613/OUT) and now a reserved matters application has been submitted. The company is now seeking approval for these plans, which could be concluded in March 2020.

The development proposals comprise the construction of a Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) of over  1.2 million sq ft of warehouse floor space, 612 associated car parking spaces, 141 HGV stacking spaces, 196 loading docks, 20 E-charging spaces, a drivers lounge, smoking shelters, two bicycle stores with 104 spaces for bicycles, four haulier cabins, three battery enclosures, a generator enclosure, sprinkler tanks, pump house hydr…
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Act With Caution If You Ever Receive A Suspicious Email

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Trading Standards in Central Bedfordshire are warning residents to be wary of any suspicious emails regarding payment of a Fixed Penalty Notice or Penalty Charge Notice.
One such email that has come to their attention, gives the impression it has been sent by the “HM Courts & Tribunals Service”, when in fact the email appears to have originated from Brazil.
The email claims the notice has been sent to the resident as the registered keeper of a vehicle that was used in an area where a charging scheme applied. The email instructs the resident to click on a link to pay the penalty of £25 before a specific date, otherwise, the penalty increases to £100. The email then claims if no payment is received within 28 days, the outstanding payment will be registered as a debt at the County Court.
This email is a SCAM!
If you ever receive an email you suspect may be a phishing scam, please forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk and delete it from your computer. Do not reply to the sender and do not …
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Council Leader's Guide to Spotting Covid-secure Venues

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CBC's environmental health team have produced a guide on what to look out for during the pandemic
Following stark warnings from the Chief Medical Officer and Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor that we face at least six more months of COVID-19 restrictions Cllr James Jamieson, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council said, “The scientists couldn’t have been clearer that slowing the current rates of COVID-19 infection is an issue for everyone and everyone has his or her part to play otherwise we risk the virus spirally out of control.
“But equally they were both clear that there isa balance to be struck between locking down completely and the economy collapsing. So, I want to share a guide prepared by our environmental health team on what customers should look out for and expect from good businesses who care about their customers.
“Sadly we have had numerous reports about businesses who don’t follow the rules and we are taking enforcement action including prosecution.
“But residents ca…
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Give blood during the Easter holidays

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Children who depend on life-saving blood transfusions are encouraging donors to give blood during the Easter holidays to ensure NHS Blood and Transplant has the blood stocks necessary to meet demand. Eight-year old Sophie Thorne is one of several youngsters contributing a 'thank you' picture to remind people in Luton and Bedfordshire that donating blood saves lives. Blood stocks are more vulnerable to shortfall around public holidays like Easter as the weather improves, and people go on holiday or enjoy days out with family. It is vital stocks are constantly replenished as blood has a shelf life of 35 days and platelets only seven days. Hospitals across England need more than 6,000 blood donations every day to treat patients. Blood or the components of blood are used to treat patients with medical conditions such as anaemia, cancer blood disorders, and those having surgery.
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Catherine Thorne, Sophie's mother, of Wootton near Bedford, said: "Sophie has a rare blood condi…
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Residents Praised For Recycling Efforts During Recycle Week

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You thanked Central Bedfordshire Council's waste collection crews during the lockdown, with pictures, cards, presents and friendly waves and now CBC want to thank you for continuing to recycle as much as possible during the pandemic.
Despite all that has happened this year we are lucky to live in an area that is full of fantastic recyclers.
What and how we recycle really matters. Recycling just one item rather than throwing it in the general rubbish bin means that it will be dealt with in the most environmentally friendly way and means that materials can be reused for a longer lifespan.
As part of Recycle Week, which runs from 21-27 September, the council wants to help people recycle more by knowing which items can be recycled.
Recycling at home is something everyone can do to help protect the environment and planet. Here in Central Bedfordshire we want to help residents to recycle right and that’s why we’ve created a short video to show examples of some plastics which can and can’t g…
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£1.3m Tithe Farm Recreation Ground Sports Project

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Houghton Regis Town Council has been developing a scheme of improvement for Tithe Farm Recreation Ground at a provisional cost of £1,350,000A report to the Environment and Leisure Committee last week told councillors that so far the project comprises: an all-weather pitch, new changing rooms and car parking on Tithe Farm recreation ground 
The project is being developed and progressed in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) and the Beds Football Association (Beds FA). Funding for the project is likely to come from the Town Council, CBC and the Football Foundation. The council has appointed a Bid Consultant and a Design Architect to support the project development.
Issues have arisen.  The land needs to be registered with the Land Registry. And across the site, there is an Anglian Water foul sewer. Options are being considered to either design the scheme around the drain or to work with Anglian Water to ensure there is access should it be required.

Provisional funding costs h…
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Lidl Plans For 1.2million sq ft Regional Distribution Centre

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by Alan D Winter, Houghton Regis News Desk
Lidl, a family supermarket that takes pride in providing its customers with the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices, is on the verge of starting work on building its biggest ever Distribution Centre on Houghton Regis' doorstep.

Outline plans for the development were agreed under the existing Central Bedfordshire Council consent (CB/12/03613/OUT) and now a reserved matters application has been submitted. The company is now seeking approval for these plans, which could be concluded in March 2020.

The development proposals comprise the construction of a Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) of over  1.2 million sq ft of warehouse floor space, 612 associated car parking spaces, 141 HGV stacking spaces, 196 loading docks, 20 E-charging spaces, a drivers lounge, smoking shelters, two bicycle stores with 104 spaces for bicycles, four haulier cabins, three battery enclosures, a generator enclosure, sprinkler tanks, pump house hydr…
Read on ...

Angry Resident Wants Peace Back as Chalk Pit Tourism Takes Off

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By Alan Winter updated 27 May

 An irate resident has contacted Houghton Regis News Desk to vent their frustrations about visitors to the Chalk Pit clogging up their unadopted roads.

The resident, who did not want to be named, wrote, “As a resident on Fieldstone, we’re after some help. The quarry has been advertised on social media so it now has visitors from a wide area. They are blocking our residential roads, leaving rubbish and glass everywhere in the quarry. Having BBQs, drinking and meeting for social gatherings. They are drinking and dancing in the streets gone 11pm. There needs to be parking and the quarry managed before all the recent hard work is undone. We want peace back.

“This parking and quarry issue has been going on for the last few weeks after advertising has appeared on social media. We heard someone say they had driven from Milton Keynes, and a neighbour has stated that 5 people he knows from Hemel Hempstead have attended. Just this morning, a friend from work saw it …
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L&D Hospital Mani Car Park Closes From 13 July - Bigger Car Park To Be Built

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Parking for visitors and patients at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital will get a welcome boost by the end of the year, as work gets underway on a new four-level car park on the footprint of the existing Lewsey Road car park.
The new car park will double the current provision for patients and visitors, and also provide more accessible parking as well as bicycle parking for patients, visitors and staff.










The new design will also improve the flow of cars, and reduce queuing and congestion on Lewsey Road.
The existing main visitor and patient car park (on Lewsey Road, opposite the main entrance to the hospital), will be closing on Monday 13 July.
Alternative parking will be available on site, in Farringdon Fields, off Calnwood Road. The Trust is reallocating staff spaces for the period.
But overall numbers may be limited so the Trust is asking patients and visitors not to bring their car if they can possibly avoid it, but to be dropped off instead. A new temporary drop-off point will…
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Consultation on New Secondary School in Houghton Regis

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Initial designs have been produced for a new 1,120 place secondary school, to be built on the Kingsland Campus, Houghton Regis, for September 2022. The proposal includes all the specialist and non-specialist teaching space required, as well as providing a sports hall, outdoor sports provision and car parking. The external appearance of the school buildings is subject to further design work. 
The concept for the new school is based on the superblock model and includes a 3-storey main classroom block, with a separate sports hall. This type of design is suggested by the Department for Education (DfE), and has been used for many new secondary schools across the country
The Council is currently at the pre-planning design stage, and is taking the opportunity to seek the views of the local community ahead of the planning application being submitted. The date for submission of the planning application has been tentatively set for the end of August 2020. 
This consultation is an important part of…
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A New Secondary School For Houghton Regis

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Image
Report by Alan D Winter
An application has been submitted that seeks to deliver a new 900 pupil place secondary school at the Kingsland site in Parkside, Houghton Regis. 
The plan includes a 220 place sixth form to be completed by July 2022. The wider site is already occupied by a Houghton Regis Secondary School that currently accommodates around 269 pupils. In recent years this has become less active and is due to close before the new school opens. This proposal has been developed in tandem with the housing developer Barton Wilmore to ensure that the appropriate links between the two are in place upon completion.


The proposed new school would initially share the wider CBC site with a Leisure Centre, a Technical College and a SEND School. There would be an opportunity for various site users to share each other’s skills, knowledge, and facilities. 


The proposed layout is for two buildings which sit to the east of a redundant all‐weather pitch, colloquially known as the Red-Gra, facing the …
Read on ...

Bidwell Heights - Go Ahead for New Build Despite Crime Concerns

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A development of 336 homes has been given the go ahead under delegated powers by Central Bedfordshire Council despite Bedfordshire Police having concerns that the layout would encourage crime.

The site is situated between the SSSI Houghton Regis Chalk Pit edge and Blue Waters woodland.




Bedfordshire Police Liaison Objected to the scheme, 'as it is considered that the proposed layout and design would present opportunities for crime'.

See planning layout - (pdf)

Another key concern came from Wildlife Trusts BCN who also drew attention to anti-social behaviour. Their concerns are listed as,

'Concerns regarding development so close to the chalk cliffs associated with the SSSI. The Trust strongly recommend that a robust engineering operation is designed and incorporated into the plans, at this stage of the process, to ensure that the stability of the chalk cliff is not weakened as part of any development that takes place in this location. The Trust also consider that there should…
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Houghton Regis Academy Closure - Public Meeting 10 March

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Updated 2 March 2020

The Secretary of State for Education, in mutual agreement with the Trust, has now made the substantive and final decision to proceed to the closure of Houghton Regis Academy.  However, in order to reduce the impact of the closure,  a proposed closure transition plan has been agreed to which means the Academy will remain open for some year groups until 31 August 2022.

There will now be a ‘listening period’. The listening period is an opportunity for stakeholders and interested parties such as pupils, parents and staff to be provided with more information about the proposed closure process. It is also an opportunity for stakeholders to submit their views on how the process can best be managed. This period started today, 28 February, and will end at 5pm on 27 March 2020.

Parkside ward Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) councillor said, “I am aware of the concern the current position will be causing pupils, parents and the wider community at Houghton Regis. I am worki…
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Plans For 66 bed care Home, Nursery & Shops at Lower Thorn Village

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(updated 14 June 2020)As part of the already approved outline development plans for the Lower Thorn area of Houghton Regis, detailed planning applications are now being submitted for a local centre. A decision for these applications is hoped for by mid-August 2020.
Houghton Regis Town Council will discuss the plans on Tuesday 16th June. A final decision will be made by Central Bedfordshire Council. The Town Council's virtual meeting agenda is available to download. If you wish to participate in this meeting you will need to supply an email address before 3pm on the day of the meeting in order to attend virtually by emailing your request. Instructions on Remote Meeting Guidance can be found here.
In all, three planning applications have been submitted to develop a local integrated centre on behalf of  HDD Houghton Regis Retail Limited. 



1. 66 Bed Care Home A 66-bed care home and its associated car park, means of access and landscaping.  Split over 3 floors. If permission were granted…
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Police Appeal After Man Robbed in Houghton Regis

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Bedfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was robbed in Houghton Regis.
At around 10pm on Saturday 1st August, the man was on Bedford Square, near the park, when he was approached by five offenders. The group attacked the victim and stole his phone, his bank card, and a quantity of cash.
During the attack, the victim sustained superficial cuts to his face, stomach and forearm, which required medical attention but are not serious or life-threatening.
The offenders are described as young men, wearing face masks with their hoods up, riding bikes.
PC Helen Pecorini, investigating, said: “Thankfully the victim only suffered minor injuries, but was left distressed by this incident. We are appealing to anyone in the area who may have the offenders before or after the incident.”
Anyone who can offer any help in this matter is asked to get in contact with the police, or contact Crimestoppers.  Alternatively, information about this incident can be reported via police reporting webs…
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Amazon Prime Scam Has Cost Victims More Than £1m

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Bedfordshire Police is issuing a fraud warning after a number of Bedfordshire residents fell victim to a scam, with one losing their entire life savings.

Action Fraud has reported that the scam was first reported in October 2019 and since has cost the victims more than £1 million.

The scam is carried out by phone call, with the victim receiving an automated phone message that they have been charged for an Amazon Prime subscription.

How It Works They are subsequently instructed to ‘press 1’ to cancel the transaction. When they do this, they are directed to a fraudster posing as an Amazon customer service representative.

The fraudster advises the victim that their subscription was purchased fraudulently and that remote access to their computer is required in order to fix a security flaw that will prevent it from reoccurring.

The unsuspecting victim then downloads software which grants the scammers remote access to their computer, including personal and financial information.

Other vari…
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Houghton Regis local news, events, council news, going on in Houghton Regis and nearby villages, Bedfordshire, UK. Editor Alan Winter

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Houghton Regis News Desk

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