Houghton Regis News Desk

A process to check that almost 35,000 Central Bedfordshire residents are entitled to receive a single person council tax discount begins this week.

The 25 per cent discount, worth a minimum of £250 a year, is given to anyone who claims to be living in a property on their own – currently 34,700 people in the area.

While most claims are genuine, the process will use data matching technology to check that information held by the council is accurate and up-to-date and recipients are still entitled to the discount.

The review will use a two stage process to validate legitimate single person discount claims and identify and remove those being claimed in error or fraudulently.

Central Bedfordshire Council has brought in technology specialists CapacityGRID to help establish whether people are genuinely living alone, by cross-referencing with other sources of household information such as, but not limited to, the electoral-roll registers and financial sector information.

Anyone whose claim for sing…

The new mayor of Houghton Regis is Cllr Rob Shimmin. 


Cllr Shimmin was elected at The Annual General Meeting of the town's council on Wednesday evening, 20th May. 



Cllr Shimmin said in his acceptance of the role "A quote that I read about ‘Life is to…..devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you both purpose and meaning. I feel that this very appropriate for the year ahead and I will be basing my Mayoral Year on this theme of ‘Life’."

Together with his consort, "Babs" Shimmin, Rob aims to raise funds during his year of office for Luton and Dunstable Hospital Children's Ward, Dunstable and District Disabled Sports (DaDDS) http://www.dadds.moonfruit.com/, and All Saints  Parish Church (who, among other things, are looking to raise funds for a new organ).

"I will be holding events to raise funds for these causes and I hope that you will all be able to join me on these occasions. "

Follow the Mayor…

8th May - Three teenagers punched a woman and pushed her to the pavement while she was walking with her baby in a vile robbery in Houghton Hall Park near Cemetery Road at about 10.45am today. Her bag, containing a large amount of cash was then stolen. The three boys were on bikes, and wearing tracksuit tops with hoodies. Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

9th MAY - Election Results for Central Bedfordshire Council and Houghton Regis Town Council





11 MAY - Hundreds paid respects at a funeral for Adam Fanelli, 31, from Houghton Regis who was found dead near a traveller's site in Buckinghamshire on March 17th. Two men have been charged with his murder. After the service at All Saints, there followed a procession through the town to West Street, Dunstable.

14 MAY - Houghton Regis Town Council showcased their newly elected town councillors. They were elected to serve for 4 years.

An extraordinary new Houghton Regis bar-restaurant will be opening on Monday, May 18 with a brand new name and ethos following a significant investment.

The site of the former Dog & Duck, in Parkside Drive, has been refurbished and completely redeveloped by local entrepreneur Kishor Patel.

“The new bar-restaurant is called GO!Houghton,” said Kishor, revealing the new brand. “The Dog & Duck has well and truly been retired to the animal sanctuary!

“GO!Houghton is an exciting new brand which will create 20 new jobs."

GO!Houghton will be open to the public from Monday May 18. Initial opening hours will be 4pm to 11pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 11pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Anyone who remembers the run-down Dog & Duck pub will be blown away by the look and feel of the new bar-restaurant. 

Its focus will be on food, with menu sections for Italian, Indian, British, American and Tex Mex. There will also be a range of alcoholic drinks, with focus on wines and including real ales,…

Happy to endorse Aaron Fencing, a local company that quickly and efficiently put up 8 new panels in my garden last year.
Regards, Alan D Winter


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Please note that The Porz Avenue / Park Road North / Poynters Road roundabout will be closed from 8pm on Friday 8 May to 6am on Monday 11 May 2015,
and again from 8pm on Friday 15 May to 6am on Monday 18 May 2015. This is to allow the rerouting of electricity cables underground.  Diversions map: 

New data for this area has been published on Police.uk.
Here is a brief summary of the crime information for the past two months:
February 2015March 2015All crime 710 850 Anti-social behaviour 279 352 Bicycle theft 4 6 Burglary 40 75 Criminal damage and arson 69 65 Drugs 7 14 Other crime 7 6 Other theft 49 47 Possession of weapons 4 8 Public order 8 17 Robbery 3 12�…

South West Bedfordshire Constituency candidates at last weeks hustings in Dunstable. Left to right: Daniel Scott (Labour), Stephen Rutherford (Liberal Democrat), [Rev Neil Drayton (chairman)], Andrew Selous (Conservative), Emily Lawrence (Green), John van Weenan (UKIP)
Elections take place on Thursday 7th May 2015. Your poll card will have the polling station address on it you can only vote at that polling station. 

The following images* have been reproduced from the Central Bedfordshire Council website with reference to the Returning Officer. To download the original pdf files please go to http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/elections/candidates/statement-persons-nominated/default.aspx

*In a PC, please tap/click the images to enlarge them
Parliamentary Constituency Election - ONE VOTE per elector
RESULTS  

As well as the General Election on 7th May, there will be elections for Central Bedfordshire Council and for Houghton Regis Town Council. 

It is a heavily conte…