Average Speed Cameras in Poynters Rd. ~ Top Stories:30 Sept 2015

Average Speed Cameras in Poynters Rd. A mini cab driver has called to say he has been issued with a notice supported by...

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Lost Chihuahua Appeal - Top Stories: 29 September

CAN YOU HELP?" I am writing to ask if you can help me find the owners of a light tan chihuahua male that followed my...

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Tuesday, 29 September 2015

4 young people die in quad bike crash (West Yorkshire) - Top Stories: 28 September 2015

4 young people die in quad bike crash.

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Monday, 28 September 2015

There Goes the Neighbourhood! (Bus Shelter Smashed) - Top Stories: 27 September 2015

There goes the neighbourhood!

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Sunday, 27 September 2015

Change to Layout of Roads at Sundon Road over Motorway - Top Stories: 26th September 2015

The layout of a local road which crosses over the M1 near Dunstable in Bedfordshire is set to be re-designed at the end...

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Saturday, 26 September 2015

Bridge over M1 shuts -

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Monday, 21 September 2015

Luton Man Charged with Manslaughter Following Cookies and Cream Fight - Top Stories: 25 September 2015

Luton man charged with manslaughter after the death of 24 year-old Lithuanian man Tomas Juska near to the Cookies and Cream nightclub in Court Drive, at about 3.20am on Sunday, 23 August.

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Friday, 25 September 2015

Porz Avenue/Poynters Rd Roundabout Closures - Top Stories: 25 September 2015

Porz Avenue/Poynters Rd Roundabout. A closure is expected to take place from 2000hrs on Friday 6th November to 2359hrs...

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Friday, 25 September 2015

Time Gentlemen Please! (And Ladies, Too!) Time, In Fact, to Vote For Your Favourite Local Bar

Voting is now open for the People's Choice prize in this year's Best Bar None Awards.

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Best Bar None is designed to improve the safety of the night time economy. This year's event is open to all licensed premises in Dunstable and Houghton Regis.

Last year, Central Bedfordshire's Community Safety Partnership piloted the Best Bar None scheme in Dunstable – and it proved such a success that it has returned for 2015 in Dunstable and Houghton Regis.

What's more, this year there is a People's Choice prize. So, as well as the assessors picking their overall winner, residents can nominate their favourite venue.

There are currently six venues on the shortlist: Go Houghton, in Houghton Regis, and Club Cookies, Creasey Park Community Centre, lifestyles@dunstable leisure centre, the First & Last and the Bird in Hand, in Dunstable.

Councillor Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Community Services, said: "Residents may be surprised to see a football centre and a leisure centre rubbing shoulders with bars and pubs on the shortlist. However, the competition was open to all licensed premises in Houghton Regis and Dunstable.

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The six shortlisted venues have already impressed our assessors and we now want you to have you say about which is your favourite."

Best Bar None aims to make towns and cities great places to go for a night out by making pubs and clubs even more welcoming places for visitors.

By improving safety for customers and staff through reducing binge drinking and alcohol-related crime and disorder, and encouraging licensees to work with enforcement agencies, the scheme aims to boost improve the night-time economy for everyone.

So, Best Bar None is win-win for everyone: customers get a better night out, towns and cities become more vibrant places as people want to go there and that has economic benefits for pubs and clubs there.

For more information, visit

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www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/bestbarnone

Bedfordshire Woman Fined £900 for throwing a cigarette end from her car window. - Top Stories: 24 September 2015

A woman from Houghton Conquest has been ordered to pay over £900 for throwing a cigarette end from her car window....

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Thursday, 24 September 2015

East End Willow Trees Making a Come Back After Pollarding

Trees by the Chequers roundabout at East End, Houghton Regis are making a come back. They were pollarded earlier this year to help prevent a repetition of dangerous limbs falling on passers-by, but now, the willow trees are already showing signs of re-growth.

What they looked like in July (top) and last November (bottom):

In China, some people carry willow branches with them on the day of their Tomb Sweeping or Qingming Festival. Willow branches are also put up on gates and/or front doors, which they believe help ward off the evil spirits that wander on Qingming. Legend states that on Qingming Festival, the ruler of the underworld allows the spirits of the dead to return to earth. Since their presence may not always be welcome, willow branches keep them away. In traditional pictures of the Goddess of Mercy Guanyin, she is often shown seated on a rock with a willow branch in a vase of water at her side. The Goddess employs this mysterious water and the branch for putting demons to flight. Taoist witches also use a small carving made from willow wood for communicating with the spirits of the dead. The image is sent to the nether world, where the disembodied spirit is deemed to enter it, and give the desired information to surviving relatives on its return. The willow is a famous subject in many East Asian nations' cultures, particularly in pen and ink paintings from China and Japan.


In Japanese tradition, the willow is associated with ghosts. It is popularly supposed that a ghost will appear where a willow grows. Willow trees are also quite prevalent in folklore and myths.

In English folklore, a willow tree is believed to be quite sinister, capable of uprooting itself and stalking travellers.

More on Willows: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow

Bedford Square "Youths are making our lives a misery" - Top Stories: 23 September 2015

‘Youths are making our lives a misery’ -

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Wednesday, 23 September 2015

5p for a cheap plastic bag - Top Stories: 30 September 2015

From the 5th October you could very well find yourself paying 5p for a cheap plastic bag you used to get for free. But...

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Picture of Disabled Swing (87 Likes) - Top Stories: 22 September 2015

Would this be useful in Houghton Regis?The front panel lays flat and chair can be put into place. They also have safety straps. Thanks to Lisa Karen Lund for bringing this to our attention.

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Tuesday, 22 September 2015

Get Nominating for Dunstable and Houghton Regis Business and Community Awards!

With just days to go to the deadline for this year's Dunstable and Houghton Regis Business and Community Awards some great stories are emerging from wonderful local individuals and firms.

The closing date for nominations is October 5 and there are lots of categories to go for in this year's competition, which has a host of sponsors from the local community.

Zoe Johnson has been nominated for Role Model of the Year for raising money for cancer research.

The person who nominated Zoe wrote: "Zoe has seen many of her friends and family struggle with cancer and has decided to do something about it which is to raise money for Cancer Research.

"Her main challenge to achieve a goal and funds was to shave her hair off and then donate the hair to Princess Trust. This will allow a young girl receive a wig to help her come to terms with her cancer also see her smile with lovely locks. She also raised over £1,000 towards the charity, too.

"An inspiration and fabulous role model to so many of us!"

Sahira Ward has been nominated for Volunteer of the Year for her dedication to her project, Incredible Edible, which, provides an opportunity to knit communities, educate children on food production and foster an ethos of 'work equals reward'.

A new business on the Dunstable scene, Jaccs Coffee, has been nominated for Customer Care of the Year.

The person who nominated Jaccs wrote: "The costs are so good it means we can have more than one drink if we get chatting. There are so many different people who go in on a regular basis from professions, elderly, mums of young children along with others."

Also nominated for Customer Care of the year is D I Butchers. The person who nominated the business wrote: "Great customer service, really look after us old folk. I buy from the butchers every week and they know me well, I always feel I get a lovely friendly welcome and they care about us too."

The awards night will be held in Dunstable on November 12 but the deadline for getting nominations in is October 5, so there is still time to get nominating. The judges will be meeting in mid-October to decide the winners.

For more details and to enter the variety of business and community categories online, visit the website

​http://​

www.dunstableawards.co.uk

You can also follow the awards on Twitter @DunRegisAwards or like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/dunstableawards

Telereal Trillium acquires Lands Improvement Group

Telereal Trillium is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Lands Improvement Group from BlackRock Europe Property Fund III for £120 million.

Lands Improvement is one of the UK’s leading strategic land development companies. The Company acquires greenfield and brownfield land, preparing it for residential-led development by obtaining outline planning and delivering strategic infrastructure. The Company’s portfolio of landholdings consists of c.2,500 acres of land across the UK – a total of 26 assets at different stages, from planning promotion to land sales. Current projects include a major site at Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, where the Company has secured permission to start work on a 5,150 home residential development with 2m sq. ft of commercial, leisure and retail space.

Telereal Trillium is one of the UK’s largest property companies, owning and managing a £5.5bn portfolio with a total floor area of 86 million sq. ft. Operating in three business areas – property partnerships, investment, and development – it has established a UK-wide portfolio of more than 8,000 properties. Telereal Trillium has long-term property partnerships with some of the UK’s largest occupiers, including BT, the Department for Work and Pensions, Royal Mail and DVLA.

Both companies have an exceptional track record in promoting land for development and securing planning consents, with schemes ranging from small sites for single houses to major projects involving several thousand units. The acquisition will strengthen Telereal Trillium’s presence in residential development while Lands Improvement has secured a new owner with a long-term commitment to strategic land development.

Commenting on the news, Kevin Moriarty, Managing Director of Lands Improvement said: “We are delighted that agreement has been reached with Telereal Trillium. The deal brings together two companies with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in property and strategic land development at a time when there is significant political and market pressure to deliver housing in the UK. With Telereal Trillium behind us as a committed long-term investor, we look forward to building on our long track record of success in this specialist area.”

Graham Edwards, CEO at Telereal Trillium said: “At a time when there is a chronic housing shortage within the UK, we are delighted to be acquiring one of the major players in addressing the housing shortfall. Lands Improvement is a highly successful business. It has a strong management team, important strategic relationships with key partners, and some outstanding land holdings. We believe that it provides a great platform to make the most of the assets it already owns, to make further investments into new sites, and to add value to sites within Telereal Trillium’s existing nationwide portfolio.”

Chris McCormack, Director at BlackRock Real Estate, said: “Lands Improvement has undergone significant change in the last six years and has a strong track record in sourcing and executing land transactions. We have realised a good return for our investors and are confident that the business’ healthy pipeline of deals will allow it to thrive further in the future.”

source

Fatal Accident Dunstable West Street- Top Stories: 14 September 2015

Dunstable accident ...

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Monday, 14 September 2015

A5 - M1 LINK ROAD UPDATE

The project is to build a new 2.8-mile, two-lane dual carriageway and three new junctions to improve journeys for long-distance traffic travelling through Dunstable.

This will include a roundabout with the A5 at the western end of the link road, a second one at the intersection with the A5120 Bedford Road and a new interchange with the M1 motorway to be named Junction 11A at the eastern end of the link road.

The road scheme also includes an overbridge on Sundon Road, B579 Luton Road and the construction of four bridges passing over the A5-M1 Link.

Road Closures

The first closure is on Sundon Road, for three nights commencing Thursday 17 September between the hours 8pm-6am.

The second closure is on Luton road for three nights commencing Friday 25 September between the hours of 8pm-6am .

When Luton road reopens on Monday 28 September at 6am a new road layout will be in place.

Progress to date:
• Traffic Management installed to M1 - centre pier piled. Work to Base & columns started.
• Work commenced on 4 new slip roads on M1.
• Traffic Management  to A5 to install Gabion Wall to West Verge.
• Bulk Cut earthworks 65% complete.
• Installed 7.5km of boundary fencing
• Installed 8km of ditches - pre earth works drainage
• Completed 70% of the schemes piped culverts, linking to the ditches
• Blacktop laid to Luton rd West local road. Tie in works planned for end of Sept.
• Luton rd East Kerbing in place, Blacktop to follow shortly.
• FRC Bases to both North & South abutments on Sundon Rd Bridge.
• Main line drainage 40% complete.
• Box cut A5120 – A5 & roundabout works 40 % complete.
• 3 out of 7 balancing ponds excavated.
• Temporary NB M1 slip now open to construction traffic (Daytime)

Traffic management requirements:
To enable works to be carried out safely there will be a requirement for traffic management installation on M1, A5 and local roads:

M1 – Currently running as Phase 1-2 for centre reservation & verge works. Traffic will run in this configuration for 16 weeks then transit to verge only phase.

A5 - Traffic now running on hardened centre reserve whilst gabion wall is built in the West verge. On completion the traffic will be moved back to the new verge to allow roundabout tie in works.

Local Roads – localised traffic signalling site wide, there will be some overnight closures required to facilitate road crossing (dates tbc). Weekend closures will be booked to allow tie in works of the new roads & traffic switches. 

If you have any questions in relation to the scheme you can contact the project team by emailing
M1-A5Link_DunstableNorthernBypass@highwaysengland.co.uk

Footnote: The road opened for public use on 11/5/2017 see Facebook

Easthill Two Way For Cyclists, One Way For Vehicles, Is that Safe?

A matter concerning the lack of a green surface for a cycle route in Easthill Road has been investigated via a Freedom of Information Request.

A controversial decision was made by Central Bedfordshire Council to allow  cyclists to travel in both directions whereas cars may only travel in one direction along Easthill Road. Objections were made at thetime by several residents and objections inckuded the question of why it was needed, danger for cyclists and motorists, not to mention the cost of the scheme.

Follow the marking up of the road scheme, HRND editor, Alan Winter, questioned why the special surface green tarmac had not been laid to highlight the cycle lane, as had been agreed at the time of the permission. This question had not been answered by normal emails, or even by raising the matter with local Councillors.

A Freedom of Information Request has now revealed that the road surface is too poor to take the extra colouring at this time, and will have to wait for a later period.

The question:
When will the "green high friction surface cycle lane along Easthill Road to further highlight the route to motorists" be implemented?

Answer given: The road surface on Easthill is considered to be too poor to allow a green anti-skid treatment to adhere properly and hence its implementation will follow resurfacing works. To go ahead now risks the surfacing failing and creating a maintenance liability, raising costs. In the interim the route has been marked with repeated cycle symbols which are substantially cheaper to refresh as they wear.
Sundon Road and interconnecting side roads including Easthill are currently being assessed to be included in the 2016/17 Structural Maintenance programme. At this stage it is not possible to provide an exact date as the structural Maintenance programme has to go through a process of review and approval."

Alan Winter commented, "I accept that the Council has to watch its costs very carefully, but all the same I would like to hear from any cyclists or other road users who are unhappy about the situation."

The source of this information is https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/roadworks_at_easthill_road_and_s?nocache=incoming-704472#incoming-704472

This information may be shared provided you include this link: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Teen out with his girlfriend attacked - Top Stories: 9 September 2015

Teen out with his girlfriend attacked -

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Wednesday, 9 September 2015

Anyone Local Been Sent Home for Incorrect School Uniform? - Top Stories: 7 September 2015

Anyone local been sent home for incorrect uniform?

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Monday, 7 September 2015

Three Schools To Get Defibrillators Thanks To Fundraiser's Efforts

A star fundraiser from Houghton Regis is hoping that enough money will have been raised to enable three more local schools to be equipped with lifesaving defibrillators.

Sarah Pyatt Beer, who's son, Jake, lost his life through Sudden  Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, has campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of SAD, and to raise funds to get the heart re-starting equipment into local schools.

'Jake's Bash', on Saturday 5th Sept at Dunstablians Rugby Club, has raised £2300 so far, and a further £600 was recently raised at a Zumbathon with the support of Houghton Regis Leisure Centre.

Sarah hopes the new funds will be enough to supply defibrillators to Manshead, Houghton Regis Academy, and Barnfield skills College.

Sarah told Houghton Regis News Desk, "I would like to say a special thank you to the GoHoughton restaurant in Parkside Drive, for laying on a wonderful buffet, and to extend my thanks to Kishor Patel, the restaurant owner, for a special donation."

Previous fundraising efforts have enabled defibrillators to be purchased for local schools, All Saints Academy and St Vincent's.

Further information and donations can be made at http://www.sadsuk.org.uk mentioning Jake Gallagher, so that it goes to the correct place, in memory of Jake.

Notes:
Pictures supplied by Sarah. Girl on her own, Ellen, Jake's sister. Hampers, raffle prizes, made by Sarah. Trip Control donated prize T-shirt: Sarah's niece designs t shirts, logos on t shirts her own work.

Three Schools To Get Defibrillators Thanks To Fundraiser's Efforts - Top Stories: 6 September 2015

Three Schools To Get Defibrillators Thanks To Fundraiser's Efforts http://www.hrnd.co.uk/2015/09/three-schools-to-get-defibrillators.html

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Sunday, 6 September 2015

Appeal after Houghton Regis Attack - Top Stories: 2 September 2015

Appeal after Houghton Regis attack -

Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Wednesday, 2 September 2015

New Police Data Published for July 2015

New data for our area has been published on Police.uk.

Here is a brief summary of the crime information for the past two months:

All crime June / July: 849 / 876
Anti-social behaviour June / July: 424 /427
Bicycle theft June / July: 12 /17
Burglary June / July: 38 / 54
Criminal damage and arson June / July: 61 / 74
Drugs June / July:  7 / 5
Other crime June / July: 6 /6
Other theft June / July: 49 / 53
Possession of weapons June / July:  2 / 4
Public order  June / July: 25 / 21
Robbery June / July: 4 / 4
Shoplifting June / July: 28 / 31
Theft from the person June / July: 4 /0
Vehicle crime June / July: 77 / 84
Violence and sexual offences June / July: 112 / 96

Please visit https://www.police.uk/shape/moXeS1/ for more information including outcomes for these crimes and contact information for your local policing team. The information and statistics displayed  are for information purposes only and may be subject to change.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing the data, the detail is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.