Houghton Regis News Desk

On Sunday it was noticeable that one of the elephants was raising its right front leg for several long moments at a time. ZSL have responded to an enquiry, saying, " the particular elephant in question does have a medical problem which is being treated and monitored by the vet department. This is nothing serious but on occasion may be causing the elephant some minor discomfort for a short while."

Ashton Middle School, the former Dunstable Grammar School, is being offered for sale.

Frances Ashton died in 1727, bequeathing 6 almshouses for Dunstable. Ashton Almshouse Charity went on to acquire various lands for investment. In 1868 it sold land to the Midlands Railway Company for £14,500 and permission to build a school was obtained from Queen Victoria in 1885.

The foundation stone for Dunstable Grammar School was laid in 1887. The school cost £12,000 to build. A science building was added in 1907 and a further new science building in 1964.

The Ashton Schools Foundation is a registered charity with a Board of Governors who are the trustees of three Church of England Schools in Dunstable including Ashton Middle School. The buildings and associated grounds belong to the Foundation. Ashton Middle School is set to close in July 2016.


The southern part of site falls within a  Conservation Area including the main school building that fronts High Street North and the science block whic…

Back the petition https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/110333

You may be aware that the Home Office has been conducting a review into the way in which the central Government policing budget is allocated across forces with a view to developing a funding formula that is fit-for-purpose and sustainable.

Policing partners and the public have been consulted and earlier this month chief constables and PCCs received a letter from Policing Minister Mike Penning MP outlining the proposed refinements to the way in which central Government policing budgets will be allocated.

I cannot express enough my disappointment to see that under the latest proposal for central Government funding Bedfordshire is set to receive no additional funds. I know that you will share my disappointment at hearing this news.

With more cuts looming, I really do fear that this force will become unsustainable – we will no longer be able to deliver some services or respond to incidents in the way we do currently.

Bedfor…

Motorcyclist injured in Houghton Regis collision -Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Wednesday, 21 October 2015

A pedestrian, in her 80’s, was involved in an accident with a HGV on Monday afternoon. The lady suffered an isolated shoulder injury and was taken to Luton and Dunstable hospital. The road was closed during the incident and traffic was considerably backed up.

Later, at Monday evening's Town Centre Partnership Committee at Houghton Regis Town Council there was discussion on High Street works.

In public question time, resident Alan Winter, said "I have been asking for central refuges for the crossings since before the scheme was implemented, to give people a fighting chance of some safety. When was Central Bedfordshire Council going to listen to the safety concerns of the public and local councillors?"

Later, in the meeting, it was reported that Cllr Brian Spurr, a CBC executive member, had visited the scene in September and had met with a deputation from the Town Council. It was reported that he was more supportive of measures to keep the traffic flowing, than he was in …

This week is National Adoption Week (19-25 October) and the council is appealing for more residents to help give children here a new start in life.

Some extraordinary people have already come forward to become adoptive families in the past and interest is welcomed from more residents.

In Central Bedfordshire there is a need for adoptive parents for children of all ages, especially children with complex needs, who may have been affected by drugs or alcohol, or with additional health or behavioural needs, as well as sibling groups of various ages.

A couple who chose to adopt a sibling group said: “We felt we wanted to help keep siblings together and offer a home to an older pair of children who sometimes get left in the care system. It was certainly the right decision for our boys to be placed together as they have a close bond (despite the usual sibling rivalry) and have helped each other to settle into their new home.

“Going from zero to two children overnight was more challenging tha…

Female injured in collision involving HGV -If anyone has any information about the collision, call 101.A meeting is...Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Monday, 19 October 2015

Dunstablians were all over Peterborough this afternoon at The Washbrook, Bedford Road, Houghton Regis. The final scoreline was 26-8 to the home side.

In this year's district Summer Reading Challenge almost 5,000 more books were read than in 2014.

The annual event is run by The Reading Agency and was this year supported by Guinness World Records. It is designed to encourage young people to read more. In all 78,481 books were borrowed from Central Bedfordshire Libraries, to beat last year's total of 73,553.

Altogether, 5,289 children took part in the Summer Reading Challenge in the district, and all were entered into a prize draw. One winner from each library was then invited to a prize-giving event attended by local MP, Andrew Selous, at Luton’s Stockwood Discovery Centre on Saturday.

Storyteller Philippa Tipper read to the children from A Word in Edgeways at the event. Additionally, a cheque for £1,083 from sponsors PMP Recruitment was handed to the Keech Cottage Children’s Charity to go towards the costs of an Angel (nurse).

Cllr Budge Wells, Deputy Executive Member for Community Services, said: “Congratulations to the wi…

Tools taken from 13 vans in one night -Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Friday, 16 October 2015

A world record attempt for the most people howling at the moon ...Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Wednesday, 14 October 2015

A section of Sundon Road closes 8pm Friday 16th October to 6am Monday 19th October to complete work for a future...Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Baby joy after birth hell for Hatters star and wife -Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Wednesday, 14 October 2015

On 3rd October, Houghton Regis Councillors undertook a litter pick.  10 people attended at 10am on a sunny Saturday morning in a bid to clean up Houghton Hall and the surrounding area.

After an initial clean up of The Green and the playground, the group split up into two teams.  The first team headed along the Brook and then onto Park Road North. The second team travelled along the path in the opposite direction and ended up at Dog Kennel Walk.

During the 2 hour community event, 17 bags of litter were collected including plastic bags, empty bottles, take away cartons, 2 car hub caps, 2 broken police cones and some chicken wire, to name just some of the many things collected.

Houghton Hall Park have been awarded a funding bid of £2.2 million to transform the Park, from Heritage and Big Lottery...Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Saturday, 10 October 2015

The Home Office has finally unveiled the figures behind the police funding formula review, which show that, after years of underfunding, they still want Bedfordshire's share of the funding cake to remain exactly the same at just 0.9% of the national police grant.

Shocked PCC Olly Martins said, "The Conservative Government appears set on playing politics not only with Bedfordshire's policing but also with national security, and all because they don't want to risk losing the 2016 London mayoral election.

"The Government is about to totally chicken out of reforming the police funding formula, which would have required a serious redistribution of resources away from the Met and towards underfunded forces like Bedfordshire.

"If they proceed on the basis of their published figures the government needs to be very clear that, if there is a serious terrorist incident involving extremists connected with Luton, the responsibility is theirs and not that of the ridiculous…

Council Executive supports new Local Plan

Central Bedfordshire Council has moved a step closer to producing a new Local Plan after resolving to withdraw the Central Bedfordshire Development Strategy, the draft local plan for the area up to 2031.


The proposals, which included a recommendation to discontinue legal proceedings with the Secretary of State, were backed by Executive councillors today but the final decision will rest with full Council on 19 November. If the Council agrees to formally withdraw the Development Strategy, work on a new plan would begin immediately.


The Development Strategy, outlining how the Council would meet future demand for homes and jobs while protecting the natural and built environment, was submitted to the Secretary of State last October for independent examination. Following initial meetings with the Planning Inspector, the Council received a letter from the Inspector in February, stating that the Council had not met the ‘Duty to Cooperate’ with other l…

Central Bedfordshire Council's Executive has approved a consultation on its admission arrangements for voluntary controlled and community schools in 2017/18. 

The consultation approved by members yesterday includes proposals to alter Leighton Middle School's admissions criteria, and to amend the catchment area for Houghton Regis Primary School.Looked-after or previously looked-after children, children living in the catchment area with siblings at the school, children living in the catchment area and other children who already have siblings at the school are currently given priority admission to Leighton Middle School, in Church Square.After that, it is pupils who have spent three years or more at a Leighton Buzzard, Linslade or Hockliffe lower schools such as Beaudesert, Clipstone Brook, Dovery Down, Greenleas, Heathwood, Leedon, Linslade, Mary Bassett, Pulfords, Southcott, St. George's, St Leonard's, Stanbridge and Hockliffe.The approved consultation will ask peo…

Here is a brief summary of the crime information for the past two months:July 2015August 2015 All crime 876 721 Anti-social behaviour 427 337 Bicycle theft 17 10 Burglary 54 36 Criminal damage and arson 74 91 Drugs 5 2���…

A surprise for residents in St Albans last night!Posted by Houghton Regis News Desk on Thursday, 1 October 2015