Houghton Regis News Desk

see http://hrfixmystreet.blogspot.com/2016/05/collapsing-manhole-cover-on-un-adopted.html

Timelapse footage showing how some giant steel beams were installed during March and April 2016 to build the new B579 Luton Road bridge over the M1 near Dunstable in Bedfordshire. This work is part of Highways England’s A5-M1 Link Dunstable Northern Bypass scheme, which is due to be completed in spring 2017. Work to lift beams for a new junction 11A bridge over the M1 also took place at the same time and in the same area for this scheme.

Central Bedfordshire councillors Susan Goodchild and John Kane (both Houghton Hall), Tony Swain (Tithe Farm) and Antonia Ryan (Parkside) have announced the dates for their next three help and advice surgeries. They will all take place in the meeting room in Houghton Regis Library on the following Saturdays: 28 May, 25 June and 30 July. Residents are invited to come along between 10am and noon on the three dates and discuss any issues which concern them. For more information, contact the Members’ Support Team on 0300 300 6090, Cllr Goodchild on 0300 300 8525, Cllr Kane on 0300 300 8537, Cllr Swain on 0300 300 8567 and Cllr Ryan on 0300 300 8518. And to find out upcoming dates of members’ surgeries and how to contact them, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/councillors

Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG) are asking local people to give their views on gluten-free food being funded by the NHS. A consultation ends on 24th July 2016. Those affected by coeliac disease and who currently receive food on prescription will be affected, as the CCG is looking for ways to reduce its costs. If untreated or poorly managed, the lifelong condition or coeliacs can have longer term health implications. The gluten free diet is the only treatment for coeliac disease so easy access to this food is important. Supermarkets do stock more and more of these products but it can be argued that only a pharmacy could guarantee a regular supply. The survey is available to complete online at https://www.bedfordshireccg.nhs.uk/page/?id=4958 or via email to enquiries@bedfordshire.nhs.uk

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: February 2016 March 2016 All crime 653 711 Anti-social behaviour 213 289

A man from Houghton Regis has been ordered to pay over £1,500 for inappropriately discarding household waste.  Jack Hughes, of Kensington Close, Houghton Regis was prosecuted for illegally disposing of waste on land which was not an authorised waste collection site.  Mr Hughes pleaded guilty at his hearing at Luton Magistrates' Court on 26th April, and was fined £800, ordered to pay £80 victims surcharge and made to pay £686.80 costs to Central Bedfordshire Council, a total cost to him of £1566.80.  Councillor Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Community Services, said: "Fly-tipping is a deliberate and thoughtless act that causes a blight on local environments. It is a source of pollution, a potential danger to public health and hazard to wildlife and it also undermines legitimate waste businesses.  "We want Central Bedfordshire to remain a great place to live and work, which is why we have a zero tolerance attitude toward fly-tipping. Failure to properly dispose of any ty

Vicar, Revd. Anne Crawford, pictured in April with the south aisle roof in the background. Photo: A D Winter. A Grade 1 Listed building at Chalgrave, All Saints Church, are applying for permission to replace their stolen south and north aisle lead roofs with a terne coated stainless steel roof. The remote church between Houghton Regis and Toddington is vulnerable to thieves, with only one nearby residential home. It has had lead stolen from its south aisle roof in December 2015. In April 2016 the north roof was also damaged by thieves and roofing stolen. The church would find it financially difficult to raise funds to replace the roofs with lead, and repeat thefts cannot be ruled out. Wall paintings. Photo: A D Winter, 2012. More pictures The church has historic wall paintings liable to be damaged by inclement weather if the roofs continue to be uncovered. The terne coated stainless steel has been approved by Historic England. The application will be considered by Cen

The Rugby Union Football Club in Houghton Regis  have applied for planning permission to erect two brick walls at either side of their main car park entrance. It would have the effect of smartening up the entrance. If permission is granted, the left hand wall to the entrance from Bedford Road will display the name of the club, DRUFC in laser cut letters on a cement screed-ed background. The right hand wall will house an electronic digital (LED) display advertising such details as the next fixture detail, club sponsors, events, and so on. The club is situated in Bedford Road. The application is to be commented on by Houghton Regis Town Council on Monday 16th May from 7.30pm.  Further Images Application details: go to http://j.mp/cbcplanning and search on 16/01517

There was royal Representation at a Houghton Regis Primary School as part of its celebrations to mark The Queen’s 90th birthday. Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Helen Nellis, The Queen’s representative in the county, visited Tithe Farm Primary School to help pupils, staff and governors mark the event. Mrs Nellis was given a tour of the school in Tithe Farm Road, led by head girl Caitlin Foster and head boy Kealan Hawthorne. She visited every class and was able to talk with children and staff and view the work going on in the school. Joining the Lord-Lieutenant on the tour were headteacher Shelah Surgey, deputy headteacher Jamie Carmichael, chair of governors Central Bedfordshire Councillor Susan Goodchild, and school governors Houghton Regis Town Councillor Chris Slough and the Reverend David Skinner. Mrs Nellis learnt about the celebrations held to mark The Queen’s birthday, with all children having a street party-style lunch, and every class enjoying a special birthday cake

Vicki Kreisson, from Plaiters Way, is looking for people to help her build a portfolio as she reaches the end of her Level 3 qualification. Vicki is a fully qualified gym instructor with CPDs (*) in pad work, kettlebells, medicine ball and suspension training,  along with a NCFE level 4 advanced Nutrition qualification. On offer is cut price training in return for your before and after photos and comments of your training experience with her. Her charges are from £15 to £20ph with additional support also included. This money will be helping her to grow the equipment selection. Contact Vicki on 0790 8039495 or via Facebook *  Continued Professional Development

TURNOUT Turn out 27.3% across the county (17% last time) Luton (23.03%), Bedford (24.87%), C Beds (23.42%) For Thames Valley the turnout was 25.6% and in Hertfordshire 29%. CANDIDATES Bugle, Toni (English Democrats – “More Police – catching criminals!”) Holloway, Kathryn Ann (The Conservative Party Candidate) Jack, Linda Anne (Liberal Democrats) Martins, Olly (Labour and Co-operative Party) Strachan, Duncan Anthony (UK Independence Party (UKIP)) First preference votes cast in Luton were as follows: Bugle, Toni (Eng Dems): 1,943 Holloway, Kathryn Ann (Con): 6,263 Jack, Linda Anne (Lib Dem): 2,939 Martins, Olly (Lab): 16,192 Strachan, Duncan Anthony (UKIP): 2,453. The total number of valid votes cast in Luton was 29,790, turnout 23.03 per cent, with 779 ballot papers rejected. First preference votes cast in Bedford were as follows: Bugle, Toni (Eng Dems): 1,644 Holloway, Kathryn Ann (Con): 11,203 Jack, Linda Anne (Lib Dem): 5,287 Martins, Olly (Lab):

A ceremony has taken place to officially open the Academy of Central Bedfordshire. The Academy is split across two sites – the Kingsland Campus, in Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, and Church Road, in Stotfold. And in the short time it has been open the Academy has celebrated many achievements - including receiving a 'good' rating by Ofsted during its first inspection last summer. So to mark those, a plaque was unveiled at the Stotfold site during a ceremony last month. It was unveiled by Charlie Taylor, a former expert advisor to the government on behaviour in schools. He was on the interview panel made up of government officers during the Academy’s application process. Mr Taylor was joined at the ceremony by pupils, staff and a host of invited guests including chairman of governors Nigel Croft, Central Bedfordshire Council’s Executive Member for Education and Skills Cllr Mark Versallion, Director of Children’s Services Sue Harrison and Assistant Director School Impr

A bar-restaurant that has been dubbed “Houghton Hoo” by grateful locals is gearing up to celebrate its first birthday. In the last 12 months GO Houghton, in Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, has rocketed to the top of the TripAdvisor charts, being rated the number one restaurant in the Dunstable area and the number 4 in Bedfordshire. “It took a lot of sweat and tears to transform what was a run down pub into what is the modern and fresh GO Houghton and create 20 new jobs,” said owner Kishor Patel. “None of the big pub owners wanted it and there were lots of break-ins. “When we put the plans forward there were seemingly endless planning issues, the utility suppliers caused delays and the whole fitting out process caused a lot of headaches. “At times there were so many delays that it was almost as if people wanted to keep a derelict site.” But Kishor and his team believed in the project, which was to create a venue where people would travel to for great value food and drink.

Solution Sounds Fun Day for Kye day will now be held at Luton Rugby Club, Newlands Road, Luton LU1 4BQ on 27th August 11am until 8pm  to raise money for Cosmic and Kye. On Mother's Day, 8 year old Kye was rushed to hospital with Meningococcal Meningitis and as a result has lost both legs and will soon be losing his left hand and parts of his right. Fundraisers are seeking raffle prizes for the day as well as people to turn up in, or lend  Superhero and star wars costumes. They are also welcoming any other ideas for the day. Confirmed so far are the main stage, with various local musicians and a street dance group, a Reggae stage, VW and performance car show, Rugby skills,  and many things going on in the family fun area. The organisers can be contacted at fundsforcosmicforkye@gmail.com http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/7090820/Dying-eight-year-old-boy-had-both-his-legs-and-hand-amputated-to-save-his-life-from-deadly-infection.html Meningococcal disease – the

About The Job On 5th May, you will be able to vote for our police and crime commissioner (PCC). The job of the PCC is to oversee the police and ensure that they are prioritising what matters to us.   They are elected  to ensure the policing needs of our community are met as effectively as possible and to oversee how crime is tackled in our area. PCCs don't run the police force ; that's the job of the Chief Constable. Their aim will be to cut crime and to ensure our police force is effective. PCCs bring a public voice to policing and they do this by holding meetings and engaging with the public and victims of crime to help set police and crime plans. They ensure the police force budget is spent where it matters most, and appoint, and where necessary dismiss the chief constable. PCCs are there to serve the people , not a political party or any one section of their electorate. It is widely accepted that Bedfordshire Police are underfunded. A petition collected 12,038