Houghton Regis News Desk

In the Queen’s New Year’s honours list 2017 there are 2 CBE's and 4 MBE's for people in Bedfordshire. Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) Kim Daniel BROMLEY-DERRY Chief Executive, London Borough of Newham. For services to Local Government. (Bedfordshire). Alfred Henry HITCHCOCK, QPM Chief Constable, Ministry of Defence Police. For services to Defence and Policing. (Bedfordshire) Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) Tony FENWICK Co-Chair, School's Out. For services to Equality in the Education Sector.(Luton, Bedfordshire) Michael GRANT For services to Conservation and the community in Billington, Bedfordshire.(Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire) Frederick Nigel SPARROW For services to the community in Clapham, Bedfordshire.(Bedfordshire) Anthony Peter WILSON Director, AECOM. For services to Building and Engineering.(Dunstable, Bedfordshire) In total 1,197 people have received an award. This year’s honours are the mos

Treow House: new development A new development at Treow House, Parkside Drive, opposite The Chequers is for a 7 bedroom care facility in the form of a 2 storey building, for people with learning difficulties with 24 hour staff support. A number of Grade II listed buildings are situated close to site, including the oldest standing building of Dene Hollow (HER 5700), a Grade II listed timber-framed building likely to be 16th century, immediately to the north of Treow House. Slightly further to the NNW is the 18th century Easthill Farmhouse (HER 5702) The 17th-century Vane Cottage(HER 5701) is less than 100m to the SSE on Park Road North. Documents show that objections were received from Houghton Regis Town Council and Dene Hollow, principally because the building lies within the town's conservation area. The planning application CB/15/04422/FULL was approved by Central Bedfordshire Council in June of 2016. Source: Documents added since the application was submitted :

How the site could look if developed. Site now: Oakwell Park and paddocks to the left, woodland to the right. PLANNING MATTERS A new application could pose a threat to a site thought to be an ancient woodland, off the Thorn Road in Houghton Regis parish. Conflicting documents in the application suggest that between 80 and 200 homes could be built at Oakwell Park, Thorn* The plan would demolish and remove existing buildings, trees and associated landscaping to create a residential development, together with environmental improvements, green infrastructure and heritage enhancement. About half the site containing an ancient woodland would be saved. The application is number CB/16/05701/OUT and plans are available online Comments can be sent to planning@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk quoting CB/16/05701 The site has several water features including a large pond adjacent to the main house set outside the woodland, a moated feature that forms part of the Scheduled Ancient Mo

Central Bedfordshire libraries are closed from 1pm on Saturday 24 December until Tuesday, 27 December. They are also closed on Monday, 2 January 2017 for New Year. However  you will  be able to use the virtual library and library app through out the festive season. To download the library app visit the Google Play Store or   Apple app store, search for 'Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire Libraries' and install it today! Usual opening hours for Houghton Regis library: Usual opening hours for Toddington library:

You might be thinking about buying an off-road bike ahead of Christmas – not realising the legislation that exists around owning and using this kind of vehicle. At a Public meeting on Monday this week in Houghton Regis Police mentioned their success against riders in French's Avenue. And in Op Meteor they crushed 20 bikes on November 4th. Their call centre control room takes 450,000 to 460,000 calls, but all calls to 1010 and 999 are stored and records go back some 15 years. The public are encouraged to keep phoning in to 101 for any anti social behaviour complaint against nuisance bikes, or any other crime incident, for that matter. The dedicated email address for off-road bike incidents will take pictures, or video to opmeteorinbox@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk Bedfordshire Police  would like to remind you of the facts of buying an off-road bike – whether it’s for yourself or as a gift. The facts Off-road motorbikes: • Cannot be driven on the road – this is illegal a

Following local residents complaints that works on Bedford Road took practically 2 months to be carried out, and very little seemed to have been achieved during the closure of the road during that time, HRND wrote to CBC in search of an official explanation. The complaints on Facebook  included, "Questions should be asked.they built the houses there quicker than this.If i worked that slow i would be sacked" "All that time for one roundabout and a zebra crossing" "5 to 6 weeks to do that 200 yard aspect of road they should be ashamed" Essentially, in response, Central Bedfordshire Council state that multi-agency works were carried out during the closure period, saving drivers the inconvenience of several separate road closures at different times and that 60 days additional works have been saved during this closure. THE FULL STATEMENT As part of the wider regeneration in the Central Bedfordshire region, CBC has given planning permission to dev

Central Bedfordshire Council are currently reviewing the way that short break services are funded and delivered. Under review is a draft proposal to lower the Budget for Children With Disabilities (CWD) by £158,000. Short breaks are opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to spend time away from their primary carers, and provide opportunities for their parents and carers to have a break from caring responsibilities. Short breaks applies to disabled children aged between 0-18 who live in Central Bedfordshire and their families. In Central Bedfordshire Short Breaks can include day, evening, overnight, weekend or holiday activities that take place within the home of the child or young person, in the home of an approved carer, a residential or a community setting. Families and carers can phone 0300 300 3000 and asking for the Children with Disabilities Team. The Team will also be able to give information about who is the best person to speak to for more specia

Cycling Time Trials, Stunt Bikes, Band, Fire Engine - all to help celebrate the Woodside Link. Saturday, 10th December, between Frogmore Rd and Wheatfield Rd footpath. You’ve probably seen the Woodside Link being transformed from a work site into a major piece of transport infrastructure. Now you can take a closer look by going along to the Woodside Link Cycling Celebration on Saturday, December 10. Cycling fun Marking the end of construction, the event takes place between 10am and 2pm, with free entry from the footway that runs between Frogmore Road and Wheatfield Surgery. There will be cycling time trials for youngsters aged 16 and under in four categories, between 10am and noon. Entrants can turn up with their bike at anytime during the two-hour slot to compete. In the afternoon there will be an opportunity for people of all ages to leisurely cycle up and down the new road on their bike. And plenty is planned for those not wishing to take to two wheels.

Best Bar None is a national scheme which aims to make towns and cities great places to go out by making pubs, clubs and leisure venues even safer and more welcoming places for visitors. Representatives from the venues were joined at the presentation evening on Nov 30th. Local businesses and individuals donated prizes to a raffle which raised £360 for the Street Pastors, a charity which sees volunteers from local churches head out in our towns from 10pm to 4am on Saturdays to help those in need on the street. Raffle prizes worth a total of £700 were donated by local companies. Best Bar None Overall Winner – Dunstable/Houghton Regis:  Dunstable Leisure Centre; Runners-up: Club Cookies and Creasey Park Community Football Centre Best Bar None Overall Winner – Leighton-Linslade: The Lancer; Runners-up: The Dukes and The Swan 2,500 people voted for their favourite venues in the People’s Vote. People’s Vote Winner – Dunstable/Houghton Regis: Club Cookies; Runners-up: Go Hou