Spring Edition of the North Chilterns Chalk Newsletter

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Here's the link: Wildlife Trust Letter April 2017
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Ashberry Homes New Showhome Open At Bidwell

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The doors to a new showhome have been opened at a housing development in Bidwell.
Housebuilder Ashberry Homes is building 88 one, two, three and four-bedroom homes alongside public open space at Chalk Fields, off Thorn Road.

The development is part of a new neighbourhood to the north of Houghton Regis, just two miles from the centre of Dunstable. It will provide up to 1,850 new homes when complete.
House-hunters can book a one-to-one appointment with the sales team to visit the new four-bedroom Crawley showhome, with safety measures in place. The showhome is spread across three storeys and features an open-plan kitchen/dining room, a living room overlooking the garden and an en suite shower room and dressing room to the master bedroom on the top floor.
Rhiannon Jones, Head of Sales for Ashberry Homes Eastern Counties, said, “With building work on the homes at Chalk Fields progressing well, we felt it was the ideal time to open a new showhome and give people the chance to gain an insight i…
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New TV Documentary to Feature Whipsnade Zoo

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A new behind-the-scenes documentary will air on ITV – 24 September and 1 October, 9pm
A lioness with a mystery illness, an agoraphobic camel and a sea lion colony prepping for a cross-country move are just some of the stars of a brand-new documentary, airing on ITV this month.

Watch the tv documentary preview

'London Zoo: An Extraordinary Year' is a new fly-on-the-wall series filmed at Whipsnade Zoo and the London Zoo during the nationwide lockdown. Episode one airs at 9pm on Thursday 24 September, with the second airing at the same time on 1 October.  ZSL, the international conservation charity behind the two world-famous Zoos, granted exclusive access to film company October Films within days of the lockdown being enforced. The team were on-site filming right through to the Zoos’ emotional reopening days on 15 June.


The cameras followed the Zoos’ teams as they dealt with the highs and lows of zoo life in the face of a global pandemic. The filming captured how social distancing m…
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Town Council to Consider Working From Home More Permanently

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COVID-19 restrictions have meant that council staff normally based in their Peel Street offices in Houghton Regis have had to work from home. And at its next Corporate Services meeting councillors are to consider adopting more flexible working arrangements on a permanent basis.
Due to the coronavirus Councillors have been holding their meetings online and staff have been working from home. During staff appraisals held in July feedback from staff was that they felt that working from home had allowed them to be more productive in some aspects of their role. 
A Personnel Sub-Committee of  Houghton Regis Town Council discussed the idea of staff continuing to work from home once restrictions were lifted. At its meeting on 14 September, the Council's Corporate Services committee will consider this suggestion further.
The Town Council already operates a Flexi-Time Scheme which enables staff to work their contractual hours between 8am and 6pm, with core hours being 10am to midday and 2pm to …
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First Meeting of Chief Constable's New Advisory Panel

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A new independent panel which will advise Bedfordshire's Chief Constable has met for the first time.
The eight members of the new advisory panel met with Chief Constable Garry Forsyth on Tuesday 8 September, to provide independent views on major cultural and strategic decisions facing policing in Bedfordshire.
The panel heard Mr Forsyth outline his vision for the organisation and discussed topics such as recruitment and improving the force’s diversity.
The panel is due to meet quarterly and will build on a number of other existing forums already in place to provide transparency and accountability for the Bedfordshire force.
Mr Forsyth said, “This panel will provide us with advice, support and guidance around the critical issues that we are facing as an organisation. We had a good discussion, and it was incredibly useful to have those conversations with a really wide cross-section of our communities here in Bedfordshire.
“It is imperative that we get opinions and insight from our commun…
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Give blood during the Easter holidays

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Children who depend on life-saving blood transfusions are encouraging donors to give blood during the Easter holidays to ensure NHS Blood and Transplant has the blood stocks necessary to meet demand. Eight-year old Sophie Thorne is one of several youngsters contributing a 'thank you' picture to remind people in Luton and Bedfordshire that donating blood saves lives. Blood stocks are more vulnerable to shortfall around public holidays like Easter as the weather improves, and people go on holiday or enjoy days out with family. It is vital stocks are constantly replenished as blood has a shelf life of 35 days and platelets only seven days. Hospitals across England need more than 6,000 blood donations every day to treat patients. Blood or the components of blood are used to treat patients with medical conditions such as anaemia, cancer blood disorders, and those having surgery.
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Catherine Thorne, Sophie's mother, of Wootton near Bedford, said: "Sophie has a rare blood condi…
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Take the Walking Challenge in September's Walking Festival !

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Bedfordshire Walking Festival is taking place this month so why not come along on one of the many walks available and explore the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside?
​Walking connects us with nature and those around us and has many benefits, including helping to improve mental health and well-being and reduce anxiety, fatigue and stress.

There is a range of different walks available for almost every ability level. Choose a Pop-Up walk if you want to go on a short, special interest or half-day walk. 


If you'd prefer to walk alone or with friends then why not set yourself some goals with a Pop Out Time Challenge! For the more adventurous, the Greensand Challenge is ideal for small groups with the aim to walk all or part of the Greensand Ridge walk over the weekend of 12-13 September.



Pop Along 2 Apps & Maps: September's courses - future courses: Book Here. Mon 14th Sept @ 19.00 - What Makes a Good Walk Leader ?Tues 22nd Sept @ 19.00 - An Introduction to CompassesThurs 1st Oct …
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CBC Urge Residents to Complete Economic Survey

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Central Bedfordshire Council is developing an economic strategy that recognises the short-term impacts of COVID-19 but focuses on the longer-term direction for the local economy and wants residents and local businesses to help it shape the strategy.
Cllr Kevin Collins, Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration said, ‘Along with our Sustainability Plan, the new strategy is an important pillar to support our Vision for Central Bedfordshire.
“Last year, along with a broad range of stakeholders, residents and partners, we began working together to develop a shared Vision for 2050. It seeks to ensure we maintain and enhance what is great about Central Bedfordshire but also embraces the future and how our lives and the world of work are changing.
“We want a prosperous, thriving, innovative economy underpinned by a skilled workforce with a culture of innovation. We want to encourage a diverse range of flourishing businesses along with a digital infrastructure that is fit for the future.
“We…
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Lidl Plans For 1.2million sq ft Regional Distribution Centre

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by Alan D Winter, Houghton Regis News Desk
Lidl, a family supermarket that takes pride in providing its customers with the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices, is on the verge of starting work on building its biggest ever Distribution Centre on Houghton Regis' doorstep.

Outline plans for the development were agreed under the existing Central Bedfordshire Council consent (CB/12/03613/OUT) and now a reserved matters application has been submitted. The company is now seeking approval for these plans, which could be concluded in March 2020.

The development proposals comprise the construction of a Regional Distribution Centre (RDC) of over  1.2 million sq ft of warehouse floor space, 612 associated car parking spaces, 141 HGV stacking spaces, 196 loading docks, 20 E-charging spaces, a drivers lounge, smoking shelters, two bicycle stores with 104 spaces for bicycles, four haulier cabins, three battery enclosures, a generator enclosure, sprinkler tanks, pump house hydr…
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Angry Resident Wants Peace Back as Chalk Pit Tourism Takes Off

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By Alan Winter updated 27 May

 An irate resident has contacted Houghton Regis News Desk to vent their frustrations about visitors to the Chalk Pit clogging up their unadopted roads.

The resident, who did not want to be named, wrote, “As a resident on Fieldstone, we’re after some help. The quarry has been advertised on social media so it now has visitors from a wide area. They are blocking our residential roads, leaving rubbish and glass everywhere in the quarry. Having BBQs, drinking and meeting for social gatherings. They are drinking and dancing in the streets gone 11pm. There needs to be parking and the quarry managed before all the recent hard work is undone. We want peace back.

“This parking and quarry issue has been going on for the last few weeks after advertising has appeared on social media. We heard someone say they had driven from Milton Keynes, and a neighbour has stated that 5 people he knows from Hemel Hempstead have attended. Just this morning, a friend from work saw it …
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L&D Hospital Mani Car Park Closes From 13 July - Bigger Car Park To Be Built

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Parking for visitors and patients at the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital will get a welcome boost by the end of the year, as work gets underway on a new four-level car park on the footprint of the existing Lewsey Road car park.
The new car park will double the current provision for patients and visitors, and also provide more accessible parking as well as bicycle parking for patients, visitors and staff.










The new design will also improve the flow of cars, and reduce queuing and congestion on Lewsey Road.
The existing main visitor and patient car park (on Lewsey Road, opposite the main entrance to the hospital), will be closing on Monday 13 July.
Alternative parking will be available on site, in Farringdon Fields, off Calnwood Road. The Trust is reallocating staff spaces for the period.
But overall numbers may be limited so the Trust is asking patients and visitors not to bring their car if they can possibly avoid it, but to be dropped off instead. A new temporary drop-off point will…
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Consultation on New Secondary School in Houghton Regis

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Initial designs have been produced for a new 1,120 place secondary school, to be built on the Kingsland Campus, Houghton Regis, for September 2022. The proposal includes all the specialist and non-specialist teaching space required, as well as providing a sports hall, outdoor sports provision and car parking. The external appearance of the school buildings is subject to further design work. 
The concept for the new school is based on the superblock model and includes a 3-storey main classroom block, with a separate sports hall. This type of design is suggested by the Department for Education (DfE), and has been used for many new secondary schools across the country
The Council is currently at the pre-planning design stage, and is taking the opportunity to seek the views of the local community ahead of the planning application being submitted. The date for submission of the planning application has been tentatively set for the end of August 2020. 
This consultation is an important part of…
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Bidwell Heights - Go Ahead for New Build Despite Crime Concerns

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A development of 336 homes has been given the go ahead under delegated powers by Central Bedfordshire Council despite Bedfordshire Police having concerns that the layout would encourage crime.

The site is situated between the SSSI Houghton Regis Chalk Pit edge and Blue Waters woodland.




Bedfordshire Police Liaison Objected to the scheme, 'as it is considered that the proposed layout and design would present opportunities for crime'.

See planning layout - (pdf)

Another key concern came from Wildlife Trusts BCN who also drew attention to anti-social behaviour. Their concerns are listed as,

'Concerns regarding development so close to the chalk cliffs associated with the SSSI. The Trust strongly recommend that a robust engineering operation is designed and incorporated into the plans, at this stage of the process, to ensure that the stability of the chalk cliff is not weakened as part of any development that takes place in this location. The Trust also consider that there should…
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Houghton Regis Academy Closure - Public Meeting 10 March

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Updated 2 March 2020

The Secretary of State for Education, in mutual agreement with the Trust, has now made the substantive and final decision to proceed to the closure of Houghton Regis Academy.  However, in order to reduce the impact of the closure,  a proposed closure transition plan has been agreed to which means the Academy will remain open for some year groups until 31 August 2022.

There will now be a ‘listening period’. The listening period is an opportunity for stakeholders and interested parties such as pupils, parents and staff to be provided with more information about the proposed closure process. It is also an opportunity for stakeholders to submit their views on how the process can best be managed. This period started today, 28 February, and will end at 5pm on 27 March 2020.

Parkside ward Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) councillor said, “I am aware of the concern the current position will be causing pupils, parents and the wider community at Houghton Regis. I am worki…
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Plans For 66 bed care Home, Nursery & Shops at Lower Thorn Village

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(updated 14 June 2020)As part of the already approved outline development plans for the Lower Thorn area of Houghton Regis, detailed planning applications are now being submitted for a local centre. A decision for these applications is hoped for by mid-August 2020.
Houghton Regis Town Council will discuss the plans on Tuesday 16th June. A final decision will be made by Central Bedfordshire Council. The Town Council's virtual meeting agenda is available to download. If you wish to participate in this meeting you will need to supply an email address before 3pm on the day of the meeting in order to attend virtually by emailing your request. Instructions on Remote Meeting Guidance can be found here.
In all, three planning applications have been submitted to develop a local integrated centre on behalf of  HDD Houghton Regis Retail Limited. 



1. 66 Bed Care Home A 66-bed care home and its associated car park, means of access and landscaping.  Split over 3 floors. If permission were granted…
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Police Appeal After Man Robbed in Houghton Regis

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Bedfordshire Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was robbed in Houghton Regis.
At around 10pm on Saturday 1st August, the man was on Bedford Square, near the park, when he was approached by five offenders. The group attacked the victim and stole his phone, his bank card, and a quantity of cash.
During the attack, the victim sustained superficial cuts to his face, stomach and forearm, which required medical attention but are not serious or life-threatening.
The offenders are described as young men, wearing face masks with their hoods up, riding bikes.
PC Helen Pecorini, investigating, said: “Thankfully the victim only suffered minor injuries, but was left distressed by this incident. We are appealing to anyone in the area who may have the offenders before or after the incident.”
Anyone who can offer any help in this matter is asked to get in contact with the police, or contact Crimestoppers.  Alternatively, information about this incident can be reported via police reporting webs…
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Amazon Prime Scam Has Cost Victims More Than £1m

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Bedfordshire Police is issuing a fraud warning after a number of Bedfordshire residents fell victim to a scam, with one losing their entire life savings.

Action Fraud has reported that the scam was first reported in October 2019 and since has cost the victims more than £1 million.

The scam is carried out by phone call, with the victim receiving an automated phone message that they have been charged for an Amazon Prime subscription.

How It Works They are subsequently instructed to ‘press 1’ to cancel the transaction. When they do this, they are directed to a fraudster posing as an Amazon customer service representative.

The fraudster advises the victim that their subscription was purchased fraudulently and that remote access to their computer is required in order to fix a security flaw that will prevent it from reoccurring.

The unsuspecting victim then downloads software which grants the scammers remote access to their computer, including personal and financial information.

Other vari…
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Supermarket Responds to Criticism that Shelves & Fridges were Empty

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Morrisons supermarket in Houghton Regis has responded to complaints that fresh food stocks were depleted and freezers were empty. The complaints were made on a popular public Facebook Group.
The Houghton Regis store is located in a residential area and does have restrictions on the times when lorries can make morning deliveries to the store. 
Writing on the Facebook Group, 'Houghton Regis ......Whats Occurring in our Community???' Laura Donovan, a Logistics Supervisor at Rank Xerox, started off by writing, on Saturday 1st August,
 “Don’t know what’s going on at Morrison’s lately but these past two weeks replenishment of fresh foods is just not happening. This morning at about 10.15am there was no fresh salad products & very little fresh veg. I am not blaming the floor staff as there was a lot of them trying to replenish but it was obvious to me that someone/somewhere in management got it wrong with delivery expectations. I’m sure it’s difficult but if you shop in the 4th larg…
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Houghton Regis local news, events, council news, going on in Houghton Regis and nearby villages, Bedfordshire, UK. Editor Alan Winter

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Houghton Regis News Desk

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