Houghton Regis News Desk

I first wrote about this application on 23 July. This is an Outline Application, which means the details are just sketchy at this time. Once they know more about what is required the applicants may decide to withdraw the application and submit a new one, or submit a FULL application.

 This scheme is for the provision of up to 350 residential dwellings and associated works on Land to the east of Houghton Park Road Houghton Regis. The controversial aspects, particularly for local residents, hinged around access to the site via Houghton Park Road and Conquest Road.



It is notable that the Development Management Committee (Wed, 9th Oct 2019 - 10:00 am) of Central Bedfordshire Council, where these applications are decided if they are called in by a councillor, is not on the agenda. This suggests more work is required by officers or the applicants are having second thoughts.

Either way, it is notable that as of today the CBC website is showing:
Responses Received: 89
and Representatives:In …

CB/19/02130/FULL, 121 dwellings at The Gates, East of Bedford Road, Bidwell  
Objections and comments relating to 'The Gates' - a proposed development of 121 homes at Bidwell have been coming into Central Bedfordshire Council.

I reported on this scheme on July 27th.

It is an arable site at present:



In the Design and Access Statement for the application, it is stated that “A  strong  green infrastructure should be established, providing a green  corridor  connecting  HRN1 and HRN2.” The same document seeks to demonstrate how this is met by the inclusion of this diagram. Despite developments being approved around Houghton Regis, the land is still classified as Green Belt.



The Rights of Way Officer has not objected to the scheme, rather he makes comments designed to be helpful with regard to the width of the path, and especially with regard to FP45 which runs to the east of the site.

Houghton Regis Town Council has objected:
•  The layout of the buildings adjoining the Bedford Roa…

An application to build on Land Between Arenson Centre And Foster Avenue, Arenson Way, Houghton Regis, Dunstable has yet to be decided. But the objections are already piling up, and at least one officer at Central Bedfordshire Council is recommending that the applicants withdraw the scheme.

The scheme would build 20 small industrial units on a strip of land running between Dog Kennel Walk and the Boscombe Road/Porz Avenue roundabout. The site is a County Wildlife Site, but some months prior to a development application being submitted, the site was uncaringly scrapped with bulldozers to soil level, removing much of the fauna and with scant regard to any wildlife on the land.

The public application form from 'Option Two Development Limited' says that the 1.27ha site will be used to build  20 B2 industrial units with associated parking, access and landscaping and upgrading of public right of way.

A right of way has existed for years from the roundabout right through to Dog Kenne…

Central Bedfordshire Council urges residents to take up the fight against scams

Central Bedfordshire Council’s trading standards is backing a grassroots scheme for a community-based effort against the spiralling number of scams and cons circulating throughout the area.

Friends Against Scams is coordinated by the National Trading Standards Scams Team and promoted by local trading standards teams nationally, and gives people the tools they need to recognise scams and to take steps to make a difference.

The first stage is to take a free 20-minute online training session or attend a presentation raising awareness. There are common types of scams out there, and we are urged to get the skills to avoid them and build our confidence to spread the word to friends, neighbours and loved ones.

Once equipped, ‘friends’ are encouraged to take a stand. They can even then choose to carry on gaining more knowledge and act as a neighbourhood SCAM champion prepared to give talks in public or simply sha…

At the Central Bedfordshire Council meeting on 26 September 2019, Cllr Susan Goodchild raised a query with regard to Houghton Regis Academy:

Council - Thu, 26th Sep 2019 - 6:30 pm - Central Bedfordshire Council Webcasting

Cllr Pat Hamill also raised the matter:

Council - Thu, 26th Sep 2019 - 6:30 pm - Central Bedfordshire Council Webcasting

Prior to the meeting, Central Bedfordshire Council responded to news that Houghton Regis Academy may close. And next month they are proposing that work is started to build a new secondary school on the Kingsland site at Parkside. Below their response is the letter sent out by the Greenwood Academies Trust.
Cllr Sue Clark, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children said: “The Greenwood Academies Trust have announced their decision to apply to close Houghton Regis Academy and the Secretary of State has agreed to a listening period, or consultation, on this. The likelihood of closure of the academy has accelerated the need to bring forward …

In the biggest and best Recycle Week ever, running from 24-30 September, Central Bedfordshire Council is asking residents to take recycling into their own hands and take action to protect our environment.

The year so far has shown that many people have been inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s Our Planet and environmental concerns have never been so important to the nation.

Central Bedfordshire Council hope to capitalise on this heightened awareness by tasking their residents to act and focus on getting their recycling right.

Latest research from Recycle Now reveals that over 60% of UK households are now recycling more than they were a year ago, due to environmental concerns.However, it also revealed that some households continue to place certain plastic items that we can’t accept in their recycling bin.

Thankfully Central Bedfordshire is an area full of dedicated recyclers, but there are still some simple things that we can all do to make our recycling efforts even better, such as:


·…

Funding for Knife Crime Education
Houghton Regis Town Council - £5,000

Serious Knife Crime – prevention and awareness to be delivered in Dunstable and Houghton Regis

The programme will use peer education to deliver anti-knife messages around actions, outcomes and consequences. The Youth Council will promote the opportunity for young people to sign up to form a group to undertake a programme of education and awareness, including a visit to the Ben Kinsella Exhibition. The programme will help to develop their awareness and understanding and the group will use their knowledge to complete a peer education programme / anti-knife campaign to the wider community.

In all, across Bedfordshire, round £35,000 has been awarded to community projects to divert young people away from knife crime and other serious violence.

Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Kathryn Holloway, said: “This money is particularly vital because we all know that only the communities themselves understand which ap…

Photo: Sally Gray
Photo: Sally Gray


Lois Wright, CPRE organiser of last Saturday's clean up in Houghton Regis Chalk Pit has circulated a "thanks" message to those who supported the day -

“Thank you so much for coming to the Green Clean at Houghton Regis Chalk Pit today. It was an amazing morning and together we really made a difference. It was lovely to meet so many people who value the countryside and wanted to clean up the area.

We cleared​ 40 bags of litter (19 general litter, 21 of drinks cartons) and over 2000 drinks containers including:

865 plastic bottles
886 cans
229 glass bottles
27 tetra packs

Plus 3 shopping trolleys, a 3-ring gas cooker, one pair of jeans, a woolly hat, one sock, 3 bike saddles, a fishing rod, sleeping bag and wellies!

This is a great result and I hope you feel proud of what was achieved today. In the coming weeks National CPRE will be announcing the total number of bottles, cans and tetra packs collected during September. This crucial data …