Funding For Your Voluntary or Community Organisation

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Is your group of volunteers or community organisation looking for additional funding? Central Bedfordshire Council has allocated £182,000 for distribution to worthy causes. Bidding has now opened and the first bidding round will close on 28 February 2020.

Individual organisations can apply for up to £25,000. The Community Assets Grant Scheme aims to help local voluntary and community organisations make projects a reality by offering matched-funding grants to enable them to invest in their community facilities.

There are guidelines to follow, for example, the grants must be used for capital funding projects, for such as a new roof for a community hall or to improve access for people with disabilities, or upgrades to other community assets.

The grant scheme is open to a range of Central Bedfordshire organisations, including voluntary and community groups, not-for-profit organisations and parish or town councils.

To find out more about the scheme visit the CBC website and download your guidance booklet.



Source: CBC

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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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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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Council's Fraud Squad Demonstrate Their Worth

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In a report to the Council's Audit Committee on Thursday (30 July), Central Bedfordshire Council's Corporate Fraud Investigation Team (CFIT) presented an annual report demonstrating that they were value-for-money.

Audit Committee - Thursday, 30th July 2020 at 10:00am - Central Bedfordshire Council Webcasting
The report explains that CFIT was created in 2015 within the Revenues and Benefits service to prevent, detect, investigate and report fraud. The team consists of a very experienced investigator with 4 full-time investigators, supported by a Team Leader and Senior Manager, both of whom also have other responsibilities within the service area. All staff on the team are fully trained counter-fraud officers holding their professionalism in Security accreditation from Portsmouth University. 
During 2019/20 over £50,336 was saved with regard to Local Council Tax Support fraud. In the same period, £666,000 was saved related to housing fraud. In a Blue Badge campaign in 2019/20  nine…
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Marl Lake at Houghton Regis Chalk Pit Reduced to a Puddle

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Shocking pictures of Houghton Regis SSSI Marl Lake show that the lake has practically disappeared.

These pictures shared by local environment supporter, Sally Gray, were taken today.




The blue flag was placed in the lake at a point at the far end where, in the second week of August, the water was seen draining away.  See Video. The water's edge has receded another few feet since then.

Alan Winter on 13 August, wrote, “I'm no expert, but it seems likely to me that the Marl Lake waters have been trickling away through cracks and fissures for years. The movement of water underground could have been accelerated by earthworks movements on the developer's fields to the north and east of the water treatment centre (sewage works) where another lake appeared.”

To the rear of the edge of the lake, Sally Gray reports that yesterday the ”Water is still flowing into this boggy wooded area"


A hydrological expert from Natural England has now seen the video Alan Winter made during Au…
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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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Find out why this housebuilder wants to help you cycle to work

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Housebuyers in Bedfordshire can get up to £1,000 in cycle vouchers as part of a giveaway by a leading housebuilder.
Bellway is offering the incentive to customers to mark National Cycle to Work Day, which takes place on Thursday 6 August.
Anyone who reserves a home at one of Bellway’s developments in the county between Monday 3 and Sunday 9 August will receive Halfords vouchers which they can use towards the cost of new bikes for them and their family.
The developer currently has homes for sale at Berry Wood in Wootton, Eastcotts Green in Shortstown, The Pastures in Wilstead, Brambleside in Houghton Regis, Lestone Mews in Leighton Buzzard, and Brook View in Wixams.
Luke Southgate, Sales Director for Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “The lockdown has encouraged more people to get fit and do things together as a family, and cycling is a great way to combine the two.
“By offering this incentive we hope to raise awareness of Cycle to Work Day - and the benefits of cycling generally – and …
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Council Secures Government Funding for COVID-19 Data Sharing iInitiative

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Central Bedfordshire Council has been awarded £80,000 of Government funding to improve data exchange between Government, local authorities and third-party organisations.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) announced on 27 July that 11 projects have been successful in securing funding through their Local Digital COVID-19 Challenge.
Central Bedfordshire Council submitted a bid in collaboration with Greater London Authority, London Borough of Camden and London Office of Technology and Innovation to improve the flow of data between organisations, so that we can better support vulnerable residents and communities in the post COVID-19 environment.
Cllr Steve Dixon, Executive Member for Transformation and External Relations said, “This is superb news. We have learnt throughout the COVID-19 pandemic just how important it is to be able to share and join up data and information digitally from across different organisations to enable us and others to make well-informed…
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More Popular Stories

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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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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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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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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Marl Lake at Houghton Regis Chalk Pit Reduced to a Puddle

-
Image
Shocking pictures of Houghton Regis SSSI Marl Lake show that the lake has practically disappeared.

These pictures shared by local environment supporter, Sally Gray, were taken today.




The blue flag was placed in the lake at a point at the far end where, in the second week of August, the water was seen draining away.  See Video. The water's edge has receded another few feet since then.

Alan Winter on 13 August, wrote, “I'm no expert, but it seems likely to me that the Marl Lake waters have been trickling away through cracks and fissures for years. The movement of water underground could have been accelerated by earthworks movements on the developer's fields to the north and east of the water treatment centre (sewage works) where another lake appeared.”

To the rear of the edge of the lake, Sally Gray reports that yesterday the ”Water is still flowing into this boggy wooded area"


A hydrological expert from Natural England has now seen the video Alan Winter made during Au…
Read on ...

Houghton Regis Academy May Close - New Build To Be Proposed by CBC

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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 …
Read on ...

Consultation on New Secondary School in Houghton Regis

-
Image
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…
Read on ...

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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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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