Houghton Regis News Desk

March has seen a total of 37 new student officers and detectives joining the ranks of Bedfordshire Police. A cohort of 12 student officers passed their initial training and have started gaining real-world policing experience by working out of response teams.  This cohort is a special one for Bedfordshire Police as they are the first on the newly introduced  Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship , also known as PCDA. This cohort will be helping the people of Bedfordshire as well as studying for a degree alongside their policing work with Anglia Ruskin University.  Now they have been awarded their warrant card they will work on a 1-2-1 basis with a tutor in response teams and be coached through the different incidents they will respond to. Whilst working as a student officer they will also have protected learning time to complete coursework that will go towards their degree.  Chief Superintendent Julie Henderson said: “We are pleased to welcome our newest cohort to the streets of Bedfor

Getting out in the fresh air doing voluntary work that helps the environment can be very rewarding both for health, and also for the chance to meet like-minded people.  Working alongside the Wildlife Trust for this area, we present the opportunities coming up where this enrichment work can be done. You are recommended to wear appropriate clothing - a good pair of boots, some gardening gloves and some waterproofs might not be a bad idea, and perhaps a packed lunch if you are intending to stay all day. If you can only spare an hour, that's fine, too. Often, the actual tools required to do the work are provided by Wildlife Trust BCN. A typical activity might also include a fresh brew in the course of the day. PLEASE NOTE: It is possible that the venue for any of the tasks can change at short notice. Please check with the task leader before setting off.  Tasks usually meet a 10am and continue until around 4pm but there is no obligation to stay all day. Please bring a packed lunch an

£23.5m worth of funding has been allocated across 191 councils and will see 513 new Changing Places toilets installed in public places and tourist attractions across England, meaning toilet accessibility for those who need Changing Places toilets will be vastly improved in these areas. Central Bedfordshire Council is delighted to have received £109,000 of this grant funding in the first round of the Department for Levelling Up Housing, and Communities Changing Places Fund. Changing Places toilets are larger than accessible toilets and are for people who cannot use standard accessible facilities. They have equipment such as hoists, curtains, adult-sized changing benches, and space for carers. They are vital for people unable to use standard accessible toilets and also for their families and carers. In the UK alone, there are over a quarter of a million people who need access to Changing Places Toilets, with around 1,300 of them currently registered in England. Standard accessible toilet

Bellway will release the first homes at its Linmere Gateway development in Houghton Regis onto the market this month (March).  A computer-generated image of some of the homes Bellway is building at Linmere in Houghton Regis The housebuilder is providing a further 154 homes at the development off Sundon Road - its second site within the wider 5,000-home Linmere project taking shape at the northern edge of the town. Construction work is well underway on the Linmere Gateway site after plans for the scheme were approved by Central Bedfordshire Council in October 2021. The development will include 142 properties for private sale and 12 affordable homes for rent or shared ownership. Bellway is already in the process of building 153 homes at its nearby Bellway at Linmere development, the first residential phase to be delivered by any housebuilder within the wider Linmere site. A new landscaped park is part of the developments at Linmere, Houghton Regis The project is set to provide around 5

Central Bedfordshire Council has been granted over £450,000 of Government funding to support people experiencing domestic abuse. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced last month that it is making £125million of funding available for councils to provide support for domestic abuse victims during 2022 - 2023. Central Bedfordshire Council has been awarded £471,557. The new funding has been granted to ensure the Council can support victims to help them rebuild their lives in a safe environment. This builds on the new Domestic Abuse Act 2021, which places a legal duty on Councils to fund support in safe accommodation for victims, like refuges or shelters. Cllr Sue Clark, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said, “Nobody should live in fear of violence and abuse, and we are committed to ensuring anyone experiencing domestic abuse is supported. We welcome this additional funding, which will enable us to continue to support victims and help to br

 Parking initiatives to support the vitality of Central Bedfordshire towns Towns across Central Bedfordshire are set to benefit from a series of parking initiatives designed to support businesses and residents. The Central Bedfordshire Council Executive has agreed to implement parking plans that will encourage custom and vibrancy in towns across the region and support the local economy. The new arrangements follow extensive consultation with residents and the feedback provided through the council’s Committee process. The Executive has listened and responded to the views, as much as possible, with these new plans. A new 30-minute short stay option in car parks at just 50p* will benefit people needing to pop into their local town for a short visit. The consultation feedback identified this as being important. To support Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, the council is extending the free parking on certain afternoons and ensuring the offer is now available on market days in both towns. This

Central Bedfordshire Council has written to residents at Churchfield Road suggesting that the road is made one-way only.  Parking and negotiating the road has been made more difficult through the years since the road was built due to the growth of car ownership.  The Council has been asked to consider making the road one-way, and at this stage has written to residents in an "informal manner to gauge feeling before progressing further". This map indicates the intended traffic flow direction (green) and 'No Waiting' restrictions (orange) The proposals are described as:  Churchfield Road — entry at its southern junction with Tithe Farm Road, travelling south west past All Saints Road, north-west past Dellmont Road, Hillside and Thorn View Road, north-west past Dell Road and finally exiting at its northernmost junction with Tithe Farm Road (opposite No. 72) – vehicles permitted to travel in that direction only. Vehicles will be permitted to enter at the junction with Tit

#BigBagChallenge The Keep Britain Tidy's 2022 Great British Spring Clean is now underway from 25 March until 10 April.  Keep Britain Tidy believes that every act to protect the environment, no matter how small, makes a difference.   And so, when hundreds of thousands of Litter Heroes all join forces and take the same action at the same time, the difference made will be huge.   This year the message is simple. Join the #BigBagChallenge and pledge to pick up as much litter as you can during the campaign.   Make a Pledge You might choose to pick up just one bag, or you could set yourself a local #BigBagChallenge such as collecting a bag of litter every day during Ramadan. Make a pledge now.  Keep Britain Tidy has loads of tips and advice to help you get started and cleaning-up safely, so whether you’re a litter-picking pro, or this is your first time, join the Great British Spring Clean and pledge to pick up a bag - or more – today.   If you are a school, please join the Great Big Sc

Grant Palmer Limited, Bedfordshire’s family-owned bus company since 1999 is launching a new direct busway service for residents in the Bidwell West development.   From 28th March 2022, the new “Hi” service will operate 7 days a week , with an hourly service Monday to Saturday and a two-hourly service on Sundays and Bank Holidays . This innovative service has been developed in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council to provide a service from Houghton Regis North to Dunstable and Luton via the guided busway. The service will be funded by housing developer funding.  The guided busway provides smooth and comfortable journeys with congestion-busting relief for customers- avoiding Luton’s busiest roads by using the longest urban guideway in the world.  Customers can benefit from capped weekly and monthly travel- a week’s bus travel is capped at £14.00 when paying using a contactless card. The Grant Palmer app has bus times, journey planning and live bus tracking to give customers reas

Living Space has commenced construction on 57 EPC A-rated homes in Houghton Regis, for affordable housing provider Stonewater. The EPC A-rated homes will be delivered at a 1.8 Ha (4.45 acre) site off Bedford Road (B5120), a mile from Houghton Regis town centre, and will be available for affordable rent and shared ownership.  Breaking ground on 57 new homes to Houghton Regis Clearing the way for new affordable homes off Bedford Road. The 57 detached, semi-detached, and terraced homes will be constructed in red and orange brick with occasional white render to the top floor. The design will be tenure-blind and local materials will be utilised to replicate nearby dwellings. Amongst the UK’s most eco-efficient affordable dwellings The scheme has a construction value in excess of £10m and features a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom homes. They will be installed with air source heat pumps and PV roof panels. All of the homes have been designed to National Design Space Standards. The

C O M E      J O I N      N G D A N C E Join our Musical Theatre classes from Summer term from 20th April 2022 Classes at… • Lyons Communtiy Centre, Caddington Village • Farmstead Community Centre, Houghton Regis Classes available for ages… • Minis 3-5 YRS • Juniors 6-8 YRS • Pre Inters 9+ YRS Would you like to join our MT classes, where our students build confidence, have lots of fun and develop new skills in dancing, singing and acting! Spaces are limited, contact Alicia to book a FREE trial class after Easter at www.ngdancecollective.co.uk

A man has been served with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for prolific shoplifting in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard town centre. John Denton, 34, from Houghton Regis, was served a two-year CBO at Luton Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday (9 March), preventing him from visiting Quadrant shopping centre and White Lion retail park in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard town centre. PCSO Elliot Weedon, from the local Community Policing Team, said: “This particular CBO has been a priority and together with our close partnership with the council and local business owners we’ve achieved a great result. “John Denton targeted these shops for a number of years and his actions have had a detrimental effect on the communities and businesses he targeted. We are pleased with the court’s decision to issue him with a CBO.” If you see Mr Denton breaching his order, please call 101. If you experience anti-social behaviour in your neighbourhood, or if you would like to report any suspicious behaviour, contac

Police and Crime Commissioner, Festus Akinbusoye has launched his Annual Survey to the people of Bedfordshire. The survey was launched earlier this month and gives residents an opportunity to give feedback on their views and experiences across different aspects of policing. Mr Akinbusoye said, “One of my statutory duties is to consult and engage with members of the public. However, I don’t just see this as a requirement. “Something that I am absolutely passionate about and is crucial to me, is involving the residents of Bedfordshire in my research and plans. “Putting people at the heart of policing is not about me making decisions, it’s about hearing from you. Your opinion matters a lot to me, and I value your feedback, good and bad, as it helps us to shape the future of policing in Bedfordshire. “I thank you in advance for taking the time to complete this short survey and I look forward to sharing the responses and outcomes with you.” The survey includes questions asking for residents

Houghton Regis Town Council has been working on a plan to procure a 3rd Generation all-weather football pitch and changing pavilion at Tithe Farm Recreation Ground. The pitch location will be to the east of the playground and skate park which are also operated by Houghton Regis Town Council. The plan also involves the enhancement of existing parking facilities. Planning Permission The planning application was approved by Central Bedfordshire Council on 16th February 2022.  Watch the decision being made here: Development Management Committee - Wednesday, 16th February 2022 at 9:30am - Central Bedfordshire Council Webcasting There are a number of conditions to discharge which are in hand. Details can be found in the Decision Notice . These include a detailed surface water drainage scheme, tree protection barriers, provision of details for improvements to the junction of the proposed vehicular access with the highway. Pitch tenders The contract f