Responding to suggestions that married couples should receive tax breaks in the upcoming budget, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Treasury Parliamentary Party Committee, Stephen Williams said:
Network Rail has been made to pay for damage it caused to local grass verges in Stewartby after a local Councillor intervened. Councillor Tim Hill, Liberal Democrat Borough Councillor for Stewartby, got on to the case and after the Council's insurance company got involved Network rail agreed to pay for the damages. The Council has now installed a lay-by so that workers can park in future without causing damage to the verges adjacent to the railway line running through the village.
In excellent news for users of the free bus pass for older and disabled residents, we are able to confirm that following successful negotiations with commercial bus operators free travel before 9.30am will now continue in Bedford Borough. This is an extra benefit that is on top of the national scheme that only allows free travel 'off peak,' after 9.30am. Prior to becoming Mayor I campaigned with colleagues to establish and protect the best possible scheme for local pensioners and disabled bus users, and now as Mayor I'm delighted that we've been able to protect the local addition to the national scheme and ensure that the free bus pass can be used all day.
Residents with a national concessionary bus pass can continue to travel for free on early morning buses following successful negotiations between Bedford Borough Council and bus operators.
A number of residents have contacted me in recent times to ask if and when the Bedford Park Café building will be brought into use as a café, and my response to date has always been that I have authorised the necessary work there and hope to see it operating as soon as possible. That's why I'm very pleased that after essential safety and refurbishment work, I'm now able to say that the building is almost ready for full use as a cafe and the Council is advertising for potential operators to come forward and tender for the contract.
