Bedford
Liberal Democrats

News

Dave Hodgson with Mr Matsushita of Fujifilm UK at their Bedford head office

Visiting One of Bedford's Hidden Giants!

When I talk to people about the major firms located here in Bedford Borough, I am always struck by the fact that the presence of Fujifilm UK's Head Office does not seem to be widely known. They actually have 14 buildings at the St Martin's Way Business Park alone! It's another example of the major businesses we host here in Bedford which would be the envy of any town in the country. As part of the 'Open for Business' programme I launched after becoming Mayor I visited Fujifilm UK last week to talk to senior management figures about their business and how the Council can support them to continue to thrive here in Bedford Borough.

18 Mar 2011
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Mayor Dave Hodgson with new Bedford Borough Council battery recycling bags

Battery Recycling from the Doorstep

A lot of people use a lot of the different services provided by the Council, but the one thing the Council does which almost all of us use and rely on is the household bin collection scheme. We have obviously retained weekly collections here, after the former County Council tried to change to a fortnightly system in Bedford Borough. When I talk to residents around the Borough about the bin collection, it is clear that people really value having a weekly system. People also tell me they like the fact that we have a relatively simple recycling collection scheme. Most non-food items can be put in the orange bin or bags for collection every fortnight. However, one thing that a number of people have told me is that they would like the range of materials you can recycle expanded even further. So, we've been working on it, and I'm delighted that we are now rolling out battery recycling collections from the doorstep for the very first time.

15 Mar 2011
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Dave Hodgson by the Bedford to Bletchley rail bridge on the riverside path in Bedford

Network Rail Must Respect Riverside Right of Way Over Footbridge

Network Rail is seeking to pull down the footbridge over the Bedford to Bletchley railway line along the riverside path in Bedford, near the Prebend Street Bridge. This may not mean much to those people who don't use that path, but the many people who do know it and who use this important route between the town centre and Queens Park and Kempston will know that this means people will have to use the path under the bridge. That would be fine, were the clearance under the bridge on the path not just 4 foot 9 inches, and liable to flooding which makes it impassable.

12 Mar 2011
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Dave Hodgson with Town Bridge behind

Mayor Announces New Limits to Council 'Snooping' Powers

Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced a series of measures to restrict Bedford Borough Council's use of powers dubbed a 'snoopers' charter' for councils, and bring openness and transparency locally to a system which has been abused by a number of Councils around the country. The Mayor's reforms include introducing public scrutiny of any use by the Council of powers to conduct covert surveillance on local residents and new limits over authorisations of such uses.

11 Mar 2011
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Figures Show Bedford Borough Council Tax Cut is Biggest in the Country

A survey has shown that the Council tax cut delivered in Bedford Borough by Mayor Dave Hodgson is the largest in England. The survey published yesterday by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) showed that of the 80% of Councils who responded to their survey, Bedford Borough Council's £8.91 cut for band D households is the largest by a significant margin, with only one other council reducing council tax by more than £5. The reduction has been achieved without the widespread cuts to services seen in other areas across the country, with no library closures or reductions in opening hours, weekly bin collections saved and all leisure facilities retained.

11 Mar 2011
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