Cllr Nick Charsley, Liberal Democrat Portfolio Holder for Rural Affairs, is today calling for an end to loss of Public Houses, Shops and other facilities in Bedfordshire villages. He is heading up a project to bring together relevant professionals to help support local communities to take over their village pub or shop if it is under threat of closure.
I was lucky enough to have an appointment today at Bedford Park, which is always a lovely place to be, especially when the sun is out. I was joined by the Council's Park Rangers and volunteers from the nearby Hill Rise Nature Reserve to mark the fact that Bedford Park, Addison Howard Park, Harrold & Odell Country Park and Priory Country Park have all been awarded Green Flag status by Keep Britain Tidy, while the Hill Rise Reserve has been awarded the Green Pennant. The Green Flag is the benchmark standard for nationally for parks and open spaces, while the Green Pennant is awarded to high quality community-run green spaces.
The third 'Pints in the Parishes' event is taking place tonight, at the Crown in Little Staughton. These sessions are intended to provide an opportunity for me to hear directly from anyone who wants to discuss the issues important to them in an informal, local environment. They are also a chance for for me to show my support for local, community pubs. The first two sessions, in Elstow and Risely, were extremely valuable in allowing me to get out and speak to residents who may not have made an appointment to come and see me at my Borough Hall surgery sessions, or seen me at one of my regular 'walk up' surgeries at sites around the Borough. I will be in the Crown from around 7.30pm.
Last week I unveiled a plaque marking the visit to Bedford in April 2000 of the great Nelson Mandela. It was fitting that the unveiling took place on Mr Mandela's 9nd birthday. He visited the Trevor Huddleston bust, of course, and the plaque can be found beneath the bust. There is rightly a real sense of pride locally at Bedford's link with Archbishop Huddleston, who was born here, and the fact that Mr Mandela visited our town and paid his own tribute to Archbishop Huddleston. It really was an honour to unveil a lasting commemoration of that visit. Whole-hearted thanks must go to Garlick Bros monumental masons, who funded and engraved the plaque.
This morning I launched the inaugural 6th Form Art Exhibition in the Town Hall Foyer. As Chair of Governors at John Bunyan Upper School I know how much effort goes into preparing for exam exhibitions on the part of students and teachers. Knowing that Schools are showing their work to examiners and parents at a similar time, I had the idea that there is an opportunity for the work of the Borough's talented young artists to be showcased more widely and for members of the wider community to enjoy it. The 6th Form Art Exhibition in the Town Hall is one in which the Council can help grasp this opportunity.
The week that has passed since River Festival 2010 has allowed a little time for reflection on this year's event. Firstly, a huge "thanks and very well done" must go to all the volunteers, community groups, council staff, charities, sponsors, emergency services and everyone else involved in putting on what was, overall, a very successful River Festival indeed. As there always will be, there are things to learn for next time, and I have a meeting this week with the Council's events team and others to begin discussions on how to make this fantastic event even better.
