Later on Sunday, I visited the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara in Bedford Road, Kempston. Accompanied by my wife, Christine McHugh and Councillor Mark Fitzpatrick we were made most welcome. If elected as Mayor I will keep in close contact with members of the Sikh community as well as other faith groups.
Sunday morning saw me out bright and early for a cycle ride on the new western bypass. The road is not yet open, but will lead from the A421 at Kempston to the A428 near Biddenham. The Bedford De Parys Rotary Club organised a charity cycle ride to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society and RYA Sailability. The weather was kind and there was a good turn out.
This week I went to lunch at Bunyan Meeting House in Mill Street in Bedford town centre. I enjoyed chatting to diners and lunch lived up to its reputation for quality, taste and value.
A report discussed at a public meeting in Bedford on Tuesday night reveals that the Government is proposing a further huge expansion of house building in the region, just weeks after it cut previously agreed funding intended to help Bedford and the Marston Vale cope with existing growth. The report published by the East of England Regional Assembly rejects the Government's proposal for targets of up to almost double current house building rates, stating that it would rely on large scale migration and jobs growth far beyond even the most optimistic projections.
2pm down at Mill Meadows and Bedford Town Band struck up the Dambusters March! It was stirring stuff and part of the 2009 Bandstand Marathon taking place across the UK. At the event a plaque to the first elected Mayor of Bedford, Frank Branston, was unveiled.
Campaigning in the election for Mayor of Bedford is hotting up with polling day just 2 weeks away. If you would like to follow Dave Hodgson's campaign for Mayor you can sign up for regular newsletters over the next two weeks at www.DaveForMayor.org.uk, or follow him on twitter @daveformayor or on facebook: Dave for Mayor.