Bedford Borough Council continues its crackdown on fly-tippers. A fly-tipper has been fined this month for illegally dumping a painting next to a clothes and shoe collection point. The person responsible was identified by the Council's Environmental Crime Team using footage from the site in Great Denham.
In a report to an overview and scrutiny committee, Mayor Dave Hodgson has set out how the Council has been attracting new businesses and jobs to Bedford Town Centre and the wider Borough. The plans outline the steps that have and will be taken to ensure the Town Centre is a vibrant place to live, work, shop, learn and explore. These steps include small business rate relief, a £22.6 million Bedford Town Deal Fund and increasing Town Centre footfall through better transport links, attractive improvements and cultural events.
Mayor Dave Hodgson assisted with the planting of a replacement Sorbus tree on Cornwall Road last week. The Council Highways team have been working hard to reinstate historic tree pit locations across Bedford Borough. Over 130 new tree pits have been created in the past two years, the majority this year.
Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced the Council will invest millions into the Schools Capital Programme in 2024. This will fund two new primary schools in Wixams and Sharnbrook and around 40 new classrooms through expansions to Wixams Academy, Bedford Academy and schools west of Bedford. The investment will make sure that there is strong education infrastructure across the Borough.
A new grant funding scheme has been launched in Bedford Borough for voluntary organisations and community groups to help people struggling with the cost of living.
Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced several new projects to be added to the Council's Capital Programme. Paula Radcliffe Way will be repaired and resurfaced, new lifts will be installed at River Street Car Park and new Changing Places Toilets will be installed in the Borough. Other projects already announced will be expanded, including improvements to Brookside Care Home, additional funding for affordable housing support and structural maintenance to footbridges by the river.
