Get Down to the Victorian Fair this weekend and Buy in Bedford!

The Victorian Christmas Fair is underway, with stalls in Harpur Square, Midland Road and, for the first time ever, along a temporarily pedestrianised High Street! The Fair runs until Sunday, and I would encourage everyone to get along and experience it. There is a huge range of stalls, some great entertainment and lots to do for all the family. I am hoping lots of people come in to experience the fair this weekend and do their Christmas shopping in town, as we continue our campaign to encourage people to 'Buy in Bedford!'

Additional Roads to be Resurfaced with Additional £1 million boost published

The Council has published the list of additional roads which will be resurfaced in this financial year thanks to the £1 million boost we recently put into the road resurfacing budget. This takes the overall investment in highway maintenance this year to around £7 million, and means that within 2 years an additional £4 million pounds has been invested in our roads and pavements over and above the level of spending by the former County Council.

Buy in Bedford Campaign

I launched the Council's new 'Buy in Campaign' at Podington Garden Centre last week. I have set up this campaign in order to support our local businesses right across the Borough. During these difficult economic times, it is important that we support our local traders, and buying locally helps our local economy, helps to sustain and enhance our communities and is also good for the environment, of course.

The Victorian Fair - Delighted by the Stunning Footfall Figures

The footfall counters around the town centre showed a staggering 77% increase in the number of people in town during last weekend's Victorian Christmas Fair, in comparison with last year's figures. We extended the fair this year, with the event featuring, for the first time ever, Christmas market stalls along a temporarily-pedestrianised High Street. While there are improvements which can be made if this is repeated, for example the markets company turning the stalls around on the High Street, it was fantastic to see so many people of all ages there and in other parts of town enjoying Bedford at Christmas time.

Keeping the Borough Moving During the 'Big Freeze'

New Year's Free Parking Boost for Sales Shoppers and Town Centre Traders

The prolonged period of snow and freezing temperatures was damaging to local businesses in range of ways, with town centre retailers hit, for example, by reduced numbers of people being able to get into town. To support traders and give local shoppers a boost, we offered free parking on Boxing Day in all town centre multi-storey car parks, with the offer to be repeated on New Year's Day.