More Progress in our Drive to Open up the Council

There was more good news in our drive to open up the Council to local residents last month, after we won approval for our proposals to remove the remaining restrictions on public questions at Full Council meetings. This means members of the public now have the same rights to ask questions at Council meetings as councillors, with the previous limit of six questions or 30 minutes scrapped from the rules within the Council's constitution.

Number Thirteen is Open for Business

Sunday night saw the official opening of 'Number Thirteen', the brand new 'front-of-house' facility for Bedford Corn Exchange and high quality new town centre cafe-bar. The Council has invested in the long-empty former Saracen's Head property in order to improve the experience for concert and gig-goers enjoying the Corn Exchange, and the new facility is already establishing itself as an attractive addition to that area of the town centre.

The Higgins Bedford Opening - Just one of a Series of Important Developments Coming up for Bedford Town Centre

My latest monthly column for the Times and Citizen looked at the forthcoming opening in June of the redeveloped Higgins Bedford art gallery and museum. The opening of the major cultural attraction is an exciting development, and is just one of many coming up which are crucial for our town centre if it is to thrive in the future amidst of a series of extremely tough challenges for town centres right across the country. In case you missed it in the paper, here's a copy of the full article:

Bypass Blockage - Highways Agency Must Act

I have written here on numerous occasions about the importance for the borough of the final phase of the Bedford Western Bypass. It will bring numerous benefits, making Bedford even better connected, encouraging new economic growth and employment and quite simply making it easier for all road users to get around!

Two Reasons Amongst Many to Enjoy Bedford this Spring Saturday

Ending our Decades-Long Wait for a New Bus Station for Bedford

We have submitted a planning application for our brand new bus station for Bedford, and these are the first images illustrating how the planned development will look. Bedford has been let down badly by the bus station for many, many years, and that's why we are making sure that after so many false dawns and dashed hopes, a brand new bus station and improved environment in that area are being delivered for our town.