Independents' Day is a campaign that exists to support and promote independent retail businesses across the UK all year round, but with an annual focus on July 4th: 'Independents' Day' itself, however as this falls on a Sunday this year it is being celebrated all weekend.
After the Christmas celebrations are over and all the decorations are down, if you cannot plant your real Christmas tree in the garden, don't forget to recycle it.
Mayor Dave's latest montly column for the Bedford Times and Citizen newspaper has a festive theme, including the events taking place around the Borough in the run-up to Christmas, Dave's visit to thank the postal workers for their efforts at this time of year and a few words on support for good causes at a time at which we think of those in need. Here's the full text of the piece:
'Calm Maintained Across Bedfordshire Last Night.' That was the welcome headline on the website of Bedfordshire Police this morning after an extensive police operation on the streets in Bedford and elsewhere to prevent any of the sickening violence and destruction which has taken place elsewhere from happening here. I have spoken to the Divisional Commander today and congratulated the police on their efforts last night in being prepared and being out on the streets, offering a reassuring presence to local residents and businesses in our town. The Council has obviously been in close contact with the police, and we will continue to work closely together. While it was welcome that the scurrilous and unsubstantiated rumours about possible trouble in Bedford last night did not prove to be true, there can be no room for complacency. I know that the police are know this, and there will again be a major, prepared police presence out in Bedford again tonight.
Consultation on Bedford Borough Council's draft 'Local Plan 2030' closes in a matter of days, on Tuesday 30th October at 5pm. In his October column for the Bedford Borough Bulletin Mayor Dave Hodgson cut through the 'politically motivated spin' about the plan coming from some quarters and set out the facts on a plan which is designed to focus the housing development required for the Borough on brownfield sites and protects existing communities from unsuitable or sprawling development.
My latest monthly column for the Times and Citizen newspaper reflected on the recent widespread disorder seen in London and elsewhere, and on how the uplifting scenes people taking part in spontaneous clean-ups and joining 'broom armies' got many of us thinking about our own communities and how precious they are to us. In case you haven't seen here, I've reproduced it here:
