Turvey Bus Service
As most bus users will know by now the Stagecoach bus service has been reduced in frequency and you now must wait for 90 minutes between buses. The last bus scheduled from Bedford is now 18:00 – see attached bus schedule. The Officer at Bedford Borough who deals with bus service provision stated, “Stagecoach have reviewed their services across the country and have reduced timetables as a result in driver shortages and attempting to create a reliable network during an incredible volatile time in the bus industry”. “These changes are for a short period of time, and it is hoped will revert to full timetable by the end of March”.
Turvey Abbey Clock
The appeal to raise funds for the repair and restoration of the 200-year-old clock in Turvey Abbey was mentioned at the last PC meeting. I have since met with Sr Benedict at the Abbey to discuss how I and others might be able to support the appeal. I believe that 50% of the amount needed can be requested from the Rural Affairs Grant scheme. The rest from donations, my Ward fund and the Parish Council. Amounts to be agreed when external donations are known. Please see attached appeal information.
Borough COVID-19 Latest Figures
The first case of the ‘Omicron’ variant was confirmed in Bedford Borough on 7 December 2021, it is known to spread quicker than previous variants and residents are being urged to be cautious and work from home where possible.
Cases rising rapidly in Bedford
As of the 12th January in Bedford generally and Kempston Rural Ward we have seen a large increase over the past few weeks. There have been 41,237 cases in the Borough since the start of the pandemic and there have been 2,819 registered cases in Bedford with 122 in Kempston Rural in the last 7 days. The measure of cases against 100,000 population in the Borough has reduced from last weeks all time high of 1,727 to 1,614. Hospital admissions are up again but thankfully no further deaths have been registered. The weekly snapshot can be accessed through this link.
More information available at: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/social-care-health-and-community/public-health/coronavirus/
Bedford providing free taxis to and from Vaccination centres
Bedford Borough Council are providing free taxis for anyone in the borough getting a vaccine.
To get your free taxi ride, you just need to call one of the taxi operators from the list available at www.bedford.gov.uk/VaxiTaxi, give them the reference BBC VACCINE, and let them know where you need to be picked up and dropped off.
£16m boost for Education in Bedford next year
Schools in Bedford Borough will receive a total of £179m next school year, which is a boost of £16m, from central government.
This money can be used for hiring specialist teachers, providing training and purchasing school supplies. It will also help specialist providers provide the right care and support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
Bedford Borough Businesses get Covid-19 Support from Central Government
Bedford Borough has received funding from the Additional Restrictions Grant to provide the following assistance to Bedford Businesses:
• £48,000 to the Southeast Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) Growth Hub to support their small and medium size enterprise recovery support programme in Bedford Borough.
• £40,000 to the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce towards their global trade business support programme to assist businesses in Bedford Borough to expand into export markets.
• £50,000 to BedfordBID to undertake activities to increase custom for town centre businesses and to encourage customers to feel safe to return to the town centre.
Bedford Borough Receive £202k as part of Welcome Back Fund
The activities agreed for the use of the Welcome Back Fund (WBF) total £202,500 and are summarised as:
• Additional planting at various town centre locations
• Enhanced communications campaign
• Temporary benches in town centre and embankment
• Temporary bins in town centre
• Floor signage at various council owned buildings
• Lighting for the Corn Exchange
Bedford Borough were originally allocated £308,000 as part of the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund which the WBF is part of. That means there is a remaining allocation of £105,500 which can still be spent by March 2022, subject to a successful project change request.
Bin collection update
Bedford Borough Council have renewed their waste collection calendars. You can check your bin collection day and download a calendar here:
https://www.bedford.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-waste/household-bins-and-recycling/check-bin-collection-day/
Permit Scheme Introduced for Businesses Operating in Bedford Parks
From 1st January 2022, any fitness instructors are required to have a permit card. All instructors with a permit card will have been risk assessed and properly insured.
A list of authorised fitness groups and instructors will be put on the Council’s website, so people looking for a new workout group will be able to check which groups have been licensed to run in Bedford Borough Parks.
Bedford Receives £25k from Arts Council England
Bedford Borough has received £25,000 from Arts Council England to deliver a project to develop a Strategic Cultural Vision in conjunction with the Bedford Cultural Partnership (BCP). Bedford Borough are making a £10,000 contribution to the project.
The grant funding will enable the commissioning of relevant expertise to provide the momentum and facilitation skills required to document and share a cultural vision and strategic aims for the Borough that will focus and embed the energy of the developing BCP and local cultural sector stakeholders.
Homelessness Prevention Grant funding of £177k
Bedford Borough Council has accepted increased Homelessness Prevention Grant funding of £177,961. This money is provided by Central Government to assist Bedford Borough in delivering the following:
• To fully enforce the Homelessness Reduction Act and contribute to ending rough sleeping by increasing activity to prevent single homelessness
• Reduce family temporary accommodation numbers through maximising family homelessness prevention
• Eliminate the use of unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation for families for longer than the statutory six-week limit.
Bedford Borough Strategy to Address and Reduce Domestic Abuse to be Published on 5th January
The Bedford Borough Strategy to Address and Reduce Domestic Abuse is due to be published on 5th of January following consultation. There have been some minor additions from the draft which is available here: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/have-your-say/consultations/domestic-abuse-strategy-consultation/
The implementation of this strategy will be funded by a Government Grant of £335,779.
Bedford Borough Council to fund maximum of nine Average Speed Camera’s across Bedford
Bedford Borough Council will fund a maximum of 9 ASCs across the borough for the municipal 2021/22 year. The criteria on how these 9 ‘core sites’ will be chosen is set out in the Average Speed Camera Policy
There is an option for ‘Community Concern Sites’ to be installed which must also meet set criteria, including 100% funding from third-party sources.
High Street Highways Improvement Scheme Ready in time for Christmas
The works in the High Street to create a single lane with wider pavements for pedestrians with ‘better’ drop off points and short-term parking bays for shoppers was completed just in time for Christmas.
You can read more about the works here: https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/single-lane-high-street-now-fully-open-in-time-for-christmas/
Rural Affairs Grant
There is currently £77,000 of uncommitted funds in the Rural Affairs Grant. If you want to see the requirements for this grant they are available by clicking the relevant web form here: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/advice-and-benefits-grants/grants-for-financial-assist/
Update on ‘Transporting Bedford’ Road Works
There are several works going on around Bedford Town Centre during the winter period.
This includes work at St Paul’s square, Ampthill Road and between Victoria and Britannia Road, so do expect delays.
There has also been progress on the Northern Gateway project with the widening of Clapham Road between the two roundabouts complete, along with the dedicated left hand turn lane from Clapham Road into Manton Lane.
Works have started on the central reservation of the dual carriageway, introducing a permanent right-hand turn into Sainsbury’s so people won’t need to use the Clapham Road/Manton Lane roundabout to U-turn.
The works had been creating major traffic jams for residents, but they will now take place overnight, with the re-opening of the second lane and manual traffic lights being put in place between Paula Radcliffe Way and Clapham Road roundabouts to ease delays.
Council Invites Charities and Voluntary Organisations to Bid for Funding
Bedford Borough Council has called for local charities and voluntary organisations to apply for funding that will help them to support members of communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Those that have been disproportionally impacted by COVID-19 could include people from black and minority ethnic communities or persons with disabilities.
The funding can be used for activities including introducing physical infection control measures in community buildings, improving understanding around COVID-19 safety advice, assisting people in need of financial support due to COVID-19 and funding additional staff to work with at risk groups.
Groups that apply for the funding, which is available through the Contain Outbreak Management Fund, will be required to set out how it will be used to benefit residents who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. All applications should include:
• The name of the organisation applying
• The year the organisation was established, e.g. date a charity was registered
• The amount of funding that you are applying for
• Details of how the funding will be used and how this will help residents who are likely to be disproportionately affected by COVID.
• Confirmation that the charitable/voluntary organisations has a bank account in the name of the organisation.
• A copy of your most recent audited or independently verified accounts.
• The name and position of the person making the request.
Requests for funding should be emailed to community.welfare@bedford.gov.uk before 23:59 on Tuesday 25 January 2022. Any requests received after this date will not be considered.
East West Rail update
East West Rail have said they will announce their preferred route alignment in the first half of 2022.