Bedfordshire

A new Bedford supermarket has had its application to sell alcohol refused.

Bedford Borough Council is preparing to take an Executive decision later this month on the future of the former Oasis swimming pool site.

Councilor Gareth Mackey, Executive Member for Children and Families, and Councillor Liz Childs, Deputy Executive Member, said they are working quickly to get up to speed with their new responsibilities and are meeting with council officers, partners, and stakeholders to receive initial briefings. They confirmed they are already actively involved in the department’s work, especially as the council begins setting the budget for the year ahead.

They also paid tribute to Councillor Steve Owen for his hard work and commitment in the role, noting that he leaves a strong foundation for the continued improvement of services that support children and families across Central Bedfordshire.

The councillors outlined the key areas they will focus on as they take forward the Children and Families Portfolio:

• delivering on existing plans for SEND services, education, safeguarding, and children in care.
• oversee the transition to a two-tier school system
• support schools and improve educational outcomes
• strengthen relationships with partners
• ensure value for money
• improve communication

They emphasised their commitment to:

• being strong champions for schools and the SEND community
• advocating for fairer funding nationally
• supporting early identification of needs
• helping shape national reforms
• ensuring the voices of children, families, and schools remain central to decision making
• being open and transparent about the challenges, progress and performance

Councillor Mackey said:

We value the lived experience of our communities and families and want to work together to shape better outcomes for children and young people. We will make sure that the needs of children, families and schools are at the heart of everything we do.

Councillor Liz Childs added:

We owe it to our residents to support children, families and our schools to the best of our ability. We will be empathetic, supportive and respectful in considering their experiences and that starts with listening – something Cllr Mackey and I intend to invest significant time in doing.

Councillor Mackey continued:

Children and family services face significant challenges across the country, such as policy shortfalls, reducing funds and ever-growing demand for services. Our job is to meet these challenges head-on and do everything we can to help our communities thrive.

We will be strong champions for our schools and SEND community, lobbying government for improved funding and a system that gives every child the support they need to reach their potential. 

Above all, we will stand up for our children, families and schools, making sure their voices shape national change and pushing for the policy and funding needed to turn these commitments into reality.

Big Garden Birdwatch returns to Bedfordshire from Friday, 23 January to Sunday, 25 January 2026. Around 7,300 local residents took part last year – now the RSPB is calling on even more people...

NC1 East league leaders, Bedford Blues Women continued their strong run of form - and their 100% league record - with a convincing 48-5 win over Harpenden Women on Sunday...

Bedford Town's habit of conceding injury time goals returned with a vengeance on Saturday as the Eagles lost 3-2 in an incident packed game against Southport in National League North...

Bird flu has been confirmed in waterfowl in Bedford Borough. Residents are being urged not to touch sick or dead birds and local keepers are reminded of Avian Influenza Prevention Zone rules...

16 January 2026: Yellow snow, Pothole palaver, Bedford Banksy?, Trump trumped and Happy Birthday to me. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he...

Bedford Borough Council is planning to reduce staff numbers as part of its financial recovery programme. This is forecast to save £4.2 million a year in savings from April 2026 through what its...

Bedford Borough Council’s administration has told councillors there will be a £59 million funding gap over the lifetime of its 2025-30 Improvement Plan.

Bedford Borough Council is planning a reduction in staff numbers as part of its financial recovery programme.

We're consulting on the introduction of a public space protection order (PSPO) aimed at addressing harmful vehicle-related behaviours such as car meets, street racing, excessive engine noise, obstruction of highways and intimidating behaviour. These issues have been persistent and are having a significant impact on residents’ quality of life, particularly in hotspot areas including Houghton Regis and Dunstable.

Bedfordshire Police data shows that Central Bedfordshire accounts for nearly half of all vehicle-related anti-social behaviour incidents in the county, with reports continuing to rise year-on-year.

If introduced, the PSPO would apply across the whole of Central Bedfordshire and give Bedfordshire Police additional powers to take enforcement action, including issuing £100 fixed penalty notices or pursuing court action for non-compliance. Importantly, enforcement could also take place at static car meets and where incidents are captured via CCTV. The proposed PSPO would run for 3 years, with a formal review required before any extension.

Councillor Liz Childs, our Executive Member for Communities, said:

Too many of our residents are having their daily lives disrupted by persistent nuisance vehicle behaviour, particularly late at night and at weekends. This proposed PSPO is about giving the police the right tools to deal with these issues more effectively, protect public safety and improve the wellbeing of our communities.

This is not about targeting responsible drivers, but about addressing behaviour that causes real harm and distress. I would like to encourage residents to take part in the consultation and share their views before any final decisions are made.

Enforcement of the PSPO would be led by Bedfordshire Police under a formal memorandum of understanding with us, with additional support through CCTV where appropriate.

The consultation is open from 16 January until 13 March 2026. If approved, enforcement would begin in October 2026.

Find out more and have your say.

Birthday boy, Archie Jones and Josh Allen were both on the scoresheet for the second time in four days as Real Bedford secured back-to-back away Southern League victories with a 2-0 win...

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service urges venues and party-goers to stop using sparklers indoors after a fatal Swiss bar fire, warning of the extreme fire risk and advising safer alternatives...

Bedford Borough Council admits sending incorrect roads data to the DfT after being branded “red” for potholes, as the Mayor, MP and government trade blows over funding, figures and transparency...

The Mayor of Bedford borough has told the town’s MP that a government-published “red” rating for the council’s road maintenance performance was incorrect, following public criticism from the MP over pothole conditions.

More than 130 under-18s were referred to drug or alcohol services in Central Bedfordshire last year, with 87 young people entering structured treatment, according to figures released...

Trial by jury is a centuries‑old safeguard, dating to before the Norman Conquest and guaranteed by the Magna Carta, designed to ensure that an individual can be judged guilty only by their peers...

A Bedford borough councillor has secured a change to official committee minutes after arguing they downplayed the seriousness of allegations involving the treatment of a care worker employed by a council-commissioned provider.

This timetable is presented as an addendum to the local development scheme (LDS) that is already in place for the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan.

Read more about the LDS and its addendum.

Some local news outlets are posting increasing amount of adverts from multi-national billion-dollar companies such as Amazon, so we asked: Why would they do such a thing..?

Some of you may have noticed little grey bins being delivered across the town.

Some of you may have noticed little grey bins being delivered across the town.

On Blue Monday (January 19), Alex Goulding will attempt to get the most plyometric push-ups in one minute.

Real Bedford, playing in the first game of 2026, picked up an all important three points with a convincing victory over relegation threatened, AFC Sudbury in Southern League Premier Central...