Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats

The latest weekly coronavirus statistics for Bedford Borough have been published. Presented once again in easy-to-read infographic form, the figures show that in the seven days up to November 15th:

• 1,776 people have been tested (113 more than the previous week)
• There were 291 Covid-19 cases (80 more than the previous week)
• The weekly positive cases per 100,000 population was 167.9 (up from 121.8 in the previous week)

From 1 April 2021, Bedford Borough Council will be moving to 100% green renewable electricity, as part of Mayor Dave Hodgson and Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats' ongoing drive to protect the local and wider environment and help tackle climate change.

The move will see the Council-owned and operated buildings and street lighting across the Borough powered by renewable energy.

Today, November 19th is International Men's Day, and Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are backing this year's theme of 'Better Health for Men and Boys.'

Commenting, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Cllr Dean Crofts said: "With this year's theme being 'Better Health for Men and Boys', International Men's Day provides an important opportunity to raise awareness of the health issues that men and boys can face. These include, for example, the high suicide rate for men and the most common cancer in men in the UK, prostate cancer.'

Bedford Borough Council has automatically issued over £964,000 in support grants to 648 local businesses that have had to close during this period of national restrictions.

These businesses will have received the funding in their bank accounts earlier this week, with 497 businesses receiving £1,334 and 151 businesses receiving £2,000.

With many retail stores shut as part of the new national lockdown, Bedford Borough Council is urging everyone to support local businesses by backing BedfordBID's 'Remember November Online' campaign.

With Christmas just around the corner online shopping will be booming but doesn't need to mean local businesses losing out. Many local businesses have active website enabling you to order goods direct from them. Whatever it is - cheese, jewellery, socks, beer, braces or books - Bedford's local retailers, including our outstanding independents, need all our support to help them through the latest national restrictions.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats wish a very happy and safe Diwali to everyone celebrating.

In his latest regular email, Mayor Dave Hodgson writes that Diwali will 'unavoidably be different this year.' He adds: "It's sad that there can't be any communal celebrations of the Festival of Light, which are always joyful occasions which bring people together. Nevertheless, I hope people are looking forward to celebrating at home and I wish everyone who is celebrating a very happy and safe Diwali."

Questions raised by Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats this week revealed that health bosses blame 'bureaucracy' for the ongoing delay in delivering replacement mental health inpatient care in Bedford, three years on from the closure of Weller Wing.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Cllr Dean Crofts challenged NHS representatives at the latest meeting of the Council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee over the lack of progress in replacing much-needed mental health inpatient beds. A report to the committee by East London NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Commissioning Collaborative states that they have 'started to engage' with service users and carers about their requirements for inpatient care locally, and that 'a questionnaire has been drafted.'

Mayor Dave Hodgson took part in an Armistice Day ceremony at the Bedford War Memorial on the Embankment yesterday, at 11am. As with Sunday's Remembrance Service, it was a reduced service in line with current regulations and to ensure the safety of all involved. Photographs of both events can be found on on Mayor Dave's Facebook page.