In a short statement for the Times and Citizen on why he is standing for re-election as Mayor, Mayor Dave Hodgson has explained how he has worked successfully to turn long-talked about key projects for Bedford Borough into a reality, while keeping council tax down and saving services being lost elsewhere. Here's his full statement:
The rapid progress of the construction of the crucial final section of the Bedford Western Bypass is continuing, with the roundabout at its western end on Bromham Road at Deep Spinney near completion.
Bedford's Polish Club, or Klub Polski, on Alexandra Road celebrated its 70th Anniversary last week at a special event which recognised the rich contribution of the club across its history to community life. Mayor Dave Hodgson gave a speech at the event which highlighted the club's origins, having been founded by men who had served with the Allied Forces in World War II and who settled in Bedford as they were unable to return home to Poland due to Soviet occupation. The original members included, amongst others, veterans of II Corps of the Polish Army and also members of 303 Squadron, which had a major involvement in the Battle of Britain.
A Blue Heritage Plaque was unveiled last week at the former Bedford home of the Polar Explorer Aeneas Mackintosh. Mayor Dave Hodgson was in attendance at the formal unveiling at 43 Beverley Crescent, which Mackintosh rented in 1914 in order that his wife could be close to her relatives while he was away leading the Ross Sea Advance Party of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Trans Antarctic Expedition.
The DfE have confirmed Bedford Borough school admission success for 2014. The proportion of applicants who were offered a place at their highest preference Middle/Upper/Secondary school is 98.8%.
Restoration work on two more Bedford High Street properties has started on site under the heritage-based regeneration programme which is delivering £4.5 million of investment into the High Street area. No.'s 99 and 101, towards the northern end of the High Street, are being restored together, and follow a string of succesful restoration and regeneration works on and around the High Street. These include the dramatic transformation of the 'Coffee With Art' building, and the ongoing work to bring the fifteenth century 1-4 St Paul's buildings back into use after forty years standing derelict in one of Bedford town centre's most prominent locations.
