Communities Minister hears the concerns of the British Chinese community
Communities Minister Andrew Stunell convened a roundtable meeting for members of the Chinese community, providing an opportunity to explore their issues of concern.
Communities Minister Andrew Stunell convened a roundtable meeting for members of the Chinese community, providing an opportunity to explore their issues of concern.
I wrote recently in the Times and Citizen newspaper about the exciting news on the final phase of the western bypass, for which the funding package is now in place. The remaining obstacle surrounds land ownership, and the refusal of one landowner to sell land long-established as an identified section of this route for the purposes of this essential road. We can overcome this, however, using compulsory purchase powers, and will keep working to ensure the road is delivered as soon as possible. It is a crucial element of our ongoing drive to help foster growth and boost employment opportunities for residents. I touched on this point in my Times and Citizen article, which I have reproduced here for those who missed it:
The latest 'Meet the Buyer' event, held at Bedford College and funded by the Council, saw local firms gain direct access to major businesses to build up contacts and to find out more about how they can win contracts and do business with major purchasers from the public and private sector. Buyers from companies including Wells & Young, Lockheed Martin, Autoglass, Bedford Hospital, Bourns, Bedford College, and Bedford Borough Council itself were in attendance. Meet the Buyer events are an important aspect of our ongoing drive to support the local economy, helping local firms to continue to provide employment opportunities for residents. Other key features of our efforts to help the local economy are our efforts to boost local infrastructure, including through the delivery of the final link of the western bypass, and a forthcoming campaign to encourage people to buy locally from Bedford Borough businesses.
You may have read in the local press that I was re-selected as the Liberal Democrat Candidate for Mayor of Bedford Borough at a meeting of local party members last week, and I am obviously delighted to be selected. It has been a tremendous honour to serve as Mayor of Bedford Borough over the past year. During what are extraordinarily difficult economic times we have begun the fight back against years of chronic underinvestment in road and pavement maintenance, cut Council waste and have protected front line services while keeping Council tax down. Each of these vital tasks is ongoing, and I want to carry on the job of working to make sure the Council is working for all local residents across Bedford Borough.
The Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, is urging the public to get involved and have their say on the latest plans to transform Bedford.
Liberal Democrat Communities Minister Andrew Stunell has announced that Liberal Democrats in Government will deliver the biggest net increase in social housing for 30 years.