Bedford
Liberal Democrats

News

Pints in the Parishes in Little Staughton Tonight!

The third 'Pints in the Parishes' event is taking place tonight, at the Crown in Little Staughton. These sessions are intended to provide an opportunity for me to hear directly from anyone who wants to discuss the issues important to them in an informal, local environment. They are also a chance for for me to show my support for local, community pubs. The first two sessions, in Elstow and Risely, were extremely valuable in allowing me to get out and speak to residents who may not have made an appointment to come and see me at my Borough Hall surgery sessions, or seen me at one of my regular 'walk up' surgeries at sites around the Borough. I will be in the Crown from around 7.30pm.

27 Jul 2010
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Mayor Dave Hodgson with Archbishop Huddleston Bust

Remembering a Momentous Day for Bedford

Last week I unveiled a plaque marking the visit to Bedford in April 2000 of the great Nelson Mandela. It was fitting that the unveiling took place on Mr Mandela's 9nd birthday. He visited the Trevor Huddleston bust, of course, and the plaque can be found beneath the bust. There is rightly a real sense of pride locally at Bedford's link with Archbishop Huddleston, who was born here, and the fact that Mr Mandela visited our town and paid his own tribute to Archbishop Huddleston. It really was an honour to unveil a lasting commemoration of that visit. Whole-hearted thanks must go to Garlick Bros monumental masons, who funded and engraved the plaque.

27 Jul 2010
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Mayor Dave Hodgson at Launch of Bedford Borough 6th Form Art Exhibition

Sixth Form Art Transforms Town Hall Foyer into Exhibition Space

This morning I launched the inaugural 6th Form Art Exhibition in the Town Hall Foyer. As Chair of Governors at John Bunyan Upper School I know how much effort goes into preparing for exam exhibitions on the part of students and teachers. Knowing that Schools are showing their work to examiners and parents at a similar time, I had the idea that there is an opportunity for the work of the Borough's talented young artists to be showcased more widely and for members of the wider community to enjoy it. The 6th Form Art Exhibition in the Town Hall is one in which the Council can help grasp this opportunity.

26 Jul 2010
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Mayor Dave Hodgson on Hills Lower School's Float at 2010 River Festival Parade

River Festival Reflections

The week that has passed since River Festival 2010 has allowed a little time for reflection on this year's event. Firstly, a huge "thanks and very well done" must go to all the volunteers, community groups, council staff, charities, sponsors, emergency services and everyone else involved in putting on what was, overall, a very successful River Festival indeed. As there always will be, there are things to learn for next time, and I have a meeting this week with the Council's events team and others to begin discussions on how to make this fantastic event even better.

26 Jul 2010
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Police Merger Decision Deferment - Continuing the Fight to Save Beds Police

I haven't written on here yet about the topsy-turvy day last week when we experienced the great disappointment of a narrow vote by Beds Police Authority in favour of proceeding with merger plans, only to receive the excellent news that Herts Police Authority had voted to defer the decision pending deeper collaboration between the forces and consideration of joint working. The authorities will be looking again at the matter later in the year and with two forces, along with Beds Police Authority, in favour of merger, clearly the importance of the campaign to save Beds Police is greater than ever.

25 Jul 2010
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Making the Case for Investment in the Borough's Schools

It was a very constructive meeting with Michael Gove this morning. Clearly we didn't expect to get any answers on how much capital funding will be forthcoming for schools in the Borough this morning, but we were very glad of the opportunity to make the case for investment in our schools. We discussed the context of the cancelled Building Schools for the Future programme and what that has meant in Bedford Borough, the specific case of the Bedford Academy (which will be replacing John Bunyan Upper School from September) and its plans, the current accommodation for our special schools and the wider issues around education in the Borough.

22 Jul 2010
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