A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself tomorrow, as the world class Kenyan athletes who have been here in Bedford this week taking part in a range of community activities give local residents the chance to 'Run With the Stars.'
Cllr Phil Merryman, Liberal Democrat Goldington Ward, has this week welcomed caravans and other equipment onto a previous illegal Gypsy and Traveller site. The old MFI site in Norse Road has been plagued by illegal encampments. Cllr Merryman said, "I am really pleased to see these caravans on this site as it means the new occupier, Go Outdoors, is now preparing to move in. Whilst the site may look like it is been occupied by Travellers again this is not the case and we wanted to assure local residents this is a welcome development for this site."
The Bedford Kite Festival was visited by over 40,000 people last weekend - a record turnout. I was there on Saturday and spent time talking to kite flyers, stall holders and residents who had come down to enjoy the wonderful array of kites. Unfortunately the conditions on Saturday were not helpful to kite-flying, but that didn't seem to be hampering anyone's ability to enjoy themselves.
What a thrill it was to welcome 6 world class Kenyan athletes to the Mayor's Parlour yesterday. Huge credit must go to Kenya Community Bedford and all those who have worked to make the prestigious visit happen. It was a great pleasure to meet them all and to thank them for coming to Bedford to take part in a full programme of events through the week for the benefit of the local community.
I am delighted to have been elected as the first Chair of the new Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Consortium. Following the sterling work of the volunteer-run Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterways Trust in taking the project to a stage beyond the capabilities of a charitable trust, I am looking forward to working with the ten other partners who join Bedford Borough Council in working jointly to take make further progress.
Liberal Democrat Mayor Dave Hodgson has been elected as Chair of the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterways Consortium, a new body set up to take on the leadership of the exciting Bedford to Milton Keynes Canal project. The consortium, which is comprised of the eleven key partners working together to deliver the project, was established this week and elected Dave Hodgson as Chair at its inaugural meeting.
