The proposal for a new town of up to 20,000 homes in the Marston Vale as part of the Government's 'Eco-towns' programme has been withdrawn. Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats had submitted a critical response to the Government's consultation on the Eco-Town programme, and have welcomed the withdrawal of the bid.
Bedford Borough Council's system of grant awards to rural Parish Councils is set to continue in the first year of the new unitary authority, despite having been proposed to be scrapped.
A range of measures to protect and improve the local environment in neighbourhoods in Bedford Borough are set to be carried out after Liberal Democrat proposals were incorporated in the proposed first budget of the Unitary Council. The measures include further protection of open spaces from unauthorised encampments and action to tackle the problem of ugly, churned-up grass verges caused by local parking difficulties.
Alistair Darling has admitted that a further economic recovery package could be needed in the future as rumours have come to light that an all important budget could be delayed.
As the long-running local campaign to preserve the Stewartby brickworks' historic chimneys and halt plans for a 1200-home development in the village continues, a local Lib Dem Ward Councillor has stressed that all support for the cause is welcome - including the belated involvement of the Tory MP for Mid Beds.
Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have said that the extra £1 million in the proposed first budget of the unitary authority must signal the beginning of an essential 'fight back' against the massive backlog of repairs that has grown under the Tory-run County Council over several years.
