A fly-tipper has been fined for illegally dumping a sofa in Faraday Square, Bedford. The person responsible was identified by the Council's Environmental Crime Team from a CCTV camera deployed to the area and despite the fly-tipping happening at night were still able to identify the offender and issue them a Fixed Penalty Notice of £400.
Bedford Borough residents on means-tested benefits and disability benefits will automatically receive financial support from government this year.
'Calm Maintained Across Bedfordshire Last Night.' That was the welcome headline on the website of Bedfordshire Police this morning after an extensive police operation on the streets in Bedford and elsewhere to prevent any of the sickening violence and destruction which has taken place elsewhere from happening here. I have spoken to the Divisional Commander today and congratulated the police on their efforts last night in being prepared and being out on the streets, offering a reassuring presence to local residents and businesses in our town. The Council has obviously been in close contact with the police, and we will continue to work closely together. While it was welcome that the scurrilous and unsubstantiated rumours about possible trouble in Bedford last night did not prove to be true, there can be no room for complacency. I know that the police are know this, and there will again be a major, prepared police presence out in Bedford again tonight.
Last week I wrote in the Times and Citizen newspaper about my cautious optimism over one or two emerging sings for the local economy. Clearly, with households struggling in the very difficult economic climate, there is a long way to go before we can talk of a significant recovery, but the unemployment figures over the last year or so do give cause for some cautious optimism. Even though there is only so much the Council can do, I am determined that it will do all it can to help foster conditions in the local economy which help create and retain jobs in this Borough. In case you missed it, here's the article from the paper:
From 1 January (to 31 March) Stagecoach and Uno bus fares will be capped at £2 to provide affordable bus travel to residents.
