Preparatory work for the building of the river-fronted public square, new hotel, cinema and restaurants including Wagamama and Zizzi got underway in Bedford Town Centre today.
On Wednesday, the Council unanimously voted to support Councillor Patrick Solomon's motion marking the Windrush generation's contribution to British Society.
May is the National Walking Month and we are being encouraged to walk for 20 minutes each day.
There was some speculation in the national press recently which suggested that the Government was set to drop its pledge to close the child detention facility at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre in Clapham. I have always argued that locking up children for immigration purposes is an abominable practice, and as someone who was very pleased to see the Liberal Democrat pledge to close the Yarl's Wood Family Centre included in the Coalition Agreement, I was obviously disturbed by the suggestion that the Government may be rowing back on it. I am therefore delighted that Liberal Democrat Children's Minister has quashed the speculation and confirmed that child detention will be brought to an end by the government, and Yarl's Wood's family unit will close.
After a huge amount of preparation, including by numerous volunteers, River Festival 2010 is upon us! We should be very proud that the celebration first held in 1978 to mark the opening of a navigable route from Bedford to the wash has grown to become one of the most popular free events in the country. Around 300,000 people are estimated to be heading to our town this weekend, and I cannot wait to join with the vast numbers of volunteers, community groups, sponsors and local performers in showcasing the best of what Bedford has to offer.
The Castle Quay development is set to welcome its first restaurant, with one of the three units in this attractive area having been let. The 'Riverside Grill' will open in the summer, and I was delighted to welcome representatives there this week.
