The second 'Pints in the Parishes' event is taking place tonight, at the Fox and Hounds in Riseley. 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. I will be at the Fox and Hounds from around 7.30pm.
From today businesses on St Cuthbert's Street have launched a campaign to beat the blues. Often in January, post Christmas and when the weather is now so great, people suffer a bit of a lull. The St Cuthbert's Street businesses have come together to offere a range of discounts. There are even some special discounts for those coming to see the Bedford Blues. You can find out more about this week's promotions on the Town Centre Champions facebook event here.
We may be enjoying some unseasonably mild weather just at the moment, but doubtless winter will come back and bite us soon. This year, not only are we doing all we can to ensure we can keep the Borough moving when freezing weather strikes, we are also doing more than ever to keep residents informed and up-to-date about key services through the winter. Perhaps the most innovative way in which we're doing this is via the new interactive map on the Council website showing the exact location of the gritting lorries in real time! The map is available on the Winter Maintenance Updates page, alongside all the other information you might need on school closures, public transport, waste collection and more. Here's the link: http://apps.bedford.gov.uk/winterupdates/
Mayor Dave Hodgson's latest monthly column for the Times and Citizen looked at the dramatic fall in unemployment revealed by the latest figures for Bedford Borough, including a 46% drop in jobseeker's allowance claimants since February last year. Here's the piece in full:
The Higgins Bedford have joined in with the Summer of SEND to deliver a number of free and fun online activities for children and young people with disabilities and/or special educational needs, which will run from 26th July - 23rd August.
Earlier this week Mayor Dave Hodgson visited the Warm Space at St Mary's in Goldington. You can see a video at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2156108827908595
