The end of our thirty-year wait for a completed western bypass has moved closer once more with our success in securing another £4.5 million from the Government for construction of the road.
Last Sunday saw the 2013 Bedford Schools Grand Prix at the Bedford Autodrome in Thurleigh. This is a fantastic event which has taken place in recent years with the support of Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of Motorsport Vision (and of course renowned former racing driver). It invites local schools to enter teams in to design and construct a small electric car, before competing in a two hour endurance race. Not only that, but the schools are tasked with running a comprehensive racing team operation involving as many pupils and departments as possible, covering a wide range of aspects of the schools curriculum.
Tomorrow morning sees the much-anticipated opening of the redeveloped Higgins Bedford. It is of cour se the longset day of the year, so as you may know, we're marking the opening of this major cultural attraction in the heart of Bedford Town Centre with a 'dawn to dusk' launch, throwing the doors open to as many people as possible on day one and inviting everyone to come and enjoy their museum. It all kicks off at 4.40am, with the first pre-booked tour. I shall be there, and can't wait to welcome the first visitors.
Monday night saw a major step forward for our plans for a new bus station for Bedford, with the Council's planning committee giving them its unanimous backing.
It was a real pleasure last week to welcome school crossing patrol staff to the Mayor's Parlour to mark the fact that 2013 is the Diamond Jubilee of the School Crossing Patrol in Britain.
It's Armed Forces Day today, a day when we say thank you to all currently serving troops and their families and to the whole Armed Forces Community. It's a day to pay tribute to the service they give on our behalf. Here in Bedford Borough, we have signed a 'Community Covenant', which sets out the mutual commitment made between the Bedford Borough community and the armed forces locally. It was of course an honour to sign that covenant as Mayor and leader of the Council, and I said at the time that the important thing was not the signing of the commitment, but making sure it means something in practice.
