Royal British Legion Riders Take Mayor's Wreath to Belgium

Mayor Welcomes Continuing Fall in Borough Unemployment

New figures from the Office for National Statistics have revealed the extent of the continuing fall in unemployment in Bedford Borough. The number of people claiming Job Seeker's allowance has fallen by 46% - more than 2,000 people - since February last year. Meanwhile, the age group with the highest proportion of claimants, 18 -24 year-olds, saw a particularly high month-to-month fall between September and October, with the numbers dropping by 16%. This is considerably faster than the regional reduction.

Enjoy Bedford's Big Christmas Lights Switch-On on Wednesday Evening!

Bedford's Christmas Lights Switch-On event is taking place tomorrow, Wednesday 26th November, with a spectacular firework display set to mark the start of the Christmas period in Bedford in dramatic fashion. The free family event kicks off at 7pm, along The Embankment, with people of all ages invited to attend to enjoy the entertainment including music, lights and fireworks.

Mayor Dave Writes: Dramatic Fall in Borough's Unemployment Figures

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:

Keeping Bedford Borough Moving this Winter

Double Delight: Mayor's Welcome for Full Dualling of Bedford to Cambridge Road Link and Crucial Black Cat ‘Grade Separation’

Mayor Dave Hodgson has given an emphatic welcome to today's Government announcement of a major project to link the dualled A421 east of Bedford to the dual carriageway section of the A428 west of Cambridge, creating a continuous dualled link and, crucially, achieving the all-important 'Grade Separation' of the Black Cat Roundabout.