In a major boost for local public transport, Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced a radical extension to Sunday bus services in Bedford. The new programme of services will replace the current, extremely limited Sunday service with regular buses serving the same routes which operate across the whole Bedford town network over the rest of the week.
Local Campaigners against the giant Covanta Incinerator received a boost for their campaign this week when the Planning Inspector refused to accept that an Incinerator in Derbyshire was needed. This was despite an appeal from the Company wanting to build the Incinerator. The Planning Inspector said that one of the main reasons for turning the application down was, "…emissions from the plant and local residents' concerns about the impact on their health..."
I am delighted that we have been able to announce free parking in Bedford Town Centre to help kick-start the Christmas shopping season. All Council car parks will be free after 3 pm from Monday to Saturday next week, while Queen Street Car Park will be free all day through the week. Together with events such as the Christmas lights switch on and firework display and the expanded Victorian Christmas Fair, the free parking offer will help make Bedford town centre the place to go in the run-up to Christmas.
I was honoured yesterday to unveil the blue plaque at the birthplace of Apsley Cherry-Garrard, who was a member of Scott's fateful Terra Nova expedition and author of the book which recounted his experiences on the quest - 'The Worst Journey in the World.'
Free Christmas parking will be on offer in Bedford town centre again this year as Mayor Dave Hodgson seeks to encourage shoppers to use the town centre as well as providing a timely boost to local businesses.
Commenting on the Government announcement to provide guaranteed respite care by making £400m available to carers, Liberal Democrat Care Services Minister, Paul Burstow said:
