Following on from the last priority meeting 4 months ago, which only seems like yesterday, I would like to invite you to attend the quarterly Leighton Buzzard & Rural Community Policing Team Community Priority Setting Meeting. The purpose of the meeting is for the local community to identify and agree two priorities that they would like the team to focus on for the next quarter. The meeting will include an update on progress against our current community priorities, which were set at the last meeting as HGV weight restriction breaches and speeding Stanbridge, Tilsworth, Great Billington, and Toddington, and aggressive cycling on pavements Wing Road Linslade.

This time the meeting will be held at Toddington Village Hall, Leighton Road, Toddington, 7 pm – 8.30 pm on Friday 6th December 2019.

PC 6923 Jim Maden
Community Policing Team | Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire Police
Police & Fire Hub
Lake Street
Leighton Buzzard
LU7 1RT

Email: james.maden2@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk

‘Have Your Say’ and complete our anonymous survey. Tell us what are your priorities where you live and work. It takes under 1 minute! CLICK HERE

Posted 12.11.2019

BT is proposing to remove 30 payphones in Central Bedfordshire. The details of the payphones which may be removed can be seen on our website:www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations.

BT initiated its consultation with the local community on 9 October 2019 by issuing notifications on all relevant phone boxes. It is also our responsibility to undertake a consultation process to canvas the views of the local community and other public organisations.

Our consultation which runs from Tuesday 5 November 2019 until Tuesday 3 December 2019 enables residents to comment on whether they agree with the proposed removal, would like to request to adopt the phone box or want to object to the removal of the payphone.

 Adopting a phone box could mean that the local authority, town or parish council, or a registered charity could adopt a given phone box, usually the red, traditional heritage style. This means that the box itself is retained but can be used for an alternative use.  Some examples of how phone boxes have been used include housing defibrillators, art galleries and libraries. It’s really simple to do and it costs just £1 – http://bt.com/adopt.

You can find the full details of the consultation and have your say on our website at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations.

On 12 December 2019, the day of the General Election, you may be working away, on holiday or don't want to risk missing the polling station opening hours, or perhaps you're unable to get to the venue. Voting by post could be a good option for you.

If you require a postal vote you must be registered to vote first. You will need to complete a postal vote application form, available here. Your completed form MUST arrive by 5pm on 26 November 2019. Once we have received your form we will send you a postal ballot pack. This must be completed and returned by the close of poll at 10pm on 12 December.

Make sure you complete all sections of the form and supply your date of birth and signature. Your date of birth and signature are needed on this application form, and again when you use your postal vote. This information is needed to prevent fraud. Also, it's helpful to include a contact email address or telephone number, in case there's a problem with your form.

If you live in North East Bedfordshire Constituency Bedford Borough Council will be issuing your postal ballot pack. If you live in Luton South Constituency, Luton Borough Council will be issuing your postal ballot pack.

Once you've completed the form, you can email it to -electoral.registration@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or post to Electoral Registration Office, Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ.

The next London Luton Airport Public Surgery event - will be held in Leighton Buzzard as part of the ongoing Public Surgery programme.

The surgery will be held at Astral Park Sports and Community Centre, Johnstone Drive, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 4AY on Tuesday 12th November 2019 between 4 pm-7pm.

This event will act as an information point for any residents or councillors to approach the Flight Operations team directly. The team will be available at any point between the allocated times and will respond to personal questions and concerns relating to the current noise impacts of London Luton Airport Operations. 

Please note, however, the team will NOT be able to discuss the plans London Luton Airport Limited (LLAL) have for future growth.

Posted: 4.11.2019 

Here's a reminder from Steve Mash...

The village service of remembrance takes place at The Memorial in the Heath and Reach Parish Cemetery at 2.45 pm followed by the church service at 3 pm on Sunday at St.Leonard's Church.

It would be great to see you there.

We are holding our annual Carols on the Green event​ on 20th December ’19 at 7:00 pm on Heath Village Green. The Heath Band will once again be helping us keep in tune – hopefully.
All are welcome…

All garden waste must be contained within either the wheelie bin or garden waste sacks we provide.

Any large branches, trunks and plants should be cut down to fit inside.

Please leave your bin out by 7 am on your collection day.

Alternatively, find out more about composting. If you fancy giving it a go, we offer subsidised compost bins and accessories to all residents.

Do you have excess garden waste?

Any excess garden waste can be taken to one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres in:

• Ampthill
• Biggleswade
• Dunstable
• Leighton Buzzard

All sites are open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm including Bank Holidays.

Please arrive at least 10 minutes before closing time to allow enough time to unload, no waste will be accepted after that time.

Posted: 22.2.2019
Expires: 4.3.2019

The service will resume as normal on Monday, 4 March 2019.

Posted: 17.10.2018
Expires: 4.3.2019

The last batches of the vaccine were delivered to GPs and pharmacies across the country last week ahead of the flu season, which usually starts in December.

12,898 older people across Central Bedfordshire didn’t take up their jab last year, despite being most vulnerable to flu's effects. Many of those will have caught the virus and needed NHS treatment as a result.

While flu is a common ailment and many people can get over it with rest and fluids, for some people in high-risk groups, such as the elderly and those with long-term conditions, it can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

Health chiefs believe that the new vaccine could reduce GP consultations due to flu by 30,000, hospitalisations by over 2,000 and prevent over 700 hospital deaths in England, alleviating some of the health burden that seasonal flu places on the population, workplaces and the NHS.

To find out if you're one of the 22 million people who are eligible for vaccination head to www.nhs.uk/staywell

Posted: 10.12.2018
Expires: 31.3.2019

Apply online

If your child is due to start school in September 2019, or transfer to the middle, secondary or upper school, applications are now open.

Your child is entitled to a full-time place in the September following their fourth birthday if that is your wish; though your child does not have to attend school full-time until the term after their fifth birthday.

If you are applying for a place to start school or to join a middle school, you have until Tuesday 15 January 2019 to make an application.

However, if your child is transferring to a secondary or upper school in 2019 then the deadline for applications is Wednesday 31 October 2018.

Our dedicated school admission web pages contain a wealth of other information including school catchment areas, deferred entries, making an application on religious/faith grounds and how places are allocated.

Parents and carers can also complete a paper application form – these are available from the school admissions team. Call 0300 300 8037, email admissions@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or write to School Admissions, Central Bedfordshire Council, Watling House, High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1LF.

This information was received directly from Central Bedfordshire Council. on 4.9.2018

Expires: 15.1.2019

Posted: 13.12.2018
Expires: 5.1.2019

Do you know anyone who is searching for employment? Recommend they come to our Job Fair on Wednesday 27 February at 10.30am - 12.30pm at Methodist Church, Ashton Square, Dunstable, LU6 3SN for an opportunity to meet local employers.

Posted: 20.2..2019
Expires: 27.2.2019

Consultation

We are consulting on proposed changes to school admissions arrangements for all Community and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools in September 2020.

The admission policy for these schools sets out the criteria in which applications will be considered if the school is oversubscribed. 

The current oversubscription criteria for most Community and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools in Central Bedfordshire prioritises certain children such as those who are in care and children who live in the catchment area with brothers of sisters already attending the school.

The consultation proposes to add the following to the oversubscription criteria:

• Children who appear to the Local Authority to have been in state care outside of England, but are now adopted.
• Children of staff at Greenleas School, Southcott Lower, Heathwood Lower, Dunstable Icknield Lower, Fairfield Park Lower, Thomas Johnson Lower and Shefford Lower.

There is also a proposal to reduce the published admission number at Linslade Lower from 45 to 30. This was put forward by the school’s governing body in order to better manage class sizes and staffing.

You can have your say online at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations until 5pm on 29 January 2019.

Posted: 8.12.2018
Expires: 29.01.2019