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Dunstable Today ~ BBC Three Counties Radio ~ Luton & Dunstable Express Former Mayor Dies4 February 2010 Edward Gilchrist, a local Liberal Democrat who was a past Mayor of Houghton Regis, has passed away following a period of ill health. Cllr Gilchrist was Town Mayor of Houghton Regis from 2003 /4 and served as a Town Councillor from 2000 to 2007. In addition he served as a South Bedfordshire District Councillor for the Tithe Farm Ward from 2002 to 2009. He was a well respected member of the community and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. New Link Road Proposals12th January 2010 Lib Dem councillors for Houghton Regis were last night shown very rudimentary outline plans for a new direct road to link Portz Avenue to Junction 11a M1. It is hoped that the new road would help to relieve Houghton Regis town centre during rush hour.Funding for the scheme would be from section 106 funds (money raised out of any new build homes). Construction could not begin until the A5-M1 link was under way. Houghton Regis town councillors were asked for initial comments. The view was strongly expressed that Sundon Road should not be linked to the new road, so as to deter motorway traffic from approaching the town. Bedford Road ResurfacingFrom Central Beds CouncilClosure of Bedford Rd., Houghton Regis is expected to take place during 4 weekends from Saturday 20 February to Sunday 14 March 2010 between 0730 and 1800hrs. Access may be allowed from time to time according to local signing. January 2010 Focus NewsletterDownload here. size 4.5MB (A reader cable of reading .pdf files will be required. Get Adobe reader here)POPULAR EVENTS MAY GO AS TORIES LOOK FOR CUTS Central Bedfordshire Council's Tory administration is looking for cuts, and the Town's popular Medieval Fayre may be a casualty. For the last few years a programme of annual events was organized by the Liberal Democrat led Town Centre Management Committee. The old District Council used to fund these events. In 2009, Houghton lost its Christmas market in Bedford Square. On 10th November, Central Beds Council's Tory Executive raised the question of continuing with Town Centre Management Committees. Then they deferred making any decision about future funding. Liberal Democrat Councillor David Jones said,“This is unbelievable! This postponed decision jeopardises the prospect of a Medieval Fayre in 2010. Do the Tories not understand that major events such as the Medieval Fayre take a lot of organizing? Nothing can happen until the funding is in place. Meanwhile, the best attractions will undoubtedly take bookings to appear elsewhere. The Tories do not realise how much these community events mean to the residents and traders of Houghton” Massive Overspend by Fledgling Tory Central Bedfordshire AuthorityA forecast £7.2 million overspend has sent CB departments into a tailspin. Cuts and savings are top priorities. Cuts will hit across the board, and redundancies are inevitable.Yet they justify a £250,000 retirement package for the outgoing acting CEO, and a £185,000 a year salary for the new incumbent! No ConfidenceWhen the portfolio holder for Corporate Resources was questioned about the overspend and the costs of setting up Central Bedfordshire, he said he would have to meet with officers to find the answer.His response gives no confidence in the Tories financial management of Central Bedfordshire. Lib Dem councillors will fight for a fairer deal for residents, and try to save essential services. Objections to New Build Near Maiden Bower15th December 2009 Planners have proposed 650 new homes at a site in Houghton Regis parish, south of the historic Maiden Bower iron fort. The new homes would border Dunstable.At a meeting of Houghton Regis Town Council's planning and licensing committee on 14th December members heard presentations from representatives of the developers, from members of the public, (all objectors), and the views of fellow Lib Dem councillors. The committee agreed to pass on objections received to Central Bedfordshire Council who will deliberate and make a decision on the desirability of the planning application. The principal objections made at the meeting were unwanted growth on the green belt, the site not being a preferred site for the Core Strategy, and an unwelcome increase of traffic along Weatherby and Drovers Road, Dunstable Northern Bypass Moves a Step Closer10/12/2009 ~ The A5-M1 Dunstable Northern Bypass is closer to becoming a reality.The Highways Agency has published draft Orders and an Environmental Statement for the scheme. The Highways Agency is proposing to build a two lane dual carriageway which will run east from the A5 north of Houghton Regis to a new junction, 11a, near to where Sundon Road now straddles the M1. more at Highways Agency ... Public Exhibitions will be held as follows: Thursday 17th December 2009 - 2pm to 8pm Adult Learning Office, Kingsland Skills & Enterprise Centre,Parkside Drive Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, LU5 5PY Thursday 7th January 2010 - 2pm to 4pm Dunstable Leisure Centre, Court Drive, Dunstable, LU5 4JD Saturday 9th January 2010 - 10am to 4pm Wilkinson Church Hall, Station Rd, Toddington, Bedfordshire, LU5 6BN Expected construction of the new Junction 11a on the M1 will start in 2011. Expected construction of the A5-M1 Link Road will start in 2012/13. Central Beds Unitary Councillors - Boundary ReviewThe Electoral Commission is proposing to alter the boundaries of current wards within Central Bedfordshire. They are intending to reduce the number of councillors down to 59 from the current 66. This could mean boundary changes to even up the number of electors per councillor.In Houghton Regis the Lib Dem group are concerned that this could mean fewer councillors for the current work-load. While the area is on the brink of increasing its number of electors via new housing builds, the group are concerned to see that if anything, the number of councillors for the area is not reduced. Some have even argued that in areas of greater deprivation, such as Houghton Regis, the number of councillors should be increased to help with the case work. Another view put forward in some quarters is that areas with fewer electors and a more rural afflluent community may need more councillors, as they bring up more intellectual arguments that require greater research and therefore extra time to deal with. The Electoral Commission are inviting PUBLIC RESPONSE until 11th January 2010 to this thorny issue. According to the boundary commission each of the 59 councillors should represent around 3,258 electors in 2008, and by 2013 each councillor should represent 3,521. To find out more visit electoralcommission.org.uk and complete their consultation documents. Focus Printer Wins Mayoral Campaign!The printer who does a lot of Houghton Regis Focus printing has just become the mayor of Bedford. Well done Dave Hodgson!
Latest Party VideoM1 Update18 Aug 2009The Highways Agency have released explanatory video showing how hard shoulder running will work.  Watch video. Comments are welcomed up to 24th September 2009.
Further details: http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/4482.aspx
Massive Win For Houghton Regis Lib Dems5 June 2009
The Official Results can be found here.The Liberal Democrats in Houghton Regis fought the election campaign on their record of action, as a team, for the Houghton Regis Town Council, and on their opposition to proposals that threaten to place three new gypsy and traveller sites within the parish boundaries. The petition and background information are still available on this website. Go to Petiton  .Contact a councillor for Houghton Regis about Central Bedfordshire matters. Self-help is also available here
In the East of England European elections the Liberal Democrats polled in third place, behind Conservatives and UKIP.  Earlier News....
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