Dunstable News Desk

Central Bedfordshire Council urges residents to take up the fight against scams Central Bedfordshire Council’s trading standards is backing a grassroots scheme for a community-based effort against the spiralling number of scams and cons circulating throughout the area. Friends Against Scams is coordinated by the National Trading Standards Scams Team and promoted by local trading standards teams nationally, and gives people the tools they need to recognise scams and to take steps to make a difference. The first stage is to take a free 20-minute online training session or attend a presentation raising awareness. There are common types of scams out there, and we are urged to get the skills to avoid them and build our confidence to spread the word to friends, neighbours and loved ones. Once equipped, ‘friends’ are encouraged to take a stand. They can even then choose to carry on gaining more knowledge and act as a neighbourhood SCAM champion prepared to give talks in publ

Beds Police Rural who support UK BORDER FORCE with the annual Operation to tackle illegal wildlife crime have received the update that this year's Operation Thunderball resulted in the following seizures within the UK: 4959 seizures of cactus extract 103 Live orchid plants 1 seizure of python skin boots 10 tanned full crocodile skins Crocodile skin wallets x 2 and belts x 2 Alligator watch strap 900 tablets containing Hoodia 240 black ant tablets 4 Beard kits containing Aloe andongensis weighing over 750kg 500 juvenile crested gecko’s – these were seized and released upon payment of a fine for not completing an import notification 6 rosewood guitars / parts 2 seizures of American ginseng 3 Agarwood seizure 1 Saussurea costus 28 bird eggs – seized due to being miss described – species not known. 100 capsules of crocodile blood 2 cycad bulbs 90ml of hair product containing caviar 1 framed butterfly 6 cactus plants 360 tablets containing Gastrodia elata 4 i

In the biggest and best Recycle Week ever, running from 24-30 September, Central Bedfordshire Council is asking residents to take recycling into their own hands and take action to protect our environment. The year so far has shown that many people have been inspired by Sir David Attenborough’s Our Planet and environmental concerns have never been so important to the nation. Central Bedfordshire Council hope to capitalise on this heightened awareness by tasking their residents to act and focus on getting their recycling right. Latest research from Recycle Now reveals that over 60% of UK households are now recycling more than they were a year ago, due to environmental concerns.However, it also revealed that some households continue to place certain plastic items that we can’t accept in their recycling bin. Thankfully Central Bedfordshire is an area full of dedicated recyclers, but there are still some simple things that we can all do to make our recycling efforts even bett

What do Alice in Wonderland, blockbuster The Da Vinci Code and Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice have in common? They’ve all fallen foul of censorship. The titles are examples of books chosen by Central Bedfordshire libraries to highlight national Banned Book Week (Sunday 22 September – Saturday 28 September). This year’s theme is ‘Censorship leaves us in the dark. Keep the light on.’ Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services, said: “ It highlights the value of free and open access to information. “Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular . “The website  https://www.bannedbooksweek.org.uk/    highlights a number of books aimed at young adults the category that leads to most calls for censorship and book bans. “Interestingly,

Local builder Bellway has donated a potentially life-saving defibrillator to a campaigning Buckinghamshire mum-of-four who saved her own husband’s life with a defibrillator. Bellway – which is building new homes at The Grange in Edlesborough – gave the ‘heart re-start’ equipment, worth around £1,000, to village mum Nicky Lack (41), who says it will be placed in the neighbouring village of Dagnall. Nicky is looking to raise money for a series of defibrillators around her part of Buckinghamshire. She said: “Every community should have a nearby defibrillator. The first three or four minutes after a cardiac arrest are critical. “I approached Bellway to see if they could give a donation to our campaign, and they paid for a complete defibrillator. I’m entirely grateful to them. One day this defibrillator will save someone’s life.” Lindsey Davenport, Sales Manager for Bellway Northern Home Counties, said: “We’re always keen to help the communities in which we build. “So, when

More than 2000 took part in a public vote for their favourite licensed venues of 2019 across Houghton Regis and Dunstable to discover who had been crowned ‘Best Bar None’. There were 14 accredited venues in the running this year, with the winners announced at an award ceremony at Dunstable’s Creasey Park Football Club on Monday evening (16 Sept). While the community football club at Creasey Park emerged as overall winner,  the Old Sugar Loaf took the people’s vote in Dunstable. And the White Swan in Dunstable was runner-up both on points and in the people’s vote. In Houghton Regis, Go Houghton won both the points and the public vote. This was the fifth of the Best Bar None scheme award evening in Central Bedfordshire, part of a wider national government and drinks industry initiative to promote responsible management and operation of alcohol-licensed premises. The aim is to encourage pubs, clubs and leisure venues to be safe and welcoming places for visitors. Local pu

Dunstable is named as one of 69 towns with high streets in England that will be revitalised by a total of £95 million cash injection. Dunstable Town Council's project will focus on improving buildings and retaining the towns heritage in High Street South and Middle Row. This is the biggest ever single investment by Government in the UK’s built heritage. Projects across the country will transform disused historic buildings into shops, houses and community centres. Funding will help traditional businesses adapt to better compete with online outlets. Increasing competition from online outlets is putting high streets across the country under growing pressure. As part of the Government’s drive to help high streets adapt to changing consumer habits, the £95  million funding will provide a welcome boost that will breathe new life into historic buildings and areas in our towns and cities. The initiative will be funded by combining £40 million from the Department for Digital, C

Central Bedfordshire Council today (Thursday, September 12) signed up for £6.2million of government funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF), to help further the regeneration and revitalisation of Dunstable town centre. The government funding is specifically for investing in infrastructure that will support much-needed new housing in Dunstable. Part of the money will be used for a brand-new artificial pitch in the town. The current one in Court Drive has been closed for some time. Providing a replacement facility elsewhere will effectively release all of the derelict lands behind GoBowling, including the present pitch, for regeneration. There is potential for the land to be used for a brand-new integrated health and social care hub as well as housing. The new hub would not only provide modern facilities for GP practices, but patients could also be able to access a range of other relevant services at the hub too, such as social care. The funding will also be used to

Onwards and Upwards! Work is underway using Heritage Lottery Funding for repairs on the bell tower of the Priory Church in Dunstable. It was revealed that the ancient building, with important historical connections to Henry VIII, won a bid for £71,900 in January. Now work is underway with stonemasons at work repairing the parapets. Lodge & Sons, historic building restoration, stonemasons Nick Hilliard and Stuart Thompson are at work in all weathers preparing the Bath stone and putting it in place. “We’re examining the old and reusing or replacing to keep the new looking in keeping with the original,” said Nick. Hilary Jackson, Church Warden who led the bell tower HLF bid said: “It is exciting to know that this important work is underway. There has been much work behind the scenes to get to this stage, but people can now see that it has started. We hope to involve various community groups along the way as the project progresses - this may include the chance to meet t

A blanket rule requiring dogs to be on leads in any open space with a marked sports pitch could be relaxed by Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) but residents will be consulted before any action is taken. The council believes the current requirement that dogs are kept on a lead in any park with a pitch is too strict. But wants to continue banning them from fenced play and games areas and parts of our country parks. Dogs would also still need to be on a lead in cemeteries, picnic areas and A and B roads as well as their footpaths. At the same time, the council will be consulting on antisocial drinking orders. Such orders are not complete public drinking bans but give authorised officers additional powers in designated areas. They can require individuals not to drink alcohol or hand over alcohol in their possession. Dog control and street drinking orders need to reviewed every three years and the current ones have to be by October 2020. As well as the possible rule change

At a CBC meeting on 9 September, a committee will look at proposals to increase the number of CBC councillors by 4 to 63. A report to the meeting says that this is needed due to the growing size of the population (8% growth forecast) and the impact this has on individual casework, as well as the workload of councillors attending meetings. The move would not be implemented until 2023, according to a schedule provided, and would have cost implications of additional basic allowances: £10,995.60 x 4 = £43,982 per year, plus additional ICT allowances: £1,050 x 4 = £4,200 per year. Prior to 2009 Bedfordshire was represented by 136 Members under the former mid-Bedfordshire and south-Bedfordshire authorities.  In 2009-10  the council size reduced from 66 to 59 elected Members. Report and Agenda: download Source:   If you have news for Dunstable, please send it in

by   Carolyn Londer-Ward , Communications Manager, Greensand Trust Rushmere Country Park in Heath and Reach will host its third Local Food Festival on Sunday 8 September. The park’s Tree Tops Café is proud to support local suppliers of fresh, quality produce, and this very popular event aims to celebrate the great quality local produce this area has to offer. There’ll be a great variety of food and drink on offer plus a wide range of entertainment for all the family! In terms of food and drink, available visitors will be spoiled for choice – make sure to arrive feeling hungry to make the most of what’s on offer! As well as the food you can eat on-site, there’ll be food and drink you can take home too. This event is one of the largest held at the park which is run on a not for profit basis by local charity The Greensand Trust. Visitors and stallholders attending the event are also giving their much-valued support to the park which offers over 400 acres of woodland, heathla