Latest on Nirah
Occasional newsletter
More than 3,000 signatures in support of Nirah in Bedfordshire were collected by handful of volunteers at the Bedford River Festival event July 15th and 16th.
On Saturday people were queuing up to sign and were adding their names at the rate of three per minute.
Doug McMurdo, a Better Bedford Party Borough Councillor, said:
“We also gave away more than a 1,000 of the Founder Member application forms under which people can Buy a Brick to help keep Nirah in Bedfordshire.”
Mayor Frank Branston had only days before pledged to match every pound donated by Founder Members - up to a value of £50,000 :
“I am looking forward to writing the cheque as we will then have proof positive that people in Bedfordshire believe, as I do, that Nirah is important to the future of the county. If I'm prepared to put my hand in my pocket for £50,000 then I hope others will pledge £50.”
The signatures in support of Nirah will be added to the 1,000 and more which were collected in Stewartby and as a result of an earlier public meeting on June 26th when 400 people attended. It is hoped that figure of 4,000-plus will keep rising.**
Doug McMurdo added:
“ Many people wanted to give us money at the river festival but we explained that the Founder Member arrangement was for a minimum of £50 payable by cheque. But so many wanted to give £5 that we are going to be looking at alternative ways of fund raising which allow people to show their support in smaller ways.”
One such way will be an auction of a original painting by popular local artist Steve Bowers who has donated one of his works - which will be on display at the Art Shop in Bedford. Arrangements for an auction are being made.
And leading local businessman Michael R. Peters, who met with the Chairman of Nirah Peter May at the launch day of the appeal on Thursday July 13th, has pledged a wide screen TV towards the fund.
*Copies of the Founder Membership document are available from the local Nirah office 01234 353576. All monies collected in will be held by a local firm of solicitors.
** Copies of the petition form can be obtained from and should be returned to the Mayor's Office, Town Hall, St Paul's Square., Bedford.
Meanwhile Patrick Hall MP for Bedford has criticised Bedfordshire County Council for “reneging” on a deal to continue to support Nirah which was made in the House of Commons in May.
Patrick and MP Alistair Burt witnessed the deal which the county council has since failed to meet. “I just cannot believe what is going on. Some of the conditions attached to the county council's offer to Nirah are totally unreasonable.”
Two years ago Bedfordshire County Council and the East of England Development Agency, with the support of the Secretary of State, agreed to LOAN Nirah £4 Million to get to planning on the proposed site on the B530 at Stewartby. Since then EEDA has completed its contribution but the county council has refused to make the final £1 Million available. A deal was done for just £300,000 of the last £1 Million in May in the House of Commons, which was to matched by private investors , but the council have since failed to deliver.
Patrick Hall is taking up the issue with Government ministers.
Have a good week!
Robert