Occasional newsletter

Bedford faces "a real challenge"

 

“Business to Business” is not a publication I normally read, but whilst at the de Parys Hotel last night I picked up a copy when I saw the title “Bedfored faces a real challenge.”

At a meeting of 70 business people Chris Watts, the director of Rennaisance Bedford said that Bedford had turned its back on growth, resulting in 40 years in the doldrums.

Mr. Watts claimed that the ciunty town had to act quickly to improve its image and attract inward investment.

He reported that a survey two years ago by the East of England Development Agency revealed that most towns in the region had a very poor image and identity, but that Bedford had no image at all.

Unfortunately Bedfordshire County Council imposes a straightjacket on things, and the recent decisions by the Bedfordshire County Council (Nirah, and school reorganisation) are killing the town and county. No wonder the clamour for the abolition of the County Council is gaining momentum!

Steve Lowe, editor of Bedfordshire on Sunday, has written a tongue-in-cheek tale, but one which may have a good bit of truth in it:

 

Bedford – the land that time forgot

The year is 2050. A group of tourists are being shown round the citadel of Milton Keynes .

After seeing the new award winning regional government offices and the stadium of European champions, MK Dons, they are taken to the ramparts of the walled city.

The guide takes the party to the eastern stretch of the wall, which overlooks and protects the 12 lane M1. He points to the east, which is a barren wasteland.

“This desolate area you see before you was once known as Bedfordshire. Not more than 40 years ago it was a green and pleasant place.

“A bit boring and scarred somewhat by old brick pits and landfill – which you can still see in front of you – but generally a pleasant enough place to live. And they had ideas, the people who lived there.”

The tourists look out with a mixture of excitement and horror, like rubber-neckers at an accident.

There is hardly a tree in sight.

Great lakes froth and bubble, giving off noxious gases. The remnants of what were once towns and villages rise out of the bleak landscape like stubby fingers.

“What happened?” asks one of the Chinese tour party.

“There were great plans in the new millennium. Leisure centres were planned, the Nirah aquatic centre, which is of course in the States, a canal, lake and country park, new forest, new roads, a new town and much, much more.

“Unfortunately the area was run by three councils, which could never agree with each other. One body wanted one thing and not another and vice-versa. All the plans got bogged down in red tape.

“Also there was a group of people, not directly on any council but highly influential, who did not want anything to happen. They influenced some politicians and council officers, who, while supporting the new ideas publicly, were often undermining them privately.

“The local media was blamed for even daring to raise the issues and the taxpaying public were left more and more in the dark.

“An unofficial alliance of those opposing any progress was formed. They became known as the Cantdoos. They form the tribe that still inhabits this part of Bedfordshire. It was in part keeping the Cantdoos out of Milton Keynes that led to the building of the wall round the city.”

“Are they dangerous?” asked another tourist.

“Not in the sense that they may attack you, although since the Woburn Safari Park was moved they do get a bit hungry. No the city leaders were more afraid they would infiltrate our own government and society and we would be affected by the modernday lotus-eaters. That is why it is so important to keep your ID cards with you at all times, or you risk being summarily thrown out there.”

The whole tour group instinctively feel for the temporary ID passes that were hanging round their necks.

“Cannot something be done with the area?” asks another.

“To be honest it suits our rulers to leave it like that. It acts as a protective barrier to the east of our city and as a warning of what might happen if we do not keep expanding in the way our leaders wish. It is also a convenient place to send our malcontents – cheaper than prison and not so far as Australia .”

“If you take turns to look through the telescope and look about ten miles east, you can see a concrete building still standing by the river.

This is the old County Hall in the derelict town of Bedford . For some reason that is where the Cantdoos have set up home. It is not very comfortable and a few escaped crocs lurk in the nearby swamp, but they seem to have an affinity with the place.”

The party is told they must hurry to catch their flight. They take a last look at the wasteland as the wind crosses the brown land unheard.

 

Many a truth….!

 

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Robert