News in brief

The Pro-Nirah lobby gathers momentum

Those readers who have followed the news items written in the past nine years will know that party politics is not my scene! However, as recent articles show, I feel passionate about the Nirah project because of the beneficial effect it will have - if only the authorities awakened to this. It is already well known that Liverpool is straining to adopt the scheme should Bedfordshire miss out on this. To fail to support this would be a disaster for this county.

Now, more heavyweights are joining the bandwagon, with some of the biggest businesses in Bedfordshire backing Nirah.

From Geoff Irvine, who allowed Nirah supporters to collect petition signatures at the Bedford Rugby Club on Saturday Sept 30th to David Howell Chairman Bedford Town FC who invited volunteers along yesterday - businesses are speaking up for Nirah.

Well known businessman and founder of the SDC Construction Group Dave Ledsom has backed Nirah and Chairman of SDC Brian Fox has pledged to support the project by “buying bricks” through the Founder Members scheme.

Local businessman David Donnelly, Joint Managing Director of Compass Estate Agency Group said: “We cannot lose this opportunity for the town and county - it will put Bedfordshire on the map and boost the economy. We will all benefit through jobs and economic regeneration.”

Stewartby once made Bedfordshire world famous with the brickworks and it was because of them that so many Italians came to the county. Now their sons, daughters and grandchildren who run businesses in Bedford are wanting to see Stewartby again make Bedfordshire great.

Guy Moliterno of Mayfair Financial Services is a member of the newly formed Bedford Italian Business Association. He said: “Bedfordshire needs Nirah to put it back on the European and World map.”

It was entrepreneur and newspaper proprietor turned Mayor Frank Branston who first saw the fantastic opportunities offered by Nirah, brought the directors to Bedford and borrowing a friend's helicopter, pointed out the claypits which would make an ideal site - emulating the Eden Project in Cornwall.  Frank has put his money where his mouth is by making a substantial donation to keep Nirah in the county.

“Nirah is a huge project which for the sake of a £4 Million LOAN will bring a £375 Million centre to Bedfordshire - anyone who is in business will recognise this is the chance of a lifetime for the county.

“There are no certainties in life or business but if we don't take this chance Liverpool will and Bedfordshire will have lost out again.”

Jacquie Manners, who recently celebrated 21 years in public relations in Bedford and is part of the Nirah team which carried out the public consultation in villages around Mid Bedfordshire: “I have never seen such public support for a planning project - of the 1,000 who came through the doors 95% were completely in favour - particularly young people who would like to work at such a fantastic place.

“Since we started the petition in support of Nirah in mid July nearly 10,000 people have signed up - they are very concerned that this project should not be lost.”

Another local businesswoman Jan Steel has been talking to businesses around Bedford on behalf of Nirah. She said: “Entrepreneurial people see straight away how this scheme will help the community and their own businesses - they want the county council to make it happen.”

BedfordBID which represents 800 businesses in the town has added its voice to the chorus of: “We want Nirah in Bedfordshire”