News in brief
Occasional newsletter - mainly for expats
30 May 2007
Nirah's impact on the county
The Nirah project aims to transform the Quest claypit into a £400 million attraction, including the world's largest freshwater aquarium stocked with fish, reptiles and amphibians.
At a meeting in Bedford on Tuesday morning, a man described as the scheme's "chief scientist" said it would "turn around" the economy of the town and the wider region.
Prof Chris Shaw of Queen's University, Belfast, said: "It will really, I believe, fundamentally turn around the economy of Bedford and will create so many opportunities for the local economy that ten years from now, when we will perhaps reconvene this meeting, we will see that the effect on this region has been nothing short of astronomical."
He added: "I think that the Nirah project is extremely timely and, in their support, the people of Bedford have demonstrated that they are responding appropriately to change in a way that will secure success for the future for everyone in this region."
Nirah aims to combine a visitor attraction with a world-leading research base, focused on finding medical value in the venoms and secretions of the animals it will house.
The gigantic scheme proposes an 86-metre high dome covering 15,000 square metres, containing an artificial tropical environment.
Besides this centrepiece, three hotels, shops, conference facilities and a water adventure park are also intended.
Education: Top Marks for Goldington Middle School
From the occasional emails I receive it is clear that expats like to learn about their former schools, etc. And if any were at Goldington Middle school, they will want to join in the seldom-awarded accolade of "outstanding" by Her Majety's Inspectors, (OFSTED).Goldington Middle School Ofsted inspectors rated the school as Grade One, which means it is officially described as 'outstanding.'
The school is officially outstanding in its overall effectiveness, the personal development and well-being of its pupils, the quality of its teaching, its curriculum, its care and support and its leadership and management.
The school's only weak spot was in the 'achievement and standards' category, and even there it was still rated 'good.'
Key observations included:
- Relationships between staff and pupils are excellent, resulting in a relaxed, positive learning environment
- An extensive, rich programme of extra-curricular activities is organised
- Leadership and management are outstanding, with purposeful and effective leadership evident at all levels
Pupils came in for special praise, with inspectors writing that the pupils 'blossom' and 'display confidence and increasing maturity due to the many imaginative opportunities that the school creates.'
Education: Further and Higher Education form a partnership.
Bosses at Bedford College and the University of Bedfordshire have renewed their partnership to improve higher education.
Under the deal, Bedford College will continue to deliver Foundation Degrees and Higher National Diplomas in subjects including business, media, sports science and performing arts, as well as considering other new courses.
And the university will work on course development "to ensure vocational progression is enhanced to its full potential," said dean of partnerships David Barrett.
Last week students at Bedford tackled the dilemmas faced by uniformed and emergency services when they took part in a special Skills Challenge
.
For the second year running Bedford College hosted the regional event as its riverside campus gives access to water events as well as those organised by local police, paramedics and firefighters.
The winners were Exeter College but Bedford were the runners-up.
Angus Murr, Public Services Course Manager at Bedford College, who organised the activity said: "This is a great event because it really tests students on how to work as a team, deal with difficult situations and use their initiative - just as those in the emergency and armed services have to do as part of their work."
The Community Safety Department of Bedfordshire Police set up a scenario with an officer posing as a suspected burglar in a stolen vehicle. Teams had to interview the suspect and uncover evidence, which included a gun, illegal drugs and stolen property.
Students on the Public Services Course hope eventually to get jobs in the uniformed, armed or service sector.
The University's Lansdowne site closes.
The new facilities there include two fully-equipped gymnasiums, an en suite halls of residence block for more than 500 students, and a campus centre housing a 280-seat theatre, plus a studio performance space and catering facilities.
The Lansdowne Campus began life on a much smaller scale in 1903 under Principal Margaret Stansfeld at 37 Lansdowne Road, with the goal of training female PE teachers.
It quickly expanded and earned a reputation for producing international sportswomen in hockey, lacrosse, netball and cricket, becoming the Bedford College of Physical Education after a takeover by the county council in 1952.
More change came in 1976 when it merged with Bedford Training College in Polhill Avenue and Mander College of Further Education in Cauldwell Street to form Bedford College of Higher Education.
In 1994 the college left local authority control and became part of De Montfort University (DMU).
Last August DMU - which has its main base in Leicester - merged its Bedford presence with the University of Luton to form the University of Bedfordshire.
However, DMU continues to own the Lansdowne Campus, which it is reported to be selling.
Better Bedford Party
Though Frank Branston won a second term as Mayor by a mile, his Better Bedford Party did not seem to fare so well, and now Frank has wound up his Better Bedford party as a fighting force, two weeks after his re-election.
The Mayor announced on Wednesday that the group would not put any more candidates forward for election, following its failure to gain any more seats on Bedford Borough Council earlier this month.
From now on the Mayor will be labelled an independent, and fellow Better Bedford members Coun Margaret Davey and Coun Peter Chiswell have both joined the Independents group at the Town Hall.
Mayor Branston summed up the situation with: "We wanted to break the mould, but we haven't."
"We have to face facts. Except in Castle ward and in Sharnbrook in 2003, we have failed to make the breakthrough we had been looking for.
"Despite the fact that many people have said they do not approve of national party politics in local government, we have been unable to persuade them to support us in sufficient numbers."
Better Bedford was formed in 2002 for the first mayoral election, and consisted of the Mayor and four councillors who crossed the floor from other parties.
But two of those have since lost their seats while Coun Doug McMurdo was voted out in this month's election.
The group also failed to gain seats on Bedfordshire County Council, despite putting up seven candidates in 2005.
The Mayor added: "We had hoped that a successful mayoral campaign this year would give us the extra bounce to get more seats but it didn't happen despite tremendous efforts from a record number of Better Bedford candidates.
"Margaret Davey had a stunning success in Castle ward, increasing her majority, but Doug McMurdo losing his seat in Sharnbrook, albeit to an unprecedented campaign of vilification, settled the issue.
"While we will not put up more Better Bedford independent candidates, Better Bedford will remain in being as a pressure group and to support other independent candidates."
The Riverside project falters, but is not yet written off
The decision to reject a £20million riverside development has been greeted with joy and disgust.
Members of Bedford Borough Council's planning committee rejected the application for Riverside Square in Bedford on the grounds that the development did not fit in with the surrounding environment and did not provide sufficient social housing.
Officers at the council had earmarked the application for approval and if it had have been granted then work would have been due for completion in 2009.
During the meeting councillors heard from the borough's development partner MCD (Bedford) and had the opportunity to ask questions about the scheme. They also heard from architect Anthony McKay, who had openly criticised the plans due to its size.
After hearing the arguments for and against the development councillors voted in favour of rejecting the proposal.
Lib Dem leader Cllr Michael Headley said: "There is no question that Riverside Square is a prime site for a high quality, signature development, but the proposal put forward just isn't it.
"Both the style and size of the building would have overwhelmed, rather than enhanced, the existing character of Bedford Town centre.
"Fortunately, the council has avoided a situation where in future residents and visitors would have looked at this oversized, unsustainable monstrosity and asked 'who on earth allowed that to be built?'"
Mayor Frank Branston, who had backed the plans, said: "If any Bedford building since the war had risen even to the level of mediocre I might have had some respect for this alliance of architects.
Other than maybe Duck Mill Lane and the almshouses on the opposite bank - and they have more in common with the Riverside Square proposal than anything else - they have been poor when they have not been disastrous.
"Many of the ordinary people of Bedford have admired the design of Riverside Square and I hope for two things: one is that they will make their voices heard; the other is that the developers will appeal."
Cllr Ian Clifton said: "This refusal by the planning committee is disgraceful. Eighty per cent of the public supported it. It went through full council. It is a slap in the face to the public that wanted it. We have had 40 years of stagnation and if some get their way we will have another 40 years."
(This plan had been put forward following ample consultation, and deserves to go ahead, albeit with one or two changes. One cannot help but feel that the decision-makers on this occasion have been behaving like the "It was all right in my childhood" brigade. It was, I felt, an ambitious project. I am sure we have not heard the last of this).
Bedford Hospital triumphs again
The rating was bestowed by an independent benchmarking company which assessed 20 different indicators at hospitals across the country, ranging from mortality and MRSA rates, to cancelled procedures and complications.
After what must easily have been the hottest April in living memory, this week (Bank Holiday and half term) have seen almost endless rain. So heavy was it that the river in Luton overflowed and caused the famous Luton Carnival to be cancelled. This annual event is the biggest of its kind, and hundreds of hours had been spent preparing for this. It is hoped that it may be rescheduled, but no decision has been taken yet.
See here for pictures of last year's carnival, which attracted a hundred thousand visitors.
Finally, and nothing to do with Bedford, those with a sense of humour may enjoy calling on a site which pokes fun at news items. It is called "News biscuit." Those who have access to BBC 24 hours news may smile at this item!
Have a good week. More soon!
Robert