News in brief

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The Christmas season is already well under way in the shops, but the national record may be ascribed to Leitgton Buzzard, who had its Christmas lights installed by 28th September! This rather cynical exploitation was bizarre enough to reach the national newspapers.

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The water feature in Pigeon Square is now up and running, and has provided a lot of fun to youngsters (and a few older people!) as they race through, trying not to get wet! To be honest, it is not the kind of water feature that I had envisaged, having seen much more elaborate ones, but on the other hand it is safe and, one might imagine, vandal proof, and can revert to being an ordinary walk-through area when the water is switched off. I sat down and watched a number of peoples' reactions to the feature, and barring one or two who, one suspects, would complain over anything, the response was favourable.

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A long time has elapsed since I worked at Polhill, then home of the Bedford College of Higher Education, a brave attempt to unify all three colleges but one that failed miserably. At that time several possibilities were being considered. An approach by the University of Leicester was, so the rumour goes, scuppered by the then Principal of the College. Then the Local Authority tried to amalgamate us with the University of Luton, but that was seen off. Then de Montfort University merged with Bedford College, the Mander (Further Education) site was hived off again. Then, very suddenly, de Montfort, probably having expanded far in excess of its resources, sold off the two Bedford sites and Luton and Bedford combined to make a new University of Bedfordshire, which had been mooted nearly twenty years before!

It is clear that the new University is going places, and is rapidly gaining esteem, and is venturing into several innovative areas. It has also embarked upon an ambitious building programme at the Polhill site, having now abandoned Lansdowne Road. Remarkable for a brand new University, it made it to the shortlist of "University of the Year" (see here) - an outstanding achievement.

One innovation is the management of a major reform of education services for doctors and healthcare professionals. A few weeks ago we learned that the University of Bedfordshire has been selected to manage the restructuring of postgraduate medical education in the East of England.

It will now design and deliver training courses under the NHS Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) initiative.
The aim is to help practising doctors and healthcare professionals to improve their assessment, leadership and communication skills. Clare Morris, associate dean, said:

"Doctors are aware that being a medical professional in today's NHS is very different to 30 years ago.
"There's so much more to learn in terms of working with other colleagues, training junior members of staff and ensuring that best practice is implemented.
"Educational leadership and direction are very important skills to have in today's hospitals in order to provide qualified staff who are able to meet the needs of patients."

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In addition, there is to be a tie-up with universities in the east. Chinese students will soon be able to read for a business and media studies degree with two years tuition in Beijing and two in Bedfordshire.
Professor Les Ebdon from the University of Bedfordshire recently visited China and South Korea to build links.
The new partnership with Beijing Normal University Zhuhai brings degree studies to the two sites in China and Bedford.
Courses are under way at Beijing University for Bedfordshire degrees in media, marketing and communications. Professor Ebdon said:

"This was a very important trip to seal our developing partnerships with China and Korea and to raise the profile of the university.
"As well as securing the agreement with the Beijing Normal University Zhuhai, we extended contracts with the China Agricultural University in Beijing and advanced discussions with Liaocheng University in Shandong and the University of Suwon in Seoul, South Korea.
"This successful visit will result in the transfer of more international students in the coming years.
"In addition, we look forward to celebrating the tenth anniversary of our successful partnership with the China Agricultural University next year."

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Travel by airship? A futuristic passenger airship could provide commuters with a new link between two historic cities. The Skycat helium balloon would float passengers from Cambridge to Oxford in an hour.
The project is being developed at the Cardington sheds in Bedfordshire, the home of the UK's airship industry.

But Advanced Technologies Group must find funding and get permission to use the airspace before the 21st Century airship gets off the ground. A Cambridge to Oxford aeroplane service has already failed because of a lack of commuters but the company believes there is a market for Skycat.

Gordon Taylor of Advanced Technologies Group said:

"Our teams have been working for over 35 years flying traditional airships and nobody even sprained an ankle."
"Its a very safe form of transportation."

Corrine Garbett of Huntingdonshire District Council said:

"In Huntingdonshire we have a number of employment sites including some redundant airbases which would lend themselves perfectly to the manufacturing of component parts for the aviation industry.
"It would also provide high value jobs for our local people."

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NIRAH given the green light - at last!

There is approval for a £375m giant aquarium complex with a water park and hotel in Bedfordshire.
Planners approved the scheme by the National Institute for Research into Aquatic Habitats (Nirah) for the site at Stewartby.
Deputy leader of Bedfordshire County Council Richard Stay said it was a fantastic day for Bedfordshire. He said:

"The word 'iconic' is much abused in the English language but this will put Bedfordshire on the map."
"It will make Bedfordshire a destination, not somewhere you travel through.
"Bedfordshire is starting to become a real destination and Nirah will sit in the centre of that."

There had earlier been controversy over the funding of the development and animal activists had voiced concern over animal welfare. Chairman elect of Nirah, Keith Edelman, said:

"When the opportunities come and when people see what we've produced in Bedfordshire they will see a county that is put on the map, they will see a world-class facility which everyone can be proud of."

Now we can look forward as exciting projects are green for go.

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At one point a year or so ago, just about every plan for innovation in the Bedford area seemed doomed from the start. The consultations for the development of Bedford had been extensive. But there were always obstacles that must have greatly tested the resilience of the hard-pressed staff at County Hall.

Steve Lowe, of Bedfordshire on Sunday, writes:

The application for a Center Parcs near Ridgmont was turned down, the county council went all coy over Nirah, the Bedford bypass hit snags and councillors looked unfavourably on plans for new developments on Bedford's riverside and the old bus station site.

Now it looks as though Bedford and the county are genuinely on the move.

There are still detractors and protesters for these developments but they have all been given the planning green light in the last few weeks.

• The first sods were dug for the bypass this week, which for those suffering the present traffic problems in Bedford and Kempston, cannot come a minute too soon.

Despite stiff opposition, both the bus station development and Riverside Square have received planning consent.

There is still opposition, not entirely without merit, but for too long Bedford has been ruled by a 'can't do' philosophy and that had to change if the town was not going to slip into genteel decay.

• Center Parcs has been given the go-ahead by the Government.

Again there is still vociferous local opposition but it is hard to see the leisure centre damaging the environment and it is bound to be good for the economy.

• Nirah received the go-ahead after a troubled history. Again it still has its detractors. Animal rights activists oppose it, although their argument is weakened by the support of eminent environmentalists such as Eward O Wilson and Julian Pettifer.

Some politicians still question whether the sums will add up. The appointment of Keith Edelman, who has a track record of bringing in large-scale projects on time and in budget, as chairman should calm those fears.

If it comes to fruition, transforming a disused clay pit into an Eden-style freshwater research and leisure centre is likely to be the county's most iconic site.

Other projects, such as the new town of Wixams and the Forest of Marston Vale, are moving forward more smoothly.

• Even, whisper it quietly around rail enthusiasts, the Willington lake and country park is progressing and will happen, though maybe too late for the 2012 London Olympics.

Frank Branston, Mayor of Bedford, said:

"Two of our schemes are now seeing work start on the ground, and in Castle Lane's case, moving ahead pretty quickly.

"All of them were conceived in my first year of office (2002/3). It is a lesson in how long it takes to overcome the inertia endemic in all big developments.

"To get as far as we have in five years is - believe it or not - pretty good going. An architect told me that from first lines on paper to handover of the project takes an average of 13 years.

"The reward is that Bedford, so long a borough where apathy reigned supreme, is buzzing.

Bedford's Riverside development"We cannot stop now. Lots has to be done to make up for the inertia of the last 40 years. And while unitary status will help enormously it also places a heavy workload on myself and colleagues to put in place the momentous changes involved while continuing to move the regeneration programme forward.

"Fortunately we have one of the best teams of officers in local government. Most could move to higher paid jobs in the private sector but stay in Bedford because they see it is an exciting place to work."

All we need now is for the Heritage bunch to cough up some cash for the MK-Bedford canal and the town's museum and we could be living somewhere that has a future as well as a past.

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How is this for madness?

Firefighters have been banned from using their ladders to take down festive bunting because it is deemed a health and safety risk.
In previous years, firefighters have helped remove decorations in the centre of Ampthill, Bedfordshire, after the town's Gala Day in July.
Three months on, the green and white bunting is still there.
The festival committee is now trying to find another way of removing the bunting before the winter.

Bedfordshire deputy chief fire officer Graeme Smith said:

"It sounds like the world has gone mad. Firefighters will climb ladders to rescue people from burning buildings but not to remove bunting after a festival.

"One is a 999 job where in order to save lives we will take calculated risks.
"The other is a property maintenance job which is covered by standard health and safety rules which we would have to abide by.
"That could mean closing the road and using a platform to reach the bunting.
"Unfortunately if we went down that route people might ask why we are paying firefighters to use our top level rescue equipment to remove a few flags, when a local contractor could do the job just as well."

Councillor Mark Smith said:

"The festival committee has always appreciated fire crews' assistance in the past and is working towards getting it down another way."

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Work is due to begin on the long-delayed £5.5bn modernisation of the Thameslink rail project for London.
Luton Airport Parkway is the first of 23 stations scheduled to have their platforms lengthened by 2011.
Peak-time trains will increase from eight an hour to as many as 24, using 12-carriage services instead of eight.
Services on the busy north-south line through central London will continue to run during the work, expected to be completed by 2015.
Andrew Mitchell, of Network Rail, said the project would deliver significant improvements to the service. He said:

"Today is the start of a long-sought after scheme which will deliver what passengers need; more seats, less crowding, more direct services and better connections in London."

There will be major improvements to London Bridge, Farringdon and Blackfriars stations, which will become the first station to span the Thames. The £5.5bn project includes £3.5bn worth of infrastructure work. The rest of the funds will cover expenses such as new rolling stock.

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Well, you can't expect that there are not frustrating issues as well, can you?!

Last newsletter I reported on the Unitary Status being planned for Bedford, which would mean that Bedfordshire County Council would cease to exist.

It was going to be either Bedfordshire or Bedford. Though both promised full cooperation with each other once the decision was made, the moment Bedfordshire realized that theirs was not the preferred option, it went back on this. Despite the fact that I had received in writing assurances of this cooperation, it is clear that the County Council is dragging its feet, and providing every obstacle possible.

In its latest report, (see here) the claim is made that plans for a new unitary authority for Bedford could lead to service cuts to meet a predicted £8.1m deficit in the first year.
Bedfordshire County Council, which opposes plans for a new authority to take its powers in the Bedford area, has produced a review of the plans. It says proposed savings from unitary status are "unachievable".

But Bedford Borough Council attacked the review, claiming it amounted to "petulant outpourings".
The review states that a unitary council for the Bedford Borough area, which would take education and social service powers from the county, will not save money and will take over six years to pay for.
The review has gone to the Government's Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) for consideration before a final decision is made. Leader of Bedfordshire County Council, Madeline Russell, said:

"We've taken a good look at Bedford Borough's proposals and, frankly, they just don't add up.

"Our analysis shows that there are significant risks to their proposals, and they cannot be mitigated because they will not have the cash available to do so."

Bedford mayor, Frank Branston, said:

"These petulant outpourings from the county council shows its lack of understanding of local government finance. It lacks substance and demonstrates its desperation to remain in existence regardless of the cost to local tax payers."

And who is paying dear for this campaign? The rate-payers of course! This impasse has even prompted a Conservative county councillor to call on County Hall bosses to stick their hands in their own pockets to cover the court case over the unitary decision.

And both South and Mid Beds district councils have condemned the county council's 'increasingly desperate' attempts to undermine the work necessary to achieve unitary status.

Bedford Borough Council has also responded robustly to attacks on its financial plan by the county council.

An increasingly beleaguered county council seems to be trying everything it can to belittle its neighbours and justify the spending of up to £500,000 of taxpayers' money on challenging the Government's unitary decision.

This would abolish the county council and hand over its powers to two unitary authorities: Bedford borough and a joint new unitary of South and Mid Beds district councils.

Peter Hand, Conservative county councillor for Brickhill has written to his leader Madeline Russell and chief executive Andrea Hill. Cllr Hand said:

"In light of the confidence you have all shown in the above judicial review being successful from the county council's point of view, will you be prepared to consider personally underwriting with your own money any costs that may be incurred with this case?

"If you are prepared to personally consider underwriting these costs, I would be prepared to believe that the case put forward in the judicial review has a genuine chance of success.

"As you may be aware, it has been brought to my attention by concerned local residents in the Brickhill Division, who have speculated to me that the current judicial review may be regarded as a desperate attempt to hang on to power, using other peoples - i.e. taxpayers in Bedfordshire - money.

"If you are prepared to consider personally underwriting with your own money any costs that may be incurred with this case, I am prepared to stand full square behind the county council's case in the judicial review."

In a joint statement issued today the leaders of South and Mid Beds District Councils condemn the latest county council attempt to undermine the joint work that is necessary to achieve successful change in Bedfordshire. Councillor Tricia Turner and Councillor Norman Costin said:

"We all know that the county council did not like the decision made by the Secretary of State in July. Unfortunately their attempts to reverse that are becoming increasingly desperate and are just the sort of actions that bring local government into disrepute.

"It was only a matter of a few days ago that some of the most senior members and officers of the county council met jointly with us and gave categorical assurance that they believed the two proposed new Unitaries in Bedfordshire are both viable and workable. We now see that within days that position has changed to one where they see only one option, and of course that is the county council's own lost cause.

"We are afraid that their so-called review has manufactured a new blizzard of numbers to try to justify their increasingly untenable position.

"It is particularly disturbing to us that the county council's increasing desperation has now turned to making wild and unsubstantiated statements about future services in Bedfordshire. We know that the area is fortunate to have many top quality professionals living and working in Bedfordshire who would wish to continue to do that, along with many others that we are sure we will attract if we can get past the county council's scaremongering."

Cllr Russell said:

"As Councillor Hand knows, our legal case is strong and compelling - and the costs associated with it are far, far less to the taxpayer than a Bedford Borough Unitary Council would be. The county council's unitary bid is financially sound and will produce the savings it promises. Well worth fighting for."

May I draw the attention of readers to Frank Branston's blog, where he is understandably expressing his frustration over the delay and obfuscations of the County Council. To read it, click here. Readers are invited to make their comments, and mine, together with his reply, is reprinted below:

• I can’t help but feel that the County’s pronouncements are desperate comments being made by an organization that either knows that the game is up, or is still in a state of denial.

  I’m hoping that despite these statements from the County, it is nevertheless carrying out its promise to cooperate with the Borough in ensuring a smooth transition. I fervently hope that I am wrong, but I’m not gaining the impression that this cooperation is actually taking place.

• mayor Says:
  

  I’m afraid you are absolutely right, the county council protests that it is co-operating while doing everything in its power to obstruct.

  Recently there was a meeting with a senior county council official at which the borough wanted to discuss the vital issue of ‘disaggregating’ the service for which the county official was responsible. ‘Disaggregating’ - or assessing assets and liabilities - is at the heart of the change to unitary. The officer refused to discuss them saying it was the county’s view that the government would in the end have to make it the unitary authority.

  Ostriches come to mind.

  This is just one of many similar incidents."

In response to my letter to the chairman of the County Council, the leader, Cllr Madeline Russell replied:

The County Council has spent approximately £250,000 on putting together the submissions for its single county unitary proposal. If the judicial review passes through all the possible legal stages, we expect there to be an additional cost of about £75,000. (See here).

As regular readers know I'm no party political man - in fact, I believe that party politics at local level is the one thing that arrests development. But as one who has a strong affection for Bedford and wants it to become far more a place to go to rather than a pure stopping-off point, I am angry over the bickering and stalling by a County Council which, it seems to be, is in its death throes.

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And finally on more pleasing matters: Rare 18th Century landscaped gardens in Bedfordshire are being restored under preservation plans by English Heritage.

Work has begun at the gardens at Wrest Park, near Bedford, with £400,000 allocated to return the gardens to their original state.

Conservation work, which started last month, has unveiled original cobblestones outside the mansion house.

An English Heritage spokeswoman said the work, was "breathing new life into the house and gardens".
English Heritage said the 939 acre gardens, dating back to 1710, are a rare example of combining formal garden features with informal lakes.

The first phase of the project aims to reinstate the original paint on metal work, lower the height of the drive to its original level and cut back shrubbery to allow visitors to experience the garden as it was originally intended.