Hello from Bedford!

Occasional newsletter - mainly for expats

After wasting nearly three quarters of a million pounds of rate-payers' money, countless hours of time better spent on the best interests of the people of Bedfordshire, and setting back plans for the future, the County Council has finally thrown in the towel.

The council's Judicial Review, which was heard in February, challenged the Government on the main ground that its original decision for the county to have two unitary authorities, formed by Bedford Borough Council and an amalgamation of Mid and South Beds, was unlawful as it ignored its own rules.

Do we hear profuse apologies for squandering public money and putting everything on hold for six months? Not a bit of it. The statement by the County Council reads:

"We are disappointed with the judge's ruling, but it is important that we put that behind us and focus on the job of continuing to deliver services to the people of Bedfordshire whilst supporting the creation of two new unitary authorities by the Government's deadline of April 2009.

"We will work with the Borough and District Councils to help manage the transition to the two new unitary authorities and it is our strong wish to hand over services that are in the best possible shape. We have set up a Transition Board of senior members and officers to manage the capacity of the County Council in its final year to ensure that we achieve both these aims as effectively as possible."

Mayor of Bedford Frank Branston said:

"When the minister announced that we would be the unitary council Madeline Russell said 'the minister may have decided but the courts haven't'.

"Well they have now.

"In my view, after wasting more than three quarters of a million pounds on this Madeline should step down and let someone take over who is prepared to work together towards the transition."

I don't envy Frank Branston, our Mayor, and the Borough Council, as negotiations take place. Can you see someone who, having promised to cooperate with other partners, come win or lose, and who then went back on this, not in effect trying to take over? It is only a few weeks (see here) that senior officers were being gagged from cooperating.

Councillor Russell really should consider her position.

Eco-Towns - Bedfordshire on the short list

A government shortlist of 15 proposed eco-towns features four which would be built in the East of England.

Sites in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Essex have been earmarked for environmentally-friendly towns.

The government's shortlist is to be reduced to a final 10 settlements over the next six months.

The eco-towns will have between 5,000 and 20,000 homes - all built to zero-carbon standards.

A series of sites, including former industrial sites, along the east-west rail line to Stewartby and Millbrook, will be on the cards. The scheme could include 2,000 affordable homes in an area of high affordability pressure.

There's a video clip here.

Another country park? Those tired of the Embankment (sad people!) or the delightful park at Odell may in time have a further one to visit. Details are published in Bedfordshire on Sunday. See also www.marstonvale.org/brvp/ where the scheme is described in detail.

Among the fifty best places to live is Bedfordshire

For expats: thinking of coming back?

A survey conducted by the Halifax puts Bedfordshire amongst the top best places to live.

However, Bedfordshire has been outshone by two of its neighbours, coming in 27th place.

The Halifax's Quality of Life survey rated counties on employment, earnings, housing quality, weather, carbon emissions, crime, education and health.

Out of Bedfordshire's neighbouring counties, Buckinghamshire came in first place, and Hertfordshire came in fourth, but Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire failed to make the table at all.

The survey also listed the average house prices in the counties. In December 2007 a home in Bedfordshire cost an average of £223,353, up 12.4 per cent on the previous year. In Buckinghamshire the average was £313,644, up by 15.1 per cent, and in Hertfordshire it was £319,091, up 12.5 per cent.

Cup of tea...

The traditional British past-time of afternoon tea is reported to have been invented in Bedfordshire by Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. Well, so it says on Bedfordshire on Sunday. I'd like to believe it is true!

Tastes of Bedfordshire is encouraging residents to follow in the local tradition and have afternoon tea in one of the many lovely tea rooms throughout the county, especially ones that bear the Bedfordshire Food Mark.

Caron Kendall, Project Co-ordinator for Tastes of Bedfordshire, said: "It is fascinating to hear afternoon tea, something that goes on up and down the country, hails from Bedfordshire. But it is also not that difficult to believe as we have so many fantastic tea rooms for people to visit in the county.

"If local residents visit a tea room that carries the Bedfordshire Food Mark, such as at Moggerhanger Park, Gunns or Wild Britain, they can also be sure that many items on the menu are locally produced just like the occasion itself."

It is said that the 7th Duchess of Bedford invented afternoon tea in the 1840s and that her simple pot of tea and light snack were a way of curbing her hunger pangs. However it soon developed into a popular social occasion that has carried on to this day.

For a free listing of the Tastes of Bedfordshire Food Directory which includes cafes, tearooms and restaurants where that produces and sells local food, visit www.tastesofbedfordshire.co.uk

Finally...

Neither of these relate to Bedfordshire, but they are worth viewing:

The first comes from the BBC, released on 1st April.

And this one (turn up the volume!) will cheer up any viewer! Charming and irresistable!

Have a good week-end!

Robert