Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire are conducting a series of focus groups across Central Bedfordshire to better understand the qualities people look for in a residential or nursing care home and how they ensure those qualities are sustained once the choice is made.

Understanding the important decisions taken when choosing a care home and how people ensure quality is sustained will enable Central Bedfordshire Council to commission residential and nursing care homes for the future that are better suited to the needs of the local population.

Would you be interested in taking part in one of these focus groups?

If so, Healthcare Central Bedfordshire would like to hear from you. Please contact Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire on 0300 303 8554

Or email steve.nash@healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk

Visit our website www.healthwatch-centralbedfordshire.org.uk for further information.

The next meeting is at Toddington Village hall tomorrow at 5.45 and then at Stanbridge and Tilsworth village hall on June 9 at 10.15am.

Detectives investigating an attempted robbery in Leighton Buzzard are appealing for a girl to come forward who helped the victim.

The incident happened on Monday, June 30 at 9.20pm in an alley close to the Tesco

Express in Aries Court.

The 18 year old victim had been to the cashpoint and then in to the Tesco store before walking home.

As he left the shop he was followed in to an alley by a group of boys and girls.

One of the group demanded the victim hand over his mobile and when the victim refused he was punched in the face and kicked as he fell to the floor.

Detective Constable Gill Cowley, investigating, is keen to trace one of the girls in the group who stopped the assault.

DC Cowley said: “The victim has been left shocked and bruised by the experience but the offender did not get away with any property.

“I would urge the girl who helped the victim to come forward and help with this investigation.

“I am also keen to trace any other members of the public who witnessed this incident to also contact the police, in confidence.”

Anyone with information about this crime can contact DC Cowley, in confidence, at Luton Police Station, on 01582 394471, or Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively you can contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers,

anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Community Rehabilitation Company (BeNCH CRC) has appointed Neil Moloney (left) as its new Chief Executive.

Neil joins from West Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company, where he was Director of Operations, and takes over from Tessa Webb.

Originally from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, Neil studied Sociology at Birmingham University and worked as a residential officer in a voluntary Hostel.

After seven years at the Hostel, he returned to Birmingham University in 1993 to take up Probation studies.

On qualifying as a Probation Officer, he joined Warwickshire Probation Service in 1995 and then West Yorkshire Probation in 2001 where he held a number of senior posts including Assistant Chief Officer in Bradford and Head of Leeds Probation.

When West Yorkshire Probation Trust was dissolved on 31 May 2014, Neil became Director of Operations for West Yorkshire Community Rehabilitation Company.

As the new Chief Executive of newly formed BeNCH CRC, Neil is responsible for delivering services that reduce reoffending and protect the public across the four counties of Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

New rules will be introduced to stop landlords renting out unsuitable or unsafe properties.

Aylesbury Vale District Council has given the green light for an additional licencing scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) following consultation earlier this year with local residents, landlords and businesses.

The long-awaited expansion of Luton Airport will take flight after the council signed off final details on the plan.

The £100m development will take the airport’s annual passenger capacity from 12 million to 18 million by 2031 and is forecasted to create 5,000 jobs in and around the town.

Following a drawn out planning process the expansion was agreed this week, after affordable housing fees (section 106) were agreed.

The biggest change will be a vast expansion of the airport terminal, which will be remodelled and modernised.

Once complete it will be equipped with a new two storey pier, 15 immigration passenger screening lanes, up to eight international and one domestic passenger reclaim belts, increased retail, catering, circulation and seating areas and up to 20 security passenger screening lanes.

A number of changes will also be made around the terminal.

A new parallel taxiway will be built to increase the capacity of the existing runway for an additional six million passengers a year.

The road from the Holiday Inn Roundabout will be dueled and a newly configured road system will be put in place to the front of the terminal area.

A new multi-storey car park will also be built.

The project has commenced with the launch of a procurement process for contractors to deliver the substantial works involved.

Clive Condie, airport executive chairman, said: “This marks the start of an exciting new journey for London Luton, as we begin the process of transforming the Airport to deliver a great experience for our customers, Luton and the surrounding regions.

“Our vision is for a vastly improved Airport which plays a major role in providing more capacity in the London system.”

Sophie Dekkers, easyJet commercial director, added: “We welcome the news that final planning consent has been granted.

“Delivering these development plans will not only enable London Luton to meet its full potential, with easyJet offering an even greater range of business and leisure destinations, but also drive economic growth and provide more jobs for Luton and the surrounding region.”

I find holiday brochures fascinating in that they quickly persuade me that I am the bronzed Adonis in charge of everything he surveys within the confines of the four star hotel.

The glossy brochure, given to me on arrival, outlined the many benefits I would obtain from a poolside visit. This was for me I decided, as it is not often in good old UK that we are afforded the pleasure or weather to enjoy an outside pool. Thus I handed back my room key, attached as always to a two-pound metal weight, and headed out. Time to set in motion the first day of being Adonis!

Having arrived at the pool, complete with towel, sunglasses, book, iPad, watch, money, and baseball cap (cool or what?) I went into ‘Adonis’ mode. Being a true Brit I of course carried along spares ‘just in case’; wallet, passport, umbrella, suntan lotion, nail scissors, tissues and a mars bar. Stretching out on my lounger and ignoring the fresh breeze which kept the temperature at a steady fifty five degrees, I prepared to enjoy my benefits.

Enter the 20 stone Neanderthal up wind of my lounger, who decided to erect the sun parasol (hope springs eternal...) and proceeded to break two spokes of the shade in the process. He had obviously decided that the erection of a parasol would be best achieved by standing on the lounger, thus ensuring that his mass versus a twenty pound lounger was no contest. The crack of the lounger breaking was followed almost immediately by the metallic scream of the breaking parasol spokes. It was at this point that I decided my ‘ benefits’ may be a long time coming....

Our hero meanwhile, with a huge sigh of resignation and a face resembling that of Oliver Hardy, presumably calculated that after all the effort of ruining the poolside furniture he was due a reward. This comprised a huge cigar, produced as he now reclined on the broken lounger, and then lit, emitting volumes of bitter, acrid, blue smoke. As stated previously, he was up-wind of my beneficial position.......

Brace yourselves, there’s another blockbuster Transformers movie out next week.

But while we wait in trepidation for another dose of special effects stupidity, new releases are a little thin on the ground.

Pick of the crop is Tammy, another attempt to lift Bridesmaids scene-stealer Melissa McCarthy into bona-fide star status.

She’s a bit of a misfit who gets fired from her burger bar job – by real life hubby, co-writer and director Ben Falcone – heads home to find her hubby playing away with neighbour Toni Collette, and decides to escape by heading off with bonkers nan on a long-promised road trip to Niagara Falls.

Nan is a hard-drinking, foul-mouthed Susan Sarandon, and also cropping up are the likes of Allison Janney, Dan Aykroyd and Kathy Bates.

You could sum it up as a sort of Thelma & Louise on Sanatogen, and the quality cast make the most of the material. Can McCarthy carry a film on her own? Probably not, but she doesn’t have to, and there are laughs enough along the way.

Good luck booking tickets for The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window And Disappeared on an automated box office – based on the worldwide bestseller by Jonas Jonasson, it’s another tale of old folk behaving outside their Saga and slippers stereotype – in this case a dynamite expert escaping from the old folk’s home on his 100th birthday, having all sorts of adventures and looking back on his complicated life. Weird, but interesting.

Also released is low-budget sci-fi flick The Anomaly in which former soldier Noel Clarke – who also directs – is taken captive and has to try and work out why, even though he seems to be zoning in and out of his body. It’s ambitious, unsettling, and shows that you don’t need a fortune to make smart sci-fi.

A selection of gardens will be open around the Aspley Guise village on Sunday 13 July from 12.30pm-5.30pm, giving the chance to re-visit at a different time some that were open in May as well as other gardens now in full bloom for Summer.

Admission to all gardens is just £4.00 with children under 14 going free, if accompanied by an adult.

There is a concession rate of £3.50 for pensioners. Light lunches, teas and plants are for sale in the Village Hall from 12noon where there is also plenty of free parking. All proceeds in aid of the upkeep of the Village Hall.

Aspley Guise is very easy to reach from across the county as we are literally five minutes from J13 on the M1. For more details, call 01908 583307.

A consultation on children’s services in the area needs feedback on four possible options.

Since the last reorganisation of children’s centres in Central Beds in 2011, there has been an increased focus on early help and intervention, with services targeted at those families who need them the most.

These can include intensive parenting support, working with Job Centre Plus to provide training and employment opportunities to help parents into work, and other measures to better tackle child poverty and reduce health inequality.

The four options outline who will be able to access services and what sort of support will be provided.

All services will be delivered from the existing nine children’s centre hubs. They are:

• Option 1 – existing model offering universal services to children aged 0-5 and their families

• Option 2 – offering services to children aged 0-3 and their families within areas with the highest need

• Option 3 – offering services to children aged 0-5 and their families within areas with the highest need

• Option 4 – offering universal services to children aged 0-3 and their families

Universal services like weighing and baby clinics, breastfeeding support, two year-old checks, speech and language drop-ins and others will continue to be offeredat all hubs.

The consultation runs until August 14, you can have your say online at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations.

The feedback from the consultation will be considered by the council’s Executive at their meeting on 14 October where a final decision will be made.

School leavers wondering what their next move might be this summer have the chance to take the first steps on a successful career ladder with one of the UK’s leading estate agencies.

Connells Estate Agents is looking to take on 15 apprentices at its head office in Leighton Buzzard and hopes local youngsters in the Leighton Buzzard and Milton Keynes areas will see this as a great opportunity to develop their skills while earning a wage.

Through leading training and apprenticeship provider Positive Outcomes, Connells will be offering roles within a wide range of departments including quality assurance, insurance and cross sales, mortgage business, customer service advisor, recruitment administrator, negotiator, sales and administrator.

A recruitment event will be staged during the week commencing 14 July at the Vandyke Upper School in Leighton Buzzard and Connells wants people from the area to apply for a place to attend on the day.

Don’t miss out on your chance to have your say over plans for development across Central Bedfordshire.

Central Beds has produced a draft strategy that sets out a vision for the future of the area – including plans for new homes, jobs and infrastructure up to 2031.

The Pre-Submission Draft of the strategy was published on Monday, and is now available for comment for an eight week period.

The Development Strategy is a planning policy document that will play a huge part in shaping the future in Central Bedfordshire.

It plans for the delivery of 31,000 new homes and 27,000 new jobs over a 20 year period from 2011.

It provides a development map for Central Bedfordshire identifying key housing, employment and environmental sites as well as highlighting key infrastructure improvements, plans for settlements and areas of Green Belt.

The strategy also sets out the key policies that will help determine planning applications.

There is an opportunity for you to have your say on the document until Tuesday, August 26.

Background information on the strategy, a summary document and a questionnaire is available online at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/devstrat

Copies of the documents are also available to view at council customer service centres and libraries.

The council is looking for feedback on whether the Development Strategy is ‘sound’. Comments made will be summarised by council officers and then sent to the Secretary of State to be considered alongside the council’s plan and supporting documents, prior to the public examination next spring.

If the plan is considered ‘sound’, the council would be asked to adopt it in summer 2015.

Cllr Nigel Young, said: “This Development Strategy is pivotal to our ambitions to make Central Bedfordshire a great place to live and work.

“It’s about creating homes and jobs where they’re most needed and making sure that existing and future communities benefit from developers investing locally in roads and transport, schools, leisure and open spaces.”

Jason Longhurst, Director of Regeneration and Business Support said: “This final round of public scrutiny is really important before it goes to the Planning Inspector. We need to show that it will meet the test of time – presenting a sustainable development vision for our market towns, villages and communities.”

On Monday June 23 two Leighton Buzzard members of the Royal British Legion Riders Branch, along with other branches from the the area, attended Central Beds HQ for a flag raising ceremony to celebrate our Armed Forces.

Neil Cairns and Donny Macleod of the ‘RBLR Beds Clangers’ pose with their motorcycles with the County Sheriff and the Council Leader.

The RBLR branch set up in 2005 is the newest National Branch of the Legion and now has 6,000 members; by far the largest branch in the country (see more on www.rblr.co.uk ) On Sunday 29th June the RBLR led the Bedford Armed Forces Day Parade.”

Scarlett Johansson is truly mesmerising as an alien taking on the form of a dead womand seducing local men in Scotland in UNDER THE SKIN (15: Studio Canal).

The rouge-lipped siren roams the streets of Glasgow and lures her suitors to a nondescript van to meet an horrific fate worse than death.

She mysteriously consumes them, but as she observes the human race, her detachment begins to slip and she develops empathy with the people she encounters.

This is only the third feature film director Jonathan Glazer has made in 14 years (after heist thriller Sexy Beast and New York psycho-drama Birth) and is closer in abstract style to his surreal work in TV commercials.

It opens with a jaw-dropping cosmic sequence and sets an otherworldly tone sharply at odds with the footage of a grey, rainy city and its inhabitants.

I’m not a big fan of sci-fi, but Under The Skin delivers startlingly original imagery amid the Scottish landscapes and finds queasy horror everywhere. Like Johansson’s unearthly visitor, the film loses its way occasionally, but it’s an experience you’ll not forget in a hurry.

> An heroic alien space explorer travels to our planet in response to a distress call in lightweight animated tale ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH (U: Entertainment In Video).

The film introduces two blue-skinned brothers from the planet Baab. Scorch Supernova (voiced by Brendan Fraser) is a famous astronaut and both reckless and egotistical. By contrast, Gary Supernova is head of mission control and a nerdy and timid button- pusher.

When Scorch’s bravado leads to his capture by the military and imprisonment in the infamous Area 51, it falls to his brother to man up and save him.

The movie takes a while to get going, but eventually peps up, and although it doesn’t break new ground, youngsters will enjoy the colourful design. And parents might like some period sci-fi references and the vocal presence of William Shatner and Ricky Gervais (as a computer).

> It was only a matter of time before those endless football violence and Brit gangster movies were parodied.

They’re mercilessly sent up in THE HOOLIGAN FACTORY (15: Universal), a cartoonish and frequently funny comedy about the ugly side of ‘the beautiful game’.

Young Danny is taken under the wing of hardman Dex, recently released from prison and determined to re-establish his ‘firm’ as the top dogs of terrace thuggery.

The film’s affectionate spoofing takes pot-shots at the genre’s stereotypes and a succession of familiar-face cameos bolster the gags.

There are references to other films, like Goodfellas and The Shawshank Redemption, but the beating heart of the story is the ludicrous, larger-than-life Dex, who elevates the anti-hero to rarely seen levels of idiocy.

> Music documentary GIMME SHELTER (15: 20th Century Fox) looks at the Rolling Stones’ infamous 1969 US tour, during which the band gave a free concert in Altamount, northern California, in front of 300,000 fans.

It turned out to be one of the darkest days in rock history and the flip side of the decade of love and peace, with the murder of a black spectator by a Hell’s Angel bouncer during Under My Thumb and the violence that followed pervading the film.

The annual visit of Brooklands Middle School to France to experience French life and culture took place between June 24-27. This year’s destination was Paris.

There was an early start to catch the ferry from Dover to Calais with a stop en route to the hotel at the Vimy Ridge WW1 Memorial and trenches. We then stopped at a restaurant for tea where there was a culture shock for some because there were no baked beans!! However the students agreed the frites were every bit as good as English chips.

The next day we boarded the coach in lovely sunshine to head to the Eiffel Tower passing the iconic Paris St Germain stadium. We went down the Champs Elysse and around the Arc de Triomphe, which proved to be the busiest and most dangerous roundabout in Europe before arriving at the Eiffel Tower. Some brave souls led by Mrs Hodgson and Miss Law chose to climb the stairs to the second floor. Laziness or was it fear of the open staircases meant that Mr Harrington-Williams and Mr Morgan went by lift.

However a few cowardly custards, including Mrs Harper, remained below eating ice creams. Afterwards we embarked on an hour’s cruise on the River Seine taking in the sights of the Louvre and the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.

After lunch in the Tuillere Gardens we made our way to Montmartre and the Sacre Coeur where students went gift shopping and enjoyed the views across the city.

After dinner and with full stomachs we all climbed the 286 stairs to the top of the famous Arc de Triomphe and enjoyed fantastic views of the city, this was followed of a quick tour of the city before heading back to the hotel for a good night’s rest.

The sun shone again the next day for our trip to Parc Asterix, where we were all excited about getting a soaking on the rides.

On the last day we visited a chocolate factory and enjoyed free samples before heading back to Calais for the ferry home. Had the students enjoyed it? They certainly did as did the parents who enjoyed the peace and quiet.

There is an increased likelihood of raves this weekend. according to Beds police.

The police are reminding all owners of land and rural businesses to check their property and ensure that all buildings and gates are locked over the weekend period. If it is not possible to secure land with a gate, it is suggested that entrances are blocked temporarily to prevent unwanted vehicle access.

Should you find any signs of suspicious activity or see vehicles arriving, please contact the Police by dialling 101.

Your support and involvement is vital in preventing instances of public nuisance from occurring.

Take time to be sure before you open the door.

That’s the advice from the water watchdog the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) which has published its top tips to help households outsmart distraction burglars.

About nine bogus caller crimes are reported every day in England and Wales with thieves posing as water or other utility company officials to trick their way into people’s homes before stealing money or other valuables.

But that only tells part of the story with an estimated 90 per cent of distraction burglaries going unreported because many vulnerable victims – particularly the elderly - feel too embarrassed or scared to report the crime.

Almost a fifth of the 3,177 incidents reported in 2013-14 involved people posing as staff from a water company or ‘water boards’, which no longer exist.

These callers may appear to be wearing something resembling a water or energy company uniform so, before unlocking the door, CCWater advises people to ask to see their identification and then call their water company - but not using any number provided by the doorstep caller.

For added protection anyone can register a password beforehand with their water or energy company. They can then request the caller quotes this as proof they are from that utility company.

Dame Yve Buckland, chair of the Consumer Council for Water, said: “If you have an elderly family member, friend or neighbour who is particularly vulnerable we’d urge you to share our simple advice with them to help protect them and give you and them peace of mind.”

“This type of crime is very distressing for victims, as bogus callers exploit people’s vulnerability.”

The Consumer Council for Water’s Top Tips to protect against bogus callers:

Keep your doors locked and your windows secure at all times. Only put the door chain on to answer the door.

Ask to see the caller’s identification. He or she should show it to you through the crack in the door, or the letter box. You are entirely within your rights to close the door and have the person wait outside while you phone the organisation the caller says they are from to check their validity. Always keep this telephone number close to your phone.

Check the person is genuine by calling the organisation, but make sure you get the phone number from a separate source, such as the print out from our website (why not do this now and keep it by the phone), the phone book or a previous bill. We recommend that you check their identification even if they appear to be in a company’s uniform.

It’s OK to refuse entry or ask the person to leave at any time if you’re not completely satisfied that the caller is genuine. If the visit is legitimate, they can ring ahead or reschedule.

If the visitor insists they need access immediately or before you carry out the necessary checks immediately call 999.

Consumers can find the contact details for their water company and a list of our top tips to print off at www.ccwater.org.uk

Kriss Akabusi has announced that BBC3 Counties Radio drive-time presenter Roberto Perrone will be the official host at this year’s motivational business seminar ‘In The Arena’

Roberto said: “I am absolutely delighted to be involved in this project with Kriss and his amazing team. The power to change starts with great leadership and this event will make you see your working world in a different light”.

The day-long event will be taking place at Putteridge Bury, Luton on October 1 and is set to be filled with inspiring speeches from top sporting and business professionals, along with one-on-one workshops.

In The Arena is a 100% charitable event in association with The Akabusi Charitable Trust and the i-TANG charity (In The Arena, Next Generation). i-TANG supports young NEET’s from Bedfordshire and the community at large on making their transition into the workplace.

>For tickets visit http://www.akabusi.com/eShop.aspx or tel: 01525 840183

South West Beds MP Andrew Selous has welcomed £592,075 of new funding in Central Bedfordshire to tackle potholes.

In total an extra £1,059,789 for Central Beds has been allocated for this year on top of the annual roads maintenance budget.

More than three million potholes will be filled in across England with funding from the £168 million Pothole Fund, announced in the 2014 Budget.

This is part of more than £24billion which will be spent on England’s roads between 2010 and 2021 – the biggest investment in our roads since the 1970s.

Mr Selous said: “This is great news for everybody who uses the roads in South West Bedfordshire.

“£592,075 of new funding will go a long way to dealing with the menace of potholes and ridding them from our roads.

“Investing in Britain’s roads and infrastructure is a key part of the Conservatives’ long-term economic plan to secure a better future for Britain – and this is just one part of that.

“By fixing Britain’s roads the Conservatives are supporting local businesses and making life that bit easier for the hardworking people in South West Bedfordshire who rely on them to get around.”

Leighton Buzzard resident William Vaughan will be turning 100 this July.

Members of William’s family from as far afield as the USA are travelling to be with him for the milestone on Friday July 18, and the day itself on Saturday July 19. William requested a party, and the festivities will be taking place at the Royal British Legion on West Road in Leighton Buzzard. A former lorry driver, William has lived in the town his entire life, and his granddaughter Amanda Wagner is expecting a turnout of around 70 people to celebrate with him.

She said: “He’s quite remarkable, still very fit and healthy. I see him once a week to cook his dinner”. William likes to keep active, often tending to and mowing his garden, or hopping on the bus to meet friends at the Litten Tree pub.

Transformers: Age of Extinction is an adventure 65 million years in the making – and one that feels almost that long to watch.

I’m sure that the shady aliens referred to only as the ‘Creators’ had little idea just what they were unleashing when they used special ‘Seeds’ to alter Earth with their transformable metal.

The epic Battle of Chicago (detailed in Transformers: Dark of the Moon) saw the heroic Autobots led by Optimus Prme fighting to save us from the evil Decepticons.

Now the transformers of all shapes and sizes are in hiding – being hunted by the government having been deemed a threat to the planet. One day plucky inventor Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) obtains an old truck to strip it for parts, but it’s not just any old truck. It’s actually Optimus Prime!

Cade repairs the boss Autobot but unwittingly ends up becoming a target for a shady government kill team backed up by a terminator-like Transformer bounty hunter called Lockdown. The few remaining Autobots, namely Bumblebee, Hound, Drift, and Crosshairs, band together to try and thwart Lockdown and fight the renewed threat of man-made transformers led by Galvatron – who is harbouring the personality of Megatron.

The plot always takes a back seat to the action in Transformers films, but Age of Extinction is the weakest and most laborious yet.

Alas the action is pretty lacklustre too for the most part, only really redeemed (for Transformers fans at least) by the climax that sees Dinobots thrown into the chaotic mix. It’s hard not to be impressed by the sight of Optimus riding in to battle on the back of metallic fire-breathing dragon – gigantic sword in hand.

Director Michael Bay though seems to have lost some of the love he has previously shown for his spectacular robotic heroes. Sure they still look superb and occasionally even draw gasps as the special effects kick in with things we’ve never seen on screen before.

The Transformers franchise shows no sign of slowing down, and Age of Extinction delivers some heavy metal action thrills, but let’s hope that Part 5 makes amends for the overblown familiarity on screen here.