Quantcast
Channel: Leighton Buzzard Observer MPLO.syndication.feed
Viewing all 14937 articles
Browse latest View live

One in 10 parents spend £25 on end-of-term gifts for teachers

$
0
0

With summer holidays upon us and children bidding farewell to their teachers, a survey has suggested that many parents give expensive gifts as a thank-you to school staff.

A poll by Mumsnet showed that the vast majority of parents buy a present - more than half (57 per cent) saying they buy a gift for their child’s teacher, while a further 26 per cent opting to contribute to a class collection.

The most common spend on an end-of-term token of appreciation was up to £10, chosen by 23 per cent of parents. 11 per cent spent up to £15, 15 per cent splashed out up to £20, with a further four per cent going up to £25. But one in 10 confessed to forking out £25 or more.

Chocolates were most the popular offering for hard-working school staff, with voucher and alcohol also much-appreciated choices. Gifts actually made by a child such as a class calendar were the option selected by 13 per cent of the 1,006 Mumsnet users.

The vast majority - almost four in five - said their child enjoys giving a present to their teacher, although 45 per cent of parents agreed that some parents enjoyed the “one-upmanship” of picking the best present. And just under half of parents said they felt pressurised into giving a gift.

Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts said “Most parents are really grateful for teachers’ efforts and like to show their appreciation at the end of the school year. The main worry is how to avoid gifting the same teacher multiple boxes of Roses and bottles of cheap plonk.”

Top 10 suggested teacher gift

1. Flowers

2. Potted plants

3. Wine

4. Chocolates

5. Nice coffee

6. Vouchers - great when clubbing together

7. Biscuits, cakes and other baked goods

8. Handmade gifts - ie class calendar

9. Personalised mug

10. Smellies


Sainsbury’s due to open in September

$
0
0

A Sainsbury’s Local store will create around 20 new jobs for the town when it opens in September.

The new 4,000sq ft site will be situated at the junction of Theedway and Billington Road.

The convenience store will serve residents of the estates built at Sandhills.

A spokesman for Sainsbury’s said: “The Sainsbury’s Local store is due to open at the beginning of September, and will create around 20 jobs which will predominantly go to local people.

“The store will also choose a local charity which they will support.”

Leighton Buzzard Carnival guaranteed to be a colourful day out!

$
0
0

It’s set to be one of most colourful parties that Leighton Buzzard has ever seen as the countdown continues to the town’s carnival this Saturday.

With a theme of Colours of the Rainbow, organisers of the July 8 event are expecting to see an event more vibrant and brightly coloured procession this year.

The procession leaves Mentmore Road at12noon and wends its way through the town, arriving at Parsons Close at about 1.45pm.

Carnival spokesman Mark Freeman said: “There are more entries in the procession this year than we had last year, although it would be good to see more floats in the Open section.

“The judges for the procession entries this year are the Town Mayor, Cllr Rahman, 2017 Town Burgesses David Edwards and Malcolm Cheney and also South Beds Friends of the Earth Co-ordinator Victoria Harvey.

“The stars of the procession will be our Senior Princess Chloe Myford with her attendants Princesses Summer Parsons and Lillie Drake.

“This year there are two new procession trophies – the Doreen Rolls Memorial Shield for the entry showing the most enthusiasm and the Peter Lymbery Memorial Shield for the best entry in the procession.

“These are to remember two stalwarts of carnival who we have lost in the past year.

Mr Freeman added: “There is a full arena programme featuring a number of local groups who have the opportunity to showcase their work to the people of the town.

“We also feature The Shires Royal British Legion Youth Band again. They will lead the procession and then perform in the arena, and are sponsored for the day by the Leighton-Linslade Arts Forum. The Leighton-Linslade Music Centre will again be holding their summer concert in the bandstand.

“There are fairground rides, charity and commercial stalls, ice cream, selection foods including a hog-roast, a tea tent run by Heath & Reach Scouts and a licenced bar.

“To make the day a real success we need sunshine and lots of people.”

> Main arena programme:

11am to 4pm: Luton&Dunstable Hospital Radio host the arena.

12.20pm to 12.40pm: Tenacity.

12.45pm to 1.05pm: Scoil Rince Realta (Irish Dancing).

1.10pm to 1.30pm: Jazzercise.

1.45pm to 2pm: Procession arrival.

2.05pm to 2.25pm: Harlequins.

2.30pm to 2.50pm: Zumba Kids.

2.55pm to 3.15pm Shooting Stars.

3.20pm to 3.40pm: The Shires RBL Youth Band.

3.45pm to 4pm: Presentations.

> Bandstand:

12noon to 2.30pm: Leighton-Linslade Music Centre summer concert.

> Grove Road entrance

1.45pm: Arrival of procession led by The Shires RBL Youth Band.

4pm: Departure of procession.

> Lower Field

Carnival funfair

> Near Bandstand

11am to 4pm refreshment tent run by Heath and Reach Scouts, licensed bar run by 1 Stop Marquees, food stands.

Dedicated Dave is rewarded for his tremendous contribution to Leighton-Linslade May Fayre

$
0
0

A hardworking Billington resident who has been a driving force behind Leighton-Linslade’s beloved May Fayre has seen his efforts rewarded.

Dave Edwards, 74, was honoured to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at Central Bedfordshire Council’s Cheering Volunteering Awards held on June 6 at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable.

Dave, who has been chairman of the May Day Fayre Committee for 26 years, has helped organise the event ever since it began nearly 30 years ago, as well as helping with the Santa float and the celebrations for the 90th birthday of The Queen.

Dave, who is humble about his grand honour, said: “It is nice to have it, although I sort of wonder why I get these things!

“The evening was very nice; it was well orchestrated and there was even a Tom Jones impersonator!

“But most importantly, I would like to thank the community for supporting the May Fayre, to the Leighton-Linslade Rotary Club for all the help that they willingly give me, as well as to the small businesses of the town for their interest and financial contribution.”

Dave, a member of the Leighton-Linslade Rotary Club, has previously been recognised for his hard work when he was made Honorary Burgess of Leighton-Linslade in 2017 along with local conservationist Malcolm Chaney, and Dave fondly remembers his years supporting the May Fayre.

Dave said: “The idea to have the May Fayre came about because we wanted to celebrate All Saints Church being reconsecrated after it suffered a fire. Then the Fayre just grew and grew!

“It was run by the All Saints May Day Fayre Committee and John Bolt for two years, before the Rotary Club adopted it.”

Dave grew up in London, before moving to Cheddington and later Billington.

House building will trigger new relief road for Leighton - but when?

$
0
0

A blueprint for growth in Central Bedfordshire over the next 20 years includes Leighton Buzzard’s Eastern Relief Road but gives no further clues on when it might finally be constructed.

The road, promised as part of the housing development to the east of Leighton Buzzard, would join Heath Road with Stanbridge Road, and is included in Central Beds Council’s Draft Local Plan which has just been put out to public consultation.

Back in 2011, Leighton-Linslade Town Council went on record to say it was furious that the route had been changed and now stopped short of joining with the A505 Leighton Bypass. A project to improve congestion by building a park and ride facility was also scrapped.

Then town clerk Pat Kingsnorth said at the time: “The town council is insistent that the eastern relief road goes to the bypass and not finish at Stanbridge Road. All that extra traffic coming down Stanbridge Road is going to cause terrible gridlock to the town centre.”

This week a Central Beds Council spokesman said: “The Eastern Relief Road for Leighton Buzzard is a development-led scheme and so the timeline for delivery is determined by a section 106 agreement.

“The housing build numbers will be the trigger that determines when and what lengths of relief road will be delivered.”

The Draft Local Plan also sets out the options for growth in the area over the next 20 years, such as the number of homes and jobs that the council proposes to deliver.

Leighton Buzzard, which has seen its fair share of housing in recent times, has not been earmarked for major new home building.

The council is planning for a range of between 20,000-30,000 new homes, with options including creating new villages near Aspley Guise, Marston Vale and east of Biggleswade; a new market town near Tempsford; expanding north and west of Luton, and east of Arlesey; as well as some small growth in existing villages.

To create the Draft Local Plan, the council pulled together 15 new technical studies to guide their overall strategy for growth. This included the Call for Sites exercise last year. This was an opportunity for agents, landowners and developers to submit land that they believed could be used to meet future demand for homes and jobs.

As a result, 851 sites (including 46 employment ones) were submitted. These sites were whittled down by the council to around 150 after assessment. Draft site allocations won’t be publicly consulted on until next spring though – at this stage the council is consulting on the broader growth location options.

The Draft Local Plan also anticipates 24-30,000 new jobs coming to the area, through both existing and new strategic employment sites. It also includes proposals to increase public access to the countryside by creating more country parks, as well as play parks and open spaces within the proposed developments.

Speaking about the Draft Local Plan, Cllr Nigel Young, Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “Central Bedfordshire’s location and excellent connectivity means that we have high growth pressures, and this is the reason we need to plan for growth. We are asking for the public’s views on how we deliver that.

“We’ve already undertaken lots of public engagement through consultations and 15 drop-in Community Planning events that we held across the area. This prior community engagement wasn’t statutory, but we wanted to go above and beyond in order to get the plan right. As part of this latest stage of formal consultation on the Draft Local Plan document, we will also be holding five more public drop-in sessions across the area, as well as an event where we will speak to Town and Parish Councils.

“Producing a Local Plan is a priority for the council, otherwise we are at risk of government intervention and a resulting loss of control of the process.

“We need to retain control over where development should be located, rather than it being delivered in an ad hoc way as a result of speculative development, sometimes without sufficient benefit to our local communities. Crucially, a plan also allows us to influence government to secure investment in the local infrastructure that we need.”

The public consultation runs from July 4 to August 29. The public can read the full plan, watch the video, and submit feedback at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/localplan. Copies of the document are available to view at local libraries or the council offices (Chicksands and Dunstable).

During the consultation, the council will hold a number of public drop-in-sessions for any questions. These will be held from 2pm – 8pm on:

11 July, Marston Sports Pavilion

20 July, Biggleswade Town Council Office

26 July, Arlesey Village Hall

7 August, Sandy Village Hall

9 August, Caddington Sports and Social Club.

The council will consider all of the comments received and publish the next version of the Local Plan for comment in spring 2018.

UPDATE: It’s a hole lot of trouble from Leighton’s burst main

$
0
0

A burst water main in Leighton Buzzard led to anger as two “dangerous” holes were left uncovered and the road had to close.

A water main that burst in South Street on Wednesday, June 28, caused the road to close until Friday evening, but a worried resident was upset as Anglian Water treated him “poorly” and left two “uncovered, 6ft deep holes”.

Alfred Parker, 77, of Hockliffe Road, claimed: “My house only had small drips on Wednesday and I called Anglian Water at 9am that day to try and find out when the water would be back. A lady told me it would take six hours but it took far longer!

“I was also told that her manager would call me back but they didn’t and I was given another faulty number.

“On Thursday there were two holes in the ground at the top of South Street; I’m angry because this is dangerous - children could get past the cones and barriers!”

An Anglian Water spokeswoman said: “The team made the repair to the main on Wednesday night, completed at 9pm. 120 customers were affected.

“Despite the burst pipe, most customers still had some water coming through their taps, albeit with low pressure.

“We’re sorry that Mr Parker hasn’t received a call back from one of our managers. This isn’t in line with our usual high standards and we will arrange this as soon as possible.

“The road was resurfaced and reopened on Friday evening.

“Pipes can burst for a number of reasons such as ground movement, or temperature changes. There was no specific reason for this burst and no third party damage.

“We take health and safety extremely seriously. The barriers are weighted and linked together to secure the area and keep people away. The purple barriers clearly mark an active working area, which could contain deep holes or heavy machinery.”

Central Beds Council told the LBO it believed the holes were filled in on Saturday.

Erica’s big chop for The Little Princess Trust!

$
0
0

A kind Cottesloe School pupil has had ten inches of her hair cut off so it can be used to make wigs for children going through cancer treatment.

Erica Meadows, 13, spent months growing her hair in order to donate her long locks to The Little Princess Trust, a UK charity based in Hereford.

The selfless Wing schoolgirl also raised £355 and her godmother, Michele, who gave Erica the chop, would not accept any payment for the haircut.

Erica said: “We were talking about recycling in a school science lesson, and someone mentioned that hair can be donated. A friend then told me about the Little Princess Trust and I thought it would be a really nice idea.”

Erica would like to thank her generous friends and family for donating to her Just Giving page called ‘Erica’s Big Chop’, and her mum, dad and sister are very proud!

Visit the site: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/MichelleandErica

Approval for a new sports hall in Leighton Buzzard

$
0
0

A Leighton Buzzard school for children with special needs has gained planning permission to construct a multi-use sports hall.

Oak Bank School, which first opened back in 1976, has seen previous planning applications to erect such a building approved by Central Beds Council, but the projects have ultimately failed due to a lack of finance.

But now the school, which is presently expanding with the construction of four new classrooms, says it has the budget to build on its tennis courts area and saw its new application approved by councillors.

Members of the development management committee voted 12-0 (1 abstention) in favour of the scheme, although there were reservations expressed that the community wouldn’t be permitted to use the new facilities.

Cllr Tom Nicols said: “In Leighton Buzzard, we (the Rotary Club) are trying to get a disabled facility to going and this is the sort of facility that would be helpful. Now we cannot use this facility for any other than the school’s use.”

He said traffic concerns outside the school had been caused by CBC’s policy of using chartered taxis to get pupils to school, when the Oak Bank didn’t object to the use of public transport.

“A by-product of this is the school can’t be used by the public, which is really disappointing,” added Cllr Nicols.

“I am aware that other schools would give anything to have the funding that this school is fortunate enough to have, but they certainly wouldn’t want to take on the challenges that this school has – and it does have enormous challenges. It fulfills an incredibly important role.”

The new 373sq metre facility would have with space for two badminton courts, a gym and changing facilities.

The structure would have the potential to provide additional 150sq metres floorspace at a mezzanine level for an additional activity room, storage and a viewing gallery.


Leighton Buzzard ranks above Luton, Dunstable and Hemel in UK retail health report

$
0
0

Leighton Buzzard has been placed ahead of neighbouring Luton, Dunstable and Hemel Hempstead in a report of the health of retail centres across the UK.

A total of 1,000 locations were ranked by Harper Dennis Hobbs (HDH) for its 2017 Vitality Index, with Leighton ranked as 201st, Luton 337th, Hemel 391st, and Dunstable in 635 place. Up the A5, Milton Keynes came in at 68th, while Cambridge came top, and bottom of the pile was Newcastle upon Tyne (Byker Shields).

The Vitality Index aims to quantify the ‘retail health’ of each centre and HDH says the criteria allows smaller centres to be compared with the big name destinations. This year’s Index was been expanded to 1,000 from 500 centres and considered a combination of the proportion of up-market shops; the proportion of value-led shops; the vacancy rate, and the proportion of ‘undesirable’ shops – such as pawnbrokers, money lenders, and bookmakers.

In addition, these variables are also compared to the demographic composition of the centre’s catchment area and a greater score is given to areas whose retail mix is optimally adapted to the local community.

Jonathan De Mello, HDH’s head of retail consultancy, said: “This iteration builds considerably on our inaugural Vitality Index, released in 2014, which was the first retail ranking in Great Britain to emphasise the quality of retail in a centre, in addition to its size.

“In this release, by popular demand from both retailers and investors, HDH have incorporated additional small towns and high streets, which gives a greater range to the ranking, and allows for comparison of local high streets with major retail destinations. We’ve also included a number of temporal variables – tracking the change in retail mix of a centre over the past 5 years, to credit those that have improved, and penalise those that have deteriorated.”

“This ranking highlights the ‘healthiest’ retail centres in Britain, which successful brands should target when considering network expansion. Smaller centres are of increasing interest to retailers, given rents are often highest in the largest centres. So a small centre with a high vitality score – and the right shopper profile – could potentially yield strong profits.”

James Ebel, HDH’s executive director in retail agency division, added: “With an increase in online retailing, many of our clients, especially those from North America, now want to consider why they should enter a market rather than how many stores they should have.

“For this purpose, it’s important to know not only who trades in a retail centre, but how many are vacant and whether the market captures their customer profile. Each retailer has different requirements in terms of what makes an ideal location to trade in.

“This ranking, with some bespoke criteria included, can be an important tool for retailers looking to expand their store portfolio. The Vitality Index highlights some of the highest quality retail centres in Britain, demonstrating the fact that market size isn’t the only predictor for commercial success.”

The index includes British centres with greater than 40 multiples, ranging from local high streets to regional shopping malls and major city centres. However, HDH say retail parks and outlet centres have been excluded, as their remote locations mean they are not intrinsically linked to the local area, and so their health does not impact the community in the same way.

The Vitality Index has also highlighted the overall increase in the presence of downmarket stores on Britain’s high streets. In the past five years there has been a 2.7% increase in the proportion of value stores in centres, in addition to a 1.6% increase in the proportion of ‘undesirable’ shops.

What do you think of Leighton Buzzard’s retail offer? Does it deserve to be in 201st place? Email news@lbobserver.co.uk

Wartime spirit ringing out for Slapton’s church bells!

$
0
0

Slapton villagers are determined to get their church bells ringing to honour our Great War heroes next November.

Their ambitious charity team, The Spirit of Slapton, has been busy organising a series of events in a bid to raise £80,000 for repair work, so their Holy Cross Church can join in the November 2018 national bell ringing commemoration to mark 100 years since the end of World War One.

The villagers are hoping to buy a new ‘bell two’, and fund support work inside the tower, including a new steel frame and a ring beam. Fundraising has proven successful, with their most recent event, World War Two ‘Cockney Night’, held at New Bury Farm.

Jayne Tardieu, of The Spirit of Slapton, said: “We decorated the room with flags, had pies from London and a London Underground archway.

“Everybody enjoyed dressing up and some of residents who lived through the war brought their own items, including some silk Christian Dior stockings, a corset, and one granddad’s wartime flag!

“The village wants to get our bells ringing as the Great War affected so many families in our country. We want our bells to ring as they did 100 years ago.”

The organisation’s latest fundraiser is a quiz night on Friday, July 7, at 7.30pm in Slapton Village Hall.

David Wright, 78, of The Spirit of Slapton, said: “ The old ‘bell two’ dates from 1641, so it will be preserved in the church, while the Keltec Trust has also donated a new ‘bell six’ to Holy Cross to attract more bell ringers.”

The village is also holding a summer fete on August 26 and 27 held in an equestrian field on New Bury Farm, Mill Road.

http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/8he-spirit-wf-slapton-257400

Leighton’s Labour candidate Daniel Scott triumphs at Iron Man triathlon!

$
0
0

Labour’s determined candidate who stood at the June 8 General Election has completed a tough triathlon to push his personal fitness.

Daniel Scott, 41, who was running to win the South West Bedfordshire seat, managed to balance his political campaigning with training for his Half Iron Man challenge.

On June 25, Daniel headed down to Marlow for a 7am start, pushing himself through a 1.9km swim, an 86km cycle and a 20km run.

He said: “I had plans for the Half Iron Man and then the election came along! I stood two years ago and I was asked whether I wanted to stand again.

“I’d already spent most of the autumn, winter and spring building myself up for the triathlon.

“On the morning of Iron Man, I got up at 4.15am feeling nervous and then had to fill my stomach with heavy carbs!

“I found that the swim and cycle went OK, however the second half of the run was painful as one of my feet went numb! I had to stop for a moment and take my shoe off.

“Luckily, the run took you through a nice park by the Thames and everyone cheers you on!”

Daniel completed the course in six-and-a-half hours and his family met him at the finish line. He said: “A couple of years ago I joined the Leighton Buzzard Triathlon Club and met people there who had taken on the challenge of the Full Iron Man - a 3.8km swim, 112 mile cycle and full marathon - that’s for super athletes!

“Last year my friend Andrew Keen completed a Full one in Austria, losing lots of weight; it was very inspiring.”

Daniel now hopes to challenge himself to another Half Iron Man and get his time down to six hours.

He runs a business called Mail Boxes Etc., Milton Keynes, and lives on Drakes Avenue, near Heath Road, Leighton, with his wife, Jindra, 42, daughter, Lucy, 13, and son, Jacob, five.

On June 8, Daniel received 18,793 votes for Labour.

£150k appeal looks to make Leighton Buzzard Railway’s track extension dream a reality

$
0
0

Leighton Buzzard Railway is steaming ahead with plans to make its dream of extending services towards Double Arches Quarry a reality.

Currently the narrow gauge line runs for around three miles between Page’s Park and Stonehenge Works.

Beyond here, the line continued to Double Arches, where the sand processing plant is still fed by nearby quarries, but all transport is now by road.

Some of the rail track still remains, and is used as storage sidings. Restoration of the remainder, and the extension of passenger services to Double Arches, is the subject of a £150,000 appeal, launched today.

Media Officer Steve Doughty said: “Like many narrow gauge railways, the Leighton Buzzard Railway served a number of quarries along its route.

“While as an industrial line there was never a station to define the terminus, the end of the main running line has nevertheless always been recognised as being at the point where the line crossed Eastern Way and entered the main quarry, itself at a location known locally as Double Arches.

“Continuing sand extraction at the quarries there means that Double Arches is not yet accessible, but the opportunity now exists to extend the line beyond Stonehenge by nearly three-quarters of a mile, past Mundays Hill, within striking distance of thateventual goal.”

Steve added: “We are therefore pleased to announce the launching of an appeal for £150,000 to meet the projected costs of this extension and associated works at Stonehenge.

“As part of this project, work is well advanced to secure an element of grant support, but as success cannot be guaranteed and in any event will require an element of matched funding from our own resources, we need to start raising money now.

“As well as driving the railway back towards its original ‘terminus’, this extension in open countryside will offset the effect of the new housing developments proposed elsewhere along the line.

“The new line will also feature a section of line with a gradient of 1:27 providing new opportunities to enjoy the sight and sound of locomotives working hard, and also a section of unique British narrow gauge double track.”

The railway says track components have been sourced and need to be secured by October this year at the latest. It is aiming to hit its first target of £40,000 by the end of September to enable this and preparatory works to start.

Steve added: “The Leighton Buzzard Railway is driving forward into its second half-century with new energy against a background of growing passenger numbers and interest in the line.

“A return to Double Arches has been long dreamed of by many members and this new project will take the railway most of the way there, ready for the day when that final step will be possible.”

Donations can be made on line at www.buzzrail.co.uk or by cheque payable to the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge Railway Society to Pages Park Station, Billington Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 4TN.

Now that’s a fishy tail!

$
0
0

An RSPCA officer dealt with fishy incident - after Bedfordshire Police called in the charity’s expertise for help with a rather unusual rescue…

Inspector Lauren Bailey was called to a vehicle recovery firm in Bridle Way, Toddington, by police officers who weren’t quite sure what to do with some unexpected passengers inside a car at the site - 20 goldfish and four angelfish!

“The live fish were found by officers inspecting the car which had been recovered from the scene of an accident the night before,” Inspector Bailey said.

“There were around 20 goldfish in one plastic bag and four angelfish (like the one pictured) in another, alongside a fish tank and other aquatic equipment.

“It was clear that whoever had been driving the vehicle had just been to the shop to buy the fish and the equipment and was preparing to set up their own aquarium at home.”

Inspector Bailey rushed to the scene, on 24 June, to collect the fish, who had been found inside the car 12 hours before and were kept in an on-site office overnight.

“When I arrived I realised that the bags were leaking so it was a real race against time to get the fish to a nearby aquatics specialist who could put them in proper tanks and give them the care they needed,” Lauren explained.

“Unfortunately, two of the goldfish had already perished - possibly due to a lack of oxygen in the bag - but thankfully I was able to get the rest of the fish to the aquatics specialist in time.”

The owner of the fish was never traced so the fish were rehomed by a member of staff at the aquatics shop who took them in.

“I’ve been told that the fish are now all doing well and are enjoying their surroundings in a proper aquarium, with lots of space to swim and explore,” Lauren said.

“I’m so pleased that this had a happy ending as it could have easily been a tragic outcome for all of these fish.”

Anyone who would like extra information on how to care for a pet fish should visit www.rspca.org.uk/fish.

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit: www.rspca.org.uk/give or text LOVE to 87023 to give £3 (Text costs £3 + one standard network rate message).

Warning over Grenfell Tower scam

$
0
0

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team is warning residents to be vigilant following a report that a cold caller has been using the Grenfell Tower tragedy to frighten people into having their loft insulation replaced.

The cold caller implied he was from the council when he showed his ‘identification’.

The man questioned the resident about their insulation and then explained that it was combustible and needed to be replaced. He said that if they did not get it replaced they could be charged with corporate manslaughter in the event of a fire.

Councillor Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services, said: “This appears to be a particularly callous attempt to scare residents into getting unnecessary work done.

“Our advice is always to be wary of anyone unexpectedly calling at your door and offering to do work. If you do want any work doing, get quotes from at least three reliable tradesmen and take your time to choose.

“Please remember do not let any unexpected callers into your home and look out for your elderly or vulnerable neighbours.”

If you or someone you know is being targeted like this, report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0345 4040506.

‘Check your Sat Navs!’ advises Stewkley mum after splash park confusion

$
0
0

When the sun’s out two things are guaranteed in LBO land...

1) Families will flock to Leighton’s splash park.

2) Parsons Close, Stewkley, will receive an influx of frustrated families.

A helpful mum-of-two wants to remind parents to check their Sat Navs before heading to Leighton’s splash park, as “hot and bothered” families have accidentally been driving to Parsons Close, Stewkley instead.

Kate Towse, 40, has been pointing mums and dads in the right direction, as on hot days cars arrive in her Stewkley street expecting to find the water park, its actual location being Parsons Close, Leighton Buzzard.

Kate said: “It happened in 2016, too, and last summer we saw up to 12 cars arrive in one day!

“There may have been more, though, as we’re not in all the time.

“My daughter, Constance, six, has been finding it funny, and keeps saying ‘look here’s another one, here’s another one!’

“We’re usually in the garden and can help point people in the right direction.

“I don’t know whether it’s happening because in Stewkley we have a Leighton Buzzard postcode, but I just want to let people know so they double check their Sat Navs.

“It doesn’t cause me any bother - I just feel a bit sorry for the families! I’ve seen three today, and they all looked a bit bewildered.”

The LBO agreed that if cars keep coming down, Kate may have to fill up the family paddling pool, bring out the ice-creams and start charging!

Kate lives with her husband, Alex, 36, daughter Constance, six, and son, Edward, three. They hope to visit the Leighton Buzzard splash park soon and enjoyed playing there last year.


Guard of honour for former Beds Chief Insp Alf Hitchcock

$
0
0

A guard of honour and a salute by chief officers were just two gestures carried out to mark the funeral of former Bedfordshire Chief Constable Alf Hitchcock.

Hundreds of people turned out to pay their respects to the 58-year-old who died following a short illness on 16 June.

Alf was Bedfordshire Chief Constable between 2011 and 2013 and was serving as Chief Constable of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) when he died. He was also made a CBE for his services to policing.

The funeral cortege was given a police motorcycle escort made up of officers from the four forces he served - Bedfordshire, the Met, Lancashire and MDP. A guard of honour was formed outside St Paul’s Church in Bedford while current Bedfordshire Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and MDP Deputy Chief Constable Andy Adams took a salute.

Following the service, which was attended by around 300 mourners and also streamed live to the nearby Harpur Suite, the funeral cortege made its way to Bedfordshire Police HQ, in Kempston, where officers and staff paid tribute to their former chief constable.

Woburn Road was temporarily closed while a short reading was given to mark Alf’s sad passing with Deputy Chief Constable Mike Colbourne taking a further salute.

DCC Colbourne said: “The sheer number of people who turned out for today’s events, and the flow of tributes which have been paid since his untimely death, is testament to how highly regarded Alf was by the policing family and indeed the wider communities he served.

“He built tremendously strong relationships when he was with Bedfordshire and will always hold a special place in our hearts. We are proud to have called him our chief constable and I cannot speak highly enough of him as a man; it is incredibly heart-breaking to lose him at such a young age but his legacy will live on with the force. While nothing can stop the sadness we all feel at this time, I hope the show of respect and affection we have seen today will be of some comfort to his family and friends.”

MDP DCC Andy Adams added: “Alf Hitchcock was appointed as Chief Constable of the MDP four years ago. He quickly established himself as a highly committed leader of our organisation and was very well respected for his dedication to the force and the wider MoD.

“His career in policing spanned five decades, joining Lancashire Police in 1977. He served with dedication and professionalism in the Metropolitan Police, the National Policing Improvement Agency and Bedfordshire Police until joining the MDP in 2013.

“His contribution to public service and policing in the UK are both many and diverse. His vision and preferred inclusive police style will be carried forward for many years to come.

“We at the MoD Police feel a great sadness at his untimely loss as a greatly respected leader, policeman and friend.”

Mr Hitchcock began his policing career with Lancashire Constabulary in 1977. He later joined the Metropolitan Police Service where he served as commander for specialist operations, progressing to deputy assistant commissioner and acting assistant commissioner.

He left the force in 2009 to become deputy chief constable at the National College of Police Leadership, before joining Bedfordshire Police as chief constable in 2011.

REVIEW: A very welcome homecoming for Spider-Man

$
0
0

Matt Adcock reviews Spider-Man: Homecoming (12A), starring Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr

Spider sense tingling...here it is then – Spider-Man is back (for the third incarnation in just over 15 years) and this time Spidey follows up his scene-stealing antics in Captain America: Civil War by cementing his place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and getting to play again with the Avengers.

Everything about Spider-Man: Homecoming feels ‘right’. Tom Holland brings real heart to the role of Peter Parker. He’s young, fun and gutsy, channelling the eagerness to impress his new super pals, especially his mentor, Iron Man himself (Robert Downey Jr).

Being a teenage super hero isn’t easy though as we’ve learned from films such as Kick Ass, and trying to find love can make things even more complicated – so when his fellow quiz team member Liz (Laura Harrier) catches his heart it’s like watching a super powered John Hughes film.

Director Jon ‘Cop Car’ Watts does a great job of mixing plenty of exciting action with the romance and coming-of-age teenage angst backdrop. Adding Tony Stark to the mix ups the ante as the new Spider Suit comes packing A.I. and all sorts of tech enhancements.

Baddie of the piece this time is the Vulture (Michael Keaton), a man who feels deeply wronged by Stark Industries and who creates high powered weapons plus his winged mech suit from alien tech left over from the battle the Avengers had with Chitauri. Keaton is excellent and makes what could have been a laughable supervillain into a fleshed-out menace who is a believable threat.

It’s a joy to watch this new wall-crawler learning to use his suit and powers, egged on by his nerdy pal Ned (a winning supporting role from Jacob Batalon). There are some jaw dropping scenes and some excellent Easter eggs for comic book fans to pick up – which will please long term fans and shows the writers respect their fan base.

The mentor / mentee relationship between Iron Man and Spider-Man will also resonate with anyone who ever had someone look out for them, provide some wisdom and support. It gives the film an emotional core and bridges Spidey’s transition into becoming an Avenger in one fell swoop.

This is a Homecoming that everyone should witness. It looks great in IMAX and even the 3D adds effectively to the super spectacle. It’s good to have Spider-Man home in the Marvel universe.

Supermarket’s own brand bubbly ranked as good as Dom Pérignon

$
0
0

If you ever needed an excuse to pop the fizz Co-op’s own brand of champagne wine has been ranked alongside high end brands, Verve Cliquot and Dom Pérignon.

Both the Les Pionniers NV Brut, which retails at only £16.99, and the Les Pionniers 2008 Vintage Brut, which costs only £25.99, were awarded Gold at the Champagne & Sparkling wine World Championships 2017.

The budget friendly bubbly was the only supermarket fizz to win big at the awards and has put it on par with multi-award winning brands Verve Cliquot, Cristal and Dom Pérignon, which cost around 23 times as much as Co-op’s own brand.

Ben Cahill, Champagne buyer at the supermarket, said, “It’s fantastic to see Co-op’s own brand Champagne rubbing shoulders with some of the most esteemed brands in the industry. We travel the globe to source top-quality wine at the very best prices and this win just goes to show that buying award-winning wine doesn’t have to break the bank.”

The Champagne & Sparkling wine World Championships 2017, which raises a toast to the crème de la crème of the champagne world, awarded 127 Gold and 167 Silver Medals at this year’s awards.

Chairman of the judges at The Champagne & Sparkling wine World Championships 2017, Tom Stevenson said: “With the spread of technology and expertise, world-class sparkling [wines] can now be found in countries where the fizz was undrinkable or non-existent 10 years ago.”

Charities get people back on the road

$
0
0

South Beds Dial-a- Ride and Luton Shopmobility are jointly launching new Shopmobility schemes into four towns.

The four new Shopmobility schemes are available in Dunstable and Houghton Regis, Leighton Buzzard and Linslade. An electric scooter may be hired by South Beds Dial-a- Ride and Luton Shopmobility members for use around designated shopping areas in each of the four towns.

The new schemes employ an enterprising and innovative concept. South Beds Dial-a- Ride’s members can book an electric scooter on 01525 220044, which is then delivered with the passenger to their chosen shopping centre and returned to base after hire.

Membership costs only £10 per year and fares apply.

“This is an exciting partnership between our two charities, which gives us the opportunity to deliver a new cost effective service over a wide area where scooter hire is not currently available. It brings increased mobility and independence to those who cannot purchase their own electric scooter”, said Dave Barratt, General Manager of South Beds Dial-a- Ride.

Jayn Harris, Manager of Luton Shopmobility added: “Our prime objective is to help restore self-confidence, combat loneliness and social exclusion, give freedom and independence to the lives of less mobile people. South Beds Dial-a- Ride is now the preferred transport supplier to Luton Shopmobility, allowing passengers from all four towns to visit Luton and use our Shopmobility scheme through the same partnership, as well as our Luton members shopping in all the four towns”.

Mystery solved as firefighters were stopping gas leak at Shell, Billington Road

$
0
0

Firefighters were recently called to Leighton’s Shell petrol station, Billington Road, but eyewitnesses have been wondering just why the crew was there.

On June 27 passers by were concerned as they saw the forecourt cordoned off, with one resident messaging the LBO to say: “Not sure what’s going on at Shell next to McDonald’s (opposite Sandhills), but there’s a gas van and fire engine!”

The LBO has contacted Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue and can now confirm that officers were stopping a gas leak.

A Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “We were called there at 9.51am because of a suspected gas leak. We monitored it for several hours. There was a slow leak. Gas engineers were called to resolve the issue. We closed the incident at 13.02pm.

“It was a minimal leak of gas from an LP forecourt pump. A Flogas engineer was called to the site. The gas flow was isolated by fire service and left with the engineer.”

Viewing all 14937 articles
Browse latest View live