Caddington

Caddington ward covers the six parishes of Hyde, Slip End, Caddington, Kensworth, Whipsnade & Studham
Individual parish council websites (where available) can be reached by clicking on the names aboves.

Friday 19 June 2015

Fly tipping prosecution

Sadly, it is rare that there is sufficient evidence to attempt legal action against fly-tippers but Central Bedfordshire council do actively pursue prosecution when there is a chance to build a case.

Mr Danny O'Sullivan (aged 32, from Houghton Regis) and Mr Thomas Richmond (aged 28, from Dunstable) appeared in Luton Magistrates Court this week in relation to a fly-tip in Beech Road, Kensworth on 19-Jan-14 and a second incident in Hockliffe on 09-Nov-14.  Note the time between the two offences; they had already been interviewed concerning the first offence when they committed the second and so clearly had no qualms about their actions.

The waste in the first tipping offence originated from renovation works at a flat in Luton.  Messrs O'Sullivan and Richmond collected a fee of £100 for disposal of the rubbish before dumping it in the Bedfordshire countryside to be cleared at taxpayers' expense.

In connection with the second offence, the defendants disputed that they had tipped the tree branches in question but then admitted that they were there to fly-tip a different load before finding the branches in their way!  Thankfully they were challenged by two eye-witnesses at the site.

Mr O'Sullivan was fined £1,000 plus victim surcharge, contribution towards compensation and full prosecution costs, Mr Richmond was fined £730 plus all the other items.

L&D Public Consultation

Invitation courtesy of Barton Willmore Planning

Invitation courtesy of Barton Willmore Planning

Friday 12 June 2015

Emergency closure of West Street in Dunstable this weekend

I have received a message from the Network Coordinator for CBC Highways advising that Affinity Water have traced a leak in West Street (Dunstable) and need to dig right accross the road to perform an emergency repair.  Therefore West Street is being CLOSED by emergency order effective tomorrow morning in an attempt to get everything fixed before Monday.

This is obviously a key route through the centre of Dunstable and the advice is to avoid the town centre unless absolutely necessary.

CBC Highways statistics for May


The "potholes repaired" statistic does not includes work done by the velocity patcher, so the true number of holes filled in will be higher.

Roadworks bulletin: Kensworth

BT are scheduled to carry out cabling works which will necessitate traffic control (two-way signals) on Lynch Hill between the junction with the A5 and the junction with Clayhall Road; these works are timetabled to take place between 22 June and 03 July.

Wednesday 10 June 2015

Working with children: recruitment & training event

From a Central Bedfordshire press release:

Anyone looking for a career in childcare is invited to a recruitment and training event next week where information and advice about working with children will be available.

It is being organised by the Central Bedfordshire Academy of Social Work and Early Intervention (The Academy), a partnership between the council and the University of Bedfordshire which offers learning and development opportunities to anyone already in the childcare workforce in Central Bedfordshire or looking to join it.


This includes anyone looking to gain qualifications to work as a children’s social worker or in a childcare setting, people seeking apprenticeships or even basic skills to help them in their job search, which will be on offer from the Adult Community Learning team.


The drop-in event is being held in the council chamber at Priory House, Chicksands, Shefford, SG17 5TQ, from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday 18 June.


Refreshments will be available and while qualifications are aimed at those aged 16 and over, all ages are welcome. There will be activities for any children who attend too.


The Fostering and Adoption team will also be at the drop-in event offering advice to anyone looking to foster in Central Bedfordshire.


There is a particular need for people to foster older children and teenagers, sibling groups and for foster carers from black and ethnic minority backgrounds.


Councillor Amanda Dodwell, Deputy Executive Member for Social Care and Housing, said: “The Academy has been a great success since it was set up last year, and through various innovative events and recruitment campaigns, has helped to reduce children’s social worker vacancies at the council by 20 per cent.


“It also plays a vital role helping people to acquire qualifications to work in other childcare settings, such as schools and nurseries and has helped around a thousand people since it was set up.


“So if you are already working in childcare, unsure what to do once you get your exam results or looking for a change of career, I’d advise you to go along.”For more information visit www.centralbedfordshirechildrenstrust.org.uk, email academy@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 8131.

Sunday 7 June 2015

Open Church Sunday 21 June 2015

Around 130 churches across Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire will be opening their doors to the public on Sunday 21 June for Open Church Sunday.

Participating churches within this ward include:
  • St Mary Magdalene, Whipsnade   [12 noon until 4PM, post code LU6 2LL]
  • St Mary the Virgin, Studham  [10AM until 5PM, post code LU6 2NW]
  • St Mary the Virgin, Church End, Kensworth  [10AM until 4PM, post code LU6 3RA]
All three churches are historical buildings with a long history within their respective communities.  It is expected that light refreshments will be available at each church and Kensworth is also offering a small exhibition of local history photographs.

Classic car events next weekend

A couple of recurring events in the local calendar are rolling around again next weekend and, weather permitting, are worth a visit if you haven't been before.

Luton On Sunday 07-Jun-15
The first is the opening to the public of Vauxhall's Heritage Centre in Park Street.  A permanent collection of vehicles spanning Vauxhall's 100+ years in Luton, once a year the doors are opened for all to come and see and it's free!  Whether it's one of the first cars you ever owned yourself, or memories of your Dad's car that you used to sit in the back of, chances are there will be something there that makes you feel nostalgic.

Luton On Sunday 07-Jun-15
On a similar theme, the Chiltern Vehicle Preservation Group return again to Stockwood Park.  The vehicles range in original manufacturing date from 1904 to 1999 and range across rare and exotic sports cars to lovingly preserved examples of "everyday" vehicles from across the decades.  Alongside the cars, there is usually also buses, fire engines and just about every type of road vehicle.

Monday 1 June 2015

Crime report summary, May 2015

Collated from Bedfordshire Police summaries by parish

Roadworks bulletin: Slip End

A few items are scheduled for Slip End this coming month:
  • Church Road between 1st & 3rd June - pothole repairs, expect temporary 2 way signals
  • Ross Way between 3rd & 5th June - Stop/Go boards in the area of the school for lining, signs & posts
  • Markyate Road between 4th & 10th - multi-way signals whilst BT carry out works
  • Crawley Close between 25th & 26th - roadway resuracing