Sunday 19 December 2010
Monday 29 November 2010
A letter to councillors at Central Bedfordshire
I am a Town councillor for Parkside, Houghton Regis.
I am very concerned for the future of young people in Houghton Regis, and more widely throughout Central Bedfordshire. I am very disappointed to learn of the decision by the Council to fully cease its Connexions Service by mid-March 2011. And I am now bitterly concerned that the council may decide to fully close down the Youth Service. The authority really is not allowing for any transition periods to build up the voluntary sector. Further, I think it is just a pretence to create a commissioning team since it will have no funds to commission.
I do fully recognise the current economic climate. But if you close down all key preventative support services to young people, this is going to lead to a failure to meet young people’s needs, as well as an increase to more expensive specialist services. Additionally, there is a total failure to recognise the greater risk young people will have to be involved in crime, becoming NEET, or homeless.
The proposals are a false economy. Initially, this proposal will make a saving, but in the long term, it actually will cost the authority more through the cost of expensive crisis services, such as social services or youth offending services, who will only get involved once problems have occurred. The estimated cost of a young person in the criminal justice system is £200,000 by the age of 16 and the estimated cost annually of each young person not in employment, education or training is £56,300.
You really should be setting up a working group to explore other options. These decisions by Central Bedfordshire Council could easily lead to young people actually needing more expensive specialist support services.
Stop protecting ‘back room’ corporate services, maintain the critical front line, and challenge this naive and rash decision urgently.
I do hope to hear from you as soon as possible.
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Take Away the Street Clutter, and Make a Shared Space?
I went in a sceptic and came out converted. That was how I would describe the presentation I attended at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable on Monday night. Central Bedfordshire put on the evening to allow parish and town councillors the opportunity to learn about shared space.
So what is shared space? Well, take the most unfriendly road junction you can think of in your locality, take away the signposts, the traffic lights, the roundabouts, the yellow lines, the railings, and let the users of that space decide how they would like to use it. The result, we were enthused to agree with, is what happens when experienced skaters converge on a skating rink. Everyone takes it easy, avoids each other, and the whole thing moves along like magic. Only the speaker didn't call it magic, more he called it taking advantage of the human skills we all possess.
Well, I have to say, my mind was constantly turning towards the lights at Bedford Road/High Street junction in Houghton Regis. If a roundabout was tried in the past and failed, and the lights are failing us now, maybe this "free-for-all" approach is worth a look?
Just as one town was persuaded to cover up its traffic lights for a couple of days, "to see what happens"; I was thinking, "Yes, let's do the same here, and see what happens." And that town's people, so we were told, would not let the officials take the bags off, because everything was working much more smoothly than ever it had before. Yes, please, I thought. Where do I sign?
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLfasxqhBNU
Footnote: still wondering how the blind and partially sighted cope with these arrangements, but am sure blind skating is a possibility... let me know.
Well, I have to say, my mind was constantly turning towards the lights at Bedford Road/High Street junction in Houghton Regis. If a roundabout was tried in the past and failed, and the lights are failing us now, maybe this "free-for-all" approach is worth a look?
Just as one town was persuaded to cover up its traffic lights for a couple of days, "to see what happens"; I was thinking, "Yes, let's do the same here, and see what happens." And that town's people, so we were told, would not let the officials take the bags off, because everything was working much more smoothly than ever it had before. Yes, please, I thought. Where do I sign?
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLfasxqhBNU
Footnote: still wondering how the blind and partially sighted cope with these arrangements, but am sure blind skating is a possibility... let me know.
Saturday 20 November 2010
Family Sentenced For Drug Dealing Operation
Shades of Shameless' Maguires as Bedfordshire close down 'family business'
Six members of the same family have been sentenced for offences connected to a cocaine dealing operation in Houghton Regis and laundering the proceeds of crime.
- Steven Edward Draper, 25, of Brentwood Close, was jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement.
- His partner, Christina Murphy, 23, also of Brentwood Close, was jailed for 21 months after admitting becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement and possessing cocaine with intent to supply.
- His brother Frank Draper, 27, of Parkside Drive, was jailed for six years, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
- His mother Pauline McIravey, 49, of Bradford Road, Toddington, was given a ten month prison sentence suspended for two year, with 200 hours unpaid work, after pleading guilty to becoming concerned in a money laundering arrangement. Her plea was on the basis that she suspected the money that was passed through her bank account was not legitimate, but did not know it came from the sale of drugs.
- Half-brother Kevin Foskett, 22, of Barleyfield Way, Dunstable, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply drugs.
- Kevin’s mother Lorraine Draper, 42, of Parkside Close, was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years with 200 hours unpaid work after pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
When the case was opened last month prosecutor Rebecca Crane said: "This case is all about drug dealing, which the prosecution say was a family business. The defendants are all related to each other and were involved to a greater or lesser extent, some were dealing, some packaging and some laundering the money made from the business."
¬ A future hearing will be held to consider confiscation of assets ¬
Thousands of street deals of cocaine wrapped in lottery entry slips were found during raids. Miss Crane said the conspiracy started to unravel when police searched the house in Brentwood Close in February 2008.
He at first used his 'barking and aggressive Rottweiler' to prevent police from getting into the house, and used the time to flush drugs down the toilet,
Police inquiries continued and in November 2008 two properties in Parkside Close were searched and the family members arrested.
Judge Jeffrey Burke QC told the family: "Dealing in Class A drugs is always treated seriously for good reason. They are dangerous and lead to serious damage and degradation to the consumers and to society as a whole.
"In some quarters cocaine is thought of as a recreational drug, but it is fact an insidious and dangerous drug."
He said the main offender, Stephen Edward Draper, had been a regular user himself and when his supplier moved away he took over dealing the drug in Houghton Regis and Dunstable in 2005. His brother and half brother later joined the conspiracy.
Draper’s barrister, Nichola Meyrick said: "He bears responsibility for bringing down his partner and his mother as well. The enormity of what he has done really weighs heavily on him."
Miss Ismet Rawal defending his partner Christina Murphy, who has a nine month old son with him, said: "She became aware he was keeping drugs at the house, but never saw more than 12 wraps at a time. She tried her best to dissuade him without success."
The prosecution said she was involved in passing more than £26,000 through his mother's bank account. A future hearing will be held to consider confiscation of assets.
Wednesday 17 November 2010
Houghton Regis Leisure Centre Facing Closure
The Sustainable Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee at Central Bedfordshire Council met this week to discuss cost-cutting proposals amid budget shortfalls. With millions needing to be saved, closing the popular Houghton Regis Leisure Centre was on the table.
Cllr David Jones, substituting for absent Cllr Peter Williams, passionately argued against the closure, saying "this centre is a lifeline for residents and losing it will deeply impact the community." But four Conservatives supported administration arguments about difficult decisions needing to be made.
A vote was taken with two Liberal Democrats opposing the closure, hoping to change minds, but two Conservatives abstained. The motion to approve shutting the centre passed four to two. Residents vow to continue fighting the decision, seeing the centre as vital.
At the start of the meeting an e-petition, begun by Houghton Regis councillor Dr. Rita Egan, opposing the closure of the Houghton Regis Leisure Centre, was presented. It had reached over 200 signatories. The e-petition was presented by Houghton Regis councillor Susan Goodchild, on behalf of Cllr Egan, who could not attend the meeting due to a sudden family illness.
Susan Goodchild spoke about the demographics of the area, advocating well for local people. She reminded those present that other paper petitions continue circulating in Houghton Regis to gather support.
With only two more committee meetings remaining, there is a narrowing window before the full council endorsement that could seal the centre's fate. Residents are determined to have their voices heard.
There were minor concessions to the wide-reaching proposals, but the main thrust was to encourage the Executive Committee to carry on with their cost-cutting exercise. The committee proposed that street lights should not all be switched off between midnight and 6am; those around CCTV cameras might be saved, and where local circumstances demand lighting these areas might also be saved.
Not all school crossing patrols should be abolished; the committee argued that safety assessments of each locality should be conducted, and where possible local schools or local town and parish councils might be persuaded to pick up the expense.
In another meeting next Monday(*) at Central Bedfordshire Council, councillors will consider the cuts that could see the closure of the Day Centre at the Townsend Industrial Centre, Houghton Regis. This centre offers Day Services for Adults with Learning Disabilities. It is very much an issue of concern to Cllr Susan Goodchild, who is expected to put up a strong case in favour of keeping the Townsend Centre open.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Next, the proposals go to CBC Executive Committee on January 11th 2011, at 9.30am. From here the Executive Committee decision will be looked at by the Customer And Central Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 17th January at 10.00am, before finally being endorsed and the budget set for the coming year at the full council meeting on the 24th February at 6.30pm.
Sunday 31 October 2010
Tuesday 26 October 2010
Tuesday 19 October 2010
What Does Houghton Regis Want?
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
What do the people of Houghton Regis want?
Looking through the latest list from CBC, it is clear that the answer is "quite a lot!"
We want ... a pedestrian crossing in Windsor Drive.
When will we get it? ... Added to Central Beds Council's 5 year programme.
We want ... Tree to be trimmed as it is over-hanging the lamp-post (Maple Way, Dolphin Drive, Enfield Close, Trident Drive, Brookfield Avenue, )
We want ... a Disabled Parking Bay in Blackthorn Road.
We want ... speeding stopped on Tithe Farm Road.
We want ... a dropped kerb. CBC wil send you a survey form to be completed.
We want ... parking restriction assessment in Humphreys Road.
We want ... a safety white line in Bedford Road.
We want ... gullies cleared at The Green, Porz Avenue, Long Mead, Blackthorn Drive, Arenson Way roundabout, Alsop Close (response: Alsop Close is not Highways Land).
We want ... driveway not to be blocked (Drury Lane).
We want ... a safer footpath and cycle path in Houghton Road (2 complaints) (Inspector: "Visited site. No Cat 1 defects found or anything dangerous. Will await further Details,Photos,Etc. if claim is submitted").
We want ... lights to be made to work.
We want ... double yellows in Angels Lane on the library side.
We want ... branches trimmed, Poynters Road (2 reports).
We want ... wider road at East End to properly allow 2 lanes to queue to roundabout, to reduce congestion.
We want ... parking restrictions in Angels Lane.
We want ... a pedestrian crossing in Parkside Drive near the school at the layby.
We want ... overgrown brambles/hedges trimmed back (Tennyson Ave, Gilpin Close, Chelsea Gardens, Sundon Road, Drury Lane)
We want ... yellow lines in Saxon Close due to inappropriate parking.
We want ... a louder crossing (Drury Lane)
We want ... recreation road repaired.
We want ... railings repaired by HRTC (The Green)
We want ... potholes repaired (Hillborough Crescent, Hayley Court, Park Avenue, Queen Street, King Street, Chelsea Gardens roudabout, Sewell Lane )
We want ...crumbling footpath repaired Manor Park, Chelsea Gardens (roots problem)
Sunday 15 August 2010
Sky-Diving Councillor Dies
Cllr Ros Williams, a Houghton Regis Town councillor for Tithe Farm has died. She was 75.
Cllr. Ros Williams passed away over the weekend. An inquest will be held later. Ros represented the Tithe Farm ward. She will be remembered particularly for her enthusiastic support for greater provision for the youth in the Town and in holding the police to account.
Two years ago Ros was badly injured while taking part in a sky-jump to raise funds for a skatepark now constructed at Tithe Farm recreation ground. Above, she is pictured presenting a cheque to Houghton Youth Experience towards their funds.
David Hill, a former mayor of Houghton Regis "Ros was a valuable asset to the Town Council, she loved Houghton Regis and took her role as a Councillor very seriously. She had her own down-to-earth style of putting her views across and cared very much about people. After her skydive achievement, she became somewhat of a local personality, she supported and attended many Council functions and was recognised around the Town, she will be sadly missed."
David Jones, Liberal Democrat Group Leader: "Ros became a Town Councillor at the May 2007 elections. She quickly made her mark, particularly in her enthusiastic support for greater provision for youth in the Town and in holding the police to account. She spoke as she found, even if she did not always have her facts straight. And she had pluck - who could forget her parachute jump two years ago to raise funds for the skatepark, which went so unfortunately wrong for her?! "
Peter Williams, local branch chairman, Liberal Democrats, ""I was so shocked to hear this news, it was not long ago we celebrated her birthday, and I will have lovely memories of the evening, of recent she was trying to get about unaided, she will be sorely missed. I am so sorry. "
Photo: D. Hill.
Sunday 8 August 2010
BusWay - A Question over Contracts
My MP, Andrew Selous, is apparently upset that Luton Borough Council won't give him contract details of the contract between them and BAM to build a £90 million busway between Luton and Houghton Regis.
If foul play is suspected over the timing of the signing of contracts, then I think Andrew Selous is right to pursue the issue. If the purpose is to get the contract cancelled in the hope that money saved will be directly shifted to constructing the A5-M1 link road, then I think the hope is naive.
Given that the busway construction has been funded, and is scheduled to be completed in 2012, I think we should accept it as a fait accompli. So, we should concentrate on doing what we can to promote the benefits of the scheme.
It will certainly be of use to people living in Houghton Regis, either directly, by improving journey times (and a smoother ride), or indirectly, by reducing congestion between Houghton Regis and other destinations during peak times.
The busway will, for the first time, be able to potentially offer Houghton Regis a direct bus service to Luton Airport.
I have FOI evidence from Luton Borough Council that 125,000 potential passengers will live within a 400m walk of one of the 250 bus stops that will be upgraded and will be served by a bus that will use the busway for some or all of their journey.
I accept that for many types of drivers, it will be difficult for them to be persuaded to use the bus, but those extra that do will reduce the travel times experienced by all users during present peak times.
But, I still need to be convinced that the bus operators are doing enough to understand the journeys that people currently make. I am sure they will want to maximise their passenger numbers and make their businesses succeed and will undertake the necessary research to make that possible.
If foul play is suspected over the timing of the signing of contracts, then I think Andrew Selous is right to pursue the issue. If the purpose is to get the contract cancelled in the hope that money saved will be directly shifted to constructing the A5-M1 link road, then I think the hope is naive.
Given that the busway construction has been funded, and is scheduled to be completed in 2012, I think we should accept it as a fait accompli. So, we should concentrate on doing what we can to promote the benefits of the scheme.
It will certainly be of use to people living in Houghton Regis, either directly, by improving journey times (and a smoother ride), or indirectly, by reducing congestion between Houghton Regis and other destinations during peak times.
The busway will, for the first time, be able to potentially offer Houghton Regis a direct bus service to Luton Airport.
I have FOI evidence from Luton Borough Council that 125,000 potential passengers will live within a 400m walk of one of the 250 bus stops that will be upgraded and will be served by a bus that will use the busway for some or all of their journey.
I accept that for many types of drivers, it will be difficult for them to be persuaded to use the bus, but those extra that do will reduce the travel times experienced by all users during present peak times.
But, I still need to be convinced that the bus operators are doing enough to understand the journeys that people currently make. I am sure they will want to maximise their passenger numbers and make their businesses succeed and will undertake the necessary research to make that possible.
Saturday 24 July 2010
Charging For Adult Social Care: Councillor Wants Your Opinions
Central Bedfordshire Council is seeking views on how non-residential adult social care services should be charged for.
The ruling Conservative group are planning changes to Adult social care with the introduction of Personal Budgets, so they say the policy on charging needs to change. The draft Fairer Charging Policy includes proposals to change how Meals on Wheels, carers" services and transport to day centres are charged for. There are also a number of proposed changes to the financial assessment process.
Councillor Susan Goodchild, a member of the opposition Liberal Democrat group said, “ I would like to hear the views of residents, people receiving social care support, carers and people working in social care and health. These views are all important as the Fairer Charging Policy will affect different people in different ways. I would like as many people as possible to get involved, and have their say and help shape our future policy.”
Thursday 22 July 2010
Houghton Regis Councillors Consider Alternative Routes to Beat Congestion and Save Time
Councillors from Central Bedfordshire and Houghton Regis Town Council tonight met to hear and express comments about a proposed local area transport plan. A short presentation was made by Paul Cook, the Head of Transport Strategy at Central Bedfordshire Council.
Issues affecting Houghton Regis include:
* The route through the town and down Poynters Road is a relief road for the M1 if there is an event or incident between junction 11 and 12.
* Traffic congestion through the town during peak travel hours.
* Delay to the M1-A5 link road as the project is one of many projects being reviewed by the government.
* Higher than the normal number of residents using a car to get to work (77%).
* 42% of people don't use a bus because there is no direct route to where they want to get to.
* 2 out of 3 areas in the town are the most deprived areas of Central Bedfordshire.
* 5 deaths on the roads of Dunstable and Houghton Regis over 2 years.
* Reductions of speed to 20mph have successfully reduced traffic-related deaths and injuries in other places.
Solutions
One solution could be to create a new road from Portz Avenue to the M1 proposed junction 11A. This would have a serious effect on reducing travel through the centre of Houghton Regis.
Another suggestion was to restrict travel by lorries down Poynters Road, by channelling it through the White Lion industrial area down to Dunstable Road.
If the proposed road is built and reduces traffic in the town centre, councillors will give consideration to supporting a 20mph speed limit within the town.
Cllr Lynda Walmsley (Houghton Hall) said that presently on the High Street, there was a bus stop at a certain location that prevented cars from overtaking the buses, thereby creating more congestion in Houghton Regis. In response officers suggested that this had been intended by design, to help make the road safer.
Cllr Andrew Roberts (Houghton Hall) said it would be useful if consideration was given to improving the roundabout at the end of Cemetry Road, widening the High Street near the now vacant land on the High Street, and creating bus lay-bys.
Cllr Rita Egan (Houghton Hall, and Central Beds) said it was important that provisions will be made for disabled people with scooters to get on to local transport, and pointed out the lack of a direct bus service to Luton Airport.
Cllr Janine Dixon-Wilkinson (Parkside) said that people in the town wanted to travel to places other than Dunstable and Luton, and wanted to use direct bus services to places like Leighton Buzzard, Bedford and Milton Keynes.
Cllr Alan Winter (Parkside) said that he had given consideration to a 20mph limit in parts of the town, but as congestion is so bad, and is already travelling quite slow during peak times, there wasn't much point. He conceded that if the new road is built then it was important that the council considered what parts of the town could be restricted to 20mph.
Sunday 20 June 2010
Liberal Democrat Leaflet: Bypass before development | A Town Plan for Houghton Regis
Monday 14 June 2010
The Beechnut is Back!
Following up on my earlier notes, the beechnut scheme was back on the agenda:
Letter to my fellow Lib Dem CBC councillors:
"The application for the "Beechnut" for Bedford Square came before the Houghton Regis Town Council planning committee this evening.
"The scheme is supposed to "help make Bedford Square a focus for community interaction and recreation". Yet people already interact in Bedford Square, and there have been many attempts over the years to make Bedford Square less of a recreational area. Surely the last thing to be encouraged is "recreational use"? A secondary aspiration of the project is to "enhance Bedford Square". I am of the opinion that this particular artwork will be a carbuncle on Bedford Square; one which will have no recognisable connection to its proposed location and one that will serve to distance the people of the town from its elected representatives, both locally, and at the heart of the decision-making process.
"The scheme comes within economic.growth@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk Economic Growth and Regeneration Department of Central Bedfordshire Council, and yet there is a strong feeling about the town that this particular artwork is unwanted, that it is a waste of public money, and of no value in the regeneration of Houghton Regis.
"Has CBC got the guts to pull the money from this HAPPEN arts scheme, and thereby save the impression that public money is being squandered at a time when other public projects are being postponed and reviewed; and at a time when the public, in general, is being warned to expect further public cuts?"
Discuss this issue here
Saturday 20 February 2010
Liberal Democrat Leaflet: Popular events may go as Tories look for cuts | Public Art for Bedford Square
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Popular events may go as Tories look for cuts | Public Art for Bedford Square | New Lib Dem Mayor | Massive Overspend Threatens Fledgling Tory Central Bedfordshire Authority | Central Beds Council in Care-Charging Mess | Motor Biking | No More Duck Houses | Trees Bentwood Close | Leafields | Neptune Square
Sunday 7 February 2010
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Busway: Luton: Dunstable : Houghton Regis Business Case
On 3 September 2008 the DfT wrote to Luton Borough Council (LBC) awarding Conditional
Approval, and setting out the Conditions under which Full Approval would be awarded. This
included submission of the following information in support of its application for Full
Approval:
• Confirmation that the scheme remains unaltered.
• Confirmation of the total scheme costs, the Government contribution, and
availability of other financial contributions.
• Further details of the Project Management arrangements.
• Details of the Tendering exercise and any resulting changes.
• Confirmation that operators are committed to provision of services, together with
details of any contractual agreements that are either in place or being developed.
1.1.2 Since Conditional Approval, the scheme has entered the Delivery phase and LBC is now
seeking Full Approval in order that the scheme can be implemented in accordance with the
programme set out at Chapter 6.
1.1.3 The route of the Busway, as shown in Figure 2.1, has not changed since the Conditional
Approval submission. It should be noted, however, that the scheme will be delivered through
a number of different contractual arrangements set out in Table 1.1 below:
This is the introduction to Luton Dunstable Busway
Major Scheme Business Case
Updated for Full Approval
Luton Borough Council
December 2009
Download the rest of the document
Sunday 24 January 2010
Ideas for Linking Windsor Drive to the Link Road Via a new Roundabout
Planners are intent on routing traffic onto the new Porz Avenue to M1 J11a road via a realigned roundabout at Park Rd North/ Porz Avenue. I wondered if they could make a new roundabout at the end of Windsor Drive, turn some tarmac into grass, and close off part of Sandringham Avenue?
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