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Wednesday, 28 December 2022

Archive Review of Houghton Regis in 2022

JANUARY 2022

2022 started with a host of promises. We learnt that Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) was to ask a typical council taxpayer in a Band D property to pay an extra 61p a week, an overall increase of 1.95%. Meanwhile, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Bedfordshire was hoping for a £10 rise in the Police share of Council Tax for a Band D property, whilst the Fire and Rescue Authority was considering a council tax increase of 1.99% or an increase for a Band D property of around 4p per week.

The Government was to boost spending in Bedfordshire by £6.9 million in 2022-23, as part of the Government’s Beating Crime Plan. Schools in the CBC area were being promised a £19m funding boost.

A new 11-acre park at Linmere was due to open in the spring. A timelapse video showed the building of the Farmstead on Houghton Regis' Linmere Site (HRN1). Linked to Linmere, residents were encouraged to join the RSPB Birdwatch which takes place annually at the end of January. Later that month, we learnt that a dog groomer with a ‘royal' pedigree was poised to move into Linmere's Farmstead community hub.

The Road Policing Unit warned drivers about the £100 fine and 3 penalty points you could get if your windscreen is obscured (by ice, for example).

Local MP, Andrew Selous, said he was very pleased about £19.9 million being received for a new community wellbeing centre hub in Houghton Regis. On levelling up, he put in pleas for more GPs to match areas where new homes are being built and called for the national formula for police funding to be changed. The MP later pledged his allegiance to Holocaust Memorial Day honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust.

Residents of Houghton Regis were being consulted about proposals for a new leisure centre.

Councillors at CBC voted in favour of dual-use of Houghton Regis community centre until Central Bedfordshire College can find an alternative venue.

FEBRUARY 2022

The Farmstead at Linmere was almost complete with internal fittings left to do.

Domestic abuse was on CBC's agenda and a new strategy was being trumpeted. And they were reconsidering their Adult Carers Strategy. Young Carers were seen in a video. The Council also had a £5.3 million fund to provide business rates relief for businesses impacted by COVID-19. CBC approved plans to make an Enhanced Partnership with bus operators. And they approved a provider to install electric vehicle charge points.

There was a debate on Houghton Regis Community Centre. Councillors and the Houghton Regis Town Clerk addressed the meeting at CBC headquarters.

There was continuing concern that CBC wanted to develop Windsor Drive open space for up to 100 homes. They told us, “The Council remains committed to involving the public should it get to the stage where any proposals are developed."

At Bidwell West (HRN2), a Community group was to appoint Residents to its Management Committee and residents were asked what residents would like to see. More than three-quarters of the Brambleside local estate had been built at Bidwell West.

At the Linmere site, they were emphasising apprenticeships.

There was an altercation outside an address in Hammersmith Gardens where a man was stabbed.

Photos of The Brook, a development on Windsor Drive, showed it controversially towering over a neighbouring building.

It's Not Okay Week was featured this month. The campaign by Bedfordshire Police aims to raise awareness and deter acts of violence and abuse. Meanwhile, a multi-force swooped on Toddington Services in an attempt to search for people trafficked into the UK.

There was a development proposal for a range of new industrial warehouse units between M1 and Luton Road. And another developer was looking for permission to build 29 homes off Bedford Road. Meanwhile, CPRE (Campaign for Rural England), the countryside charity, were asking for your help in looking up at the heavens to Count the Stars, and CBC was pointing out that 80 homes a year were being brought back into use.

Houghton Regis Town Council (HRTC) were considering 'Plant a Tree for the Jubilee' and a site on the Village Green was where they were looking. A Community Action Day was held in Houghton Regis on 15 February and hailed as successful despite heavy rain.

Helena Brothwell was announced as chair of governors for the forthcoming Houstone School.

Council Tax for 2022/3 was confirmed; all the figures are here.

MARCH 2022

CBC was updating its Design Guide and wanted to know what residents thought was important in the design of new developments. And they wanted to know the public's thoughts on engine idling. They also wondered if residents of Churchfield wanted one-way traffic? And, if you were planning to drive to Dunstable or Leighton Buzzard there was news of parking changes for you in CBC's car parks.

CBC was rated Good for the social care services it provides to children and families and supported over 9,000 vulnerable households over the winter. CBC was awarded over £450,000 of Government funding to support people experiencing domestic abuse, and a further £109,000 of funding for disabled toilets. Schools in the area were to take part in a wheely fun challenge, while the PCC was getting schools to debate.

In policing, March saw 37 new student officers and detectives joining the ranks of Bedfordshire Police.

To coincide with HRTC's 'Plant a Tree' project, the Heritage Society conducted a heritage walk around Houghton Hall Park.

NGDANCE, and Dog grooming in a swanky new parlour, at The Farmstead had taken off, and the first residents at the Linmere site had moved in. Bellway was starting to market 154 new homes at Linmere.

Homes England (HE) had developed a website showing the public the path they are taking on their journey to provide up to 350 new homes east of Houghton Park Road, on the eastern side of Parkside. Off Bedford Road, a range of energy-efficient homes with air-source heat pumps and PV roof panels were beginning to be built.

At Chalton a new facility was proposed to help with EV charging.

Plans were approved for a new crematorium in the CBC area.

Central Bedfordshire College needed improvement according to the latest Ofsted report.

A local shoplifter was banned from the shops.

To serve Bidwell West, the Hi bus service was introduced.

APRIL 2022

Lady Jane Clifford was sworn in as the new High Sheriff of Bedfordshire for 2022/2023.

A 29-year-old was able to afford to buy his own home in Houghton Regis thanks to the Government’s Help to Buy scheme.

At Bidwell West, the alarm was raised over rust-coloured liquid running off from the former rubbish tip site, now Bluewaters Wood.

Andrew Selous, MP, welcomed nearly £2m funding for policing, specifically targeted at knife, gun and homicide-related crimes. Figures showed that there were 134 new officers in Bedfordshire since September 2019. He spoke out on Ukraine, supported Bowel Cancer Awareness month, and backed Guide Dogs, All Things Equal campaign.

Remote access scams were on the rise.

A new energy centre will make the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital one of the most environmentally friendly hospitals in the country.

A bike safety campaign was launched. CBC told us about its Free School Meals over the upcoming Easter holiday period and reported that 1300 had taken this up.

Friends of Windsor Drive joined in with The Great British Spring Clean.

CBC was to receive £3.5million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund which is designed to build pride in where people live and increase life chances across the UK.

Houghton Hall Park got prepared to be involved with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

A rapist from Houghton Regis was jailed.

MAY 2022

There had been dawn raids in Dunstable and Luton after gunshots were fired in Luton. In police conduct, a former Special Constable was placed on the barred list after admitting to harassing a previous partner.

At CBC, slow payments to Ukrainian refugees in the UK were on the mind of Independent Councillor, Adam Zerny. Opposition councillors at CBC were again making noises when names of Children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) had been revealed in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

In Houghton Regis, there was some concern that the new leisure centre would not have a sports hall. A spokesperson for CBC said it would be an over-provision.

Houghton Regis Children’s Centre set up a much-requested 'Twins, Triplets, Quads Plus Stay and Play group'.

I suggested that locals try a walk on the Chalgrave Heritage Trail.

At HRTC the outgoing mayor, Cllr Clare Coplestone, was delighted to announce that a grand total of £2,400.00 had been raised for her chosen charities, SSAFA (the armed forces charity) and firefighters999 (the firefighters charity). The new mayor is Cllr Yvonne Farrell.

Houghton Regis Library looked for help to make some fabulous Jubilee bunting.

In Houghton Regis, a burglar with "close links to the town" was being sought by police. A series of No Waiting at Any Time notices were to go up in Tithe Farm, and the Peel Street car parking restrictions were to become permanent.

At Linmere, a developer was donating a defibrillator to a local school.

JUNE 2022

This month was to be Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, and a raft of events were planned for Houghton Regis. The Houghton Regis Memorial Hall celebrated its 65th birthday this year. Later, HRTC responded to comments that their Queens Jubilee Tree plaque was rusty — “it was made that way”.

Andrew Selous, MP, was concerned enough to ask in Parliament, about the assessment made of the potential merits of requiring dogs which have attacked livestock to be (a) destroyed and (b) trained with e-collars. And he raised his concerns again about GP provision in conjunction with new build housing schemes.

Bedfordshire Police reported that almost 150 firearms have been handed in across the region as part of a police gun amnesty.

A community building at Bidwell West was given funding approval.

On Land East of Houghton Park Road, the second stage of public consultation went ahead. Stage 3 and 4 were due in 2022, but to date, there is no further update on the project's website.

CBC looked into fly-tipping and their reporting software. The new Houstone School would not be ready in September, as hoped, and the opening was now expected in the Spring of 2023. Roman remains had been found on the new school site.

Red House Court was reduced to rubble (above) as the fore-runner to building Stage 2 of All Saints View, a housing project by CBC for the over 55s.

A man who caused a serious road traffic collision in Tebworth that killed his brother and a friend was jailed for six years.

CBC were advancing their plans for a new road connecting M1 to A6 across the north of Luton. Luton News Desk has more information about this route.

A plan was submitted to provide parking for Amazon delivery vans next to Houghton Hall Park. In November, a local town councillor spoke against the application at a CBC Development Control meeting.

There was to be a summer concert at the end of June, in Houghton Regis. Parts of Parkside Drive were to have a 20mph limit (approved in September). A number of accidents on the A505 to/from Leighton Buzzard had caused concerns.

JULY 2022

Londoner, Emily Tracy, was commissioned to set about creating a Public Art Project for All Saints View. A new leisure centre for Houghton Regis was given approval.

Area Master Plan 4 (AMP4) was out for public consultation at the Linmere site and local builders had donated a wormery to a school.

The Met Office warned of a heatwave coming to the area which prompted highways to say they were going out gritting to help protect the roads from melting!

My photos showed development work in Linmere.

At HRTC any hopes of developing land at Grendall Lane for a cemetery were dashed as councillors were divided on opinion of its suitability.

Houghton Hall Park was among the national winners of a Green Flag Award.

CBC trialled a new EV charging system. A new building for Thornhill Primary School was completed. Bedfordshire was to receive £1,023,932 from the latest £50 million round of the Government’s Safer Streets Fund.

Town mayor, Yvonne Farrell, took part in a topping-out ceremony at Thorn Springs, a new care home.

AUGUST 2022

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Festus Akinbusoye worked in partnership with local authorities in Bedfordshire to support their Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes this summer. Officers used life-saving nasal spray.

Dog-poo was cited as a reason by householder in Linmere Walk for wanting to enclose land.

Tithe Farm Road was being closed so that it could be remade. Overgrown sections of a path at Sewell were being cleared. And there were announcements about improving Blackburn Road.

CBC was consulting on accessing services in Houghton Regis and Dunstable, and saying that their plans to redevelop Windsor Drive open space were now paused.

Barratt Homes donated 30 educational books to pupils from Chalton Lower School, which is located in proximity to the housebuilder’s Linmere development in Betony Meadow, Houghton Regis.

£520,000 was announced to help patrols in areas affected by violent crime. There were arrests in Luton and Houghton Regis as Bedfordshire Police cracked down on organised crime.

A former police inspector admitted online child sexual offences. Bedfordshire Police had a plan to curb racism.

A Houghton Regis man admitted council tax fraud.

Opposition councillors wanted to reopen the discussion on a Grendall Lane site being developed as a cemetery and another town council sub-committee was held.

There was a showcase peek at the Thorn Springs care home. The White Lion, at Chalk Hill, Houghton Regis, reopened. There was a Green Flag Award for Thornhill Primary School.

SEPTEMBER 2022

It was announced that Heron Foods would be coming to town, taking a retail unit at All Saints View, and a unit for a dentist would be available at Bidwell West local centre. Meanwhile the former vacant Netto/Morrisons store was acquired by a Canadian investment company.

Queen Elizabeth II passed in September, and arrangements were made in Houghton Regis for local mourning.

HRTC was inviting people to register their interest in an allotment.

CBC was consulting on changes to Council Tax that would make it simpler for claimants to claim a reduction, whilst Whipsnade Zoo offered qualifying groups of people an entry price of just £3.

This month police and community workers were out and about looking for weapons that might be hidden in bushes and other public places.

CBC secured funding to contribute to the installation of 48 new electric vehicle charge points with 98 charging bays at 12 locations across Central Bedfordshire. And, there was an opportunity for a Smart Free driving course. The council was asking people to use fireworks that were the quiet kind.

OCTOBER 2022

A Houghton Regis councillor was shortlisted for a national award.

A Houghton Regis man was wanted for burglaries in the area.

Blackburn Road was due to be upgraded.

HRND took a look at the price of burial outside of Houghton Regis, seeing as inside the parish is no longer an option.

CBC launched a new grant scheme to help residents become physically and socially active. The council also highlighted the problem of contaminated recycling waste and urged residents to rinse before putting rubbish out.

Bellway opened a sales office and two show homes at Linmere.

There was a fall in serious youth crime during the summer.

Andrew Selous, MP, showed his green credentials in a couple of items about green issues.

A new teaching block at Thornhill School (above) was officially opened and Councillors were caught pedalling for energy at the Linmere site. Between the A5 and Linmere, path clearance volunteers were due to cut back overgrowth.

A suspected live hand grenade was found at a tidy tip.

The planning inspectorate turned down an appeal for a proposed small industrial units scheme at Boscombe Road/Porz Avenue.

Plans emerged for a shake-up within BBC Local Radio.

NOVEMBER 2022

The first residents set up their homes at Thorn Springs care home.

Two people lost their lives in a late-night stabbing incident in the town. Two were quickly arrested for this crime. Five days later, HRND was reporting that 3 arrests had now been made, and the victims had been named. Five days after that, HRND was reporting that a 4th man had been charged, and a fifth arrested. On our Facebook Page, HRND linked to Patrick's public Facebook Group where those affected posted messages, videos and photos of those who lost their lives.

A Houghton Regis man was jailed after abuse to a former girlfriend.

A police and council operation concluded with a scrap metal truck driver being fined £3000 for not having proper credentials.

CBC outlined its plans to help people with the cost of living, and HRTC had packs to deliver to families in need, paid for out of charitable discretionary grants that the 4 CBC councillors for Houghton Regis were able to direct.

CBC set up bike repair stations and one was to be found at Houghton Hall Park. A local Independent CBC councillor aired a proposal for a crime hub to occupy a retail unit at All Saints View.

DECEMBER 2022

Bin Collection arrangements and library services during December 2022.

Path clearance volunteers came back to carry on the work beside the A5 at Linmere.

CBC announced changes to the app provider for their car parks. They also announced their new highway contractor.

Local schoolchildren collected recycling material to help their understanding of the subject.

Andrew Selous, MP, was at Cranfield getting to understand zero-emission flights.

Festus Akinbusoye, PCC, put on record his thanks to the people of Houghton Regis for helping with enquiries about last month's stabbing incident.

After a £500,000 investment, the Luton & Dunstable hospital re-opened a pharmacy.

At Bellway’s Linmere Gateway development in Houghton Regis, the first couple had moved in.

Looking ahead, CBC say that PayByPhone will take over from the current provider JustPark on 3 January 2023 and they wanted people to sign up in advance.

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Wednesday, 21 December 2022

Consultation out now for Thornhill Primary School admissions for 2024/25

Central Bedfordshire Council has launched a six-week consultation on proposed changes to the admission arrangements for Thornhill Primary School for the academic year 2024/25. If approved, the changes will come into effect for the 2024/25 school year.  

School places are typically allocated in a particular order of priority. The Council is asking members of the public to have their say on the admission changes to this particular school. 

Thornhill Primary School has requested the school’s catchment area be amended to include the Linmere Housing Development where families living on the estate may want to send their children to the local primary school in the area.

The proposed amendment to Thornhill Primary School's catchment area is currently grassland and unpopulated. The area is proposed to have new housing in the future. The site is currently in the catchment of Chalton Lower School and in the short term would not affect pupil numbers at this school.

Cllr Sue Clark, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, at Central Bedfordshire Council said: “Admission changes to three of our schools are detailed in our consultation document, and we are asking for the public’s thoughts on these. 

“No other changes are being proposed for community and voluntary controlled schools in the area, so admission arrangements for the academic year 2024/25 will remain the same as last year for these schools.” 

All the proposed changes to this school and two others are detailed in the consultation document, which is available, along with the consultation questionnaire, online here.

 The consultation is open until Tuesday 31 January 2023. 
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Wednesday, 23 November 2022

Fourth man charged and a fifth arrested in Houghton Regis fatal stabbing

  • A fourth man has been charged in connection with the deaths of two men in Houghton Regis earlier this month.

Anthony Bennison, 24, of Millfield Road, Edgware, appeared at Luton Magistrates’ court this morning (Tuesday) charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of conspiracy to murder, three counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm and a further two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm.

Bennison was remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Luton Crown Court today (Wednesday).

Last week officers arrested a fifth man as part of the ongoing investigation. He has since been bailed with conditions.

These latest developments follow the arrests of three other men who last week were charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and three counts of grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident in Tithe Farm Road on Sunday 13 November.

All three men have since been remanded into custody, with a trial date set for May 2023.


Two men, 39-year-old Adam Fanelli and 27-year-old Patrick Howard, both of Houghton Regis, died in the incident while a third man suffered serious injuries.

T/Detective Superintendent Carl Foster, from the Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said: “We are extremely pleased with the rate at which we have been able to progress this investigation.

“Much of this can be attributed to the support we have received from members of the public and we would again like to extend our thanks for your support and cooperation.

“Even with this progress, the gravity of the situation and its impact on the local community remains evident. Naturally, emotions are elevated at this time, but I would appeal to the local community to continue supporting us with the police investigation.

“We remain dedicated to progressing this investigation. Houghton Regis must not fall victim to this level of violence again, and it is imperative that we work together as police, public and partners to ensure this.”

Anyone with information which could assist the investigation is asked to call 101 or report online quoting Operation Crux.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Tuesday, 22 November 2022

Independent Councillor Warns of Pollution as New Road Funding is Confirmed

Central Bedfordshire Council has learnt that it has been successful in securing £32.7 million in Government funding from the Department for Transport towards a new road linking the M1 to the A6. But a local Independent CBC councillor warns that we must meet our commitments in respect of carbon zero by 2030.

Thanks to the Government funding award, the construction of the new 2.75-mile road link between Junction 11a of the M1 and the A6 is expected to begin in early 2022. The road layout is to have a mix of single and dual carriageways with a 50mph speed limit, and there will be a junction at the new Rail Freight Interchange at Sundon, as well as at proposed new housing developments.

The project will also encourage active travel by including a three-metre-wide foot and cycle path on the south side of the link road.

The Link Road was granted planning permission on 9 January 2020 having been referred to the Secretary of State of the Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government. A legal challenge by Luton Borough Council was made but on 4 May 2020 Justice Jay rejected the challenge. The total cost of the Link  Road was estimated in April this year at around £61.5 million*.

The project is being led by the Council and South-East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) with support from the Department for Transport.

Today, Mary Walsh, an Independent CBC councillor for Toddington Ward, voiced her concerns, saying, “Sadly the majority of residents of my Ward affected were devastated at the proposed destruction of this part of the Chiltern Hills and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - to create a  freight road that joins the 2 most polluting roads in  Central Bedfordshire  — the M1 and A6. More traffic will be sucked into Luton via the A6 gateway and Luton Borough Council  had strongly opposed its construction as had many others -  including the Chilterns Conservation Board, the Woodland and Wildlife Trusts and of course CPRE Bedfordshire.”

Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Councillor Richard Wenham said, “We are delighted to have secured funding from the Department for Transport for this key link road, which will deliver improved east-west connectivity across Central Bedfordshire and the wider area and facilitate the delivery of up to 3,600 new homes and a Rail Freight Interchange which are important in meeting a wider housing need and strengthening our economic offer.”

Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration, Councillor Kevin Collins said, “The funding provides us with a welcome opportunity to improve connectivity between towns in Central Bedfordshire, especially east-west linkages, whilst also easing congestion in the villages and areas north of Luton. It will also facilitate the delivery of growth envisaged in our adopted Local Plan and will provide homes, jobs and necessary supporting infrastructure for Central Bedfordshire and the wider area.”

Hilary Chipping, Chief Executive at SEMLEP added, “This major infrastructure project will facilitate economic growth in Central Bedfordshire and improve East-West connectivity within the South East Midlands and wider Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

“We look forward to the link road opening up employment land to support new job opportunities, enabling new homes to be built for the benefit of local people and alleviating congestion locally."

Cllr Mary Walsh warned, “I hope CBC have secured sufficient funds to restore and enhance the countryside impacted, and enough to create and maintain the proposed two green bridges over the road. Costs are likely to have escalated considerably and corners must not be cut. 

“We must also meet our commitments in respect of carbon zero by 2030. There will be a need to address the increase in pollution that will particularly impact Chalton village because of their proximity to the road and the proposed 42 plus hectares of warehousing that will be served by it.  We must all work together to achieve the best possible outcomes and I will be seeking assurances from CBC that this will be the case.”
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Monday, 21 November 2022

The Land Trust appoints Community Ranger

The national charity looking after more than 190 acres of natural habitat and green space at new urban village Linmere has appointed a community ranger, Richard Eltringham, to help residents make the most of the natural environment in which they live.

The Land Trust, which specialises in nurturing a wide variety of public open space and green infrastructure,  will look after the land at Linmere for the life of the development, ensuring it is sustainably managed for the benefit of the local wildlife habitat and the community while improving the biodiversity of the area.

Open Green Space
With no resident more than a five-minute walk from an open green space, and outdoor living a key feature of Linmere life, ensuring the land is protected is a priority for the consortium overseeing the development.

The Land Trust's five core aims are to ensure it protects the environment, facilitates community cohesion, helps improve the health and wellbeing of residents, provides educational opportunities and boosts the local economy.

Around a third of the 650-acre village will not be developed and will be managed in such a way that natural habitats can thrive, with 90 acres of that being transformed into public open space. The entire former farmland will come under the guardianship of the Land Trust for the next 20 years and beyond.

Richard will use his background in social and therapeutic horticulture to devise activities that will help residents get out into nature. Items on his agenda include mindful walks, creating a community allotment and setting up a gardening club while supporting local schools and colleges.

He's also planning to involve residents in the creation of wildflower corridors, organise butterfly counts and take part in the Wildlife Trust's 30 Days Wild event which sees different activities taking place every day in June.

This Christmas he's also hoping to encourage residents to join him in seasonal events.

While the majority of activities will take place within Linmere's parks, some may take in elements of the wider walking trails which will lead from the development into the surrounding countryside and villages.

Richard explained, "My role is to work with contractors to look after the green spaces here at Linmere as well as to encourage residents to get out and make the most of them. It's well known that being out in nature is good for mental health as well as the soul and I want the residents at Linmere to enjoy the full benefits of spending time in green space."

Linmere development director Nigel Reid said, “Outdoor living is at the heart of the Linmere experience. We offer so many ways for our residents to love their outdoor life - from cycling to exploring our parks to sitting outside the cafe watching their children on the adventure playground, to exploring the surrounding area on foot. The Land Trust offers a safe and responsible pair of hands to ensure the natural environment is protected for now and for future generations and the new community ranger will play a key part in this role, offering residents engaging and interesting ways in which to love their environment."
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Saturday, 19 November 2022

Linmere Park North


The first of several parks to be created at the new development village of Linmere next to Houghton Regis has opened to the public for the New Year. 

Fencing has been removed from the three-acre Linmere Park South, providing access for Houghton Regis and Linmere residents - and anyone else living, working or relaxing in the area. The opening follows a programme to install new seating, plant 80 trees and create wildflower areas.

The 11-acre Linmere Park North is due to open in the spring, once the planting has become more established.

Linmere Park includes a 100-metre running track, a 500-metre perimeter track and a cycle pump track, designed for use by people of all abilities. The park has been created to ensure the space offers as much scope as possible for the widest number of people, with flexibility for all forms of informal sports use. 


Green Park, next to Thornhill School, currently at the design stage, will offer sports pitches and games facilities, play areas and picnic spaces on 7.5 acres and is likely to open in 2023.

The parks make up around 90 of the 190 acres of natural habitat and green space at Linmere, all of which will be looked after by the national charity The Land Trust.

Community Ranger, Richard Eltringham will use his background in social and therapeutic horticulture to devise activities to help residents get out into nature.

Landscape architect Alex Comrie, director at Linmere's planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore, said: "Linmere is leading the way in putting landscaping first. It's a landscape-led development, with parks, open spaces and green corridors. We're taking a long-term view. It's not just something that we put on the master plan. We're creating a legacy that will be around for decades to come. As a landscape architect, I am always striving to do more to enhance biodiversity and the quality and beauty of green spaces."

In total, around 5,150 homes will be built over the next 15 years by the Linmere consortium, comprising master planners Lands Improvement, Aviva Investors, and the Diocese of St Albans.

Linmere will see the creation of two new state-of-the-art primary schools and an extension to Houghton Regis' existing Thornhill Primary School. A ten-form secondary school will open in 2022/3. 

  1. The Linmere development is being brought forward by the Houghton Regis Management Consortium (HRMC), comprising Lands Improvement, Aviva Investors and the Diocese of St Albans.
  2. Outline planning consent was granted for the site in 2014, the initial application is still available on Central Bedfordshire Council's Planning Applications pages using reference CB/12/03613/OUT.
  3. Before the launch of the Linmere brand in May 2019, the development was previously known as HRN1
For further information visit https://www.linmere.com

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Friday, 18 November 2022

Houghton Regis Triple Stabbing - Victims named, Three men charged — Vigil on Saturday

  • The two men who died in a triple stabbing in Houghton Regis on Sunday (13 November) have been named.
  • Friday evening latest: Three men have now been charged with offences.

The investigation was launched on Sunday 13 November after police were called to Tithe Farm Road following reports of a hit and run. Two men were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The victims were formally identified this week as 39-year-old Adam Fanelli and 27-year-old Patrick Howard, both of Houghton Regis.

In a tribute, Adam’s family said, “Words could never explain the impact this tragedy has had, and will forever hold, over our family and this community. Our thoughts and prayers of strength are with the other families involved.

“Adam was undoubtedly a loving and devoted dad to his three wonderful children. For someone small in stature he had an extremely larger-than-life character and a heart bigger than a house. He was a person that emulated ‘once met never forgotten’ in every way possible. He’s going to be missed eternally, leaving a void that could never be filled.

“The family would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and beautiful tributes to both Adam and Pat.”

Also paying tribute, Patrick’s family said, “Patrick was the most lovable, cheeky chap you could meet. He would have done anything for anybody and had the biggest heart of gold. He was the heart and soul of the community, with not a person who didn’t love him.

“Patrick will be missed immensely and has left such a hole in too many hearts. If love could have saved Patrick, he would have lived forever.

"Adam’s family will forever be in our hearts and prayers.”

Charged With Murder

Police continue their investigation into the deaths. Nicholas Papworth, 31, of Houghton Regis and Curtis Long, 32 of Luton, have been charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of conspiracy to murder and three counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

Third man charged Update Friday 18 Nov, evening: Bedfordshire Police say "Mark Griffiths, 40, of Luton, was charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of conspiracy to murder and three counts of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm. He has been remanded in custody until his next court appearance on Monday (21 November)."

T/Detective Superintendent Carl Foster, from the Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, said, “Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of both Adam and Patrick, we also wish the third victim a full and speedy recovery.

“I wish to renew my thanks to everyone who has come forward with information so far. Our enquires into the events leading up to this fatal stabbing are ongoing, and we are still keen to hear from anyone that can support our investigation.

“This is an extremely violent incident that has taken place in a community that has been greatly affected. We are committed to ensuring anyone involved in this brutal attack is brought to justice.”

Vigil

From 6pm on Saturday 19 November, a vigil will take place in Tithe Farm Rd near Meadow Lane, organised by the town's churches. 

The Town Mayor, Cllr Yvonne Farrell will read Psalm 23 about 18.00. Local MP, Andrew Selous, is also expected to attend. Central Bedfordshire Council has approved a road closure of Tithe Farm Road between Delmont Rd and Churchfield Rd, allowing cars at least to pass up Churchfield Rd.

Cllr Yvonne Farrell, Town Mayor of Houghton Regis, "On behalf of the Town Council, we are deeply saddened by the recent tragic event which has happened in the town. Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims and their families affected by this horrific tragedy. 
May those who have lost their lives rest in peace, and those who have been injured make a full recovery."

Town Clerk, “We would really appreciate it if residents could plan not to need access, especially from 5.30pm to 7pm. The road will be closed to help to ensure personal safety and to allow the community to come together to grieve. Assistance from local residents would be greatly appreciated.”

Therapy

Rachel Honeyford, a therapist, is available to offer one free adult counselling session to anyone adversely affected by the sad occurrences in Tithe Farm Rd., Houghton Regis. She said, “In addition, if anyone needs ongoing counselling, I will try to help find affordable counselling.  In the first instance, please can they text me on 07361 756662. My credentials can be checked online.”

Rachel continued, “Alternatively people should feel free to drop into Jewels, Bedford Square, Houghton Regis between 9am to 1.30pm, Monday-Friday if they would like a supportive, friendly chat.”

Most Saddest Moment

Local businessman, Kishor Patel issued a statement today (Friday), “My sincere condolences and prayers 🙏🏽🙏🏽go to the families and friends who lost their loved ones. I am very saddened to learn of such tragic event in Houghton Reigs which lost two lives and one seriously injured on Sunday 13th Nov 2022. After reading the news, I have known both the victims and their families. Also have known at least one of the offender and his family.
“What’s even sad is that the victims and offenders have family and young children. 
“Myself Anita Anita Patel, my brother Pat Pradeep Patel, have enjoyed serving and being part of the Houghton Regis community for the past 37 years. We have experienced and seen a lot of great things and some sad times too, this is the saddest moment.
People, friends, families have differences from time to time, we agree, disagree, argue, may fight and make up or not but just carry on with our lives.
I see no reasons why the differences ended up in losing two lives and leaving a big vacuum in the lives of friends and families of Pat and Adam.
Past five days this traffic event has been on my mind every day I ask myself the questions 
why? why? why? why? 
Could this have been prevented?
What is the underlying core issue that led to the loss of two lives?
Was this a build-up or spontaneous? 
What is the key driving factor to committing such an evil crime? 
Who can take responsibility for the failings?
So many questions come to mind….
We hope the Bedfordshire Police and justice courts will be able to address the above and deal with the offenders appropriately !! 
Andrew Selous it would only be right if you are able to raise this traffic event and issue of lack of policing, community care and social education at the Central Bedfordshire Council UK Parliament 
In the meantime at these difficult times we pray 🙏🏽🙏🏽 give time, support and space for the families and friends of Patrick and Adam to come to terms and heal
Kishor Patel ”

Central Bedfordshire Councillor for the Tithe Farm area, Pat Hamill has commented, “As the Ward Councillor for Tithe Farm, I am always available to address your concerns. 
I can assure you all, I have been working to make Houghton Regis a safer place to live and work since I have been a councillor and will continue to do so. 
I do work with the Police on many issues if you have any worries. 
My Councillor page is regularly updated so you are all well informed: https://www.facebook.com/cllrpat.hamill ”


Friend's Grief

The messages below have been publicly shared on Facebook and are available for anyone to read. Thoughts are with all those friends and relatives affected by what has happened.

A friend of Patrick Howard, Mason Jordan, commented via Facebook earlier this week, “words can’t describe the rollercoaster of emotions im going thru rn you’ve been on my mind all day ive cried all the tears out my body for u till theres not a tear left! i love you, my brudda… ”

Another friend, Chelsea Benjamin commented via Facebook, “Been hunting for pictures of us together but I know I would of buried them deep with how rough we looked sitting at Bedford Square steps🤣 you really was the life of the party, always cracking a joke and put a smile on all our faces. If I would of known Saturday was the last time I saw you, I would of held you just a little longer. I will look at Isla and forever see you. Rest in peace Patrick Howard ”

Similarly, Holly Howard commented via Facebook, “I don't really have the words right now, but our hearts are absolutely shattered & it just doesnt feel real. Patrick Howard was always that person you knew you could rely on, the amount of times I was out & I needed someone, he was the first person I called & would be there in a heartbeat. My big, little cousin.. the thought of never seeing you again is just too much to bear right now. If you knew Pat, you knew just how much f**king love he had for his friends & family, it was unmatched. My head is just empty but thank you to those who have messaged. Pat, keep Uncle Chris & Nanny company up there, you should never have gone this soon but at least you're with them now. I love you so, so, so much. 💓”

Father Diego of All Saints Church, Houghton Regis, travelled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham Friday to pray for the town community.

Help the Police

Anyone with information can contact the investigation team via beds.police.uk/ro/report or by calling 101 and quoting Operation Crux.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


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Tuesday, 15 November 2022

TWO arrested in connection with Houghton Regis double murder



  • On Monday evening, Bedfordshire Police said that a man was arrested following a violent confrontation that left two men dead and a third seriously injured.

Police were called shortly before 1.20am on Sunday (13 November), following reports of a man being struck by a vehicle in Tithe Farm Road, Houghton Regis.

Officers arrested the man in his 30s on suspicion of two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

15/11/22 - update - Police now say two people have been arrested.

Emergency services attended the scene where two men, one in his late 20s and another in his late 30s, were pronounced dead at the scene. A third man, also in his late 20s, was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

T/Detective Superintendent Carl Foster, investigating said, ‘This was a shocking incident which has occurred in busy area of Houghton Regis and has no doubt caused great concern to the local community.

“We have a dedicated team working on this investigation and are carrying out a range of enquiries in order to bring those responsible to justice. People will see an increased police presence in the town over the coming days and we are continuing to offer support to the families affected at this difficult time.

“The investigation team has been greatly assisted by the response from residents, we have received an incredible amount of information from the public. Please do continue to come forward with anything that might be relevant in assisting us to establish who is responsible.

“In a week where forces nationally are responding to knife crime, we are committed to tackling this issue. This incident depicts a level of violence that we will not allow to go unpunished, and equally we will work hard to prevent.”

  • Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or report online quoting Operation Crux. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Cllr Yvonne Farrell, Town Mayor

As published by HRTC Facebook Page
"On behalf of the Town Council, we are deeply saddened by the recent tragic event which has happened in the town. Our deepest sympathies go out to the victims and their families affected by this horrific tragedy. 
May those who have lost their lives rest in peace, and those who have been injured make a full recovery."

Cllr Pat Hamill, CBC, Tithe Farm


“I know we are all shocked and saddened by the past events over the last two days in our town. 
My thoughts go out to the families. They need space and time to grieve. The Police need the time to investigate this incident fully. 
We must allow this sad event to run its course and respond accordingly.”

Cllr Susan Goodchild, CBC, Houghton Hall


“WORDS OF SUPPORT FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC NEWS OF THE LOSS OF TWO YOUNG LIVES IN OUR COMMUNITY
I wish I could find words of encouragement following this tragic news.
The incident which has taken place is unbelievable, unexplained, tragic and a crime all at once.  As a community, we must devote our energies and abilities to taking positive actions, words, and deeds. 
I will be forever grateful for the emergency services in these tragic circumstances, none of whom are immune from the pain and shock.  So many people are hurting at this time, my immediate thoughts and prayers go out to the families and those closest to them, who have been directly affected.
An extremely sad situation.”

Labour councillors and Police Issue Joint Statement


“Firstly, we would like to once again acknowledge the 2 devastating fatal stabbings in Houghton Regis that took place in the early hours of Sunday 13th November. Our sincere thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones at this very difficult time. We sincerely hope that the young man who sustained critical injuries, makes a full recovery and receives support for trauma he has experienced

“Yesterday, The Labour Party Councillors, Antonia Ryan, Clare Coplestone, Abby Slough,  Chris Slough, and Martin Kennedy (Independent) met with the Cray Birch, Chief Inspector, Central Community Team, to discuss the next steps for Houghton Regis in response to our open letter. During our call, we asked that our personal thanks is put on record for the emergency services that attended the scene and the ongoing work thereafter.

“After listening to residents and hearing their concerns, we have now agreed to issue a joint press release, which is below:

“Joint Press Release
* Councillors and Bedfordshire Police agree that we never want to see this happen in Houghton Regis again and preventive measures will be put in place by using a multi-agency approach.
* A working group will be established made up of Councillors, the youth engagement teams, mental health professionals, the Police, and CBC, to look at the short, medium and long-term strategy for knife crime within the town.
* Further reassurance patrols by uniformed police in Houghton Regis have been agreed to increase presence including dedicated officers.
* Campaign for a knife amnesty - The Community team will be outperforming weapon sweeps, talking in schools and promoting the operation on social media platforms.  Operation Sceptre: Tackling knife crime in our county | Bedfordshire Police (beds.police.uk)
* Members of our community will be offered mental health support, not only to those who are immediately affected but to the wider community who may have been impacted.
* A hub will be set up with partners from mental health services, the Police, Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) community safety team to deal with the ripple effect across the community and the trauma this has caused including bereavement/emotional support to also help alleviate some of the fears.
* Councillors have agreed to signpost residents to the necessary services.
Councillors acknowledge the funding cuts to Bedfordshire Police next year and we, the Labour Party, and Martin Kennedy have committed to lobbying the government to ensure that Houghton Regis does not suffer any more losses to the operations.”

Festus Akinbusoye, Police and Crime Commissioner

“Following a double murder and an attempted murder in Houghton Regis in the early hours of Sunday 13 November, it is reassuring that an arrest has been made today, Monday 14. Investigations continue with dedicated team of officers. People will also see an increased police presence in the town over the coming days and Bedfordshire Police continues to offer support to the families affected at this difficult time.
Huge thanks to those who have already provided valuable information to Bedfordshire Police on this investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or report online quoting Operation Crux. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”





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Fly-Tipping Notes

15 / 11 /2022

Bogus Waste Carrier Slipped Up and Is Fined Over £3000

• A man from Slip End has been fined over £3,000 after being caught collecting waste without a licence.

Anthony James aged 42 years from Slip End was caught by Central Bedfordshire  Environmental Protection Officers who had joined forces with Bedfordshire Police and the Rural Crime Unit on Thursday 15 February 2022, to carry out roadside vehicle stop checks.

Officers saw Mr James driving a Ford Transit drop-side lorry, carrying scrap metal and stopped him on the A505 near Houghton Regis. He could not provide a waste carrier licence, scrap metal collectors certificate or a waste transfer note.

Mr James failed to attend Luton Magistrates’ Court on 4 November 2022 but was found guilty in his absence and fined £3,000 plus a victim surcharge of £190.

Waste operators, including carriers, brokers and dealers, have to be registered to carry waste. However, some operate illegally without being registered.

Advice if you need to hire a company to take away your waste

The public can play their part in helping to keep our countryside beautiful. Fly-tipping is a blight on this beauty, is a criminal offence, and it needs to stop.

We all create waste, and we all have a responsibility to ensure our waste is legally and correctly handled so it’s appropriately disposed of and doesn’t cause harm to human health or the environment.

Central Bedfordshire Environment Services would like to remind homeowners and businesses looking for someone to take away their waste to check that they’re registered, by asking to see their waste carrier’s licence.

You should also ask where the carrier intends to take the waste and make sure they provide you with a waste transfer note, as fly-tippers thrive on there being no records of their activities.  

If they will only take payment in cash, be suspicious, do not let them take your rubbish. Please remember, you too could break the law and be at risk of prosecution if your waste isn’t managed properly.

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19 Aug 2022

Flytip - Luton culprits given  spot penalty


When Central Bedfordshire Council were told of this flytip in Caddington area they sent their environmental officer to investigate.

Evidence was found from an address in Luton and passed to an Environmental Protection Officer to investigate.

An address was visited and the occupant admitted they paid someone to take it away. 

A £300 fixed penalty notice was issued.

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10 June 22

Fly-tipping Integration Problems With CBC IT System

  • There are issues with how FixMyStreet app does not apparently integrate with Central Bedfordshire Council's (CBC) data collection system.

A debate on Fly-tipping by CBC took place on 9 June. Important listening as it helps you understand the thoughts of elected councillors and current thinking. 
There is an associated report that helps explain the questions raised by these unitary authority councillors.




Questions posed included:
◘ What about more cctv cameras?
◘ What about not charging for trade waste at HWRCs?
◘ What about householders taking photographs of their waste before the waste carrier takes it away, and holding the pictures on a centralised database, so if it's fly-tipped it might be matched up?
◘ What about the use of drone cameras?
◘ What is the easiest way for residents to report fly-tipping?

FixMyStreet Flytipping Incidents & Integration Problems at CBC

On Fixmystreet.com a member of the public can report most issues, but at present, anyone wanting to report a fly-tipping incident in Central Bedfordshire is being redirected to another website to make their report.


The link for Flytipping reports, our reporting tool,  takes the user through to the CBC website, where a series of questions are asked about the site of the fly-tip, the nature of the fly-tipping waste, and requesting contact details of the person reporting the fly-tip.

A spokesperson for FixMyStreet said today, "Central Bedfordshire have a separate reporting form for flytipping using a system called Jadu, which is not integrated with FixMyStreet, like some Central Bedfordshire categories already are. They asked us to set it up so that people picking the flytipping category on FixMyStreet would be directed to their separate reporting system. We would like it if flytipping was a normal FixMyStreet category and could send the data directly to their system, as we do with some other categories, and we've been speaking to Central Bedfordshire about how that could be possible - I think we were awaiting any API information about how we could talk directly to Jadu."

A further debate will take place at CBC in September, but the consensus among councillors at this meeting was that they would prefer to persevere with FixMyStreet.com and resolve the integration problems.

You can continue to report the following problems at FixMyStreet.com or through the app: 
  • Bridges and Subways
  • Bus stops, benches, barriers
  • Crossings
  • Flooding and Blocked Drains
  • Bins and Graffiti
  • Grass, 
  • Trees, 
  • Verges and Weeds
  • Lighting
  • Pavements, Kerbs & Cycle Paths
  • Potholes and Road Surface
  • Rights of way - you are redirected to a CBC URL to report these.
  • Road Markings and Lining
  • Roadworks
  • Signs Damaged or Missing
  • Surface cover
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13 Apr 2022

Clean Sweep as 250 Volunteers Take Up The Litter-Picking Challenge

  • 250 volunteers support the Great British Spring Clean
The Great British Spring Clean was a big success – and Central Bedfordshire Council would like to thank every one of the 250 litter pickers who turned out to join the annual campaign.

The council supported an incredible 18 groups of litter pickers during the two-week period this year. Groups covered a variety of areas within Central Bedfordshire from Fairfield in the north to Billington in the south.

The groups included charities, community groups, schools, a climate change group, and Town and Parish councils and they all made a real difference tidying up their communities

The Council’s Community Engagement and Environmental Services teams worked together to provide groups and town and parish councils with handy litter grabbers, bags, and sturdy hoops to hold the bags open, and the council’s waste collection contractor, FCC Environment, collected waste from pre-arranged locations.

Participants were encouraged to separate recyclables and general waste into two individual bags to maximise recycling where possible.

Cllr Ian Dalgarno, the Executive Member for Community Services, said, “I would like to thank all the participants from across Central Bedfordshire who gave their time to get involved and support this national campaign. 

“This is an excellent example of volunteer effort and community action. Volunteers are willingly helping to improve their local environment for others, and it is this kind of spirit that makes Central Bedfordshire such a great place to live and work.

“Every bag of litter removed makes a huge difference - to the environment, to our communities, and to the wildlife that makes the great outdoors their home.

“Research also shows that helping a local litter pick benefits our mental health as well as keeping our streets and beauty spots clean.”


The Great British Spring Clean is coordinated by Keep Britain Tidy and ran from 25 March to 10 April 2022.

In Houghton Regis, Friends of Windsor Drive collected some 25 bags of rubbish, a burnt-out motorbike, a deep fat fryer, a Deliveroo bag, unmentionable smalls, and reported this sofa for removal, which later found its way into the middle of the field thanks to youths spotted in the area.


In Dunstable, the Dunstable Wombles gathered to clean up The Green Lanes. You can find out more about the Dunstable Wombles on their Facebook Page.

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28 Jul 2021

Sundon Road Fly-Tip - Householder Fined

Back at the end of 2019, Central Bedfordshire Council Environmental Protection Officer found this fly tip in a layby on Sundon Road, Chalton. Evidence found in the waste led back to a property in Luton. After many attempts at visiting and trying to contact the householder, there was never any reply.

This case was recently heard at Magistrates Court, the householder did not appear for Court and was found guilty in absence and ended up with a fine and costs to pay amounting to £1,360.

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23 Aug 2021 

Help is there for anyone who wants to help litter pick


Whether you're fed up with seeing litter and small fly-tips around you, or just want to do something to raise the profile of your street or your neighbourhood, to make it a better place to live, our local councils can provide that little help you might need.

Central Bedfordshire Council told me,

“We support communities to organise and participate in local litter picks in the following ways: 
  • Promotion of the Keep Britain Tidy Great British Spring Clean (GBSC) through town and parish councils and support to Town and Parish Council’s to organise local litter picking groups and events.
  • Arrange the collection of litter collected from GBSC and non-GBSC litter pick events if we’re advised in advance. 
  • Issue guidance to volunteer litter pickers.
  • Ward Cllr grant scheme – groups interested in litter picking and in need of equipment could approach their ward councillor for a grant. Find your CBC Houghton Regis councillors here: Houghton Hall, Parkside, and Tithe Farm
  • Central Bedfordshire Council can only assist with litter picking on public land, and only collect litter, not the removal of large items.
The Clerk to Houghton Regis Town Council told me,
“We can offer out litter pickers and hoops to groups who would like to organise a litter-pick. The group need to organise the event itself and arrange for collection of waste.”

Keep Britain Tidy are encouraging groups to send in details of the items they have picked. 

Keep Britain Tidy run a Litter Heroes Ambassador Programme and you can register your interest here. We will then contact you when the programme is back open and accepting applications.

Perhaps you have you got what it takes to be a #LitterHeroes Ambassador?


If so, join with Keep Britain Tidy!

We should all care for our local environment but we know that some go above and beyond. Whilst juggling work, family and life, people are caring for the environment not just on their own doorstep but on their neighbours’ too.

Keep Britain Tidy are looking for people, with infectious enthusiasm and a passion for action, to become a #LitterHeroes Ambassador in their local community, to help us shape the future of a litter-free UK.

Whether you can spare an hour a month or an hour a day, if you are passionate about the fight against litter, making a difference on your own doorstep and spreading the message further, this could be the opportunity for you!

You will need to enjoy getting outside and leading by example, encouraging others to love where they live and making tangible improvements to your neighbourhood. Register your interest here.

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22 Mar 2021 

 What's The Oldest Crisp Packet You Can Find?

  • Empty crisps packets up to thirty years old are among the haul collected by 10-year-old girl in Hayes Wood on Stopsley Common.


Ten-year-old Catherine Kirkland has been keeping active with her mum this month, picking litter in Luton. Among the haul from her collecting was a crisp packet bearing a Keep Britain Tidy logo from 1990. 

Catherine and her mother, Siobhan Starrs, have been litter picking in March in Hayes Woods on Stopsley Common in order to clean up the local environment, raise awareness about the problem of plastic pollution, and raise funds for Dementia UK in memory of her great grandparents.

The pair have been using their exercise walks to fill large bin bags with rubbish, focussing on Stopsley village, Castle Park, Hayes Woods on Stopsley Common, the woods on Bradgers Hill and Leagrave Park.

They were shocked to find the source of the River Lea at Leagrave Park, clogged with plastic bottles and other discarded items.

Siobhan Starrs said “I find the situation in Hayes Wood on Stopsley Common particularly distressing. Plastic litter is embedded in the leaf litter, amongst broken bottles and rusty cans, it must be dangerous to the local wildlife. “

Catherine has raised over £190 so far for Dementia UK in memory of her great grandparents, who both suffered from dementia at the end of their lives.

Catherine said it is easy for everyone to make a difference to their local environment: “Next time you go on a walk, try to bring a plastic bag and some gloves and pick up some litter.”

Please consider donating to help Catherine raise funds for Dementia UK via Just Giving. 

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18 January 2020

Rubbish Dumped in Ditch On Edge of Luton


Hampshire Way, Luton. Would the ward councillors for this area please comment below on how they have allowed the ditch alongside this road to accumulate so much rubbish? Do you even walk your own patch? The amount of rubbish dumped there will keep a couple of fly-tipping teams busy for some time. Disgraceful. 😡

This picture represents only a small quantity of rubbish in this ditch. We have many more photos. It has clearly accumulated over time, meaning that it could have been acted on earlier. It's not something that has just appeared overnight.

To report fly-tipping Luton Borough Council do use http://FixMyStreet.com

To find a licenced registered waste carrier to clear your home go to Search Waste Carriers

To the commentator who suggested it when this post was shared by Luton Developments, no, we could not have collected the rubbish ourselves,
a) we're not registered licenced waste carriers,
b) we did not have the necessary transport,
c) ideally you need to be professionally dressed to deal with waste
d) council officials need to sift through bagged rubbish to look for evidence of the origin of the rubbish to bring about any prosecution(s)

The information that the ditch is possibly technically in CBC area is useful. We have contacts with CBC and these will help to resolve this incident for Lutonians.

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Sunday, 13 November 2022

Houghton Regis Man Jailed After Abuse to Former Girlfriend

  • A Houghton Regis man was sentenced to two years and four months imprisonment at St Albans Crown Court after assaulting his ex-partner and controlling her with fear.



Billy Smith aged 24, of Westminster Gardens in Houghton Regis, Dunstable, was also given an indefinite restraining order preventing him from contacting the victim.

Cut his girlfriend's mouth
The court heard Smith had been in a relationship with the woman for around six months and during the summer of 2022, Smith punched his former girlfriend in the face following a verbal argument outside the Mulberry Tree in Stevenage causing a cut to her mouth.  On a separate occasion, outside the Tranquil Turtle restaurant in Stevenage he grabbed her by the hair and beat her to the ground using a belt, he then forced her to walk home with no shoes on, all the time threatening her with violence, the victim thought he was going to kill her.  When she ended the relationship, Smith bombarded her with abuse and threats.

Assaulted a police officer
When Smith was arrested on 27 July in Houghton Regis, he assaulted a police officer by punching her, causing her nose to bleed.

Smith pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour, assaulting an emergency worker and breaching a restraining order with a different victim and was sentenced on Friday 21 October. 

Investigator Jayne Atkin from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (DAISU) said: “Smith’s actions have had a huge impact on the victim’s life. No one should live in fear of physical harm from their partner.” 

“We were able to build a case against Smith, with the victim’s support and bravery, demonstrating that he was responsible for the injuries and psychological abuse inflicted on her.”

Detective Sergeant Louise Cleary added: “I am pleased that the court recognised the harm he had caused and served him a custodial sentence, with an indefinite restraining order to protect the victim from further abuse. I would like to thank the victim for her bravery and support for this investigation, and staff at the Tranquil Turtle for assisting in the investigation.”

If you are concerned about domestic abuse, please use the resources at BEDFORDSHIRE DOMESTIC ABUSE PARTNERSHIP.

In an emergency, always call 999. If you are afraid to speak, call 999 from a mobile and press 5, 5 to alert police that you are in danger. 





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Police Confirm Two Dead in Tithe Farm Rd Incident Sunday

  • Detectives have launched a double murder investigation after two men died and a third was seriously injured following an incident in Houghton Regis this morning (Sunday).

SUNDAY 1.18am — Police were called to reports of a man being struck by a vehicle in Tithe Farm Road. Emergency services attended and found three men with stab wounds. Two were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

While the victims have yet to be formally identified, specially trained officers are supporting family members.

Detectives are at the scene in Tithe Farm Road. Local residents reported that they were unable to get their vehicles out of certain roads this morning while police forensics were in the area.

A large police presence remains in the town while investigations are carried out to establish the full circumstances of the incident and identify those responsible. Additional patrols will also be in the town over the coming days.

T/Detective Superintendent Carl Foster from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit said: “This was a horrific incident which has resulted in two young men losing their lives and a third suffering very serious injuries. I understand how concerning this will be for residents, however from what we know so far we believe this to be a contained incident with no wider ongoing threat to the public.

“There can be absolutely no excuse for such violence and we will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.

"The area was fairly busy at the time and I would urge anyone who saw what happened, or anything leading up to it, to contact police."

Anyone with any information should call police quoting Operation Crux on 101, via the online reporting tool or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
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Tuesday, 8 November 2022

Thorn Springs Houghton Regis: Archived Notes

Newly Opened Houghton Regis Care Home Welcomes First Residents

8 Nov 2022

  • A married couple of over 40 years, Mary and Terence (Terry) Jeater, were welcomed to a brand-new luxury care home, Thorn Springs, recently, as its first ‘founding residents’.

Founding residents at Thorn Springs, operated by Ideal Carehomes, benefit from a discounted all-inclusive fee and are involved in establishing the new home. This gives them the opportunity to help create new menus and plan activities and trips, alongside the care home’s brand-new team of care staff, managers and their very own activities coordinator.

 

84-year-old Mary and 90-year-old Terence used to live together in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire but later moved to the cathedral city of St Albans before moving into Thorn Springs in Houghton Regis.

 

Former shop representative and florist, Mary, describes herself as ‘social and chatty’, and loves spending time arranging flowers and being with her family.

 

Terry, a former self-employed plumber, worked until the age of 82 and loves to travel. He said, ‘I loved my job, and that I worked for myself’.

 

Mary and Terry have two children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Although they’ve spent time travelling the world to places like Hong Kong, Thailand and Bali, they’re favourite holiday destination is Hayling Island in Hampshire.


The pair moved to Thorn Springs for respite care and have both been enjoying their time relaxing together. Terry said, ‘When we first came to see Thorn Springs, I felt it suited us and our family liked it. I love the staff – they are all so charming and helpful. We’ve enjoyed taking to time to relax and heal.’   

 

During their time at Thorn Springs, Mary and Terry have spent time taking part in craft sessions, pet therapy sessions and watching their favourite films and TV shows together.

 

Katie Hughes, the Home Manager at Thorn Springs, said, “We are so happy to have opened the doors to our home, and it is a privilege to welcome Mary and Terry as our founding residents.

 

“It was important for everyone in our team to make sure that Mary and Terry received a very warm welcome and felt settled in right away, and I think our small ribbon-cutting ceremony really set the tone for how our team approaches person-centred care. I look forward to welcoming more new residents over the next few months and creating lots of memories with our Thorn Springs family!”

 

Thorn Springs is a luxury residential and dementia care home operated by Ideal Carehomes. With 66 en-suite bedrooms, the Thorn Springs care team deliver person-centred care in a dignified manner, promoting independence as far as possible.

  • An Open Day was held on Saturday 8th October, 11am until 3pm.  
  • Employing over 65 new carers in the Houghton Regis area once fully staffed, Thorn Springs care home, just off Thorn Road, will be providing a safe and welcoming home for up to 66 older people.
  • Ideal Carehomes offers an extensive induction period and industry-leading training via the ‘Ideal Academy’ to new starters, which helps to equip all team members with the tools and knowledge they need to provide person-centred, high-quality care.
  • The well-appointed care home boasts bright, open-plan social areas and ultra-wide corridors designed with residents in mind.
  • Residents can enjoy a variety of unique facilities at Thorn Springs, including a lavish Sky Bar with far-reaching views, a vintage tearoom complete with a balcony and a plush cinema room with its very own popcorn machine.


    To register your interest in living at Thorn Springs, please visit idealcarehomes.co.uk or call 0113 465 4082. You can follow Thorn Springs on Facebook for the latest updates and news.


  • Thorn Springs is currently recruiting for their care team, to be ready for the home opening in October. Current opportunities can be found at www.idealcarehomes.co.uk/careers.
  • For more information, call Thorn Springs on 01582 218 560, email thorn.springs@idealcarehomes.co.uk or visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk.
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First Peek Inside Brand-New Luxury Houghton Regis Care Home

23 Aug 2022
A new state-of-the-art Houghton Regis care home is preparing to open its doors for the first time on 8th October. Thorn Springs care home, just off Thorn Road, will be providing a safe and welcoming home for up to 66 older people whilst employing over 65 team members once fully staffed. 

The Thorn Springs development has benefitted from a £12 million investment, with all the finishing touches you would expect from a deluxe care home. The spacious en-suite bedrooms and latest care technology will allow the care team to deliver person-centred care in a dignified manner, promoting independence as far as possible.

The well-appointed care home boasts bright, open-plan social areas and ultra-wide corridors which are designed with residents in mind. Residents can enjoy a variety of unique facilities at Thorn Springs, including a lavish Sky Bar with far-reaching views, a vintage tearoom complete with a balcony and a plush cinema room with its very own popcorn machine. 

The newly appointed care team will complete a thorough and extensive induction period prior to the home opening. They will be given access to industry-leading training and development via the ‘Ideal Academy’, which seeks to equip all team members with the tools and knowledge they need to provide person-centred, high-quality care.

Commissioning Director at Ideal Carehomes, Maria Taylor, said, “We are extremely excited to soon be able to open the doors of our beautiful new home to the Houghton Regis community. Our future residents will benefit so much from our facilities, and the full and varied social programme organised by our activities co-ordinators.

“We have had such a heart-warming response so far from local people, for both the first phase of recruitment and from prospective residents. We can’t wait to support our new residents to live their lives to the fullest as part of the Thorn Springs family!“

Stacey Linn, Managing Director at Ideal Carehomes, said, “The care and attention to detail are clear throughout our new home - all of our care homes are built with the facilities required to offer a quality of life and independence to our residents. I’m confident that Thorn Springs will be a wonderful addition to the local community of Houghton Regis.

“Everything we do at Thorn Springs will put us at the forefront of care and with the established Ideal Carehomes team behind us, we have all we need to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our residents and staff. We will be ready to help people in the local community with both short-term and permanent placements, and we will always be here to answer any questions and help to put people’s minds at rest.” 

Maria and the team will be hosting an exclusive preview day on Saturday 8th October, which will provide an opportunity for local people to explore the first-class facilities and learn more about the Thorn Springs lifestyle. It will also give them the chance to ask the team any questions about Ideal Carehomes and their unique initiatives. The open day is from 11am to 3pm - there is no need to book and guests will receive complimentary refreshments and a gift bag.

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Houghton Regis’ Newest Care Home Development Welcomes Mayor at Topping Out Ceremony


29 July 2022
  • Houghton Regis’ latest luxury care home development, Thorn Springs, welcomed Councillor Yvonne Farrell in a ceremonial ‘topping out’, as the newly built home progresses towards it’s opening in October this year.
Thorn Springs, located on Collie Place in Houghton Regis, has benefitted from a £12m investment and will be provider Ideal Carehomes 31st home. It will provide 24-hour residential and dementia care for its residents, as well as bring 65 jobs to the area, once fully staffed.

Councillor Farrell, Mayor of Houghton Regis, was greeted at the ceremony by Ideal Carehomes’ Commissioning Director, Maria Taylor. They were joined by Estates Manager, Ben Parker, and Site Manager, Zeb Massey.

The Mayor was given a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities, which will include 66 spacious bedrooms with en-suite wet rooms, a cinema room, a hair salon, a tea room and a luxurious Sky Bar. She said, “Thorn Springs in Bidwell West is bright and well laid out, with quality fixtures and fittings, and even has an indoor garden room opening onto the outside garden spaces, which are especially good for sensory and active wellbeing. This is a wonderful ‘forever home’ that will be staffed by local, friendly professionals. I was extremely impressed by what I saw.”

A tree was then planted in the grounds of the home as an ode to the ancient practice of ‘topping out’ a new building, in order to appease the tree-dwelling spirits which may have been displaced in its construction. 

Maria Taylor said, “I’d like to thank Councillor Yvonne Farrell for joining us to perform our ‘topping out’ ceremony – it was an absolute pleasure to meet her. Our new home is coming together nicely, and I’m sure our future residents will love what the facility has to offer. I’m especially looking forward to meeting the local community in the coming months, as we prepare to officially open Thorn Springs’ doors in October.” 

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5 Feb 2022
The Home Manager at Thorn Springs in 2022 was Katie Hughes “Since opening our doors in October, we’ve received such a warm welcome from the people of Houghton Regis. We thought Christmas was the perfect time to give back and thank everyone for all the support we’ve already been given.”

Staff at Barratt David Wilson Homes helped Thorn Springs care home to host a Christmas dinner for its staff members and residents in 2022. The housebuilder, who is building at a nearby Linmere development in Houghton Regis, offered a £250 donation towards the food and volunteered to help set the table on the day.

To help support those in the local community, staff at Barratt David Wilson North Thames volunteered to decorate, set up, and serve Christmas dinner at Thorn Spring care home. The housebuilder’s £250 donation was used to help cover the costs of ordering food for the table.

Marc Woolfe, Head of Sales for Barratt David Wilson North Thames, commented: “Many people are struggling to cover the cost of their bills during this period of recession. Our staff members wanted to use their dedicated volunteering day this year to bring the spirit of Christmas and help out the team at Thorn Springs care home in preparation for the dinner.”

Katie Hughes, from Thorn Springs care home, added: “We wanted to organise a big Christmas meal for everyone at the care home, and staff from Barratt David Wilson North Thames generously helped us to set up and prepare the tables for everyone. It was a wonderful evening full of laughter and fun, and we want to thank all volunteers for their help.”

Open Week

Thorn Springs invited their community to an Open Week from 30th January to 4th February in 2023, where guests toured the home, met the staff, and enjoyed various activities with the Thorn Springs residents.

For more information, please call Thorn Springs on 01582 218 560, email thorn.springs@idealcarehomes.co.uk or visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk.

Thorn Springs is a luxury residential and dementia care home operated by Ideal Carehomes. With 66 en-suite bedrooms, the Thorn Springs care team deliver person-centred care in a dignified manner, promoting independence as far as possible.





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