National News

Dave Hodgson on the track at Bedford Athletics Stadium

On track for 2012 and Beyond at Bedford International Athletics Stadium

Work to relay the track at Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Barkers Lane started last week, and I went along to see how things were going. It is a major investment, but the old track was in sore need of replacing after more than 20 years. The new surface will be one of just a small handful in the country which matches that which will be used in the 20102 Olympic stadium, and will enable Bedford Borough to continue hosting major events in Bedford while offering local athletes and schoolchildren high quality facilities.

30 Aug 2010
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County Council back Cllr Lisa Courts and appeal public inquiry decision

After 4 years of constant campaigning to reduce the number of scrap metal lorries travelling to Williams yard through Bearton ward, Cllr Lisa Courts like other local residents was left shocked when the public inquiry decided in June that it would not impose any restrictions on the movement of lorries supplying the yard. The news was a major blow to everyone's efforts.

29 Aug 2010
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Dave Hodgson turning the sod with representatives of Lantmannen Unibake Ltd at Cambridge Road site

Welcoming a major new employer to the Borough

This week I met the CEO of bakers Lantmannen Unibake at Cambridge Road, to the South of Bedford, to turn the first sod at the site where they are building a brand new bakery. Up to 280 people will be employed at the site, with only six coming over from Lantmannen's existing bakery in Milton Keynes. In fact, Lantmannen had originally wanted to locate this new bakery in Milton Keynes, but after they were unable to secure planning permission at a particular site there, Bedford Borough Council moved quickly when we alerted to their interest in expanding and building a major new bakery.

29 Aug 2010
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Cautious optimism over one or two emerging signs for the local economy

Last week I wrote in the Times and Citizen newspaper about my cautious optimism over one or two emerging sings for the local economy. Clearly, with households struggling in the very difficult economic climate, there is a long way to go before we can talk of a significant recovery, but the unemployment figures over the last year or so do give cause for some cautious optimism. Even though there is only so much the Council can do, I am determined that it will do all it can to help foster conditions in the local economy which help create and retain jobs in this Borough. In case you missed it, here's the article from the paper:

28 Aug 2010
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