Bedford Ian writes…
12 June 2026: Citizen Smith, Transport transparency, Italian Enough? and Tree-mendous. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all…
Obituary: Michael Brian Blackledge (1932-2026)
Michael Brian Blackledge was born in St Helens, Lancashire, on 1 November 1932, the son of an Irish mother, Winnifred O’Hara, and an English father, Richard Blackledge…
East West Rail consultation attendance falls 39% from previous round
Just 281 people attended East West Rail’s Bedford consultation event as overall attendance fell from 5,206 to 3,189 compared with the previous consultation. The Bedford event was…
Monthly column: Mohammad Yasin MP on Sewage, Water Quality and Regulation
We met with Mohammad Yasin MP (Labour) at the water’s edge of the Embankment to share our deep concerns with him about the quality of the River Great Ouse and the ongoing spillages into the river…
Government tightens road maintenance transparency rules after controversial Bedford red rating
Bedford Borough Council will have to publish more detailed information on potholes, road conditions and highways spending under new government transparency rules…
Win Tom Grennan, Paul Weller, UB40 and Deacon Blue tickets in Bedford indie business challenge
The Bedford Independent, Bedford Summer Sessions and four local businesses are giving away tickets and Retreat upgrades through a town-wide riddle challenge…
How AI is making small business owners more efficient than ever
Ask any small business owner in Bedford what they’re short of, and the answer is rarely ideas or ambition. It’s likely to be time. Running a small business means being the boss, the bookkeeper…
How Bedford businesses can spot a scam email before it costs them thousands
The email looks like it came from the firm’s accountant. It mentions a recent invoice. It uses the right name, the right tone, and a sensible request to change the bank details for next month’s payment…
Building or renovating in Bedford? What charred timber cladding can (and can’t) do
Planning charred timber cladding in Bedford? Learn its fire rating, lifespan, building regs and supplier checks. Order a sample before you build. If you are building or renovating in Bedford…