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Local Democracy Reporter

Written by the BBC's Local Democracy Reporter named at the end of the article.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service was created to help strengthen coverage of local public bodies and ensure communities have access to trusted, independent reporting on decisions made in their name.

Funded by the BBC and delivered in partnership with local news organisations, the scheme supports dedicated journalists to report on councils, public services and other democratic institutions. Their work helps residents better understand how decisions are made, how public money is spent and how those decisions affect everyday life.

For the Bedford Independent, the Local Democracy Reporting Service plays an important role in maintaining regular, detailed coverage of Bedford Borough Council and other local public bodies, supporting our wider commitment to public-interest journalism, transparency and accountability.

Beavers: A dam good idea in the battle against local flooding?

Beavers could become a new weapon in Bedford’s ongoing battle against river flooding. A meeting on Monday heard two of the biggest political big beasts in the borough chew over and react favourably...

First school run car ban on the cards in Bedford

A leading councillor is “optimistic” that the first school run traffic ban will be introduced “in the near future” at a site in Bedford borough. Responding to a question from a Green party councillor, the portfolio holder for environment...

Council considering enforcement action against Home Office over Yarl’s Wood asylum seeker plan

Controversial Home Office plans to house 200 asylum seekers at Yarl’s Wood near Bedford are under “investigation” by the borough council. But a meeting heard that the likelihood of Bedford Council...

Bedford Tory councillors in row over “freight doom” of East West Rail route

Tory borough councillors have spoken out AGAINST an East West Rail link being opened up between Bedford and Cambridge. One spoke of Bedford being “doomed” to suffering freight trains at night while another denied claims that the Conservatives had...

‘Nearly 9,000 health and social care staff yet to have their covid jabs’ in Beds, Luton and MK region

Some 8,900 health and social care staff across the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) region are set to receive letters urging them to take their covid-19 (coronavirus) vaccines, a meeting heard...

95 redundancies on the cards as Bedford council almost unanimously sets council tax for the year

Councillors in Bedford have overwhelmingly passed a budget which could see 95 redundancies and increases the Borough’s part of the council tax by 3.74 per cent. Only two Green councillors, who sat on their hands during the vote on Wednesday...

“I will be unforgiving if another hurdle is placed in our way” says PCC over Greyfriars sale

A “laser like focus” will be directed at a local authority in the weeks ahead over the sale and redevelopment of a former Bedfordshire police station. Planning permission was granted by Bedford Borough Council for a change of use for the Greyfriars site...

Criminal justice system backlog: “a very considerable problem is brewing”

Delays in the criminal justice system threaten to cause “a very considerable problem” and encourage victims or witnesses to back out, a meeting heard. A backlog of more than 50,000 cases has stacked up because of the pandemic...

High Covid death toll expected for ‘several weeks’ but signs are that the tide is slowly turning

Public health experts in Bedford are expecting a high Covid-19 (coronavirus) death toll to continue for several more weeks as an infection bulge works its way through into hospitalisations...

Rising from the ashes: £60m mental health in-patient facility proposed for hospital fire site

A new £60m mental health building in Bedford is “a once in a generation opportunity for the people of Central Bedfordshire and Bedford borough”, a meeting heard. The potential investment on the site of the Bedford Health Village on Kimbolton Road would almost certainly lead to...

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