18 September 2026
Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings-on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all…
Parking prats
I’m quite certain there’s a secret circle of hell reserved for people who park in disabled parking spaces when they don’t need to, let alone stealing blue badges from those genuinely in need in an attempt to get away with it.
So, I must ask you all to give Bedford Borough Council investigators, who have successfully prosecuted several low-lifes for doing just that, a big round of applause.
Read: Delivery drivers and a parent prosecuted in Bedford Blue Badge crackdown
But I do have to challenge a comparison some have made in the comments of the above story, suggesting parking in a disabled bay without a disability (visible or not) is the same as using a parent and child bay without a child.
It isn’t.
Supermarkets invented parent and child bays to appear more family-friendly than their competitors.
While they’re incredibly helpful for parents who need the extra space and find it much easier to get around with a child in tow, it’s a convenience, not a necessity.
Disabled parking spaces are legally protected under UK law, including the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (Section 21), the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (Sections 32, 35, 115, and 117), and the Equality Act 2010.
Parent and child spaces are protected by whatever terms and conditions that supermarket has cooked up.
That being said, if you don’t have a child with you the next time you pop into Sainsbury’s with your oversized and unnecessary 4×4, don’t be a dick; park somewhere else.
Party rift?
It went the way I said it would and, I imagine a lot of others suspected too, but the motion by Bedford Borough’s Labour Group to hold a referendum on the elected Mayoral system in our Borough was rejected.
I don’t need to delve into the motion and meeting again; I wrote a special on Wednesday, and our editorial team has followed it up twice, but one thing did stand out like a sore thumb.
Read: Bedford Borough Council rejects £375k mayoral referendum as Conservative group members abstain
Read: Bedford Ian writes, mayoral vote special…
The only abstentions were by four Conservative councillors, and two senior ones at that.
Now, in a statement, the Conservative group said the vote “was not a reflection on any individual Mayor – past, present or future” and that members were free to vote how they pleased on “how Bedford Borough should be governed.”
So why not do that then?
If they wanted to keep the mayoral system, say so; if they don’t, vote against it.
It really was that simple. I genuinely can’t think of a reason to abstain, so please send in your answers on a postcard if there is, as it’s certainly raised some eyebrows and certainly looks like all is not well.
Of course, this is all speculation. But when you also see one of the abstainers in the meeting looking bored and apparently on his phone, as the elected mayor (and his party colleague) gives his views on the motion, you can’t help but wonder.
Madness madness
It was either going to be a Tommy Cooper tribute or Madness announced as a headliner for next year’s Live at Bedford Park season. I owe someone a tenner.
Well done indeed to the hard-working Bedfordians who pull together the concerts each year; they first approached Madness ten years ago to ask them to visit ‘our house’, and now they are.
Read: It’s been ten years in the making: Madness are (finally) coming to Bedford Park
I can’t wait to take a ‘night boat’ to Bedford Park, with ‘my girl’, ahh, ‘it must be love’. I’ll even wear my favourite ‘baggy trousers’ as we head for the ‘house of fun’.
Hopefully we’ll see you there at what’s sure to be the feel-good ‘fez’tival of the summer.
See you soon,
Bedford Ian.
PS: If you see anything Bedford Ian might find amusing, let us know at news@BedfordIndependent.co.uk.
