9 November 2026

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All the latest Political and politics news from across Bedford Borough. Everything you need to keep you up to date with what’s happening in Bedford Borough on your mobile or desktop via the Bedford Independent.

The Bedford Independent was founded to provide the people of Bedford Borough with a modern news desk that would give them easy access to genuine and unbiased Bedford news. We are independent in ownership and opinion.

Our mission is to inform and inspire the people of Bedford. To do this we will work hard to bring them the news that matters to them from our town centre to the most rural of the Borough’s villages.

Our editorial team are NCTJ trained and follows a standards code set out by the independent press regulator IMPRESS Standards.

Monthly column: Britain’s legal immigration system needs fixing – Here’s how we can do it

Since being elected to Parliament in July 2024, one issue has come up again and again in conversations with people across Mid Bedfordshire: people feel Britain’s immigration system...

Vacant Renhold home could become ‘small residential institution’

Plans have been submitted to convert a house in Renhold into a small residential institution. The application to Bedford Borough Council seeks permission to change the use of 2 Becher Close...

Bedford Borough Council risks missing out on developer payments due to data transfer delays

Bedford Borough Council could risk failing to collect some developer contributions linked to housing developments because hundreds of planning agreements have not yet been transferred into a...

Bedford Borough Council children’s services facing ‘higher demand than anticipated’

Bedford borough social workers are assessing more children than expected for an area of its size, councillors have been told. Bedford Borough Council’s Children’s Services Overview...

Retrospective planning application for High Street flat conversion

A flat above a Bedford High Street leisure venue has been built and occupied before seeking planning approval. The retrospective planning application relates to 38 High Street, where...

Monthly column: Growing up in the online world – a national consultation

The Government has launched a major national consultation on how we keep children safe online, and I want to encourage parents, young people, educators and carers...

Monthly column: Child knife crime, we must do better

Knife crime literally kills. It damages victims and perpetrators. It is a societal ill. There have been too many murders and serious assaults in Bedford and the wider county for us to ignore the scourge...

Bedford Borough Council says £10m borrowing refinance not linked to financial support bid

Bedford Borough Council has clarified that £10m of borrowing refinanced into longer-term loans is routine treasury management and does not increase the authority’s debt...

Four in ten councils may need Government support like Bedford Borough within five years

Nearly four in ten councils across England expect they may need Exceptional Financial Support within five years, according to a new report, as ministers consider Bedford Borough...

Bedford Borough Council accused of ‘gatekeeping’ domestic abuse victims seeking housing help

Bedford Borough Council has been accused of “gatekeeping” domestic abuse victims seeking housing help after a resident told councillors some survivors were still struggling...