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.

Fears of “speculative development” as Local Plan 2040 is withdrawn

Bedford borough councillors will be asked to withdraw Local Plan 2040 after the planning inspector warned it could not be found sound without major changes. Members heard...

Electric vehicle ‘car club’ for staff at council ends

Bedford Borough Council has ended its electric vehicle (EV) car club for staff, citing high costs and low usage, and is now looking at a salary sacrifice scheme as a more viable alternative...

New Telecare charges across Bedford Borough proposed but critics aren’t happy

Bedford Borough's mayor has proposed a new £4 charge per week for the 3,200 Bedford locals using Telecare, to combat what they call "ballooning costs" that have increased to £450,000 per year...

Monthly column: “Our work is not glamourous, but it’s vital”

Social media has its advantages – on one hand, it enables me to let residents of my ward know what their councillors have been up to – but it can also be a place where disgruntled people...

Drone ban proposed in Universal planning application

Universal Destinations & Experiences (UDX) plans to apply for restricted airspace over its proposed Bedford resort to prevent third-party drones from flying over the theme park site...

Monthly column: Local Plan in chaos – Inspector calls for fresh start

For years, many councillors and residents across Bedford Borough have raised serious concerns about the previous Mayor’s Local Plan 2040. They were right to do so...

Storm brews over proposed changes to Bedford’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Proposals to reform Bedford Borough’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) have sparked a political row, with opposition Liberal Democrat councillors accusing the Conservative...

Universal planning documents acknowledge concerns including traffic disruption to ecological impacts

The plans for Universal Destinations & Experiences’ new Entertainment Resort Complex (ERC) near Bedford are moving forward. But not without acknowledging a comprehensive array...

Parties abstain from government’s controversial disability benefit cuts vote

Bedford Borough’s Labour and Conservative Groups abstained on a motion urging the government to rethink its proposed disability benefit cuts. Green councillor Lucy Bywater...

Mayor apologises for councillor’s ‘mansplaining’ misstep

An unnamed Bedford borough councillor has been accused of mansplaining following a meeting in March. During last night’s Full Council (Wednesday, 2 July), Bedford resident Tracy Wagner...