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9 November 2026
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Politics

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.

Bedford's elected mayor, Tom Wotton, pictured by Riverside Square

Monthly column: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

As your Mayor, I believe in keeping things honest, transparent, and grounded in reality. This update is about keeping you in the loop, celebrating progress and being upfront about the financial mismanagement we have uncovered...
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Blake Stephenson. Image: LDRS

Local MP calls for crackdown on “the scourge of shoplifting” as PCC encourages people to report crime

A Bedford Borough MP has called on the Government to crack down on "prolific" shoplifting offences, calling it a "scourge on local communities", despite local police leaders calling on the public...
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Borough Hall. Image: Bedford Borough Council

Bedford Borough Council takes out £5m loan to “re-profile” short-term debt

Bedford Borough Council said a multi-million pound loan is to "re-profile" short-term debt. Data from the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) revealed that the borough council...
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Central Bedfordshire Council entrance Image: LDRS

Central Bedfordshire’s Local Plan earmarks more than 600 potential sites for development

More than 600 sites have been suggested for potential development in Central Bedfordshire for when the new Local Plan is adopted. The list is due to be whittled down by Central Bedfordshire...
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Bedford Borough Council offices

Planning enforcement team “exceed Government benchmarks” despite delays

Bedford Borough Council’s planning enforcement and appeals team has exceeded government performance benchmarks, despite a rising workload and delays from the national...
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Goldington Avenue planning application parking spaces image LDRS Bedford Borough Council

Revenue decrease from parking permits despite a record number handed out

Bedford Borough Council has been issuing an ever-growing number of parking permits to residents — but revenue from them has dropped, according to the figures. The Borough Council...
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Bedford Borough Hall Bedford Borough council signage and entrance

Bedford Borough Council raises charges on temporary accommodation to plug growing funding gap

For the first time since 2019, Bedford Borough Council is increasing rent and service charges on its own temporary accommodation properties — a move designed to address a growing...
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Woman hand rejecting more alcohol from wine bottle in bar Image Brian Jackson Adobe Stock

New policy sees “products linked to poor health” banned from council spaces

Bedford Borough Council has adopted a new policy to ban advertising and sponsorship deals that promote products linked to poor health outcomes - such as junk food, alcohol, gambling...
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Central Bedfordshire Council entrance Image: LDRS

Central Bedfordshire children’s services get ‘Good’ rating but areas of concern remain

Children’s services in Central Bedfordshire have maintained a 'good' rating, despite three areas of concern, after an Ofsted inspection visited the local authority last month...
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A map showing approximation of the proposed site near Felmsersham. Image: Google MyMaps (C)2025 Map Data (C)2025 Imagery (C)2025 Maxar Technologies via LDRS

Concerns over rural impact and fairness in Felmersham as council receives planning application for Traveller site

Residents have objected to a retrospective planning application for a Gypsy and Traveller site near Felmersham, citing concerns over highway safety, rural impact...
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