Bedford Borough Council

All the latest Bedford Borough Council 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.

Villagers object to Willington planning application

An outline application for up to 36 new homes in Willington has prompted objections from residents who say the scheme conflicts with the village’s neighbourhood plan...

Sevenfold difference in parish council tax precepts across Bedford Borough

Parish council tax charges for 2026/27 show significant variation across Bedford borough, with some villages charging more than seven times as much as others for a Band D property...

Council-funded Bedford and Kempston regeneration projects “put on hold”

Council-funded regeneration projects in Bedford and Kempston town centres have been put on hold, according to an update report published this week. An Executive decision taken on 25 February...

Mayor hits back after Lib Dems warn proposed council constitutional changes could limit public voice

Lib Dems say the Mayor wants to “silence the public” as a leaked document reveals proposed constitutional changes. The Mayor says the review will improve governance. The document, seen...

Senior councillor praises Bedford Independent reporting accuracy amid row over Government financial support

A council row breaks out over the meaning of Exceptional Financial Support, as the Conservative leader says the Bedford Independent was the only outlet to report it accurately...

Bedford council tax rises approved with budget only balanced by Government support

Bedford Borough Council has approved a 4.99% council tax increase for 2026/27, raising £133.5m locally as the budget relies on Government Exceptional Financial Support...

New committee will oversee council’s Improvement Plan and savings programme

Bedford Borough Council is set to establish a new committee to oversee the delivery of its Improvement Plan and savings programme. The Finance and Improvement Committee will hold its first...

Councillor warns retrospective planning must not reward non-compliance as Kempston car dealership rejected

Bedford Borough Council has refused retrospective planning permission for a used car dealership operating from a former commercial unit in Kempston, after councillors said the access...

Council plan to save up to £60million on adult services costs over next four years

Bedford Borough Council is pursuing a transformation programme in Adult Services that could generate between £42 million and £60 million in savings over four years, councillors were...

Kempston MOT centre plans rejected after local objections

Borough councillors have refused plans to turn a former car sales site in Park Road, Kempston, into an MOT centre after residents warned it would worsen congestion and harm the character...

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