9 November 2026

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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.

Bedford homeless report a “difficult read” with some suggestions “unlawful”

A report commissioned by Bedford Borough Council to tackle the rise in temporary accommodation needs is a “difficult read”, a senior councillor has said. But some of the suggestions made in the Homeless...

Mixed response to Grace community hub planning application in Kempston

A planning application for a community hub in Kempston has been welcomed by the Borough Council, but local councillors and the MP are opposing the project. A hybrid planning application by the...

Reapplication for new homes in Harrold described as “nonsense” by objector

A planning application for new homes in Harrold is the “same rejected application dressed up as a change of use”, an objector has claimed. Last month an application for 17 new homes – including the six...

Too late to restore quarry say planning consultants

It’s now too late to enforce planning conditions to restore a Stewartby quarry, planning consultants have claimed. An application for a certificate of lawfulness has been sent to Bedford Borough...

Major upgrade begins on lifts at River Street car park

The three lifts at River Street multi-storey car park in Bedforfd town centre will be getting an upgrade when work starts on Monday, 19 February. The lifts have reached the end of their lifespan and...

Mayor thanks councillors for support of “eye-watering” council tax rise

Bedfordians are to have an “eye-watering” council tax increase after a majority of councillors voted in favour of the administration’s budget in a meeting that has been described as a "bad night for local...

East West Rail briefing meeting to be live-streamed

Members of the public will be able to watch tonight's East West Rail briefing via a live stream on the Council's website. The meeting will be a presentation of reports that Mayor Tom Wootton...

State-of-the-art ‘Leisure Village’ returns to the drawing board

Mayor Tom Wootton's bold ambitions for the Borough's leisure facilities have gone back to the drawing board, with councillors asking for a business case to support the proposal. The new Leisure Village was...

Shortstown in line for up to 1,000 new homes if planning approved

Up to 1,000 new homes could be coming to a village near Bedford, if planning is approved. A hybrid planning application for a development in Shortstown has been submitted to Bedford Borough Council...

Council bosses celebrate “diamond” Pishminder’s 42 years of service

After joining Bedford County Council on her 18th birthday, Pishminder Kumari has been honoured by the Mayor and chief executive for her unrivalled 42 years of continuous service...