28 August 2026

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All the latest Bedford town centre news from across Bedford Borough. Everything you need to keep you up to date with what’s happening in sport 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.

Breaking News: Bedford Borough Council planning to buy former Debenhams building

Bedford Borough Council has announced plans to buy the former Debenhams building in a "strategic move to rejuvenate our [Bedford's} High Street" and "foster economic growth." In a statement...

Council urged to make the development of Debenhams and Beales a priority

There should be “some urgency” to develop a “prime” Bedford town centre site, a borough councillor has said. The Budget and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee was told on...

Council criticised for being ‘behind the curve’ as it unveils town centre plans for the future

Bedford Borough Council has published its 'Town Centre Vision' which it says outlines its aim to create "town centres [in Bedford and Kempston] that people are proud to live in and excited to visit"...

Council considering extending no-drinking zone for a further three years

In an effort to tackle street drinking and anti-social behaviour, the council is asking Bedfordians for their views on the potential extension of the current Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) in the town centre...

Four hours free parking trial to begin in Bedford town centre

Bedford Borough Council has unveiled its latest initiative to encourage shoppers and visitors into Bedford town centre with a four-hour free parking trial in one of the multi-storey car parks...

Edinburgh Woollen Mill finally fills former BHS site

After lying empty since 2016, the former BHS building on Midland Road is set to have a new tenant this August. Edinburgh Woollen Mill (EWM), the company that originally bought the building in 2017...

Latest High Street heritage renovation unveiled ahead of completion of All Ears

The penultimate renovation on Bedford High Street has been unveiled this week, with the traditional timber shopfront restored to the iconic double-height Salvation Army building on the corner of...

Frustration as Bedford cycle shelter closed to new users until August

Bedford cyclists have been told they'll have to wait to use the bike hub in Bedford while the council updates the way it is managed. Sharon Allen got in touch with us to say she'd had no...

Pride of Place Bedford: turning empty shops into creative energy in the heart of the town

With keys in hand, artist and creative producer, Talia Giles, and Bedford Creative Arts (BCA) are launching Pride Of Place (POP) Bedford in an empty shop in the heart of the town centre...

Free parking in Bedford is coming – but not yet

Free parking in Bedford’s town centre is coming – but not yet, the new mayor has said. Four hours free parking every day in all council-owned multi-storey car parks was one of Tom Wootton’s...