We’re missing a trick in Bedford Borough.
The Mayor is distracted by politics and resignations from his Cabinet instead of making sure local residents – and particularly our young people – don’t miss out on new employment opportunities.
Alan Milburn’s report on youth unemployment gave us all a stark warning.
But in the same week, a report from the local democracy reporter found that the Mayor had made “no comment” on the huge job opportunities that we could be grasping.
What does Bedford Borough have to offer?
Surely there is something positive the Mayor could think of to promote our Borough?
As a starter for ten…
Try education and skills.
Bedford College was appointed as Cross-Regional Construction Centre of Excellence in 2025; its staff have won numerous awards for teaching quality.
The University of Bedfordshire has also received awards for excellent teaching and last month announced it was partnering with the British School of Aviation.
Excitingly, we are now at the heart of a crucible of education: Cranfield University and King’s College London are merging, and with Cambridge and Oxford either end of both the soon-to-be-completed improved road link and upcoming train connections, the Conservative leadership is failing our future.
Education is something that has always been a key feature of Bedford life, and many people will have stories like mine of how it has impacted their families.
My great-grandmother trained at Amy Walmsley’s Teacher Training College in Bedford, and my mum trained at Mander College of Further Education; and you can visit the Higgins museum’s exhibition on ‘Stanny’s Stus’ – the story of the groundbreaking Bedford Physical Training College established in 1903.
Don’t let us be bypassed again
But no. The economic development team – responsible for securing Universal and other jobs to residents – is listed as a cut in this year’s budget.
Even the potentially huge town centre regeneration Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for around the Mayor’s still empty Debenhams building has been leaked at a presentation in Leeds… no local people invited.
Universal is doing a better job of promoting Bedford than our own Mayor: “Universal chose Bedford, at the heart of the OxCam corridor… because of its incredible connectivity, the skilled local workforce and supplier base, and the entrepreneurial energy that is evident across the whole area,” says their spokesperson in this Government prospectus.
I haven’t even mentioned the high-tech industry of Manton Heights or the nationally acclaimed music venues, growing sporting teams and arts and culture… You only need to spend five minutes reading the Bedford Clanger or my fortnightly emails to know what is going on.
The chaos at the centre needs to change
You might have been expecting me to comment extensively on the three resignations from the Mayor’s Cabinet in this column.
Or the £44.8m black hole in the Council’s finances.
But the impact of all of this is clear: no comment, no vision, we’ll “somehow” get out of the financial crisis, an eye off the ball, fighting yesterday’s battles.
Our Borough deserves better, and deserves someone who will work tirelessly to champion the jobs for the future.
This is a monthly guest column provided by Cllr Henry Vann,
leader of the Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Group.
It is published unedited and does not reflect the
views of the Bedford Independent.
