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28 August 2026
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Beales

Mayor Tom Wootton with councillors and officers of Bedford Borough Council outside the new What's On Hub

Monthly column: Delivering for Bedford Borough by investing in opportunity

As a local Council, we are proud to be a force for growth, helping to drive prosperity across Bedford Borough. That means championing major investment and attracting new opportunities...
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Dancebox students. Image: Dancebox Studios via Bedford Borough Council

Dancebox town centre plans welcomed but concerns raised over library move

New reaction has emerged to plans for Dancebox to move into Bedford town centre, with mayor Tom Wootton welcoming the deal and cllr Bywater raising the library’s future...
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Beales is now half clean after Panther Plc cleaned the part they own, but the council has yet to complete the job on the side they're responsible for. Image: Bedford Independent

Dancebox set to take over part of former Beales building in Bedford Town Centre

Dancebox Studios & Theatre Works Ltd is set to take over part of Bedford’s former Beales building under council plans approved this week. An executive decision signed by the mayor...
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Beales is now half clean after Panther Plc cleaned the part they own, but the council has yet to complete the job on the side they're responsible for. Image: Bedford Independent

Bedford Ian writes…

23 January 2026: Half clean, Monsieur Mangetout, Distressing times, and Blues superstition. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks...
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PM Keir Starmer being interviewed by media at Bedford Family Hub, St Mary's Church Hall, Goldington 8 January 2026. Image: Bedford Independent

Bedford Ian writes…

09 January 2026: Baby talk, Cleaning up, Scorchio speedio, and Backlash backfired. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all…
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The windows of the deserted Beales building in Bedford town centre are daubed with paint and abandoned posters.

Beales clean-up to be completed by “end of next week”

The landlord of the former Beales building on Silver Street has confirmed that its clean-up will be completed by "the end of next week". The building, whose frontage occupies half of Silver...
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The windows of the former Beales store on Harpur Square have been left with paint daubed on the windows, ripped posters and fixtures and fittings left behind.

Beales building landlord confirms clean-up in the pipeline

The landlord of the former Beales building on Silver Street and Harpur Square has confirmed that it will be improving the exterior following the apparent departure of its most recent tenant...
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The former Debenhams store on the corner of Bedford High Street and Silver Street. Image: Kirkby Diamond

‘Mayes Yard’ town centre art space to be discussed at community meeting

A community meeting is being held tomorrow (Friday) to discuss a proposal for a town centre arts space in the Mayes Yard development of Bedford town centre. Local artists are encouraged...
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The former Debenhams building. Image: Bedford Independent

Letters: The future can be bright for Bedford if we react to opportunities ahead

Andrew Ruff’s suggestion of using the ground floor of Debenhams as an indoor market is an intriguing and innovative idea. However, I suspect that no feasible shopping proposal for the...
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Bedford Town Centre from above

Letters: Bedford town centre needs more homes not shops

My heart sank as I read the current plans for the redevelopment of the Beales and Debenhams site with more retail, leisure, and food & beverage (Bedford Independent, 6 November). It really looks...
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