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9 October 2026
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Mayor Dave Hodgson

Tom Wootton (Conservative) and his supporters on 5 May 2023, the night he was elected mayor of Bedford Borough

Bedford Labour group seeks vote to abolish mayor as leader of Bedford Borough Council

The Bedford Borough Labour Group has proposed an Extraordinary Full Council meeting to trigger a public referendum, giving residents their first say in 20 years on how the local authority...
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Bedford Borough Hall Bedford Borough council signage and entrance

Local Conservatives argue council tax was not raised enough under Lib Dems, despite opposition to rises

Bedford Borough Council’s Conservative administration has cited an independent report to argue that council tax was not raised enough under the Liberal Democrats, despite having opposed tax...
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Polling Station church red brick building. Image: Peter Fleming/Adobe Stock

Change coming to Bedford mayoral voting system after close 2023 election

Bedford’s razor-thin mayoral election result in 2023 has been thrown into sharper focus after the government confirmed it is scrapping First Past the Post (FPTP) for mayoral and...
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Police on the beat on Bedford High Street. Image: Bedfordshire Police/Facebook

Letters: Political point-scoring over Bedford policing needs to stop

I am really disappointed to see that we, in Bedford, have descended to the level of US political point-scoring in our use of social media. This is particularly damaging in my view when...
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An artist impression of how the new Universal Theme Park might look. It has a huge lake in the centre with various themed areas around it. it also show the entrance and 'city walk'

Breaking news: Universal Studios UK gets green light for £50bn Bedford theme park opening 2031

A new Universal Studios theme park and resort is set to be built at Kempston Hardwick, Bedford, after the government officially confirmed a multi-billion-pound deal with Universal...
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Mayor Tom Wootton was elected in 2023. Image: Bedford Borough Council.

Bedford Borough Mayor pays tribute to cabinet and councillors as he marks a year in office

Bedford’s mayor said his “fantastic” cabinet members and councillors have made Bedford borough a “can-do” council. Speaking at Bromham Parish Council last night (7 May), mayor Tom Wootton...
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The first directly-elected Mayor of Bedford Borough

How the mayors of Bedford Borough have left their mark

With its creation in 1974, Bedford Borough Council is 50 years old this year. To help mark their anniversary, we've given them a chance to look back at how our local authority has evolved and impacted...
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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...
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Opinion: I’m glad Bedford Borough has a Tory mayor, but not for the reasons you might think

History was made on Friday after it was announced that Conservative Tom Wootton would be the next mayor of Bedford Borough. Naturally, his team were delighted, and judging by the comments on social...
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Monthly column: Celebrating St George’s Day and the King’s Coronation

Tomorrow is Election Day. Don’t worry I am not going to talk about that. Apart from reminding you, Polling Stations are open from 7am until 10pm and that you need to take photographic ID this year...
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