Sign up for daily news
9 November 2026
Facebook-f Threads Instagram Linkedin Youtube
Search

Mayor Tom Wootton

Commemorative bench in aid of the 80th VE Day event in Bedford

VE Day 80 events announced as Bedford remembers

The 80th anniversary of VE Day is on Thursday 8 May, and there are a number of events taking place in Bedford town centre commemorating the occasion, including a parade on Sunday 11 May...
Read more
Universal Globe at theme park. Image: Universal Destinations & Experiences

Councillor warns of potential pressures Universal could place on local services

A Bedford borough councillor has warned of the potential pressures Universal Studios could place on local services and the housing market, but Bedford’s mayor said responding to these impacts...
Read more
Wixams Station Artist Impression. Image: Bedford Borough Council

Wixams station put on hold as Universal Studios plans reshape rail priorities

Plans for the Wixams railway station have been put on hold, as new information from the government suggests a significantly larger vision for rail links connected to the...
Read more
Bedford Borough Hall Bedford Borough council signage and entrance

Calls grow for long-term funding as Universal Studios project moves ahead

Comcast's decision to base its first UK Universal Studios theme park in the Bedford area has brought widespread enthusiasm. Still, it has also raised serious questions about...
Read more
East West Rail (EWR) jacket

Is East West Rail still on the right track after Universal’s announcement?

With Universal Studios confirming plans for a multi-billion-pound theme park in Bedford Borough, attention is now turning to how this transformational development could – or should...
Read more
(l-r) Mayor Tom Wootton and Cllr Gribble with one of the food waste collectors. Image: Bedford Borough Council

New food waste recycling service launches to help Bedford businesses meet green targets

Bedford Borough Council has launched a new commercial food waste collection service to help local businesses comply with incoming government recycling rules and support the Borough’s...
Read more
Don't STOP believin'! Image: Bedford Independent

Bedford Ian writes…

18 April 2025: Stop song, Mug shot, Universal slice, Private pinching and Headline ignorance. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and has...
Read more
Mayor Tom Wootton celebrates with staff as he cuts the ribbon on Bedford's new Deichmann store in Bedford Town Centre. Image: Deichmann

Deichmann’s new Bedford store opens ahead of weekend launch celebrations

The mayor of Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton (Conservative), officially opened Deichmann’s brand-new Bedford store this week, marking a major retail investment in the town centre...
Read more
Mayor Tom Wootton holds up a cut out of the UK, showing Bedford as the the location of the proposed new Universal Studios Theme Park. Image: Bedford Independent

Council leaders explain why Universal Studios is a game-changer for the whole Borough

Universal Studios' announcement to build a world-class theme park and resort in Bedford Borough has made international headlines. But beyond the scale of the investment...
Read more
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...
Read more

Get the latest Bedford news first

Subscribe to our free daily email for our lead story each morning before we publish it anywhere else, plus the key Bedford Borough headlines from the last 24 hours – without having to log into social media.

I've already subscribed (dont show again)