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9 November 2026
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Mayor Tom Wootton

Bedfordshire Police officers speaking with people congregating on St Peter's Green in Bedford Image Bedford Independent

Monthly column: Safer streets, safer Bedford town centre

Bedford town centre is an important place to shop, enjoy hospitality, meet friends, attend cultural events, and conduct business. I have been visiting this town centre and taking...
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Bedford Borough Hall Bedford Borough council signage and entrance

Transparency at Borough Hall called into question again as finance report still not shared

A report by financial experts CIPFA into Bedford Borough Council’s operations is yet to be shared with all councillors or published publicly, prompting calls from within the council’s own executive...
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Mayor Tom Wootton was elected in 2023. Image: Bedford Borough Council.

Letters: In his latest column the mayor is both contradictory and inaccurate

I read with great interest the latest column from the Mayor of Bedford Borough. I find the comments the Mayor makes to be both a contradiction and inaccurate. I do not recall the Mayor ever suggesting...
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A variety of empty glass bottles ready for collection in kerbside bin. Image: P.Cartwright/Shutterstock

From bottles to banana peels: Bedford homes to have more recycling options

Bedford Borough Council has announced plans to expand its kerbside recycling services, including a borough-wide kerbside glass collection and a weekly food waste service, starting in 2026...
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Bedford's elected mayor, Tom Wotton, pictured by Riverside Square

Monthly column: Local Plan in chaos – Inspector calls for fresh start

For years, many councillors and residents across Bedford Borough have raised serious concerns about the previous Mayor’s Local Plan 2040. They were right to do so...
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A mansplaining chart by Kim Goodwin

Bedford Ian writes…

4 July 2025: Mansplaining mansplained, Self-love, and Thirst trap. 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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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

Mayor’s “Universal Day” plan delayed as motion withdrawn from meeting

A proposal by Bedford mayor Tom Wootton to establish “Universal Day” was withdrawn from this week’s full council meeting and will be brought back at a later date, the council has confirmed...
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Bedford Borough Hall Bedford Borough council signage and entrance

Mayor apologises for councillor’s ‘mansplaining’ misstep

An unnamed Bedford borough councillor has been accused of mansplaining following a meeting in March. During last night’s Full Council (Wednesday, 2 July), Bedford resident Tracy Wagner...
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(c) Pcc John Tizard (l) shakes hands with Mayor of Bedford Tom Wootton as business owners, police officers and councillors help launch the Summer Policing Plan. Image: Bedford Independent

Bedfordshire Police face criticisms head on with launch of Summer Policing Plan

As summer arrives, bringing longer days and bustling town centres, Bedfordshire Police has launched its Summer Policing Plan that will see a greater police presence in Bedford...
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Progress Pride Flag flying over Harpur Square Image Bedford Borough Council

Bedford Ian writes…

27 June 2025: Flag flap, Magistrate moan, Nadine nonsense, and Mayoral result. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks...
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