Proposed New Crossings
New Zebra and Toucan crossings are proposed for Houghton Regis. If you have any comments on these please let the Focus Team know, or write to planning department at Central Bedfordshire Council.
1. A Humped Zebra Crossing in Parkside Drive, 80 metres north-east of its junction with Elm Park Close. (hump = 75mm raised platform)
2. A Humped Zebra Crossing in Sundon Road, at a point approximately 15 metres south of its junction with Easthill Road.
3. A Signalised Toucan Crossing at Park Road North 160 metres north-west of its roundabout junction with Sandringham Drive.
These works are part of a wider scheme to improve pedestrian and cycling facilities.
Lib Dems and Older People
Pensioners in Houghton Regis have praised the efforts of Liberal Democrats in Government.
- By restoring the earnings link to the Basic State Pension, Liberal Democrats are giving pensioners an extra £500 a year.
- Key benefits for pensioners are being protected, like the Winter Fuel Payments, free bus travel, free prescriptions and TV licences for the over 75s.
- Energy companies are being forced to give a discount to those most in need; the most vulnerable pensioners will see a cut of £130 in their energy bill.
- Cold Weather Payments have been boosted from £8 to £25.
Lib Dems and Health
- Waiting times are getting lower - 94% of patients now begin their treatment in less than 18 weeks.
- Hospital infections are now at the lowest level on record.
- 12,000 extra patients are benefiting from an annual £200m Cancer Drugs Fund.
- Respite Care Breaks are being provided to hundreds of thousands of hard working carers who look after friends or family.
- £400m committed to increasing access to talking therapies to support people with mental health problems and make sure that the right action is taken early on.
Woodside Link
We welcome the proposed new road that will take traffic from Porz Avenue east, and then north, reducing congestion in Houghton Regis town centre.
Known as the Woodside Link, this new road will run east from the Porz Avenue roundabout and then north across what are currently open fields. It will also provide a main route to supply tributary roads to future new housing developments.
The outline road proposal indicates a new junction to link in to Parkside Drive at the start of the old Bus Link. The scheme is likely to be started in 2014, and completed in 2016.
Tithe Farm’s Lib Dem councillor, Peter Williams, has concerns. “What we don’t want is a significant amount of motorway traffic finding its way onto Sundon Road. That would be disastrous. So, we’ll be expressing our concerns at every opportunity.”
What do you think about this proposal? Let us know.
New MUGA on Parkside
In the summer the Town Council gave the go ahead for a new improved play area on Parkside. Work on the Multi Use Games Area will start soon.
New Heritage Group Formed
The “fifties and sixties” is the theme of a new heritage group for the town. The group are interested in preserving and recalling the past and may be offering to visit local schools and groups once they are ready.
If you have old photographs of Houghton Regis tucked away and would like to share them please contact David Hill on 07956 546970.
Lib Dems and Environment
- A million trees are being planted in 4 years through the “Big Tree Plant”, the first government tree planting campaign since the 1970s.
- 60,000 jobs are being created in home insulation projects that will also cut our energy bills.
- A Green Investment Bank will channel funds into wind farms and solar power.
Lib Dems and Education
- The ‘Pupil Premium’, brought in by the Liberal Democrats in government, is providing a £2.5 billion package providing extra funding for millions of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Teachers can use this money as they see fit, such as through smaller class sizes or catch-up lessons.
- Liberal Democrats are helping parents with childcare by providing 15 hours of free childcare per week for all disadvantaged two-year olds, as well as 15 hours per week for all three and four-year-olds.
- Support is being provided for children with Special Educational Needs with the biggest reforms in 30 years. Parents will get more control over the finances, and bureaucrats, less.
Focus Team Councillors
Lib Dem town councillor, Pete Carrington is involved with Street Watch. It is run by local residents in Houghton Regis to help prevent crime. Volunteer members patrol the streets helping to increase a feeling of safety, security and community spirit. The scheme is supported by Bedfordshire Police.
Members commit to just 2 hours a month.
Would you like to join in? Tel: 01582- 866314 http://www.street-watch.org.uk/
Lib Dem town councillor, Alan Winter, voluntarily edits ‘Houghton Regis News Desk’, a daily online publication that helps to connect people in the town to things that are going on around them.
Lib Dem town councillor, Rob Shimmin, is a volunteer with SOS Bus Luton, helping to keep the streets safer for vulnerable people in trouble with alcohol, drugs, fights. SOS operates on Friday and Saturday nights between 9pm and 3.30am. The bus has saved hundreds of hours of police and ambulance staff time. Anyone interested in helping should ring Tel: 01582 480770.
Some of our Lib Dem Councillors in Houghton Regis are members of Houghton Regis Helpers. This is a voluntary organisation of local residents who help the people in the town with small problems, (errands, comfort, household assistance). Houghton Regis Helpers 07587 004514.
Thank your lucky stars that there is a party curbing the excesses of the Tories
Because of the Liberal Democrats being in Government, we have:
- introduced additional funding for the poorest school pupils
- taken hundreds of thousands of people out of tax
- cut the tax bill for millions of low earners
- introduced a billion pound scheme to help young people get to work and training
- delivered the biggest pension increase ever
- embarked on the largest investment in railways since the Victorian era
- cut the defecit by 25%
- saved the British economy from the worst consequences of worldwide recession
- taking action to sort out the banks where Labour admit they failed to, and admit they would have had to make deep cuts, too
New Housing Schemes for Houghton
IMPORTANT CONSULTATION THIS SUMMER: Land north of Houghton Regis.
This summer a preliminary public consultation will take place to gather interest and concerns. This land (outlined in red) was identified as a sustainable location for growth in the Sustainable Communities Plan (2003). Following this plan the land was identified in the Luton and southern Central Bedfordshire Core Strategy, which was abandoned due to disagreements between CBC and Luton Borough Council. Development of the land is now being pursued via the Development Management process.
The land has been identified for 7,000 dwellings, 40 ha of employment land and associated facilities, all to be delivered through a masterplan. The masterplan, which will be led by the developer, will provide a "vision" and indicate the broad principles development should follow. The document will be used to inform the submission of a planning application and will not constitute the granting of planning permission. Planning applications are expected to start being submitted in the autumn of this year.
Two major transport improvements will assist growth in the area: (1) the A5-M1 link road to Junction 11a (by the Highways Agency and assisted funding by CBC and Developer. (2) The Woodside Connection to M1 J11a will be provided by the developer and CBC. For (1) construction is likely to start in 2014; for (2) an expected start of 2017.
If you would like to be kept informed of developments, email the Project Administrator, mentioning "Houghton Regis Liberal Democrats", at stuart.robinson@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Promoters of the developments will be inviting opinions via telephone surveys, face to face interviews, and presentations. During July public exhibitions are expected to take place in the town. By the Autumn, Planning Applications may be submitted.
The promoters of the schemes intend to widely publicise their events.
If you have any particular concerns, contact any of your Lib Dem councillors.
Download Central Beds Framework Plan
for a map of the initial ideas new look Houghton Regis.
Success of
Jubilee Events in
Houghton Regis
The Queens Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in Houghton Regis by a number of street parties, school parties, a balloon race and a talent contest.
Your Liberal Democrat-run town council organised and supported several events. A Picnic on the Village Green was very well attended. Crowds enjoyed a range of sideshows including a singing group, maypole dancing, and a coconut shy raised funds for the new mayor's charities.
An evening disco was supported at the Village Green, a coach trip was organised to view the pageant on the River Thames, and a Town commemorative enamel badge was struck as a memento of the occasion.
Houghton Regis Lower Petition
Liberal Democrats are among the supporters of a petition calling for Houghton Regis Lower School to have the right to become a primary school like the other schools in the Town. Up to now the barrier has been the lack of space to accommodate more pupils. As other local schools move to primary and secondary school status, pupils reaching Year 4 of the Lower School will face a disruptive transfer for only two years.
Sign online at http://bit.ly/MjceZU
New Market Stalls Are A Hit
Friday's one market stall in Bedford Square was recently joined by a few more. Your Lib Dem run town council felt it was about time more local enterprise was encouraged, lessening the need for local people to travel far to do their regular shopping.
Police and Crime
Commissioners
Elections will be held in November to elect Police and Crime Commissioners for every police force in the country. The elected PCC will be responsible for the police force in their area, and for holding chief constables to account. Details about your Liberal Democrat candidate will be announced in due course.
BUS STOP UPGRADES
35 bus stops on the 38 route through Houghton Regis are to be upgraded as part of the Guided Busway Project. The new stops will give real time information about times of service, and have kerb adjustments made to enable easier access for all.
The Houghton Regis, Dunstable and Luton Guided Busway is expected to be operational next spring.
UTC - A Chance to Learn Real Job Skills
The University Technical College will be opening at the Kingsland site, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, this September.
The college aims to attract teenagers who are looking for a different kind of education to the usual academic route. Competition for places will be high and pupils will be expected to work hard to achieve good grades while learning practical skills.
The UTCs are an initiative by the coalition Government to bring practical job skills into education.
Active All Year Round
Lib Dem Councillors are always out and about, seeing what needs doing, and filing reports for action. Pictured above are Parkside's Cllr Rita Egan obstructed by a bush (now cut back!) in Kirton Way, while Cllr Alan Winter shows how easily the fabric of the footpaths is lifting.
Follow Rita on http://ritaegan.blogspot.co.uk/
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