Autumn News 2012

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.