Tuesday 30 October 2012

Hurricane Sandy


Good morning from Dunstable ~ England

Please feel free to use our Social Media pages to make contact with any family or friends in the area's in America affected with Hurricane Sandy.

Let's all use the powers of the social media to stay in touch.

Our thoughts go out to everyone affected as we ourselves have friends who live in this area and who once lived here in Dunstable.

Friday 26 October 2012

Dunsstable 'A New Beginning' for everyone.

Please watch and share this video, which shares the dreams and aspirations for a better brighter Dunstable ~ Thank you

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Dunstable Fireworks Display ~ Light up the sky with wonderful fireworks!

Dtcoct12-halfpage-

Fireworks 2012

Entrance to the park is Creasey Park Drive. Please be aware there are no parking facilities available at Creasey Park.

This years firework spectacular will be held at Creasey Park Community football Centre on Monday 5 November at 8.00 pm. Funfair and childrens rides plus variety of food stalls.

Not to be missed!!

Adults £3.00

 

Children (under 16) and Concessions £2.00

 

Children and under 5 are FREE

 

Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £9.00

 

Unaccompanied children (under 14) will not be admitted.

http://www.dunstable.gov.uk/upcoming-events/www-dunstable-gov-uk-fireworks/

Friday 19 October 2012

NEWS FLASH!!


Council expresses delight at green light for A5- M1 link road

Central Bedfordshire Council has welcomed today's news that the Department of Transport is ready to give the go-ahead for the A5-M1 link road as the start of a great new future for Dunstable.

Today's announcement follows a local inquiry that was restarted earlier this year after the council brokered a £45m contribution to the scheme from local developers to add to its own contribution of £5m which has already been made available.

The Secretaries of State for Transport and Communities Local Government have said today that they are minded to accept the Inspector's recommendation that the bypass should be built. This means that the Secretary of State for Transport is committed to building the road as quickly as possible providing the developers' contribution is secured.

The 2.9 mile dual carriageway will run east from the A5 north of Dunstable to the M1 at a new junction (J11a) improving journey time reliability and safety for those travelling on the A5 in the southern part of Central Bedfordshire.


Cllr Nigel Young, Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Economic Development for Central Bedfordshire Council, says, "I am delighted - today we mark the start of Dunstable's future. This is excellent news for Central Bedfordshire and for the local residents who have been campaigning for a bypass for many years.

"The A5 M1 Link is the most important infrastructure need for Central Bedfordshire and is pivotal to our plans to regenerate this area. It will not only relieve major traffic congestion in Dunstable, Houghton Regis and the surrounding area but the quick links with the motorway network will give businesses a huge incentive to locate here. It will provide a massive economic boost, cementing Central Bedfordshire's position as a great location for innovation and opportunity."
Earlier this month Executive councillors backed plans to progress the Woodside Link road, connecting Dunstable's industrial areas and with the M1. Detailed designs for Woodside Link are now being drawn up and land is being assembled with a view to submitting an application to the Planning Inspectorate early next year.

Work could start on both schemes as soon as 2014, subject to them successfully completing all the relevant statutory processes.


Cllr Young adds, "These key link roads, together with the Busway, will pave the way for developers to build new homes and for the A5 through Dunstable to be detrunked – allowing a heavy goods vehicle ban on Dunstable High Street to create a HGV-free town centre. This will in turn allow the council to make radical improvements to the whole of Dunstable town centre to attract more shoppers."

South West Bedfordshire MP Andrew Selous said, "This is wonderful news for the whole of South West Bedfordshire. Traffic jams will be greatly reduced in Dunstable and Houghton Regis and villages like Totternhoe, Kensworth and Toddington will see much less through traffic. Fast direct access to the M1 and the whole motorway network, will help business growth in the town.

He added:"I pay tribute to Central Bedfordshire Council for negotiating the developer contribution, without which the road would not be built. I believe that South West Bedfordshire will now realise its full potential in creating jobs and wealth."


For more information please contact

Councillor Nigel Young is available for interviews today and can be contacted on 07956 364050.

Nigel has been working alongside Andrew Selous to bring about the A5 M1 scheme for the last 15 years.


Background


Central Bedfordshire Council PR 1258 19/10/2012 [For Immediate Release]

For more information about Dunstable Town Centre regeneration and how the A5 M1 Link Road fits into the regeneration timeline go to www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/dunstable

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Dunstable in Bloom Awards at Weatherfield School.

 

This evening saw many local people from residents, to pub owners, allotment holders and many more deserving people collecting awards for taking part in Dunstable in Bloom 2012.

 
This Photograph was taken by Liz Jones

At last, a bright renovated building at the cross roads in Dunstable.

Dunstable Town Centre looks so much better now the scaffolding has been removed from this old building.
 
From this......
 



to this........
 

 
Scaffolding free on Tuesday 16th October 2012


Friday 12 October 2012

Award Assembly at Wetherfield Academy, Dunstable

Mr Joe Selmes proud Head Teacher of Wetherfield Academy, Dunstable
 

 

 
From alpacas to hand made chairs ~ the students at Wetherfield Academy are taught maths, English, I.T. and  'Life Skills.' They experience so much at the school, from looking after animals to woodwork, horse riding, dealing with every day issues and much more.
 
So their students leave Students leave as confident, skilled, useful members of the community.

 
It was wonderful to have been invited by Mr Joe Selmes, Head Teacher as part of the 'Dunstable in Bloom Group' to Wetherfield Academy's Special Assembly this morning. Dunstable Mayor Councillor Pat Staples presented the students and staff with a special nomination certificate for the 'Best Home Grown Area' received last month from the Anglia in Bloom Awards Ceremony in St. Ives. ~ It was such a pleasure to meet such happy and enthusiastic students and teachers ~ They are all so proud of their school and it really shows in the work they have done around Wetherfield inside and out.
 
 
 
Wetherfield Academy 

Wednesday 3 October 2012

The New Town Ranger 'Steams' in to town!




The NEW Dunstable Town Ranger ~ All helping to make Dunstable a better place to live and work ~ FREE phone 0800 01 30 350 The Town Ranger will be assisting CBC in helping to clean up Dunstable, it's streets, removing posters, Graffiti and much more.

Photograph courtesy of:https://www.facebook.com/AboutDunstable.Bedfordshire#!/photo.php?fbid=463384080372448&set=a.322355241142000.80431.308082135902644&type=1&theater
Dunstable Town Council Facebook page.

Plans for the Woodside Link road are progressing well after Central Bedfordshire Council’s Executive gave the green light.



Plans for the Woodside Link road are progressing well after Central Bedfordshire Council’s Executive gave the green light to submit a planning application for its construction.
The new link road will connect Houghton Regis and the industrial estates in Dunstable to the planned new junction (11a) on the M1 north of the town. After initial work on its design, a planning application will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate early in 2013, if required.
Executive Member for Sustainable Communities (Strategic Planning and Economic Development), Cllr Nigel Young, said: “The Woodside Link is a critical piece of new infrastructure, providing an arterial route through the planned new development area north of Houghton Regis, linking with the M1, connecting existing and future employment sites and residential areas to Dunstable, Houghton Regis and the wider transport network.”
By providing a convenient link between the industrial areas and the trunk road network, the road will stimulate further economic investment and will help provide much needed employment and job opportunities for residents throughout the area.
Cllr Young added: “The Woodside Link goes hand in hand with the A5 –M1 link and the detrunking of the A5 which is a fundamental part of our aspirations to regenerate Dunstable town centre.
“Not only that, but it will significantly reduce the number of heavy vehicles in residential streets, reducing noise and improving air quality, as well as freeing up roads for local residents.”
The Executive councillors agreed for an application to go ahead to the Planning Inspectorate, as well as initial work to investigate land acquisition, design costs and funding.
A Framework Plan to guide new development proposed for the north of Houghton Regis was also approved by the Council and provides technical guidance to help determine whether future planning applications are suitable. It identifies the Woodside Link as essential and critical infrastructure required for any development to be delivered, along with the A5 – M1 link road.


Press release from Central Bedfordshire Council

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/news/october-2012/october-2012-news-and-press-releases.aspx