NEWS FLASH!

YOUR TOWN NEEDS YOU!

 Dunstable Town Team has come together with the aim of improving and developing Ashton Square. One of the things the Town Team wants to see is The Square being used by the local community, creating a vibrant... community feel. Do you belong to a community group who would like to use The Square to stage a performance or activity? Are you a performer yourself and would like to use the space for FREE to showcase your talent? Perhaps you would like to hold an event that would bring lots of people to the area? If so the Town Team would love to hear from you.

It couldn’t be simpler; all you need is public liability insurance of £5 million and to have completed the booking form which can be found at: http://www.dunstable.gov.uk/destination-dunstable/town-centre-intiatives/town-team-needs/

For more information or to check availability and book your space please call Clare Brett – Town Centre Manager on 01582 891405 or email: clare.brett@dunstable.gov.uk

The Square is also available for commercial use. Please contact Clare Brett to discuss.

Do you remember the California Ballroom in Dunstable?

Press Release 

Ballroom California – A brand new musical - for music lovers everywhere!
Venue: Luton Library Theatre. Dates: 21st & 22nd March 2013 at 19:30 – 20:15.
Olympian Productions, a theatre company based in Bedfordshire have teamed up with The Hat Factory, Luton to present an extract of the highly anticipated musical…
The California Ballroom was a concert venue based closely to the Dunstable Downs, originally hosting swimming b...aths, roller-skating and go-karting during the 1940’s. The ballroom that would go on to become the iconic venue of the stars officially opened its doors on 12th March 1960 and fans attended in their thousands to see the biggest bands and musicians of the 1960’s and 1970’s to flirt, dance and soak up the atmosphere….
These stars included the likes of Stevie Wonder, Ike and Tina Turner, Ben E King, LuLu, The Rolling Stones, Al Green, Dusty Springfield, The Jam and Slade.
The production previews the life and times of * key characters as well as telling a story of young love blooming in the midst of this musical revolution….
Appealing to young and old alike, this musical would be of interest to anyone who remembers the Ballroom California or just enjoys the sounds of the 60s and 70s!
The musical has been written and produced by Kerrie Duggan and in his directorial debut - local TV and theatre talent, Tony Bignell is steering the show! Tony also has one of the principle roles…
Lewis actor Kevin Whatley, who one of our script mentors says “The sound and energy coming from this cast is truly inspirational! Can’t wait to see it on the stage!”

Venue and tickets:
£5 / £3 concs – available from www.lutonculture.com
or 01582 878100 / 01582 547474
Luton Library Theatre, St Georges Square, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 2NG

Websites of interest:
www.olympian-productions.co.uk

Looking forward to new events on The Square Dunstable....

A very positive meeting was held yesterday Thursday 27th February 2013, with the Market Traders, Middle Row, Ashton Square businesses and ourselves all working together with the support of DTC to create a new Family Fun Easter Event. There will be another on The Square on the 18th May, The Medieval weekend. Should these prove to be a success more regular events will hopefully take place on other Market days also. All helping to raise the footfall in Dunstable, making it a great place to live, work and visit.

Looking forward to New events on The Square, we would like to hear from all different kinds of entertainers who would like to perform, sing, dance and just liven up this area. All you will need is public liability insurance, there will be no charge to perform on special Market days.

Medieval Lottery Project

 

On the 17th February 2013 the Meeting of the Medieval Lottery Project took place (one of many). It was great to see it so well attended including ourselves and everyone had a great deal to discuss:

• Jean Yates (Project Manager) brought in a Fleece from a Lincoln Sheep,which used to graze on Priory Field. During the Medieval Weekend on the 17th/19th May it is hoped that this rare breed of sheep will be grazing here once again.
• Audio Guides - There are ten of these and they will be FREE to hire but a deposit will be required. There will be two scripts, one for Inside the Priory, factual and another for outside told as in a story format but all true titled 'The Lost Priory'.
• There will be 21 plaques to accompany the Audio Guides which will soon be seen set in the ground all over Priory Gardens.
• You will soon see new 'finger posts' around Priory Gardens showing you to different areas.
• The Physic garden hopes to have Oak paneling at the rear and at the front there will be sleepers to raise the area and lecturns with interpretations on for the Medieval Plants that are to be planted in this area.
• The Volunteer Town Guides have been busy training and will be giving up there Saturday Mornings from May 18th to October 20th to take visitors around our Historic Town absolutely FREE! There will also be a Guided walk available on the first Sunday or every month also starting at 11am, from May to October.
• A Documentary is being filmed for the whole event by students from Central Bedfordshire College (Dunstable College). Which will be hopefully available in the Exhibition Room in Priory House along with the FREE Medieval Exhibition.
• There will possibly be three books about The Priory and a translation of the Annals.
• Included in the books and also a Map that is being created by the artist Richard Bowring including what Dunstable Priory once owned, land as far afield as Derbyshire, Kings Lyn, London....
• Along with a book there will be a DVD available ~ Medieval Dunstable It's Monasteries, Manors, Markets and Melees.
• New information is being added regularly to the Medieval Website
www.medievaldunstable.org.uk
• As part of this years Medieval events there will be a Gregorian Chant Workshop and on May 18th/19th there will be a large event being held in Priory Church, House and Gardens. With Shield Making for the children, Hopefully the rare Lincoln Sheep will be grazing, Spinners and weavers, Minstrels, a dance work shop, a Medieval Seige and much more for everyone to enjoy at the event will be FREE to enter and enjoy.
• On Sunday the 19th May there will be a Service at St. Fredmund which will see a procession of the shrine to Priory Church for 10-30am service.
• On the 29th June There will be a musical history tour inside the Priory Church as part of the celebration of the dedication of the Church organ to the Priory in 1100.
• 2013 is going to be an amazing year for the people of Dunstable and for the many thousands that are expected in our town over the celebration period of the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Priory Church. We hope you will all enjoy and be part of this very big celebration.

The Square in Dunstable is about to come alive on Market Days ~ Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays!

A meeting of shop owners from Middle Row, Ashton Square, Market Traders, the Market Manager & ourselves took place today to discuss entertainment and events for The Square in Dunstable. A small part of the £10,000 Portas money was to pay for the licence on The Square so all kinds of entertainment are free to use it. The group is looking for all local businesses to get involved and for 'you' to share with us all what you would like to see on The Square on Market Days ~ From Street Artists, to bands, Auto Jumbles to Children's rides......

If you have an idea, please share it with us. If you would like to use The Square with an idea that will bring people to our town, please message us or share it with us ~ All helping to make Dunstable a better place to live and work.

Why not check out our facebook page also:

https://www.facebook.com/AboutDunstable.Bedfordshire/info#!/AboutDunstable.Bedfordshire/info

Dunstable needs entrepreneurs.

Do you have an idea of what you think Dunstable needs?

Why not start with a market stall, grow your business, build a customer base and move to a local shop. What would you sell? "This time next year you could be millionaires!"

Time to get thinking......

Feel free to comment here or join us on facebook 'About Dunstable'

 

https://www.facebook.com/AboutDunstable.Bedfordshire

Some Good News....

Dunstable library due for refurbishment

Dunstable library is next in line in a series of library refurbishments planned by Central Bedfordshire Council as part of its 15 year scheme to modernise libraries.

The library will be closed from Monday, 21 January to Saturday, 9 February to upgrade the facilities by installing new self-service technology and fitting a refreshment machine. While it is closed, the council will also take the opportunity to implement a range of energy saving measures which will save on energy bills and cut carbon emissions.

The self service desks allow customers to scan in books and other items that they want to borrow, return or renew meaning library staff will be able to spend more of their time helping customers.

Feedback from residents was gathered as part of the council's Libraries for the Future consultation and has been reflected in plans to develop the service and individual libraries.

During the refurbishment, items will have been issued for a longer period than usual so that members will not be charged fines while the library is closed.

In the next two years the council is investing £850,000 to improve the service. This will include updating buildings and installing new self-service technology, developing the online library and piloting library access points in rural communities.

Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member Sustainable Communities, Services said: “Feedback from residents last year proved just how much people value their local libraries as a focal point for learning, information and culture in our communities.

“Because of that, we have decided that no library should close and we should make the service more available, extending its reach into local communities.

“Dunstable library runs a wide range of activities - from careers sessions to toddler action rhyme times - and the improvements there will help make the service more efficient. Library staff will be freed up to spend more time helping customers and it demonstrates our commitment to investing in our libraries for the future.”

While the library is closed, members will be able to access the Virtual Library to renew their books and make requests at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/librariesforthefuture

Members can also use their nearest library in Houghton Regis, but can borrow items from any Central Bedfordshire Library and return items to any Central Bedfordshire Library with their library card.



For further information please contact: Anna Copperwheat, Media Officer on 0300 300 4671

Central Bedfordshire Council PR 1369