Brickhill Liberal Democrat FOCUS Team

08/06/2026

https://www.bedfordindependent.co.uk/monthly-column-a-brighter-future-needs-a-change-at-the-top/

We’re missing a trick in Bedford Borough. The Mayor is distracted by politics and resignations from his Cabinet instead of making...

04/06/2026

Council urged to do more to help struggling families

The Council’s Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) has still not been finalised. This is despite receiving £2.5 million from Central Government from April 2026.
The Council’s website says that they are ‘currently gathering information to help decide what the scheme will look like’.
Councillor Dean Crofts (Kingsbrook) pointed out to the Mayor’s Executive Committee that the Council’s Summer Free School Meal Voucher scheme, which used to be paid for by the CRF’s predecessor fund, helped 6609 eligible children in 2021. Now, these children and young people on free school meals must apply for help through a scheme which hasn’t yet been finalised.
Councillor Crofts commented, “Other councils have already made decisions on this. Liberal Democrat - run Bath and Northeast Somerset have made it clear in their Crisis Resilience Fund decision – which they made in May - that they are going to carry on providing vouchers for all 4100 children in their area who are on Free School Meals.
They are using the Crisis and Resilience Fund to do this and have itemised how much this will cost. They have written to every family, put information on their website and done press releases about how this will change after the summer.
Where is our help for our families? We know who the families are. Schools can tell us who is on Free School Meals. We should be getting help out to them, given the cost-of-living pressures, not waiting for them to apply for a scheme that doesn’t yet exist.”

01/06/2026

We have also reported the large fallen branch from one of the willows on the green between Rooksmead and Brickhill Drive. It is perhaps more accurate to say that the tree has split - it is not clear if this is because of lack of water, or because of high winds.

Technically this area is part of De Parys Ward, with David Sawyer and Henry Vann as the local Borough Councillors, but we hope they won't mind us reporting the issue!

If you come across any similar problems with trees on public land managed by the Bedford Borough Council you can report them via this page: https://www.bedford.gov.uk/leisure-parks-and-sport/parks-and-open-spaces/trees-bedford-borough-0/report-tree-problem

01/06/2026

We have reported the overflowing glass recycling bins in the car park in Ashmead Road.

If you see any problems with Bedford Borough Council recycling facilities, you can report them by emailing [email protected] with the following information:
- The type of recycling bank that needs emptying – whether it is glass, textiles or card/paper.
- The site location including road name.

28/05/2026

Councillor Gallagher is finally discovering what many of us have been saying for more than two years. The Tory house of cards is crumbling, leaving the council in chaos. The sooner Mayor Tom Wootton resigns, the better for Bedford Borough!

Councillor Sarah Gallagher has resigned from Bedford Borough Council’s executive cabinet, saying she could no longer continue...

26/05/2026

Please note the advice from Bedford Borough Council, in Henry Vann's post below.

To protect bin collection teams in the heat, bin collections will be starting early in some parts of Bedford Borough.

The council have shared this information on how you can help by:
🔶 Putting bins out the night before. [This reduces the chance of a bin being missed if crews pass earlier than usual.]
🔶 Tightly tying food waste bags and keeping lids closed securely with the handle up. [This helps keep collections hygienic and reduces the risk of spills.]
🔶 Parking carefully. [Badly parked vehicles can slow or block collections.]
🔶 Supporting our crews.

[Photo from last year for illustrative purposes only...!]

22/05/2026

Some interesting guided walks are planned in the Foster Hill Road Cemetery this summer. Why not make a note of some of the dates now?

20/05/2026

Do you recognise the cat? See below for details.

🚨 DECEASED CAT FOUND – PLEASE SHARE 🚨

We have sadly had a deceased cat brought into us after a collision with a vehicle on Putnoe Lane 💔

They are a ginger tabby, and were not neutered or microchipped.

If you think this could be your cat, please contact us as soon as possible 📞 01234 261839

Thank you for helping us reach the right family during this difficult time 💙

20/05/2026

Time for the Mayor to resign
Following today's news that Councillor Robert Rigby, Portfolio Holder for Adult Services in the Conservative Mayor's Executive, has resigned with immediate effect, Councillor Henry Vann commented:

"The Mayor’s ship is sinking. Councillor Rigby was only reappointed as Adult Services Portfolio Holder last week and he’s already decided to leave the sinking ship. However, Councillor Rigby has played his full part in this chaos, presiding over a Requires Improvement judgement on Adult Services and the effective bankruptcy of the Council. The public will not be fooled by him pretending to be an opponent of the Mayor's disastrous administration now and he is clearly just worried about losing his seat of Bromham to the Liberal Democrats."

19/05/2026

EWR are hosting one of their in-person consultation events in Bedford this Saturday, 23rd May. Venue: King's House, 245 Ampthill Road, Bedford MK42 9AZ. Time: 11am- 6pm. Make sure you view the plans and have your say: https://eastwestrail.co.uk/consultation/consultation2026 See less