Bedford Borough Council is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of bus services in rural areas, the first such review for many years.

Take part in the online survey

Alternatively, print versions of this survey can be obtained from Andrew Maslen on 01234 228435. The deadline for responses is now 11th June 2010

BRCC Pilots New Approach to Community-led Planning in Bedford Borough

BRCC has gained approval from the Bedford Borough Partnership to pilot local Sustainable Community Plans in individual parishes and neighbourhoods. These plans will engage local communities in identifying the priorities for their area, and in putting together a joint Action Plan linked to the overall Sustainable Communities Strategy for the Borough.

Over the next six months or so we will be working in Kingsbrook & Cauldwell; Brickhill; and Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden.

For more information contact:
Zoe Ashby (01234 832618) or Jemma McLean (01234 832617)

BRCC and Shuttleworth College have taken over the management of Warden Abbey Vineyard from the Southill Estate, with a view to involving the local community in the production of its award-winning wines.

The 1.8 hectare vineyard, situated between Cardington and Old Warden, was planted in 1986 on the site of a previous vineyard belonging to the Cistercian Abbey of Warden, abandoned in 1538 during the dissolution of the monasteries. Since the first vintage in 1990 a range of wines have been produced including the Warden Abbot, Warden Bacchus, Warden Special Reserve and two sparking blends.

The project aims to achieve a financially and environmentally sustainable future for the vineyard whilst anchoring it in the heart of the community. There will be opportunities for local people and community groups to be involved in the running of the vineyard, whether for ‘horticultural therapy’ or for education and skills development.

The UK wine-making industry is expanding. There are 416 vineyards and 118 wineries in the UK with a current annual production of around 2 million bottles. Vineyard acreage has grown by approximately 45% in the last 4 years and UK vineyards now extend all over southern England. As well as its increasing reputation internationally for quality, the popularity of English wine has grown on the back of environmental concerns and the desire by consumers to cut the number of food miles connected with the produce they buy.

A package of road safety improvement measures for a Bedfordshire village has been approved only months after its new Parish Plan highlighted the need to address speeding as one of its top priorities.

In approving the scheme, which includes a 20mph zone and a system of traffic calming features, Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) cited the Parish Plan as an important factor in its decision – “a model way of co-operation between village, Parish Council and CBC officers”.

Ridgmont had already completed a parish plan back in 2004, which had a particular focus on the proposed Ridgmont bypass, which was then in the final stages of approval.

You can find out more about community-led planning here

Two short briefing papers on community-led planning, one for councillors and one for officers, have been produced by Rural Action East for the Regional Empowerment Partnership for the East of England. The officers version features the Neighbourhood Plan for Kempston, which was supported by BRCC.

You can download the papers here:

Community-led Planning - Officer Briefing (185KB PDF)
Community-led Planning - Councillor Briefing (179KB PDF)

The Bedfordshire branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is again on the look-out to find and publicise projects which improve the appearance or preserve the character of the county. Now into its third year, the awards recognise people who are making special efforts to improve the natural environment, preserve old buildings or add inspiring new ones which are in harmony with the surrounding landscape. A wide range of previous awards have included country parks and ponds, village churchyards, school grounds, barn conversions, bridges, farm shops and individual craft businesses.

The scheme is non-competitive and seeks to recognise people who make a living from the land in a caring and sustainable way, but whose efforts often go unnoticed. Nominations for this year's scheme can be made by anyone with an interest in the countryside, by the end of July. CPRE is happy to contact the owner of the property or area to obtain full details of the project.

To view the leaflet click http://www.cprebeds.plus.com/pdf/living_countryside_awards_2010.pdf
For the application form click http://www.cprebeds.plus.com/pdf/lca_application_form_2010.pdf

Images for the 2009 awards can be viewed at www.cprebeds.org.uk
Further Information available from CPRE Bedfordshire’s office on
01234 353331 or by email ann.cw@cprebeds.org.uk

The Eastern Region Infrastructure Network (ERIN) is looking for 20 community groups from across the East of England to attend an event in Newmarket on 10th June 2010. Six of these groups will be selected to present their work at the event to local and regional public sector decision makers, with the possibility of winning a prize package of support services to the value of £500.

If you are interested in attending the event please email: mandy.crawley@cover-east.org. and to learn more visit:
http://www.cover-east.org/News.asp?selidx=4&viewmode=ViewRecord

The deadline for responses is 5pm on Tuesday 18th May.

This multi-use mobile venue can be brought to you as a youth drop-in, a community meeting place, a point of contact or even a mobile office. The vehicle boasts a comfy seating area, a small kitchen for making drinks, DVD and CD players, and a plasma screen television with Freeview.

The R.A.V.E. Bus can accommodate up to 15 people and is wheelchair accessible via a ramp. Our competitive hire rates are inclusive of fuel costs and a driver to bring the bus to you at your venue and to help set up.

Contact Roz Carman on 01223 832612 or email rozc@bedsrcc.org.uk or visit http://www.bedsrcc.org.uk/raveBus/ravebus1.html for further details