Bedford Borough Bulletin April 21

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BEDFORD BOROUGH EDITION

ISSN 2634-453X

APRIL 2021

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APRIL 2021 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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Parish councils calling for a Who needs electric?

THE first hydrogen powered train ran on the UK mainline in September 2020 in a step towards the UK’s net zero targets.

With a grant of £750,000 from the Department for Transport (DfT) to help towards the development.

HydroFLEX trialled their train in Warwickshire.

This has followed nearly two years’ of development work and more than £1M of investment by both Porterbrook and the University of Birmingham.

Hydrogen-powered trains do not adversely impact the climate, instead they use hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, water and heat.

The technology will be available by 2023 and is able to be retrofitted to current in-service trains, this will go towards decarbonising the rail network and make rail journeys greener.

RANSPORT Secretary Grant Shapp’s recent announcement that the planned Oxford-Cambridge Expressway Arc was to be abandoned put the East West Rail (EWR) scheme in the limelight once again.

The East West Railway is currently under construction between Oxford and Milton Keynes, with the Bedford to Cambridge phrase due to start construction in 2025.

EWR’s currently preferred route will see it go through Bedford Midland Station before going north of Bedford, and although the exact route is yet to be proposed it’s likely to take it through or close to areas of Clapham, Ravensden, Wilden, Renhold, Great Barford, Roxton and Wyboston.

The parish councils in those villages are united in their opposition to the route corridor selected, arguing that it has the worst environmental impact of the original five. They also question how the most expensive scheme by over £1bn, became the second cheapest after it was selected.

Most of the villages were not on

by Michael Jarman-Webb the proscribed consultee list when the original proposals came out in 2019, and very few members of the public in the area appear to have received communications at the time from either EWR or Bedford Borough Council.

One parish council that was consulted in 2019 was Brickhill, who at the time supported the Northern routes D & E, despite the likelihood of them running through their own parish.

That support was recently rescinded at their March meeting where they voted to support the other parishes in opposition to the route proposals.

The parish councils are leading a new campaign group to ask for a

rethink on the preferred route corridor.

BFARe–- Bedford For A Reconsultation, argues that there are better route choices that will have far less environmental impact, their views are backed by organisations such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the English Regional Transport Association.

They recently put their views to the rail minister Chris HeatonHarris, and are awaiting answers to questions raised. BFARe have a petition for a re-consultation at https://bit.ly/3913e0E and more information can be found on their website at BFARe.org.uk.

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rethink on Route E

Do you remember?

There was a time back in the early 1960s when Bedford was a rail hub. There were direct rail connections to Cambridge, via Sandy on what was called the ‘Varsity Line’. This route is closed as an option to reconnect with Cambridge, with crucial points on the original line having been built over. Other direct connections locally were to Hitchin and Northampton, and you can still get to Bletchley from Bedford Midland Road. In the hey day of the railways travellers could depart from Bedford for London, Luton, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Carlisle, Edinburgh and Glasgow — Bedford was truly well connected — it can happen again.

BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2021

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“

The decision to adopt Route E on the East West Railway was not made by Bedford Borough Council, it was made by the East West Railway Company in January 2020 following a consultation in 2019.

A northern route was supported by myself and all of the political parties represented on the Council.

Route E will deliver 12% more economic benefits to Bedford Borough than a southerly route.

Route E would also support the regeneration of the centre of Bedford and the delivery of the Town Centre Masterplan as well as enabling Bedford Midland to become an interchange of national importance.

The East West Rail Company will shortly be consulting on the exactly where the line could be situated, and will be seeking further public feedback on these options during a public consultation.

I urge everyone to get involved in this consultation.”

Dave Hodgson – Mayor of Bedford Borough

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MEASURES including a new leadership team are being put in place to rectify failings in Bedford Hospital’s maternity services, following a critical report.

Much of the improvements centre around staff concerns and issues, rather than patient outcomes, a meeting of Central Bedfordshire Council’s social care, health and housing overview and scrutiny committee heard.

Maternity services at the hospital were downgraded to ‘inadequate’ after inspectors found a “potential risk for baby abduction”.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Bedford Hospital’s maternity services in November because of 14 whistleblower enquiries between August and its visit.

Inspectors observed “staff, women and visitors” leaving maternity wards “without challenge”, according to the CQC. The unannounced inspection followed staff concerns about the safety of the service which “could lead to risk of harm to patients”, its report said.

Maternity services at the hospital were previously rated as ‘requires improvement’ after an inspection in August 2018 and one three years earlier.

The committee requested an update from the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust over the Cygnet ward at Bedford Hospital.

The maternity service at Bedford has had its challenges over the years, chief executive of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust David Carter told councillors.

“Regarding the CQC reports in 2015 and 2018, following concerns raised by staff, not patients, there was a visit from the CQC in November,” he said.

“Covid hasn’t helped. There were midwives shielding from Covid and some on maternity leave, and with

that against a national shortage of midwives.

“The unit at Bedford is smaller than at the Luton and Dunstable, and one of the challenges of that is you have quite significant fluctuations in demand.

“There are an average seven babies born on any given day, but on the highest there’ll be 15 and on the lowest only one.

“That was the backdrop to the review,” he explained. “We were required to do an action plan for the CQC following its visit.

“This included providing a more robust escalation process up the tiers of management at the times when it’s more challenging.

“You can respond to that by drawing staff from other areas. We put in increased medical consultant hours on the delivery suite.

“The most significant part to focus on is a proper organisational development plan to tackle staff welfare.

“If staff have a concern they can raise issues within the organisation and feel secure and safe to do that rather than going outside.

“The outcomes at the unit remain good,” added Mr Carter. “It’s the third lowest in its peer group of 39 for stillbirth and perinatal mortality.

“We’ve had really positive feedback from our patients, but we’ve got a significant piece of work to do.

“We’ve also changed the leadership team, so we’ve got a new clinical director across both sites.

“It’s a new management team which allows us to take a fresh approach.

“We had a meeting last week with the CQC, which is happy with our progress and the steps we’re taking.

“We can’t expect the unit to be in a better place overnight, but I’m very confident about the progress we’re making.”

If the current improvements are a success, a written statement from the trust to update the committee will be acceptable, councillors agreed.

Angry Labour Councillors accused by Conservatives of manufacturing a problem LABOUR Councillors have reacted angrily to the news that there will be no extra money for Bedford Borough’s Public Health team next year.

Labour Councillors have criticised the government by saying that: “After a year of tackling a pandemic which has exposed and exacerbated the health inequalities caused by a decade of austerity and a diminished public health system, the Government has signalled that Public Health will receive a belowinflation increase of 0.7%, which is in effect, a real-terms cut.

“After a year of waste, dither and delay resulting in 126,000 deaths so far, the impact of Covid19 will likely be felt for decades, and a range of locally driven Public Health initiatives will be needed to tackle not only the aftermath of the pandemic, but the inequalities that have been highlighted by it.”

Portfolio Holder for Public Health & Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Jackson said: “Our officers have been working flat out with businesses, schools and communities to contain outbreaks and respond to the multitude of challenges that this pandemic has thrown their way.

“It is the local teams that have often found themselves picking up the pieces when the Government’s dubious policy choices have

resulted in rising infection rates.”

“It is our team right here in Bedford Borough that is making a real difference with tracing contacts, and helping people not only to isolate but to access money, food and medical supplies when they need it. It is the local teams that are engaging with hard to reach groups and trying to drive up vaccination rates.”

“Throughout the last 12 months we have seen all to clearly how locally driven Public health responses are the ones that matter, and for that not to be recognised in this funding announcement is not only an insult to local authority Public Health teams up and down the country, but will prevent us from tackling the issues that we really need to address”.

Bedford Borough Labour Group Leader Sue Oliver added: “This Tory Government has totally failed to acknowledge how crucial the work and expertise of our Public Health Officers has been throughout the pandemic.

“Their refusal to give them sufficient resources to meet the immense challenges we now face, is a disgrace on a par with their insulting 1% pay offer to NHS workers.”

Cllr Graeme Coombes, leader of the Conservative group on the Borough council responded:

“Labour are trying to manufacture a problem that doesn’t exist.

“The Government has supported Bedford Council with millions of pounds of public money during the current health pandemic and the Borough is now being given nearly £100k in extra public health funding for 2021/22 taking the total grant from Central Government to £8.9m.

“It fully recognises the key role of Local Councils in delivering public health services locally and the high priority we place on good public health.

“This is over and above additional money that has been given by Government for the Council to address health related matters such as £450k to protect vulnerable adults, £222k to help rough sleepers with drug and alcohol dependency issues, and a £310k Workforce Capacity Fund for Adult Social Care.

“The Government is also funding a truly astonishing programme of mass vaccination in Bedford Borough and across the country.

“It is now up to Bedford’s LabLibDem run Council to spend this public money wisely, to recognise the importance of ensuring a fit and healthy population and to deliver public health services that actively and continually promote the health and well-being of Bedford Borough residents.”

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APRIL 2021 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

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View from the Rt Revd

In Focus with

Richard Atkinson

In Focus with

Yasin

Dave

The Bishop of Bedford

MP for Bedford and Kempston

by Dave Hodgson Mayor of Bedford

80 MILLION SYMBOLS OF HOPE

WE MUST PROTECT OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST

CORONA LOCKDOWN REGS START TO EASE

As a nation we consume eighty million boxed Easter eggs. In addition, over three hundred million creme eggs are produced each year. Along with the tiny eggs and more, we eat a lot of Easter Eggs! Some of us must eat a huge number to make up for all who are more abstemious.

Maybe, this Easter, you are currently enjoying this year’s supply of chocolate. As we relish it, do we ever stop to think what they represent and symbolise?

Is there, for instance, a recognition that the fast of Lent is over and now the feast of Easter can occur. That’s why we have pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. To use up the remaining eggs, sugar and fat as we prepare for the simplicity of Lent. Historically eggs were among the items that were not to be eaten during that period. In contrast to a time of abstinence, reflection and confession, Easter turns our focus to the richness and abundance of life.

More probably we are aware that the chocolate eggs connect us with the themes of new life and new birth. Prior to Christianity the association with fertility and rebirth was strong. It was a symbol of the start of spring. With the death and resurrection of Jesus eggs took on new meaning. Early on they were often coloured red to recall the death of Jesus.

Down the centuries eggs of all forms – from those straight out of the farmyard to those elaborate designs of Fabergé – were given as gifts to celebrate the new life of Christ. In 1873 J. S. Fry & Sons produced the first British chocolate egg, the fore-runner of all those millions of eggs we enjoy today.

Whatever our faith or belief, cracking open our chocolate egg can remind us of that Easter theme of new life. For Christians it can symbolise breaking open the sealed tomb and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is that promise that into even the deepest darkness light can shine; that out of death comes life. It is that hope that inspires us that despite all the deprivations, challenges and, for many, despair, of the last year, there will be renewal.

As you consume your chocolate, think again of what it represents.

Rejoice at the Easter theme of the risen Jesus who invites us to live with confidence and joy. Savour those 80 million symbols of hope!

The tragic death of Sarah Everard and the Met Police's handling of a vigil for her has instigated a national demand for action to tackle violence against women and girls.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill introduced to parliament in March, is an opportunity to look at some of these issues. It’s a huge piece of legislation that includes major government proposals on crime and justice in England and Wales.

But new powers to manage protests are some of the most draconian controls this country has ever seen on free expression and the right to protest, particularly targeting the most vulnerable and marginalised people in the country.

The right to protest is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy. The new measures are chilling and totally unnecessary as there are already laws within the Public Order Act 1986 to deal with protests that cause disorder, damage, disruption, or intimidation.

The Government wants to widen the conditions that the police can intervene on static protests, to match existing police powers to impose conditions on marches.

These measures will enable the police to impose conditions such as start and finish times and maximum noise levels on static protests – even if it’s a single person protest.

The Government argues they aren’t suppressing protest but under these new laws, you will only be allowed to protest without fear of arrest if you make no noise, make no impact and not annoy anyone, especially the government at Westminster.

This is the true cancel culture - on a statutory footing. There is no better example of how out of touch and pandering to the ‘culture wars’ this Government is, than introducing new laws to protect the statues of dead men, whilst not including a single law to protect women. So, I completely understand the outcry of people asking how on earth we got to a point where you can be sentenced for 10 years in prison for damaging a statue but the current minimum sentence for rape is five years.

I accept that the police have difficult challenges, but freedom of speech is an important right in our democracy.

We have now started to see the first easing of the Lockdown regulations.

Schools have returned, while care home residents have been able to nominate a single named visitor for regular visits. I am pleased to be able to tell you we have had no significant problems in schools or care homes. Pupils and teachers have been pleased to return to in-class teaching. I also know how happy care home residents and their families are to see each other in person again.

We have been allowed to meet with a person, not from our household, for both exercise and now recreation in a public outdoor place.

By the time you read this we will have had further relaxations on 29th March when we can meet with more people outdoors and most outdoor sports can restart.

It is too early to see if the relaxations have had any impact on transmissions, but we have been seeing a consistent reductions in the number of positive Coronavirus cases across Bedford Borough over the last few weeks and most importantly the number of deaths decreased.

A new community testing initiative for workers without symptoms has been launched. Around one in three people who are infected with Coronavirus have no symptoms, so could be spreading the disease without knowing it. Further information on rapid 'no symptom' testing can be found at www.bedford.gov.uk/social-carehealth-and-community/public-health/coronavirus/covid-19-testing/ At the time of writing there is another supply issue with vaccines and the local NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) have informed me that they are suspending bookings for the first dose of vaccinations from 29th March until the end of April. This follows the Government’s Task Force on vaccinations announcement that there will be a significant reduction in supply available from manufacturers. The CCG will focus on delivering second doses to local residents throughout April.

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Harpur Centre Manager chosen as one of Nat West Bank’s 100 Inspiring Women NatWest Bank’s familiar face Nicola Damelio, and her colleague Deborah Lewis, pulled together 100 of the top women in the region for a celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, in partnership with SEMLEP and OXLEP. Over the last few years, the local NatWest team in Milton Keynes have celebrated International Women’s day by bringing together an incredible community of women to meet, network and share their experiences.

The inspiring women have included entrepreneurs, leaders and other wonderful people who have shared their journey in a candid and engaging manner. This year, the team felt it was only right to capture the magic, inspiration and resilience shown by women right across the region whose stories will resonate in every household, every business and every community.

Among them were some local faces with links to key Love Bedford businesses including the volunteer Chair of the Board and The Harpur Centre Manager, Samantha Laycock.

The sudden impact of COVID19 meant continuous changes were required at The Harpur Centre to support businesses and keep the community safe.

Samantha ensured that the team’s and customer's safety was paramount and worked tirelessly throughout the past year to support businesses, stakeholders and the wider community.

Samantha Chose to Challenge by also continuing to volunteer as Love Bedford’s Chair to help support 550 businesses through their

LOVE BEDFORD

sectors’ unprecedented changes.

Born and bred in Bedford, Samantha Laycock has proved herself once again to be a true spokeswoman for local businesses and people.

Samantha Laycock, Centre Manager at Harpur Centre, commented: “As the Centre Manager at The Harpur Centre I have been very lucky to meet so many wonderful people across Bedford, which inspired me to volunteer as Chair of Bedford BID. My goal has always been to ensure that our local businesses are supported as much as humanly possible. This past year, we have met unprecedented challenges, but it has remained vital to ensure that Bedford continues to be a vibrant town that supports both national and independent businesses.”

She continued, “Having been born and bred in Bedford, the town will always be close to my heart.

Bedford is my home, which is why my passion to ensure the town and our business thrive is so strong. It has been a difficult year to say the least, however, the way in which we have all come together is astonishing. I am so proud to have been included in Nat West, Milton Keynes, 100 Inspiring women and am hugely grateful for the recognition. However, it is the people and businesses of Bedford that I am most proud of and I look forward to more of our businesses opening their doors in a safe manner again soon.”

Sharing a message of hope to others while supporting hospice

A 16-year-old girl from Potton in Bedfordshire has shaved off her hair in an extraordinary show of support for her Nan who has cancer, and to spread the message that beauty comes from within.

In shaving off her long locks, Abi Rushton, a student at Sandy Secondary School, has raised an incredible £3,000 for Sue Ryder St John’s Hospice which has helped care for her Nan. Abi shares: “I decided to shave my head with my Nan. She has struggled with cancer for years and years now. I have many times seen her struggle with feeling beautiful and her self-esteem and it made me so sad to see.

“I wanted to show her that what

she sees is not true and everyone else can see her for the beautiful woman that she is.”

Shaving her head is something Abi has wanted to do for some time to challenge misconceptions around people’s ideas of what’s beautiful.

“I wanted to raise awareness about society’s beauty standards of young girls, and to tell people that beauty is more than skin deep. We live in a society that revolves around social media and it is hard to see beyond the expectations that are made of teenagers.

“I wanted to make people realise that beauty standards are stupid and that overall it is subjective.”

“My goal has always been to ensure that our local businesses are supported as much as humanly possible” Sam Laycock

Bedford’s ready to Spring open!

100s of businesses in Bedford have been open throughout the lockdowns by selling services and goods online.

The Harpur Centre has been largely open throughout because of its ‘essential services’ like Boots.

Café society has been kept alive by clever marketing by the likes of Bridges at Riverside who have been promoting takeaways.

Now everyone is looking forward to being able to welcome customers back on their premises, outdoors and then indoors, as Spring progresses into Summer.

Parking is available on-street, on flat surface car parks around the town, in Queen Street and Lurke Street multi-storeys and more The High Street, and other road surface improvements, will make for a bright, new look to key areas to welcome customers back in the coming months.

Updates daily on

The Gallery Café – Lurke Street

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It’s huge…

APRIL 2021 BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN

…and that’s not just the size of it. Many Bedfordians may not even know where it is! Well it’s on the site of the former MoD Elstow storage depot at Zander Way. This massive distribution centre services approximately one third of the B&M stores in mainland UK. It has the potential capacity to service many more stores. Built at a cost of £107.3 million and subsequently sold and leased back to B&M realising a profit of £149.5 million. Surplus capital was paid to shareholders as a special dividend in April 2020.

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Success in international writing competition

TEN students from Mark Rutherford School are celebrating their success in an international essay writing competition run by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS).

More than 13,000 young people from across the Commonwealth entered the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay competition run by the RCS, which has a rich history of promoting literacy, expression and creativity by celebrating the excellence and imagination of young people.

Seven Mark Rutherford students successfully secured a Bronze Award, a further two students achieved a Silver Award, whilst one student, Ben, was proud to be the first student to receive a Gold Award in the school’s history.

The final judging decision was made by an expert panel of authors, journalists and poets, which included the writer Anthony Horowitz; written word poet Suli Breaks; journalist Matthew Parris; novelist Wendy Holden; award-winning young adult author Zalika Reid-Benta; and the Commonwealth Writer's Prize winner and poet, Sia Figiel.

Speaking to the RCS on his judging experience, Anthony Horowitz stated “I was struck by the extraordinary variety, the high quality of the writing…

There was a sense that these young writers, inspired by Greta Thunberg, are not only aware of the global challenges that they face but are more

prepared to tackle them than my own generation.

With everything that 2020 has thrown at us, it’s hard to be forward-looking and positive.

“The joy of these essays was that so many of them were.”

The international schools’ writing contest used the theme of ‘Climate Action and the Commonwealth’ to encourage students to consider how they can work to use cultural, technological and environmental connections for positive change across the Commonwealth.

Topics invited young people to consider the potential of the Commonwealth in strengthening the vast and varied links between citizens through inspiring poems, essays and narratives.

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Fishing for outdoor careers sustainable food production worldwide.

Animal welfare is a key component of the philosophy of Shuttleworth College, and with that in mind bright orange lines have been placed across the ponds to deter predatory birds from eating all the stocks. This is a opposed to netting in which birds can become entangled.

Although it is expected that herons will be able to access some fish from the water’s edge, the college took the decision NOT to net that area to minimise danger to wildlife. www.embryoangling.org/

A STOCK pond project at Shuttleworth College gives Fisheries, and Countryside Management learners a chance to link up with industry leaders.

People looking to work in fishing (the largest participation sport in the UK) or take up countryside careers which include water management, will benefit.

Shuttleworth College has unveiled a project with leading leisure and conservation company, Embryo, to breed carp in ponds on the Old Warden park near Biggleswade, which will go on to stock waters across the UK The project will give learners the opportunity to practise practical aspects of fishery management, whilst producing stocks that can be placed in

Five ponds have been created on site at Shuttleworth College by Embryo which are all fed by the neighbouring stream.

Carp will be hatched on site in the college’s hatchery facility and then ‘grown on’ through the pond system for three years before moving to an Embryo lake.

Students participating on the fisheries program are able to harness the following technical skills: • Fry rearing + Fish grading • Collecting and analysing water quality readings using various modern methods • Netting + surveys • Nutritional requirements of a quality yield • Biosecurity and water management • Pond Lining • Fish stocking During February 1,000 C1 carp and 100 C2 carp were stocked into the ponds which will produce fish eggs in the hatchery during the Spring of 2021.

Said college Fisheries Technician Luke Sims: “The recent stocking of C1 and C2 carp into the

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ponds was a success and supports great prospects for the future of angling. Now the students have returned they will have many opportunities to carry out specific fishery management practices. As Spring is round the corner and the carp begin to spawn, we will grow on newly hatched fry. By doing this we ensure protection of the stock and once ready they can be reintroduced as C1 carp back into the stock ponds.”

Embryo’s Matthew Pettitt said: “We are really excited now that the pond project is up at and running at Shuttleworth. It will give the students the opportunity to learn a variety of fisheries skills which will be transferable into the industry and beyond “The fish produced will be stocked into Embryos fisheries such as the nearby Broom lakes site, and whilst the numbers will be

small, there will hopefully be options to rear different strains which are no longer commercially available.

“The ponds will be a valuable resource for Embryo, the Learners and the College and we are looking forward to seeing the site come to life”

Action is necessary to protect fish which are maintained as part of our fisheries training programmes, which in turn prepare young people to work in this important area of conservation and

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Academy students making a huge impression Borough Youth Cabinet. Daisy, who is Head Girl at Wixams Academy, is now Chair of the Cabinet and Martina, who only joined the school in October from London, is the new publicity officer.

Daisy Bishenden is the school’s champion cook after winning her year’s and the overall Bake Off competition during lockdown. The competitions encouraged students to learn useful cooking skills as a break from home studying. She was joint overall winner with younger student Camani Ani-Okai.

Wixams Academy is part of Bedford College Academies Trust (BCAT). BCAT was created to drive up local educational standards. The Trust believes our region deserves outstanding schools and its commitment to Bedfordshire means that all of its resources are focused on education for the local community.

BCAT and its sponsors educate 16,000 students across Bedfordshire.

The Bedford College Group consists of Bedford College, Shuttleworth College, Tresham College, Bedford Sixth Form, and Wixams Tree Primary School They were initial sponsors of the Bedford Academy, and helped to create Bedford Free School.

Bedford College Academies Trust (BCAT), Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 6BA

STUDENTS from Wixams Academy are proving an exceptional asset to the wider community of Bedford Borough.

William Priano is proud to see his design for the Wixams village sign now in place at the main entrances off the A6.

He entered a competition two years ago and won an iPad, but Covid caused a delay in the creation and installation of the metal sign as a ‘Welcome to Wixams; – but it is now in place.

“It’s pretty cool,” said William, who hopes to become an architect when he is older, so this project was a good signpost towards a career in visualising beautiful environments.

Meanwhile, Daisy Newton and Martina Georgieva are now busy

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Daisy Newton and Martina Georgieva.

Guides launch Challenge Badge in partnership with Whipsnade Zoo

GIRLGUIDING Bedfordshire has launched a wild new Challenge in support of local charity, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo – with Girlguiding members completing fun animal-inspired tasks at home while raising funds for the closed zoo.

Shut for the third time in a year as part of the nationwide lockdown, the global conservation charity behind ZSL Whipsnade Zoo has been calling on the public for support as it is usually reliant on ticket sales to fund its vital work.

With activities including making a butterfly corner or bird feeder to creating a whole wildlife garden at home, creating a hedgehog house, and renewing your plastic promise by making an animal sculpture from recycled items. Rainbows, Brownies and Guides will earn a new badge inspired by ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. To launch this new partnership, Girlguiding Bedfordshire ran a competition which was open to all its members to create a new and very special badge; the competition was won by then six-yearold Rainbow, Isla Jordan, who attends Wilden Rainbows.

Isla said: “I watched a programme and read a story about tigers, I like tigers because they are stripy. He is wearing an explorer’s hat and binoculars to help him look & find out about things.” Isla added, “It looks very nice now it is a real badge, the colours make my tiger look as though he is having fun at the Zoo.”

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New position for Louisa

LOUISA Watson, Director of Marketing at Wyboston Lakes Resort has been appointed as a venue sector adviser to the Board of HBAA, the association for the meetings, events and accommodation industry.

She will represent the depth and breadth of the HBAA’s venue community and influence the HBAA’s board strategy and activities.

In this new voluntary role, which is additional to her existing position at Wyboston Lakes Resort, Louisa Watson will drive engagement within the HBAA’s venue community and deliver relevant content and support aligned to the sector’s needs, and complementary to the needs of the association’s agency members.

Reflecting on the new role, Watson said: “Having been personally involved with the HBAA for six years and previously held roles as Marketing Committee Chair, Venue Chair for two years and more recently Sustainability Chair, I am delighted to have been appointed to this role at such a challenging and pivotal time for the venue community.”

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2021

Bedford business and local charity join forces to ramp up initiative for a greener future

Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough commented: “It was excellent to tour the Midas facility and see first-hand the investment they have made in their buildings, plant and technologies while also partaking in tree planting at Shocott Community Wood.

“Since I declared a climate emergency in the borough in 2019, the council have worked to reduce its carbon footprint and also engage and work with the boroughs business community on efforts and actions they can take to reduce environmental impact.

“Midas are a great example of a Bedford borough business assessing their practices and putting in measures which not only reduces the impact of operations on the environment, but also achieve cost savings to reinvest in the company. I look forward to continuing to work with Midas and other borough businesses in sharing good practice and reducing carbon impact across the area.”

James Russell, Forest Director for the Forest of Marston Vale agrees and says: “We’re delighted to be working with the team at Midas to

INVESTMENT

lead the way on how local businesses here in Bedford and beyond can transform their environmental performance.

We were happy to agree to the partnership and arrange the sale of some carbon units to Alan, because he’s demonstrated his willingness to put people and planet before profit through this investment, and their values and vision is aligned with our own: the Forest becoming an area defined by trees and which demonstrates how communities, businesses and the environment thrive alongside each other, in a sustainable and balanced way.”

Passionate environmentalist, Midas Pattern Company MD Alan Rance hopes that other Bedford businesses might be encouraged to think about their own carbon reduction plan, having demonstrated with a small dedicated team that it is possible to deliver a successful, profitable business which also demonstrates a long term commitment to local investment and the global environment.

“Having the opportunity to work in partnership with the Forest of Marston Vale, to not only support Midas net-zero ambitions, but where we can positively improve the local environment just three miles down the road from Midas, is amazing.

“I am enthused that our mutual partnership has commenced with such a positive day at Shocott

Spring. I can’t imagine having more fun than I’ve had planting the first ten oak trees.

“Working together with the Forest of Marston Vale can only enhance the spread of the green ethic that is the #midasgreeninitiative. We must all keep doing our level best if we to stand a chance of leaving this beautiful planet in any kind of decent condition for our children and our grandchildren, we are teamwork!”

SHORTSTOWN and Cotton End Local Community Forest charity the Forest of Marston Vale has entered into a five year partnership with award-winning company Midas Pattern Company Ltd, planting 500 trees per year near Bedford and selling verified carbon units to cut the manufacturing company’s carbon footprint to absolute zero.

The first of its kind for the Charity, the venture will see Midas become the latest Corporate Friend of the Forest by investing in both tree planting and the purchase of Woodland Carbon Units generated from the young trees already growing in the Shocott Spring Community Woodland.

In doing so, Midas have become the first company to buy verified carbon that’s already been locked up by the young woodlands growing to create the Forest of Marston Vale.

With a commitment to plant 2,500 trees in five years, and purchase a further 500 carbon units per year – known as “Pending Issuance Units (PIUs)”, relating to carbon this woodland will lock up in the years ahead – the responsible polyurethane moulding company will go beyond their already achieved carbon-neutral manufacturing status, and achieve absolute carbon net zero for all products, benefitting the local environment and aiding national efforts to combat climate change.

The partnership is one of many measures introduced by Midas as part of the ‘Midas Green Initiative’: their commitment to support the fundamental principle of sustainability and environmentally friendly, zero-carbon economy through a company-wide carbon reduction journey.

To showcase this achievement, Midas Pattern Company welcomed Mayor of Bedford Dave Hodgson MBE to their factory at the Elms Farm Industrial Estate for a Covidsecure tour of the facilities, followed by a meeting at Shocott Spring with the team from the Forest of Marston Vale where 10 oak trees were planted to mark the start of the partnership and demonstrate the commitment to carbon net zero in action.

— 11

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Angela’s Annual Charity Birthday Bash – ‘Lockdown Style’

ahead with pioneering Research into Small Cell Ovarian Cancer, with other families who have lost loved ones to this rare disease, now able to make awards to support the Research and grants can be accessed to support this now international Research.”

Whilst originally Angela’s Fund was supporting research they hoped one day would start, followed by supporting the foundations for a Small Research Programme which began in 2016 and latterly to extend this to a full five year Research Programme, Angela’s Fund is now supporting the Development of the Research worldwide. As the CEO of the Eve Appeal recently stated: “things have certainly moved on apace.”

Encouraged by this the Butcher family are now hoping there will be more opportunity to fundraise when restrictions are eased. In the meantime if anyone would like to support Angela’s Fund, please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/smallcellovariancancerresearch to make a donation, or contact Linda Butcher on 07730 319209 of Mark James Butcher on Facebock to find out other ways in which to support.

Linda Butcher

IT WAS a totally different Party, Angela’s Annual Charity Birthday Bash this year!

On Saturday, March 6, 2021, the Bigglewade-based charity held a masked, handcuffed with lockdown hairstyles party. Linda, Mike and Mark Butcher celebrated alone but it was great to know that other households around the country were supporting from afar.

Linda said: “We were fortunate to be able to hold last year’s event on March 14, just prior to lockdown – our last charity get together and didn’t want to let the occasion pass without doing something. Individuals or families joined in our cash prize competition for the most Facebook likes / reactions for their photo enjoying the evening or raising a glass to Angela. Others supported a raffle on the night and the evening raised a fabulous £565.50 for Angela’s Small Cell Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at The Eve Appeal.

“Whilst it’s been a very difficult year for everyone, we’ve managed to find ways to still raise money and are amazed that a year ago, Angela’s Fund stood at £135,853,96 and today it’s at £157,603.70 so all in all it’s been a pretty exceptional year, raising well over £21,000.

“The generosity of friends and family and indeed the general public has enabled the Eve Appeal and Researchers to strive

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BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2021

— 13

State-of-the-art crane installed at Bedford College

TRAINEES will have an industrystandard crane in the new Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) training centre at Bedford College.

The gantry crane, of the sort used within manufacturing facilities to lift components of pre-manufactured properties, was itself hauled into position in Cauldwell Street on Friday, February 26, by a specialist spider crane.

The gantry crane being installed was manufactured in the UK by Street Crane Company Limited.

The crane has cost £25k plus VAT and is an essential element of the new MMC. It will safely lifts loads up to 3.2T and it will have a working span of 20.2m. College staff will be able to operate the crane using a wireless control pad.

Work has been underway on Bedford College’s £4.3 MCC since before Christmas and will be completed by September 2021.

Pre-manufacturing homes, or at

least part of them, and then shipping them to a building site, has been identified as the most efficient and cost-effective way of meeting the huge demand for housing.

To keep up with the skills demand from the construction industry, Bedford College has been awarded money to upgrade its existing facilities in Cauldwell Street.

The riverside campus already houses the Brundtland Building, which leads on modern “eco” infrastructure training, and the Advanced Engineering Centre, which houses a Virtual Reality construction ‘cave’, funded by the Connolly Foundation. Digital engineering technologies and the use of computerised-aided design (CAD) equipment is already part of the wider college curriculum offer.

There is a huge synergy now between engineering design and the construction industry, which opens up a whole new world of employment.

Raising money for Indian ‘street children’

Left to right: Poonam Chand; Jacqueline Merne; Maureen Forrest Founder of HOPE; Karen Crofts-Hotston and Seema Grantham. © Photo

by Michelle Jovic.

THE Bedford community has helped to raise over £27,000 for vulnerable street children in India.

Local resident, Jacqueline Merne, established the Bedford HOPE Fundraising Group in 2018, to help raise vital funds and awareness for The HOPE Foundation (HOPE).

HOPE is a charity helping vulnerable street connected children and slum dwelling communities in Kolkata, India. The vision of HOPE is of “a world where it should never hurt to be a child”.

Jacqueline is a Stress Management Trainer and the author of “Stress to Success” and “The Happy Beans Best Day Ever Gratitude Journal”. She has been a dedicated supporter of The HOPE Foundation for many years and has visited HOPE projects in Kolkata on numerous occasions. Jacqueline first met Maureen Forrest, the founder and Honorary Director of The Hope Foundation, whilst working in war torn and famine stricken African countries during the 1990’s.

HOPE was established in 1999, and since then has positively changed the lives of over 2.9 million people, supporting and providing them with the means to lift them out of the abject poverty into which they were born.

HOPE implements over 60 vital humanitarian programmes in Kolkata, supporting street connected children and slum based communities across a range of programme sectors including Child Protection, Education, Healthcare, Vocational and Life Skills Training, Nutrition, and Emergency Response. HOPE’s

central projects include providing holistic care to extremely vulnerable children across 11 Child Protection Homes; and delivering medical and surgical care in the 42 bedded HOPE hospital which caters for the street and slum communities in Kolkata.

Jacqueline’s experience overseas helped cement her understanding of the power of giving and was the catalyst for the formation of the Bedford HOPE Fundraising Group.

She says “to see first-hand how people who have virtually nothing at all, and show so much gratitude for the simplest of things, has etched a place in my heart and enriched my life forever.” Jacqueline believes that this experience opened her eyes to a life filled with joy, happiness and contentment. “Even though you never expect to get anything in return, you do a thousand times over. Giving elevates our mood and fills our heart with joy.”

Jacqueline, and the other core members of the Bedford HOPE Fundraising Group, Seema Grantham, Poonam Chand, Karen Crofts-Hotston, Sharon Vanspall have shown nothing but kindness and generosity; selflessly giving their time and energy to HOPE. Every member brings their own unique style and skill-sets, and each is inspiring and creative in their fundraising ideas.

Despite the fundraising challenges of 2020, due to Covid restrictions, the HOPE Bedford Fundraising Group, and groups associated with them, have continued to raise funds.

This new funding will see the single storey building which sits alongside the Brundtland Building on Cauldwell Street being upgraded to include a facility to construct dwellings and component parts like kitchen and bathroom “pods”.

“We will be working closely with leading employers in the construction industry regionally to get input about the skills they need to fast-forward these modern methods,” said The Bedford College Group’s Director of Construction Dave Wilkins, “There are huge opportunities here for training young people for great jobs in the future - be it 16year-olds embarking on apprenticeships, those undertaking the new T-Levels, others progressing on to degree-level Higher Education courses, and those in the industry who want to modernise their skills.

“There will always be a demand for more traditional construction skills and we will continue to offer

those courses across all levels.”

Ian Pryce CBE, CEO of The Bedford College Group, said of the Modern Methods of Construction Centre: “This refurbishment has been supported by the Getting Building Fund which is especially welcome in these times which are seeing a renewed focus on the construction industry.”

The project has received £2.9 Million in funding as part of a Getting Building Fund for infrastructure projects designed to stimulate jobs and support economic recovery across the county.

The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), has been allocated £27.3million of the pot – more than £15.1 million of which has been allocated to fund six projects in Bedfordshire.

Hilary Chipping, SEMLEP Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have secured more than £27m from government to support the recovery from COVID-19.”

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With Covid-19 still an ever-present threat foreign holidays are not quite yet allowed – but with either of this month’s recipes you can just imagine the waves lapping up the beach at the end of a hot day. It’s still warm and you’ll be sitting, relaxing with a glass of chilled white wine and the authentic taste of the Mediterranean. These recipes are simple to make, the ingredients all readily available, what’s stopping you? Just enjoy.

Mediterranean fish casserole

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Serves 4 Hearty fish steaks baked with garlic, tomatoes and herbs make a delicious dish, enough to bring back memories of holidays near the Mediterranean coast.

INGREDIENTS - 2 tsps olive oil - 1 tbsp dry white wine or stock - 2 sticks celery, thinly sliced - 1 clove garlic, thinly sliced - 150g red onions, thinly sliced - 600g chopped tomatoes - 1 lemon, thinly sliced - 1 tbsp tomato purée - 4 fish steaks, such as swordfish or tuna, about 125g (4½ oz) each - 3 sprigs fresh rosemary - 3 tbsps chopped fresh oregano, or 1 tbsp dried - Salt and black pepper

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KEMPSTON RURAL PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council is responsible for a number of local services, including: roadside seats, Bus shelters, Litter bins, Dog waste bins, Wood End Play Space, the closed church yard at Church End. In addition, the Parish Council liaises with the Borough Council on matters that are their responsibility such roads and footways. It also considers and responds to local planning proposals and other matters that might affect the lives and well-being of residents.

The Parish Council meets on the third Thursday of the month (except August and December), at 7.30pm in All Saints Church Hall. There is always 15 minutes set aside for public questions.

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Mussels & shallots in white wine Serves 4 Use fresh mussels for this recipe, ensuring they are tightly closed before you cook them. Serve with slices of fresh crusty bread – or with thin French fries to soak up the aromatic sauce.

INGREDIENTS - 30g butter - 4 shallots, minced - 175ml dry white wine - 1.25kg mussels, cleaned and debearded - good handful chopped fresh parsley - freshly ground black pepper

METHOD 1. In a medium stockpot, heat butter over medium heat. Add shallots and sauté until translucent.

2. Pour in wine and mussels.

Raise heat to medium high and steam mussels until shells open, about five minutes.

3. Pour mussels and cooking liquid into a serving bowl, sprinkle with parsley and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

4. Serve immediately.

METHOD 1. Heat the oil and wine or stock in a flameproof casserole then add the celery, garlic and onions and fry for 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently, until they have softened.

2. Add the tomatoes with the lemon and tomato purée 3. Bring to the boil and simmer, stirring, for 2-3 minutes until the tomatoes begin to soften.

4. Arrange the fish in a single layer on top of the vegetable mixture.

Tuck in the sprigs of rosemary, sprinkle with oregano and season to taste.

5. Cover the casserole and leave it to simmer for 10-15 minutes until the flesh is just firm, spooning the juices over the fish occasionally.

6. Serve immediately

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Sow and grow

G

BEDFORDSHIRE BULLETIN APRIL 2021

— 15

out & about

The ever popular Concerts in the Park return this year

by Maureen Catlin

ROWING plants from seed is a very economic, interesting and rewarding hobby. It allows us to experiment with unusual varieties but for success we need to understand the conditions various plants require for guaranteed germination from the humble Radish to the exotic Bird of Paradise Plant (Strelitzia).

It is important to have space to accommodate the germination pots and trays so a heated propagator and grow lamps in a heated greenhouse or conservatory is ideal but costly in terms of energy.

A spare room in the house with background heat and propagators on window sills is more energy efficient.

Timing is vital so if you have the ideal facilities to grow on the young plants you can sow some species like Begonia, Geraniums, Peppers and Chillies as early as January. Otherwise most success is achieved by sowing your seeds in April when the temperatures are rising, the days are lengthening and light levels are high. Or buy these plants from the Garden Centre at the beginning of May. It is important to have clean equipment so wash everything in a dilute solution of Jeyes Fluid or hot water. I recommended you use plastic pots or trays which retain moisture better than terracotta. Fibre pots and Peat pots are also useful for germinating large seeds like Sweet Peas, Cucumbers, Melons and Sunflowers. They can then be planted directly into their final position without transplanting.

Temperature is a very important factor for good germination. Seeds like Primulas need one week at 24c then 20c degrees. Conversely lettuce will not germinate above 20c. Broccoli Cabbage and Cauliflower need 10c to 15c while Geraniums, Begonias and Impatiens need a constant heat of 22c to 25c degrees.

Peas, Broad Beans, Onions, Beetroot, Carrots and Parsnips and hardy annuals like Nasturtiums, Cornflower and Poppy are sown directly outdoors from April, thinly, into soil that has been raked to a fine tilth. For root vegetables sow the seeds 4cm apart to avoid disturbing the roots by thinning. The soil temperature needs to be about 8c. If very cold nights are threatened cover the planting areas with fleece which will keep the soil and seedlings warm.

It is important to use a good quality compost to germinate seeds. Jacks Magic is a fine peat based compost which retains moisture essential especially for the fine dust like seed of Nicotiana or Gloxinias. Westland Seed Compost is also recommended. It has added nutrients to produce strong growth in the young seedlings. Fill the containers with compost and then water. Allow the water to penetrate the compost and tamp the surface to level and smooth. Don’t be tempted to sow all the seed in the packet. Think how many plants you actually need and sow 10% more seed thinly on

by Tony Hendrix

the damp compost. The sowing density should allow the seedlings to germinate and grow so there is room to produce the two first leaves. Most seeds should be covered with a fine layer of compost or vermiculate and then with a clear propagator lid to aid germination.

Most tender varieties of flowers or vegetables should not be planted outside in the Borders, Veg Patch or Patio Pots until the end of May to ensure the young plants are not exposed to cold nights and frost so sowing most seeds about the beginning of April is recommended unless you have good heated greenhouse facilities for holding and growing on young plants.

For tender varieties of flowers like Petunias, Lobelia and Marigolds and Vegetables like Cour-

gettes, Runner Beans and Sweet Corn use cell trays or pots filled with good quality compost. Moisten the compost and put a single large seed or a small pinch of fine seed into each cell or small pot and then vermiculite on top. Cover with a propagator lid, dome cloche or polythene bag and put in a warm place indoors or in a heated propagator in a greenhouse until the seeds start to germinate. Move to a good light source, a warm windowsill if growing indoors, until the seedlings are large enough to handle, usually when there are more than 2 leaves. Transplant the seedlings into larger individual cell trays or pots to grow on until planting in their final position at the end of May. I am sure you will find “Sowing and Growing” your own plants will provide a very rewarding and interesting pastime save a lot of money.

Following months of speculation Bedford Parks Concerts live music weekend has been given the green light.

This live music event was originally scheduled for summer 2020 however due to Covid restrictions had to be postponed and has just been rescheduled for the weekend 29th July 29 to August 1 2021. The government's roadmap to recovery has now given hope that audiences can now return to Bedfordshires al fresco events, the three day Bedford Park live Music weekend will feature one of the UKs biggest pop stars Olly Murs complimented by an evening of chilled sounds of Ibiza from a star studded line up of DJs and finally an evening featuring some amazing operatic vocalists.

“We were always cautiously optimistic that these events, postponed from last summer, would be able to take place this July and the latest government roadmap gives us reassurance that we can deliver all three events safely this year,” comments Mark Harrison of Bedford Park Concerts.”

Olly Murs shot to fame back in 2009 when he achieved second place in the sixth series of the X Factor.

He has since become one of the UK’s biggest pop stars achieving a string of number one national chart hits. Olly’s summer show will certainly put a smile back on the faces of concert goers as he performs his biggest hits, including tracks from this recently certified triple platinum album ‘Never Been Better’.

Olly with support guests will be opening up the three day live music event on Thursday July 29, the show starts at 5.30pm and ends at 10.30pm The following evening Friday July 30 sees an amazing evening with the vibrant Café Mambo Ibiza, Balearics and Ibiza club anthems will be delivered by a star-studded line-up of DJ, Faithless featuring sister Bliss, Hannah Wants, Mark Knight and Rtion, I can only imagine this evening will be packed with house freaks wanting to party again!

Finally Saturday, August 1, sees a night in the park for the slightly maturer clientele, Tenor Wynne Evans (Go Compare insurance TV advert vocalist) and soprano Victoria Joyce. This rousing musical accomplishment to the evening will be accompanied by the London Gala Orchestra.

Despite the relaxation of Covid restrictions, organisers will have Covid-19 protocols in force to reduce queuing, there will be

controlled entry and exit into the park and supplementary catering and toilet facilities will be available.

For more information including pricing on the Bedford Park Concerts please visit. www.bedfordparkconcerts.co.uk All these concert dates in The Park will sell out very quickly, as the UK slowly awakens from lockdown everyone will be looking for an excuse to party, you have been warned get your tickets now!

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the back Man convicted of Bedford robberies is jailed for six years A MAN has been sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to knifepoint robberies across Bedford.

Christopher Powell, 32, of no fixed abode, was sentenced on Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at Luton Crown Court for three counts of robbery and two counts of possession of a bladed article.

On January 11, Powell entered a shop in Greenhill Street, Bedford, where he threatened staff by telling them he had a knife before making off with tobacco and a bottle of beer.

On January 20, Powell entered a shop on Avon Drive, Bedford, and threatened staff with a knife for money. He forced himself behind the counter, where he opened the till and made off with £190 worth of cash.

On January 24, he entered a store in Brickhill Drive, Bedford, and headed straight to a till, and

opened it whilst staff were elsewhere. When he was challenged, he pushed the staff members out of the way before making off with £140 in cash.

Powell was identified as the offender after he was the subject of an unrelated Stop and Search and was recognised from the CCTV footage at the Greenhill Street store.

Council tax fiddler gets 42 months BEDFORD Borough Council has prosecuted a woman on seven counts of forgery and counterfeiting, spanning over a period of almost two years.

Filomena Rozana of Coventry Road, Bedford was sentenced to a total of three and a half years custody, which has been suspended for two years. Mrs Rozana was given six months imprisonment for each of the seven charges, which will run concurrently.

Alongside these charges, Mrs Rozana must serve 10 days of rehabilitation activity over 12 months and pay £515 to cover costs and a victim surcharge.

In May 2016, Bedford Borough Council had received a liability order from Luton Magistrates Court, which permitted them to

recover a Council Tax debt of £1317.97 directly from Mrs Rozanas husband’s employer.

Over a two-year period, Mrs Rozana produced seven fake letters to her husband’s employer, claiming to be from Bedford Borough Council in order to avoid paying a Council Tax debt.

Once the offence had been identified and addressed with the employer, the Council Tax debt was repaid in full.

When interviewed by Council investigators, Mrs Rozana admitted to producing and sending the letters in an attempt to avoid paying the debt. Mrs Rozana was summonsed to attend Luton Magistrates Court and plead guilty at the first hearing, subsequently being sentenced on Thursday, February 25.

Bedford Midland Road Jail for man who badly injured his friends in off-licence caught selling counterfeit vodka late night car chase COUNCILLORS have been called on to review the alcohol licence of a Bedford shop that sold a bottle of counterfeit vodka to a customer who later felt ill and complained that it tasted of nail polish.

A barrister for Midland Local Store told the licensing sub committee of Bedford Borough Council that someone had brought a box of 24 fake 35cl bottles of vodka from a “white van man” but that it was a one-off.

Barrister Leo Charalambides told the sub committee on Tuesday, March 16, that they operators had learned their lesson and have agreed to make changes to the way they run the shop at 99a Midland Road.

Mr Charalambides said the prospect of paying his fees should act as a deterrent.

“They might try to buy once or twice from a white van man,” he said.

“But by the time they have paid their agent Lockett and Co, and by the time they have paid me there is quite a financial impact that comes on the back of this.”

He argued that to take away the shop’s licence would be “disproportionate”. They now have to buy from reputable suppliers and keep receipts.

Paul Brennan, a council trading standards team leader told councillors after hearing the barrister put his case that he changed his recommendation.

Instead of wanting the licence

to be revoked, which was the council’s automatic position, he said a full suite of 21 agreed conditions would be good enough.

Mr Brennan had told the hearing that the licence holders had not contacted him 125 days after he visited the shop last October and invited them to talk.

He had found and seized four bottles openly in the front of the shop and 16 in a store room out of a box of 24.

Jailed after attempting to meet ‘12-year-old girl’ for sex

A ‘DANGEROUS predator’ from Bedford was jailed for two-and-ahalf-years on Friday, March 12, after officers found he was attempting to meet, who he believed was, a 12-year-old girl for sex.

Andrew Jeffrey, 38, of Chillingham Green, Bedford, was arrested on January 30, 2019 after sending sexually explicit messages and attempting to meet someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl.

Jeffrey struck up a conversation on an instant messaging app and after only a couple of hours of conversation, Jeffrey sent sexually explicit messages and tried to persuade her to come to his house.

Investigators became concerned after Jeffrey described how he could get her “high” on drinks and drugs and two days later, police executed a warrant at his home address, seized a number of electronic devices and arrested him.

Jeffrey pleaded guilty to three counts of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offence and one count of attempting sexual communication with a child. He received a 30 month sentence.

A MAN who drove as if he was “possessed by the devil” seriously injured two friends when he crashed, leaving one of them paralysed.

Romanian Ion Grosu, 28 (pictured), was jailed for three years last month after a judge he lost control of his powerful BMW 530 GT as he sped along Ampthill Road in Bedford at 86 miles per hour.

The care home worker crashed through railings, flipped through the air and rolled down an embankment onto a car park, Luton crown court was told.

Prosecutor Ruth Zentler-Munro said Grosu and his three friends had been socialising in a house and then went out to buy a bottle of Rum, which they drunk in a car park.

It was just after half past four in the morning on Wednesday, September 16 last year when Grosu volunteered to drive them home.

Ms Zentler-Munro said: “The crash happened on Ampthill Road near the hospital, just after the traffics lights. The speed limit is 30 miles per hour.

“He struck the nearside kerb, which caused him to lose control.

He went across the carriageway, through the railings and down the embankment. The car was airborne. The drop was six metres.”

She said that Grosu and his front seat passenger suffered only minor injuries, but the two rear seat passengers were very seriously injured.

One, a 22-year-old man, suffered a broken spine, multiple rib fractures and a broken shoulder bone. He has lost the use of his legs and is now doubly incontinent. The other suffered fractures to his head, but has recovered.

The front seat passenger told the police that after pulling out of

Morrison’s car park, Grosu accelerated hard.

The passenger turned down the music, but Grosu turned it up again. He said he continued to speed “as if possessed by the devil.”

He said the car crashed, flipped twice in the air and rolled over once when it landed.

After the crash, Grosu asked a member of the public, who had stopped, not to call the emergency services, but the man already had.

Rather than call for an ambulance himself, Grosu had rung his partner.

The prosecutor said when the police arrived they could smell alcohol. A back calculation gave Grosu an alcohol to blood reading of 182, the legal limit is 80. He also tested positive for cocaine, giving a reading of 200 when the limit is 50.

He told the police a car coming in the opposite direction had crossed the carriageway, but when an officer examined CCTV from the area no other car was seen.

Grosu, of Sandhurst Road, Bedford, pleaded guilty to two charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, making false statements to obtain insurance, and driving with excess alcohol and drugs.

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