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MID BEDS EDITION
WHILE many town centres are suffering through lack of footfall, Sandy and Biggleswade do not appear to be as badly hit as other towns which lack the community spirit of these two towns. Yes there are fewer people in the shops but they are not completely devoid of customers.
Elsewhere there are other signs of positive underlying activity. In Biggleswade planning applications have been received for the former HSBC branch to become a physio centre with domestic accommodation to the rear. In Station Road, plans are in for a Craft Beer Centre in the former Medlock shop. Proposals have been received for the New Inn on the Market
Square to become a bar and restaurant, a gin distillery and rental accommodation. A spokesperson for Biggleswade Town Council said: “It’s tough, but it’s not all doom and gloom, and there are still opportunities to be had. “One pleasing addition to the town centre is the Jones’ Café which opened in June.” There are concerns over Biggleswade market with several stallholders giving up and either retiring or putting their hands to something else. So if you are interested in the possibilities of a market stall in Biggleswade town centre, contact: enquiries@biggleswadetowncouncil.gov.uk As we go to press it has been an announced that Biggleswade’s Pizza Express will sadly not reopen!
REDEVELOPMENT AT GIRTFORD BRIDGE At August’s Sandy Town Council meeting, councillors discussed a recent planning application for land adjacent to the A1 at Girtford Bridge. The planning application lodged by Sai VRP & Sons Ltd, of Barton Road, Cambridge, is for the redevelopment of the site to provide two drive-through food outlets (Use Class A3/A5), three restaurant units (Use Class A3) and one restaurant/gym unit (Use Class A3/D2), following demolition of the existing buildings. Councillors were broadly in favour of the plans, with some reservations about the impact on
existing traffic flows on the approaches to the Sandy roundabout. It was noted that there is a potential for 100 jobs from developing the site. THE MEADOWS The former Days Inn hotel building now in the ownership of Central Bedfordshire Council is scheduled to become temporary accommodation for homeless families. There will be 22 family units and 13 single person units. The conference hall is not part of the new arrangements and there are on-going discussions as to what its future use may be – suggestions please on a postcard to the CBC!
Entrepreneurs are still active as can be seen below in the planning application for Girtford Bridge, Sandy.
© Google Earth
SEPTEMBER 2020
Detective resigned from the force prior to facing gross misconduct charge A fORMER officer has been found to have committed gross misconduct after sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues over social media.
Jagjeet Dhillon who resigned from his detective constable post in November after a 10 year career, had denied breaching the standards of professional behaviour. He would have faced instant dismissal had he still been a serving officer. On Thursday, August 6, 2020, an independent panel sitting at King’s House in Bedford upheld that he had committed gross misconduct for authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct.
An investigation by Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Professional Standards Department was launched last year following complaints from a PC who had been supervised by him while he was in an acting detective sergeant post.
COMPLAINTS
The panel heard from four witnesses who gave evidence that he had acted inappropriately towards them including sending pictures and suggestive comments via social media. Although Dhillon had already resigned from the force, legislation changes in December 2017 instructed that all gross misconduct cases must proceed to their conclusion even where officers have resigned or retired. Assistant Chief Constable Sharn Basra said: “Noone should be made to feel uncomfortable while at work, and Jagjeet Dhillon’s behaviour towards colleagues who would have looked up to him was entirely unacceptable and fell well below the standards we expect. “Equality and respect are core values here at Bedfordshire Police and absolutely every officer and member of staff should be treated with dignity and respect. I’m pleased the officers felt supported to speak out, by collectively challenging such behaviour we will continue to create a positive culture throughout the organisation.”