Latest news with #Bedford
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Bedford area with four drive-through cafes could see more added
Three drive-through cafes could be built opposite the site earmarked for Universal Studios and next to a retail park with four existing drive-throughs.A planning application has been submitted to develop agricultural land next to the A421 in Kempston, south of Turnstone Estates also wants to add six commercial buildings, which would be divided into "flexible use units" for small and medium-sized 5.29 hectare site borders the Interchange Retail Park that currently hosts several stores and Burger King, Costa, KFC and McDonalds. The proposed Universal Studios theme park would sit on the other side of the A421 at Kempston Hardwick, and hopes to attract up to 55,000 visitors per day at peak planning application includes a suggestion to link up the theme park's lake area with the Interchange Retail Park for cyclists and pedestrians. Turnstone Estates said the project - entitled Interchange South - was in a "strategic location"."Within five minutes is the proposed Universal Studios UK location, placing it at the heart of one of the most significant regional investments in a generation."It offers a rare opportunity for a range of businesses to locate in an established retail and employment location and next to a future global visitor destination," it said. The property developer said its site was allocated for development in the Bedford Local Plan also plans to include rooftop solar panels to generate electricity and 140 cycle spaces and 273 car parking spaces."This proposal aims to bring forward a viable and deliverable scheme on land that has remained underutilised, thereby contributing positively to the local economy," it added. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
UK thunderstorm maps show 14 regions to be battered by lightning and heavy rain
Brits up and down the nation are bracing for potential flooding and travel disruption as the Met Office has blanketed the majority of the country under yellow weather alerts Yellow weather alerts for thunderstorms and heavy rain have been issued across the UK, putting a brutal end to the country's heat spell. Britain's blue skies and scorching temperatures have quickly been replaced with stark warnings for heavy showers and thunderstorms which could result in travel chaos and even flash flooding. More than a dozen regions have today (Monday, July 21) been included in the Met Office's weather warnings - which include two thunderstorm alerts and two 'rain' alerts. "Rainfall amounts will vary from place to place but 20-30 mm is likely within an hour in a few places, with a small chance of 40-50 mm in one or two locations; this most likely across southern Scotland and northern England," the Met Office states. "Lightning strikes are also likely along with the potential for hail and gusty winds." Speaking exclusively with the Mirror, Jim Dale, the founder and Senior Meteorological Consultant at British Weather Services, says it's hard to predict the exact time the storm will batter Brits due to the erroneous nature of the 'random beasts. "This is very likely the last day of major thunderstorm risk for now," he added. "But within that risk anything goes, including lightning strikes, hail, gusty winds, flash floods, and maybe -just maybe - the odd mini tornado. Most of us will inevitably miss them but if you happen to be in one of them expect any of the above and take cover." Want big news with big heart? Get the top headlines sent straight to your inbox with our Daily Newsletter The first warning (labelled below as 1/2) , which is slated to last from 3am and is in place until 9pm, impacts England's south east, including Greater London, Kent, and Oxfordshire. This warning was updated at 10am and has actually shrunken in size as the Met Office removed parts of southern England from the yellow zone. The second warning (labelled below as 2/2), which started at 11am and is also in place until 9pm, impacts a much larger area of the country. Yellow thunderstorm alert - full list of affected areas (1/2) East of England Bedford Cambridgeshire Central Bedfordshire Essex Hertfordshire Luton Norfolk Southend-on-Sea Suffolk Thurrock London and South East England Bracknell Forest Brighton and Hove Buckinghamshire East Sussex Greater London Hampshire Kent Medway Milton Keynes Oxfordshire Portsmouth Reading Slough Southampton Surrey West Berkshire West Sussex Windsor and Maidenhead Wokingham South West England Swindon Wiltshire Yellow Thunderstorm warning - full list of affected areas (2/2) Central, Tayside & Fife Angus Clackmannanshire Dundee Falkirk Fife Perth and Kinross Stirling East Midlands Derby Derbyshire Leicester Leicestershire Lincolnshire Northamptonshire Nottingham Nottinghamshire Rutland East of England Bedford Cambridgeshire Norfolk Peterborough Grampian Aberdeenshire Moray Highlands & Eilean Siar Highland London & South East England Buckinghamshire Milton Keynes Oxfordshire North East England Darlington Durham Gateshead Hartlepool Middlesbrough Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside Northumberland Redcar and Cleveland South Tyneside Stockton-on-Tees Sunderland North West England Blackburn with Darwen Blackpool Cheshire East Cheshire West and Chester Cumbria Greater Manchester Halton Lancashire Merseyside Warrington SW Scotland, Lothian Borders Dumfries and Galloway East Lothian Edinburgh Midlothian Council Scottish Borders West Lothian South West England Gloucestershire Swindon Wiltshire Strathclyde Argyll and Bute East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Renfrewshire Glasgow Inverclyde North Ayrshire North Lanarkshire Renfrewshire South Ayrshire South Lanarkshire West Dunbartonshire Wales Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Gwynedd Powys Wrexham West Midlands Herefordshire Shropshire Staffordshire Stoke-on-Trent Telford and Wrekin Warwickshire West Midlands Conurbation Worcestershire Yorkshire & Humber East Riding of Yorkshire Kingston upon Hull North East Lincolnshire North Lincolnshire North Yorkshire South Yorkshire West Yorkshire York The Highlands have also been placed under a yellow weather alert for heavy rain. The warning will come into place at 3pm and is expected to last until 6am the following morning. Over in Northern Ireland, an existing yellow warning for rain is predicted to end at 6pm this evening.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Bedford man says he "didn't intend" to murder teenager
A 19-year-old man accused of killing a teenager "virtually in cold blood" has defended his Ndenkeh, 19, of Midland Road, Bedford, is one of five teenagers who deny murdering 17-year-old Thomas died after being stabbed in Greenhill Street, Bedford, just before 18:00 GMT on 8 January, a trial at Luton Crown Court Ndenkeh has told jurors he "didn't intend" to kill Thomas. Prosecution barrister Mark Heywood KC has told jurors that Thomas was "effectively left for dead" after being stabbed in a pedestrian street near a bus has told the trial "sudden" and "ugly" violence involving two groups of "young men" had broken Adam, 18, Mr Ndenkeh, Riaz Miah, 18, She'ma Dixon, 18, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be identified, have all pleaded not guilty to have heard two of the accused teenagers give evidence in their defence - a third is due to answer questions from barristers on judge Mr Justice Martin Spencer has told jurors that they should finish hearing evidence on Wednesday. 'Cold Blood' Mr Heywood said CCTV showed Thomas being stabbed and stamped said footage showed Mr Ndenkeh stabbing Heywood told Mr Ndenkeh: "You murdered him in virtually cold blood."Mr Ndenkeh replied: "I didn't intend to."He said he been trying to protect a friend. Mr Heywood has told jurors how Thomas had been walking with two other youths near Bedford bus said the group was approached by members of a larger had been attacked, brought to the ground and fatally stabbed, Mr Heywood said youths involved had "fled" and passers by were "left to deal with the aftermath".Mr Heywood said the "background" to the attack "almost certainly" related to an incident some days earlier involving Mr suggested that Mr Miah had been assaulted by a youth associated with Thomas and the incident had become an "issue".Mr Heywood said the attack on Thomas was "deliberate". Mr Heywood has questioned Mr Ndenkeh over several hours at the suggested that Mr Ndenkeh carried a knife "every time" he went into Bedford - including on a visit to a job centre."When you went to the job centre you sat there with a 10-inch blade," Mr Heywood told Mr Heywood suggested, that on the day Thomas died, violence had been "planned"."You took the knife for violence - and you planned it," Mr Heywood suggested to Mr Ndenkeh."And that was to try to right Riaz Miah's humiliation."Mr Ndenkeh twice replied: "No" Mr Adam has told the trial that he "didn't carry knives".He said he was "keen" to see a fight take place on the day Thomas died - but said he had not "encouraged" added: "I have got no idea why anyone would take a weapon."I didn't have knives - I don't carry knives."He went on: "There was discussion of knives being involved." Mr Heywood has shown jurors photographs of the teenagers and told them where some of them lived in said Mr Adam lived in Mardale Close, Mr Ndenkeh, in Midland Road, and Mr Dixon, in Baldur Miah - and the 17-year-old boy - also lived in Bedford, he said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Field fire started accidentally, says fire service
A large field fire was believed to have started accidentally, a fire service has said. Crews tackled the blaze in Ravensden, near Bedford, on Friday, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said. About 25 acres (10 hectares) of grassland and hedgerow were destroyed, it added. It said crews used "a range of firefighting methods including hose reel jets and specialist lances" to put the flames out and stop it from spreading. The fire service warned people to "take extra care whilst out and about, especially with BBQs, smoking materials and any other kind of naked flame" during the warmer weather, when the ground was dry. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. You might also be interested in Council 'saddened' after fire destroys caravan site Crews tackle fire at derelict nursing home Bypass closed off as crews battle caravan park fire Related internet links Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
BBC News
3 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Ravensden field fire started accidentally, says fire service
A large field fire was believed to have started accidentally, a fire service has said. Crews tackled the blaze in Ravensden, near Bedford, on Friday, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said. About 25 acres (10 hectares) of grassland and hedgerow were destroyed, it added. It said crews used "a range of firefighting methods including hose reel jets and specialist lances" to put the flames out and stop it from spreading. The fire service warned people to "take extra care whilst out and about, especially with BBQs, smoking materials and any other kind of naked flame" during the warmer weather, when the ground was dry. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
