Latest news with #BedfordBoroughCouncil
North Wales Live
a day ago
- General
- North Wales Live
Mountain centre's closure another 'devastating' blow to outdoors sector in North Wales
The shock closure of another mountain centre in Gwynedd is the latest hammer blow to the region's outdoor education sector. Blue Peris, in the shadow of the giant Dinorwig quarry, near Llanberis, is to close by October. Bedford Borough Council has decided to end its lease at the site to cut costs. Blue Peris Mountain Centre has provided outdoor skills for generations of Bedfordshire youngsters for 50 years. Its supporters slammed the decision as 'absolutely devastating', some calling it a 'disgrace'. The 60-bed centre is also a national training centre for Mountain Leaders. Online, people lined up to condemn the move and the wider decline of outdoor education in North Wales. One man said the facilities push youngsters 'out of their comfort zone to discover who they are'. 'We still need adventurous young people and minds to lead the next generation,' he said. 'Great Britain was made what it is today through the Shackleton spirt.' Another man recalled how urban children from England had their eyes opened when visiting Eryri National Park. After witnessing a group of school pupils climbing a mountain, he said: 'I was emotionally moved, when several pupils didn't know what the animals on the mountain were - they were sheep!' During the Covid pandemic, five of Wales' 44 outdoor education centres closed due to lockdown pressures. Recent years have brought a swathe of sell-offs as cash-strapped councils look for savings. Earlier this month, Wirral Council collected £300,000 for the Oaklands Outdoor Education Centre between Llanrwst and Betws-y-Coed, Conwy. In March, Kent County Council received £370,000 for Kent Mountain Centre, a landmark Grade II-listed property next to Llyn Padarn, Llanberis. At the start of this year, after seven decades providing trips for young people from Merseyside, the Colomendy outdoor education site, near Mold, Flintshire, was closed with immediate effect. Liverpool City Council has said it is looking for a new operator. Even the Scouts are not immune from rising cost pressures. In August 2024, its 38-bed Old School Lodge hostel in Deiniolen was closed. Having catered for Scouts from Wallasey and West Wirral, the Gwynedd site went on the market this year for £525,000. Blue Peris has offered rock climbing, kayaking and other activities to school children since its inception in 1975. It was founded by the late Colin Furneaux, former Bursar of Bedford Modern School. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, running costs were expected to rise by £50,000 to £185,000 next year, excluding costs for repairs. Unless the decision is challenged by borough councillors, notice to close will be served to landowner Harpur Trust on August 1. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Bedfordshire's outdoor activity centre Blue Peris to close
An outdoor education centre will close after 50 years due to budget Borough Council has decided to terminate its lease on the Blue Peris Mountain Centre in Snowdonia, North site has offered rock climbing, kayaking and other activities to school children since its inception by what was then the Bedfordshire County Council in officers said Bedford schools now had access to similar outdoor learning facilities closer to home. The council cited the need to implement recommendations from its new sport and leisure strategy and meet savings targets in the 2025-26 revenue cost of running the centre was expected to rise by £50,000 to £185,000 next year, excluding costs for repairs, according to the Local Democracy Reporting a third of the centre's bookings scheduled for next year are from Bedford-based groups. Mayor Tom Wootton signed the decision on Wednesday, which will see the council serve notice to landowner Harpur Trust and shut down the outdoor activity centre by facilities, held on a 99-year lease at a nominal rent of £1 per year, include accommodation for 73 people and is currently run by leisure contractor Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).The council cannot assign the lease to another operator, and discussions with GLL and others concluded the site would not be viable to run the Harpur Trust sells it, the council will receive 27% of any net proceeds. However, officers warned this share may be "negligible" once dilapidation costs are called in for debate by borough councillors, the decision will take effect on August 1. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Bedford's St Paul's Square closes for five weeks for regeneration
Part of a town centre square will be closed for over a month as part of a £4m renovation project. The south side of St Paul's Square in Bedford is shut to all vehicles until Friday 29 August so drainage and resurfacing work can take place.A closure will be in place from the junction with the High Street to Horne Lane as part of "revitalisation" work, Bedford Borough Council councillor Andrea Spice said there would be "some short-term disruption" that the council was working to minimise. The project includes replacing paving slabs and kerbs, widening pedestrian walkways and creating a space for outdoor events, with funds coming through the Bedford Town Deal, which has seen £22.6m worth of government investment in the town. Samantha Laycock, chairman of the Bedford Town Deal Board, said it was part of "our vision to transform Bedford town centre into a more attractive, accessible, and people-focused place". "The improvements to St Paul's Square will not only enhance the look and feel of this historic space but also support local businesses and encourage more people to spend time in the town."Spice, portfolio holder for economic growth, planning and prosperity, said: "While this phase of the project involves some short-term disruption, we're doing everything we can to minimise the impact and make sure people are kept informed throughout the works."Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times, the authority said. Traffic approaching from the High Street will be diverted via St Mary's Street, St John's Street, Kingsway, Cauldwell Street and Prebend StreetTraffic approaching from Cauldwell Street will be diverted either via Prebend Street or via St Mary's Street, The Embankment, Newnham Street, St Cuthberts Street, St Peter's Street, Dame Alice Street to Bromham RoadAccess for residents and businesses will be via River Street and Horne LaneBus services travelling from south of the river, will be diverted via Prebend Street, Midland Road and Greyfriars to the bus stationSouthbound bus services will operate as normal through St Paul's SquareNorthbound bus stops will not be in use outside Borough Hall, Bedford College and Horne Lane Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans unveiled for 400 homes in countryside north of Bedford
A significant new planning application for about 400 homes has been submitted just as a council is set to withdraw its local plan that guides Borough Council is likely to rewrite its 2040 local plan after the planning inspector deemed its strategy "unsound", and also in light of the proposed Universal Studios theme plan allocates areas for house building across the borough and planning applications must broadly align with Manor Oak Homes is proposing a large residential development at Renhold, north of Bedford. The application was being prepared "in response to the drastic need for new homes across the borough and the imminent withdrawal of the local plan 2040", a covering letter said there was a deficit of at least 2,000 homes for the area, which has increased to potentially 5,000 in response to the Universal project. The removal of the plan creates a policy vacuum, which developers are now seeking to a meeting on 9 July, councillors were told that a planning inspector had raised serious concerns as far back as November 2023 over key elements of the plan, including housing need, employment growth, and strategic heard the process was now complicated by assessing the potential impact of the proposed Universal Studios theme park. Conservative councillor Marc Frost, who represents Wixams and Wilstead, said: "I'm very concerned about where we are because of the speculative development that's already hitting my ward."He told the BBC that withdrawing the plan meant "the balance is tilted ever so slightly" in favour of the developers."Assuming the local plan is withdrawn, a lot of people may try their luck to see what they can get away with."However if it's not right for the area, we can still say no", he projects consultant Sam Fox told the meeting: "We do still have an ability to refuse schemes that we believe don't make the tests and aren't right for the area."There are policy tests still in place, so it's not that we would have to just accept everything". Before submitting the full outline planning application, Manor Oak Homes has formally requested a "screening opinion" from the is a formal check to determine if a proposed development is likely to have significant environmental so, a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would be Frost said the council must engage with the public over the local plan."I would like the planning team to ensure that we consult and listen to our residents properly and not just pay lip service."We know we need houses for young people and affordable homes, but it's got to be the right houses in the right place, with infrastructure first," he said. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bedford council wins Bees' Needs award for wildlife corridors
A council that transformed intensively mown areas into thriving wildflower corridors to help insects and wildlife has won an award. Bedford Borough Council was honoured with the Bees' Needs Champion Award 2025 for its pollinator-friendly initiatives. It previously won in 2021. The authority said it had worked to provide food and shelter for animals, as well as "safeguard open spaces from vehicle incursions by planting wildflower-rich landscape features along park boundaries". Independent councillor Nicola Gribble said: "By creating these wildflower corridors, we are not only safeguarding biodiversity but also enriching the green spaces our community loves." Since 2023, corridors at Putnoe Park (also known as Bowhill), as well as open spaces at Newnham Avenue, Woodcote Open Space, and Chiltern Avenue, have created "vital nectar-rich habitats for bees, bugs, and other pollinators", the council said. "This work supports biodiversity, enhances visitor experience, and encourages the wider community to take action in support of pollinators," it added. Gribble said protecting pollinators was essential for a "healthy environment and a vibrant borough". She added: "This award recognises the hard work of our teams and the positive impact we can have when we prioritise nature in urban areas."The wildlife-friendly schemes were funded through Council Capital Funding. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
