Latest news with #TomWootton
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
First shop opens in old Debenhams store building in Bedford
A former Debenham's store has been given a new lease of life as a cultural ground floor of the store in Bedford, which closed in May 2021, is now is visitor information centre, gift shop and box office for the town's Corn Exchange, marking the first phase of the site's Borough Council bought the space last year and Conservative mayor Tom Wootton said it was "vital that Bedford had something at the heart of it" after it had "sat empty for so long".He added that he hoped that the authority would have a developer on board for the rest of the site by the autumn, and that plans for it would be seen by the New Year. The authority was the preferred bidder for the site - known as Mayes Yard - spending about £1.8m to purchase it in said the move marked "another positive step in Bedford's town centre renewal, following the recent openings of other new stores, restaurants, and community spaces".The venue also provides an opportunity for people to buy Bedford gifts previously available in the Higgins Art Gallery and Museum, and displays from the Bedfordshire Art Loan Collection can be viewed in its ground floor windows along Silver Street and the High Street. In terms of the rest of the building, Wootton told the BBC the "eventual plan was to have shops on the ground floor and flats and houses and actually have people living in the town centre".He added that "timescales for things are always problematic for councils and things always slip" - but he hoped that "over the next couple of years you will see plans coming forward and things developing".Wootton pointed to the future arrival of Universal studios in the town as one of the motivations for developing the said: "We want to be ready in four or five years' time when millions of people start coming here, so they have got somewhere to go."The town is changing and we are doing all this cleaning and litter picking which is endless, but we are determined that Bedford is gonna be the place to be and I am really excited about that." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Universal Bedford theme park could get trains from Europe
Trains from continental Europe could reach Universal's new UK theme park if improvements to a railway station are made, a council meeting has been attraction is due to be built on the site of the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks, near Conservative mayor Tom Wootton told Bedford Borough Council's executive committee the government had asked for work on nearby Wixams railway station to be paused while proposals for a larger station are considered, adding that this could possibly accommodate trains from abroad. The Department for Transport (DfT) said the government would ensure the project was "well connected and easily accessible". The mayor told the meeting: "It does mean for the residents of Wixams a small pause while they get a very, very large four [platformed] train station that will even have a roof, I am told."But also it is told that they're probably thinking or bringing trains from further afield than London, possibly even abroad."Currently, a Eurostar service runs from Europe to London via the Channel Tunnel with a stop at Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy station, near Disneyland Paris."If we get the platforms right, so that a certain train can come all the way from France, that does ease a lot of problems and I'm looking forward to it," said Mr mayor added these were "rumours" he had heard and plans for the station had not yet been confirmed. Proposals to build a station at Wixams, a new town close to Bedford, were first made in July 2024 Bedford Borough Council agreed to enter an agreement with Network Rail to construct a two-platform station at a cost of £ has previously promised it would upgrade the station with two extra the mayor has said the council will no longer fund the construction due to negotiations between Universal and the Wootton told the BBC: "We're not going to be faced with that burden. It's going to be a national government thing and that's part of the negotiations with Universal."We've now heard from the government that we should cease work because they'd have to tear down some of the work we do because they have plans now to build a four-platform, very large station.""They'll be building the station and it won't be the little old council that's building a village station. There's going to be something a lot bigger."In a statement, a DfT spokesperson said: "As part of the Plan for Change, the government will commit to a major investment in infrastructure around the site to support the delivery of the project and ensure it is well connected and easily accessible."Further details on government plans for infrastructure investment around the site will be set out in due course." Eurostar services used to stop in Kent at Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International stations, but this stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic and never Mr Wootton was asked if it was realistic that Eurostar could operate to Bedfordshire, he responded: "Anything is possible."If you I had said to you a year ago that we're going to have 450-acre theme park here, people would have laughed."If I say to you now: 'We're building a train station, make sure it's big enough that we can have very large French trains come,' I think that's a possibility. We're just asking for the platforms to be a bit longer."Eurostar has been asked for comment. Labour MP for Bedford and Kempston, Mohammad Yasin, told the idea of trains coming from Europe was "exciting".He continued: "There are speculations; people are talking about it. If it happens I will fully support it but I've not heard from anybody yet."It can happen. I will be speaking with the relevant people in the coming days and months. It's a possibility; we have to make sure it's a reality. We will work towards it"It would be really, really exciting. Bedford would be linked straight with Europe." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
01-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Community marks Bedford's first Muslim burial ground
An opening ceremony has been held at a town's first Muslim burial local community initiative in Kempston, Bedfordshire was supported by Bedford Borough Council and is expected to be up and running by the leader Parvez Akhtar said this cemetery on Green End Road was five years in the making and added: "It is a testament to the community and our council that we can boast about this burial ground."The event was attended by local community groups, mayor of Bedford Borough Council Tom Wootton, town councillors and Bedford MPs Mohammad Yasin and Richard Fuller. Mr Akhter said: "Many bigger councils up and down the country don't have such a facility, and it is a testament to the community and our council that we can boast about this burial ground."It was really pleasing to have cross-party support at full council for this project and I look forward to the official opening in the summer where we hope to invite everyone for a big celebration."Mr Wotton said: "This initiative goes far beyond land and planning approvals."It embodies our commitment to respect, inclusion and meeting the diverse needs of every community member. "Just as our Christian community has traditionally enjoyed access to consecrated burial grounds, it is essential that our Muslim residents receive the same provision."Plans have also been submitted for Peterborough's first Muslim Green Meadows Cemetery project will have about 8,500 burial spaces and include a community-use building in Sutton, just outside the city. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
