Last week McDonalds have applied for a license to allow their new Biggleswade premises to remain open from 2300-0500 hours. Although broadly speaking I welcome McDonalds as an asset to the town, I also share many residents’ concerns about potential for antisocial behaviour, noise and rubbish. However, until the premises are up and running we cannot establish if any of these negative concerns will ever happen – and I hope that they don’t. My current view is that I ask CBC to reject an application for 24 hour opening until McDonalds have been open at least 6 months to allow the licensing committee to make an informed decision. However, I…
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STREET FURNITURE LICENSING IN BIGGLESWADE?
On Tuesday 4th June at 7pm the Town Centre Management Committee will be meeting and on the agenda is the licensing of street furniture that includes tables, chairs, A-frames mannequins – basically anything on the pavement outside a shop. Details can be found here.Biggleswade Town Council has been granted permission to enforce street furniture licensing under delegated agreement by CBC. CBC has legal powers to grant permission, require payment, set conditions with each application, decline an application and enforce the rules and regulations. WHY IS THIS NEEDED?Both councils think it is important to ensure that street furniture licensing is carefully controlled. It will allow them to regulate how and where…
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FLY TIPPING IN BIGGLESWADE
Many residents have recently noticed an increase in fly tipping in and around Biggleswade in the last few weeks. I received an e.mail today from CBC acknowledging this and, more importantly, they have taken photos and seized evidence allowing them to pursue lines of enquiry in an attempt to identify and prosecute the offender. Hopefully a step in the right direction! Keep reporting fly tipping as soon as you are aware (feel free to cc me in) or send me a pic and the location and I can report on your behalf.
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AN UPDATE ON SPEEDING ON BADEN POWELL WAY
Although there is strong evidence to show regular, very excessive speeds on Baden Powell Way CBC are unable to act as the road is yet to be adopted. This means responsibility falls to the police to work towards reducing speeds. I have written to them to ask for more speed checks and mobile speed units. They have indicated that they will add Baden Powell Way to the list of sites for ‘periodic enforcement’ but also point out they have lots of sites. Please let me know if you see mobile speed cameras monitoring the road. If there is no evidence of any enforcement within a reasonable time frame I will go…
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SKATE PARK UPDATE
Earlier this year CBC held some public events and a consultation on their plan to build a new skatepark to replace the one on Chambers Way. The new skatepark will be built on the existing site after the old skatepark was closed last year in June due to safety risks. CBC have now analysed the results of the consultation and they are available here. Companies have now been given the opportunity to tender for the design and build of the new skate park, based on the feedback CBC received during the consultation. The tendering process started on 15th April 2019 and closed on Friday, 24th May. The companies who have…
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BAYSTRAIT HOUSE PLANNING APPLICATION
A planning application has been received by CBC for Baystrait House, the brown brick building outside the railway station, for its conversion into residential flats. This is a huge disappointment to the businesses using this prime office space, that is at a premium in Biggleswade. Details of the application can be found in the CBC planning portal using reference CB/19/01600/PADO. Sadly, a previous set of outline applications have received prior approval under permitted development, despite 11 objections from residents (CB/16/05089/PADO, CB/16/05095/PADO, CB/16/05103/PADO). This is because it is permitted by government. Recently Luton Council revoked this permission and it would be great to see the same for Biggleswade. Objections can still be…
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FINAL PLANS FOR THE BAULK
Previously I shared the draft plans for the permanent one way system for The Baulk here. As promised here are the finalised plans. The parking order allows for the work to be started and completed anytime from Wednesday 24th July to Friday 13th September with restrictions in place between the hours of 0900-1530.
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A BIG WEEK FOR THE LOCAL PLAN.
This week the detailed examination of the local plan by the Planning Inspector kicks off at Chicksands – what does it mean for Biggleswade? WHAT IS THE LOCAL PLAN?The government has set a target for the number of new homes needed across Central Beds and the local plan seeks to provide a blueprint for where those homes should go and ensures consideration has been given to sustainability and infrastructure. Once a piece of land has been earmarked for development in the local plan its much harder to object to planning applications successfully. Biggleswade has been identified as a ‘strategic site’ and space for around 5000 homes has been identified in…
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EDWARD PEAKE SCHOOL CROSSING
I have been contacted by many concerned residents and parents about the lack of a school crossing patrol at Edward Peake School. CBC have tried appoint someone to this job but sadly a few days before the start of the new term the candidate decided not to take up the post. It seems that people are not particularly interested in taking on the role, and that is not just specific to Biggleswade. CBC now have a rolling advertisement for permanent and standby school crossing patrol staff throughout the county. Although it has been re-advertised and there was some initial interest in the position at Edward Peake no one has accepted the…
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YELLOW LINES ON KINGS REACH
Many of you have told me that there are lots of speeding, parking and visibility issues on and around Kings Reach so I wanted to share this plan showing where yellow lines are soon to be added (in most cases returned as they were there before the road was resurfaced). I realise this won’t solve all of the issues but hopefully this will bring some improvements.