A company moving in to Shefford has centralised its warehousing and head office in the town.

Premium sound-system distributor 2B Heard has found a new home in Shefford, thanks to a six figure commercial mortgage from HSBC UK.

The business, which was set up in 2015, is the exclusive distributor in the UK and Ireland for premium Italian pro audio brand K-Array, whose professional loudspeaker solutions are hailed worldwide for their sleek style and innovative technology.

The new warehouse and head office has enabled 2B Heard to bring all warehousing facilities in-house and increase its stocking capacity, saving the business eight per cent in yearly spend. 2B Heard previously used a third-party warehouse to stock its products, limiting the company’s ability to grow.

Dave Wooster, director at 2B Heard, said: “Our new warehouse and expanded range of products will further enhance our growing portfolio of customers, providing them with audio solutions backed by the highest level of technical support. Our HSBC Relationship Manager, Priyesh Vaghela, has been integral to this expansion, making the process as smooth as possible.”

2B Heard has also secured contracts with world-renowned mixing console manufacturer Solid State Logic and Astro Spatial Audio, the world’s leading independent solution for object-based immersive audio in live entertainment.

Both are spearheading the development of the professional audio field, placing 2B Heard in a leadership position within the UK and Ireland. To support this, HSBC UK has also provided the business with a £30,000 loan to purchase a portfolio of demonstration products from Solid State Logic and Astro Spatial Audio to aid sales.

Andrew Franklin, HSBC UK Area Director for Business Banking in Bedfordshire, said: “Having only been trading for just three years, 2B Heard has already proven itself in the professional audio market and continues to grow year-on-year.

“We’re delighted to have been able to support the business with its ambitious expansion plan and look forward to working with the team as they embark on this next stage of growth.”

2B Heard provides premium-sound solutions to the business, leisure and entertainment sectors from theatres and conference rooms through to restaurants and concert venues. The business manages the entire installation process from distribution through to installation and servicing. The business has recently delivered high profile projects for the Royal Opera House London, HSBC Tower and Guildford Cathedral.

Summer is over, Autumn has officially begun and it’s time to look forward to the new football season.

My own season began in typically dramatic fashion at an event in Monaco last week where I hosted a presentation with Ronaldo. No, not Cristiano, the Brazilian legend.

Later in the day I crossed paths with David Beckham and we exchanged pleasantries. As you may know David has an interest in American soccer team MLS Miami so I was happy to give him a few tips on running a football club.

In jest he mentioned that he was thinking of returning to playing football. For just a second there I toyed with signing him for Biggleswade United!

Academy training has begun and our coaches are looking forward to the new season, mindful of the great responsibility of maintaining the ethos of our club, training young people to play good football but, perhaps more importantly, teaching them the life skills that will benefit them in the future; team work, communication, courtesy and a sense of fair play. We welcome back all our children, and a particular welcome to new members who have joined us this season.

Congratulations too to our coaches for continuing to enhance their skills by acquiring new professional badges. The Academy has grown considerably in the past two years and we now have some 145 children proudly wearing the BUFC strip. Fran Constancio, head of the Academy has some exciting plans for the coming season, but more of that in a future article. Suffice to say it’s going to be a very enjoyable season.

The first team season kicks off on Saturday with a home game against Baldock Town at 3pm at Second Meadow. Our Ladies’ team play their first game against Kempston Town on Sunday at Kempston Rovers Ladies. (MK 42 8SZ, 2pm). Sadly our FA Vase game against Worley Rovers last Friday was postponed due to one of the players becoming ill, but the reconvened game was played on Tuesday.

We made life harder for ourselves than it should have been. We lacked a bit of discipline but in extra time we showed a collective quality that suggests we are going the right way.

See you Saturday at home against Baldock Town.

Potton Town Council is holding a public meeting tonight (Friday) after a growth of anti-social behaviour in the town.

The meeting is at Mill Lane Pavilion, Mill Lane, Potton starting at 7.30 pm.

Alistair Burt MP for NE Bedfordshire will be attending, along with members from the police and Central Bedfordshire Council.

One resident said: “People are living in fear from the [anti-social] behaviour and neighbours are now struggling to sell their properties.”

Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Kathryn Holloway, has postponed a public meeting due in Sandy on September 12, for operational reasons.

A statement from her office said: “The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner is working closely with the council to rearrange the meeting as soon as possible and we will notify the public as soon as this is confirmed. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.” SandyConservatives

In a tweet yesterday Sand Conservatves commented: 2Update regarding the PCC public session in Sandy - this will now take place sometime in October, date & time tbc. However, the format has changed and will now be a public surgery with 10minute slots.”

On July 31

> Reece Aspey aged 19 of Lawrence Road, Biggleswade, was fined a total of £235 and received six penalty points for speeding on the A1 at Sandy on February 2.

> Andrew Ellis aged 50 of Tyne Road, Sandy, was fined a total of £335 and received three penalty points for speeding in Husborne Crawley on January 30.

> Miss Jordan Gudgin aged 26 of Playfield Close, Biggleswade, was fined a total of £215 and received three penalty points for speeding on the A1 near Sandy on February 2.

> Mrs Pamela Gunner aged 43 of Valerian Way, Stotfold, was fined a total of £569 and received four penalty points for speeding on Broad Street, Clifton on January 31.

> Sean Mayor aged 52 of Spitfire Road, Shefford, was fined a total of £335 and received three penalty points for speeding on Clifton Road, Henlow on January 31.

> Alan Prentice aged 48 of Sunderland Road, Sandy, was fined a total of £335 and received three penalty points for passing through a red traffic light in Greyfriars, Bedford on January 29.

On August 1

> Richmond Nkhoma aged 28 of River View, Shefford, was fined a total of £525 and banned from driving for 30 days after he was clocked driving at 107mph on the A507 at Clifton on September 28.

On August 3

> Tristan Wells aged 32 of Station Road, Langford, was fined a total of £385 and issued with a restraining order after pleading guilty to an assault in Biggleswade on June 18.

On August 10

> Callum Andrews aged 18 of Church Road, Henlow, has been fined a total of £140 for failing to abide by the rules of his community order.

More next week

As part of Sandy Town Council’s commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One, giant poppies are to be put on lampposts along the route of Sandy’s Remembrance Parade.

Mayor, Councillor Michael Scott, and Cllr Susan Sutton, President of the Sandy Branch of the Royal British Legion, were joined by Tracey Crossland of Mama’s Coffee Shop, who has sponsored one of the lamppost poppies, to launch the initiative.

Tracey said she is: “proud to sponsor a lamppost poppy to remember those who gave their lives to keep this country free”. 

She said: “I would encourage my fellow traders to show their support and also sponsor a lamppost poppy.”

Members of the public, local organisations and businesses are invited to sponsor poppies to help the town commemorate the anniversary.

Sponsors will be invited to leave a message of remembrance which will be recorded on the town council’s website.

If you would like to sponsor a poppy, visit the town council’s website (www.sandy towncouncil.gov.uk) or its offices at 10 Cambridge Road, Sandy to find out more.

The town council will also be taking part in a Nation’s Tribute on 11 November, which will see a beacon lit in a national act of remembrance.

In addition, the council has hosted a series of historical talks on WW1 at the council offices at Cambridge Road.

The final two talks in the programme are to be held in October and November at 7.30 pm in the council chamber:

>3 October – Talk on Lieutenant Walter Graves of Sandye Place.

>6 November – “We will remember them”- The Sandy War Memorial.

Bedfordshire Police has welcomed a report which shows the number of children arrested by the force has continued to drop.

A total of 943 under-18s were arrested in Bedfordshire last year, a reduction of 142 compared with the previous year and continues a drop which has occurred every year since 2012, according to a report from the Howard League for Penal Reform which campaigns for a reduction in child arrests.

Nationally there has been a 68 per cent reduction in child arrests since 2010 – in Bedfordshire the number has been almost halved from 1,953 to 943.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: “It is pleasing that the number of children arrested in Bedfordshire has continued to fall and reflects the work we are doing in this area.

“We do not want to criminalise children, as we recognise that this often just leads to further issues in the longer term.

“There can be far greater value in seeking alternative resolutions which will actually help and support those young people and divert them away from becoming entrenched in crime. Sadly there will be occasions where criminal sanctions are the only option.

“But it is important that we do all we can, with partners and indeed families and communities, to understand the causes of young people becoming involved in crime and help steer them onto the straight and narrow.”

The data gathered showed that, nationally in 2017, 26 per cent of child arrests were from Black and Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds – despite the fact only 18 per cent of the 10-17 child population were BAME.

Mr Boutcher, who is the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for Race & Religion, added: “It is disappointing that there still appears to be a disproportionate amount of young people from BAME backgrounds who are being criminalised. It is imperative that this matter is addressed to ensure the policing service nationally is treating all of our communities equally. I will continue to work closely with other forces and partner agencies across the UK to ensure that children from BAME backgrounds are not being unfairly treated.”

Police are appealing for witnesses after an elderly man were injured as he tried to fight off a bag snatcher.

At around 9.20pm on Friday, the couple, in their eighties, were in Station Road, Biggleswade, walking to their car.

The attacker rode up to them on a bike and attempted to grab the lady’s handbag. She resisted, and her husband tried to fend off the man, sustaining cuts to his hands, and was later treated at hospital for his injuries

The suspect is described as white, in his late teens, wearing black jeans, and a black top with its hood up. He was riding a mountain bike, and rode off in the direction of Back Street.

Detective Constable Gareth Jones, investigating, said: “This was a very distressing incident for the couple and we are keen to trace this offender.

We are appealing to anyone who was in the area, and who may have seen anything, to get in touch with us.”

Anyone who saw the incident, or has any information should visit our online reporting centre or call police on 101, quoting reference 436 of 7 September. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police are issuing advice after receiving reports of a number of robberies in Biggleswade in the past few days.

On Thursday (6 September) between 4pm and 4.30pm, a 72-year-old woman was cycling along Chapel Fields when her handbag, containing bank cards, cash and her mobile phone, was snatched by a man on a bike. After taking her bag, he cycled towards Sun Street.

He is described as 5’ 6”, tall and of slim build and is described as wearing a navy hoody and dark trousers. He was riding a mountain bike and his face was covered with his hood. The reference number for this incident is 40/23025/18.

On Friday (7 September) at around 9.20pm, an elderly couple were the victims of an attempted robbery. The 82-year-old woman and her 84-year-old husband were on Station Road when a man cycled towards them, shouting at them. He tried to snatch the woman’s handbag, but she refused to let go. Her husband grappled with the man, but he broke free and cycled away

He is described as being in his late teens and was wearing a black coat, a black hoody with the hood up and black trousers, riding a mountain bike. The reference number for this incident is 40/23282/18

On Sunday (9 September) just after midnight, a 47-year-old woman was in Dells Lane, when three people on bikes approached her and pushed her to the ground, before one took money from her purse.

The three men are described as white, between 5’ 8” and 5’ 10”, in their late teens and wearing all black and all riding bikes. The reference number for this incident is 40/23467/18.

Chief Superintendent David Boyle said: “We have received reports of three similar incidents that have happened within a few days, and officers are working hard to establish links between them to find out who is responsible. I’d encourage anyone with any information about who is responsible to come forward. This behaviour is not acceptable and the public’s help could be vital in bringing these people to justice.

“If you have noticed anything over the past few days, or you see any behaviour that looks suspicious, please do report it as it could prove vital to our investigation.

“In the meantime, I’d urge people to be aware of these incidents and stay vigilant. Our advice is to avoid walking alone late at night, and to ensure you’re walking in brightly lit areas. We’d also urge people to keep valuables hidden. We are taking this incredibly seriously, and as a result we’ll be putting extra patrols in place in the town to reassure residents.

Anyone with any information about any of the incidents is asked to call 101 quoting the reference number relating to the incident. You can also report information by visiting www.bedfordshire.police.uk/report or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

If you have been affected by crime the Signpost Hub offers free and confidential support to victims in Bedfordshire, whether it has been reported to police or not and irrespective of where and when the crime occurred.

Contact 0800 0282887 or visit www.signpostforbedfordshire.com for further information.

A talented quilt artist from Sandy has scooped a major international prize at Europe’s largest patchwork and quilting event and won £5,000.

Karen Callaghan from Sandy won first prize at The Festival of Quilts Fine Art Quilt Masters competition with her work inspired by a leaf.

The Festival of Quilts takes place at the NEC in Birmingham each August and this year’s event attracted 25,000 visitors from across the world, with over 800 competition entries.

The Fine Art Quilt Masters competition - sponsored by Vlieseline Freudenberg - celebrates quilts that transcend craft and demand equal billing with gallery quality fine art works. It attracts hundreds of entries and is judged by a panel of leading figures from the art and quilting community.

Karen’s stunning entry, Strelitzia, was inspired by a photograph of a leaf from a Strelitzia plant. It received high praise from competition judges who said: “This contemplative work had great subtlety and power yet cast a spell of almost melancholic calm on the viewer. We returned to it again and again before awarding it the top prize.”

Anna Baptiste, event director for The Festival of Quilts, said: “The quilts entered into this competition are masterpieces, stitched with breathtaking detail, intricate design and outstanding workmanship.

“Karen Callaghan’s Strelitzia is truly a work of fine art and is worthy of a place in any national gallery. We are delighted for her and look forward to seeing more of her wonderful work in future competitions.”

Karen’s prize-winning quilt will be on display in the Textile Galleries at The Knitting & Stitching Show, the UK’s biggest event for the textile art, craft and design community, in London’s Alexandra Palace this October and in Harrogate in November.

Highlights of The Festival of Quilts include over 800 competition hung competition quilts, professionally curated quilt galleries by internationally-acclaimed artists and groups, hundreds of workshops, an extensive programme of talks, discussions and social events and over 300 exhibitors selling essential quilting supplies. Next year’s The Festival of Quilts takes place from 1st-4th August 1-4.

Visit www.thefestivaloquilts.co.uk

A view of an ancient abbey lost centuries ago has been recreated.

About 100 people attended a major event in The Garden Suite at The House, Old Warden Park to witness the unveiling of a reconstruction painting of Warden Abbey (Cistercian, founded 1135).

The painting reveals what the abbey may have looked like in the late 14th century. For local people it was the first sight of their lost abbey since it was razed to the ground after suppression in 1537, and provides an important addition to knowledge of this almost forgotten site.

The event marked the culmination of a major research project by Old Warden History & Heritage Society, sponsored by the Greensand Country Landscape Partnership. The project had started with a geophysical survey of the site carried out by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) and local volunteers in spring last year.

Peter Dunn, an experienced historical reconstruction artist, was commissioned to produce an aerial view of the claustral complex based on the exceptional geophys results and all other available evidence.

He was assisted by subject-matter expert Dr Glyn Coppack and also Margaret Roberts, who has been researching the abbey’s story since 2014.

After the unveiling, kindly carried out by Charles and Jane Whitbread, guests were treated to a fascinating ‘virtual tour’ of the site by Margaret Roberts whose expert use of PowerPoint brought each section of the abbey to life.

Guests were amazed at how large the complex would have been, and just how much had been lost of the abbey, which would have been a major influence in the area for 400 years.

One visitor to the unveiling said: “I now feel very much enlightened and am surprised how large the monastic complex was and its importance to the local community. I am amazed at how generations of people from the past interlace with life today despite the passage of many centuries.

“This project and in particular the details in Peter Dunn’s work together with the detailed explanation of the facts presented by Margaret Roberts were fascinating and memorable and truly justify its valued sponsorship. Thank you - what a lovely community resource we now have.”

The site of Warden Abbey is scheduled by Historic England and is private with no public access.

The Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is led by the Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity and the Greensand Trust and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is made possible by National Lottery players. Visit greensandcountry.com

Let’s start with a number – 36,000. That’s the number of people that have watched via twitter the goal scored by David Parkinson against Baldock Town. A brilliant effort and as good a goal as you will see in any standard of football.

A superb solo effort that saw him running more than three quarters the length of the pitch, beating and leaving defenders trailing in his wake.

I mention it because we have around 40,000 followers on Twitter a hugely impressive figure for a club of our size.

We currently have a total of 63,233 followers on all platforms, comprising Twitter (39,500), YouTube (17,370), Facebook (5,229), Instagram (1,134) and this should have increased by a few thousand today following a giveaway on our instagram with our main sponsors Top Eleven.

And with interest comes profile and the possibility of making us so much more attractive and marketable to potential partners. In truth today football is about so much more than just the match itself but also all the other things that are linked with it.

We live in a world where it is not merely about supporters, per se, but also ‘followers’. There are neither physical, nor geographical boundaries to following a club like Biggleswade United and I know we have people who watch us from as far afield as Spain, the USA and Australia.

Our home matches can be watched by our followers, online, anywhere on the planet. The Spanish - as they normally do - have a phrase for it. “The world, is a handkerchief,” they say.

We would like to find sponsors that can be seen throughout these broadcasts with publicity that can be used in breaks or at half time, and we will be doing whatever we can to bring them on board.

Obviously our main target market is local businesses but also those further afield that can see the benefits of a slightly ‘left field’ advertising campaign that supports a lower league side that whatever it may lack in size, more than makes up for it in ambition.

Anyone interested in joining us on our journey can contact us at: gareth.davies@biggleswadeunited.com

But of course it is fundamentally all about the game and on Saturday we visit London Lions in the FA Vase. We entertain Barton Rovers on Tuesday in the North Beds Charity Cup. See you there.

A Shefford man has been jailed for eight months and disqualified from driving for two years after driving dangerously during a police pursuit.

Harry Webb, of New Road, was also convicted of possession of class B drugs.

Webb was spotted doing around 60mph in a 30mph zone at 11.55pm on the High Street, Arlesey on 15 July. When officers followed him and turned on their blue lights, Webb failed to stop and was pursued to Stotfold, Henlow, Meppershall and Shillington.

PC Chris Thompson, who led the pursuit, said: “Webb crossed onto the opposite side of the road multiple times and went the wrong way around a roundabout. He had no regard for any other motorists or pedestrians that may have been around.

“When he went back through Meppershall, he made a hard left turn onto Fildyke Road and clipped the kerb on the other side of the road, which caused a puncture to his front tyre. Even then he didn’t slow down and was weaving through parked cars until the front offside tyre of the vehicle started to come off the rim. At this point I was able to drive in front of him and he stopped.

“We are very pleased Webb has been given a prison sentence as it was very lucky no one was injured as a result of his recklessness.”

Webb was also convicted of failing to stop for police and was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Friday (7 September).

Residents in parts of Biggleswade and Tempsford could be breathing a sigh of relief as large-scale housing plans have come under the scrutiny of the Planning Inspectorate.

The areas were set to be swamped by new homes as part of Central Bedfordshire Council’s Local Plan, which allocates future housing growth.

But, even before the document has been aired in public, an inspector has picked holes in several issues relating to it.

These include the reasoning behind some areas being earmarked for homes, and other issues, such as the local authority not having a ‘statement of common ground’ agreement with Luton Borough Council.

The Inspector’s role is to consider what is known as the soundness of the Local Plan before holding a public inquiry.

The foreword to the draft Local Plan quoted Cllr Nigel Young, saying: “Our plan has always been about more than planning just for homes and jobs. It’s about creating communities.”

The council included a series of large developments as an appendix as locations for future growth, including Biggleswade and Tempsford, according to Independent Potton councillor Adam Zerny.

He describes the Local Plan as “chaotic”, and says the council has “very quietly backed down on a significant housebuilding pledge”.
“It was completely inappropriate to include these sites when the council acknowledged it did not have the full reports required for these locations,” he said.

The inspector has now said: “Given these sites are not allocated or within a policy, their inclusion on the policies map appears unjustified and the weight that could be given to them in development management decisions unclear.”

The Inspector also comments that Natural England has raised “significant outstanding concerns” over “a lack of proper assessment of the impacts of development”.

And he noted that Highways England has concerns the Local Plan is “not sufficiently detailed to understand their (new homes) full effect on the operation of key junctions on the strategic road network”.

In its initial response, posted on its website, the council says: “The inconsistency of identifying these locations for future growth spatially on the Policy Maps, despite the fact that they are not linked to a policy, is noted.

“And so it is proposed that any future revision will remove them, and just retain Appendix 7 of The Local Plan for reference. “The rationale for including these locations is to provide absolute transparency for residents and stakeholders of our intention to look further at these when planning for additional growth as part of the partial plan review.”

On its duty to co-operate, the council says: “Further meetings have been scheduled with Luton Borough Council in order to resolve outstanding issues and agree a ‘statement of common ground’.

Councillor Zerny said: “This means Central Bedfordshire Council is now backing-down on a significant point and removing the huge housing sites at Tempsford and Biggleswade from its Appendix.

“The council states it’s working with Highways England, Natural England and Luton Borough Council, and is hoping to provide more information on why certain sites were selected and others were not.

“I am not surprised to see the inspector making these points,” he added. “After all, this is exactly what we were saying at the time.

“It is strange how many councillors and indeed the public at large have not been made aware of these recent developments.

“Instead they have been hidden away on Central Bedfordshire Council’s website.”

A decision has yet to be reached as to when the public inquiry into the Local Plan will take place.

Access for the disabled at Biggleswade station may have moved a step closer.

Campaigners from Bedfordshire Rail Access Network’s (BRAN) campaign for step-free access, met with Alistair Burt MP and representatives from Network Rail, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Central Bedfordshire and Biggleswade Town councillors last Friday in Biggleswade.

Julian Vaughan, from the campaign group said: “We were shown four options for step-free access to Biggleswade station and we are cautiously optimistic that the bid for funding for long overdue improvements at Biggleswade station will be successful.

“It is clear that our campaign, which has received considerable media coverage over the last year, raised the profile of Biggleswade station and we will continue to work with the various agencies to ensure the improvements take place. We would encourage disability groups in the area to liaise with us to ensure that their input is included in the bids.”

The campaign which prompted a visit from Shadow Transport Ministers in January along with Biggleswade station being mentioned in the European Parliament, has helped the online petition achieve more than 11,000 signatures.

Mr Vaughan added: “While we are hopeful for Biggleswade there will still be many stations across Bedfordshire, such as Arlesey and Sandy, which will remain largely inaccessible to disabled and elderly people and those with young children. Whatever success we help to achieve the campaign will continue. Equal access must be seen as a right, not a favour and disabled people must be involved from the beginning in any improvements.”

Bids for the ‘Access for All’ funding must be submitted by GTR to the Department for Transport by November 16, with successful bids being announced in April 2019.

> You can contact the Bedfordshire Rail Access Network campaign at: bedsrailaccessnetwork@gmail.com

An Arlesey councillor, whose failed libel action cost the town council more than £13,000, has stepped down.

Arlesey Town Council spent almost £14,000 defending legal action against the then vice chairman Cllr Chris Gravett in 2015 after he was sued for libel by the husband of a former town clerk.

The money was not covered by the council’s insurance, and was paid from the council’s reserves which left residents facing a whopping 17.1% tax rise in the council precept in 2017.

The move brought condemnation from the town’s residents’ association which slammed the rise, and called on the Government to apply rules, which prevent borough councils raising more than 2% without a referendum, to town and parish councils as well.

Would be councillors have until September 28 to put forward their application.

An emotional plea to “allow Potton to breathe” and to consider “the human cost of development” was brushed aside as plans for up to 30 homes in the town were approved.

Blakeney Estates Ltd wants to demolish a bungalow and build housing on land to the west of Everton Road.

But the project failed to impress resident Tina Arnold-Winch, who recently inherited a property in Everton Road from her late father.

“I am so glad he’s not here to see this take place,” she told Central Bedfordshire Council’s development management committee on Wednesday.

“Nobody seems to care about the human cost of those of us directly affected by the new development,” she added.

Richard Murdoch, for the applicant, said: “The site is modest and well related to the existing development in this part of Potton.”

The development was also taken to task by independent Potton councillor Adam Zerny.

“It is very much outside of the settlement envelope. Development here will cause significant harm to the character and appearance of the area, in terms of its impact on Potton.”

The plans are contrary to several planning policies, he explained. “If we approve one development right on the edge the owners of the field next to it will apply for planning permission, and it will creep gradually further and further. This site was unwanted in the Local Plan. It was not included,” he added.

An urgent treatment centre (UTC) at Bedford Hospital is on course to open from the start of next month.

It will also aim to ease the pressure on the A&E during an initial six-month pilot, by cutting waiting times.

“We are on track to open on October 1,” said Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group’s director of planned and unplanned care, Jane Meggitt.

“There’s been significant progress in all the key areas that we monitor and on work with Bedford Hospital, which is going to provide the service for us.

“The good news is that progress is being made well on all of the areas,” she told a CCG meeting on Thursday.

“There have been a number of options for location, and the building work is happening at the Cauldwell (Medical) Centre.

“Staffing is always a critical issue for us and we heard today we have filled those positions from both a nursing and GP perspective.

“There’s a huge commitment to making this a success, and to work with others in primary care and with colleagues in A&E to make it part of a package of options for our patients and our public.

“You can walk in, we’re not saying don’t,” she added. “But it’s probably better if you ring 111 and it’s processed that way.

“We need to communicate this very wide and effectively. It’s quite confusing at the moment in terms of where to go.

“There are lots of different places and lots of new things, and we’ve got Putnoe (walk-in centre) issues still with A&E.

“We are working with the hospital and partners to get a clear signposted campaign, but it’s autumn and it needs to start very quickly.”

Residents fought to save the Putnoe walk-in centre, which served north Beds as well as people living north of the river in Bedford.

But NHS England said the CCG needs to provide the UTC in the town, where minor illness and injury can be treated.

The UTC has to be near facilities where patients can get an X-ray, have a blood test or provide a urine sample.

Earlier this year, the CCG indicated the Cauldwell Medical Centre, on the site of Bedford Hospital south wing, is the only suitable site to achieve this aim.

Primary care clinician Dr Jonathan Kirkham said: “The UTC is a challenge, but it is also an opportunity, and I am quite excited by the prospect.”

CCG lay member Alison Borrett said: “We need to act fast and we need to think how we touch the whole of the poplulation of Bedfordshire.

“Whether it’s through social media or through face-to-face we really have to make this pilot work.

“I would ask healthwatch to get feedback of what patients are saying, whether they are getting that communication.”

“Everything has been agreed as to how it’s going to be set up initially, and over time it will be monitored and audited, changed, improved, whatever.

“What we are hoping to achieve with the UTC is that we want patients to be seen at the right place, at the right location.

“Everyone presented at the new front door of Bedford Hospital will be clinically screened either to the emergency department or the UTC.

“We want patients presented with primary care issues to go to the UTC,” he explained.

“This should reduce inappropriate accident and emergency attendances and dependencies.

“Accident and emergency can concentrate on major trauma and surgical emergencies, so there are reduced waiting times and better patient service and clinical outcomes.

“I am excited. It should mean patients with primary care problems get seen by primary care clinicians and free up specialist accident and emergency staff to deal with major problems.

“And also a bonus would be if it’s more cost effective,” he added.

“We agreed a list of simple diagnostics with Dr Stuart Lloyd the consultant at accident and emergency.

“We would like to see how things pan out during the first three to six months to see if there are any more diagnostics we need.

“So watch this space. We will ensure what is needed will be available.”

CCG lay member Alison Borrett said: “We’ve only got 23 days. We need to act fast and we need to think how we touch the whole of the popluatlon of Bedfordshire.

“Whether it’s through social media or through face-to-face we really have to make this pilot work.

“I would urge the communications team that we really go out and are robust with the campaign.

“And I would ask healthwatch to get feedback of what patients are saying, whether they are getting that communication.

“It’s a pilot, so what process do we have for patient feedback and how that will shape the services of the future?” she asked.

The CCG’s director of planned and unplanned care replied: “We are looking for everyone to help us get it right.

“One of the possibilities is making sure there is something through everyone’s door, something to go on the fridge.

“In terms of how we evaluate the pilot as we go forward, there are a whole host of monitoring criteria we need to do as of the national specification.

“But also we are relating with Bedford Hospital as to what local things we would like to look at and patient experience is one of the top priorities.”

The CCG’s acting chairman Heather Moulder said they would ask Dr Kirkham to report back on progress in six months’ time.

Health managers hope their latest project to improve medical provision and cut waiting times in Bedford and the surrounding area will prove a success during an initial six-month pilot.

An NHS therapist had a sexual relationship with a vulnerable woman he had been treating.

Jason Bland, 45, had sex with the woman when he stayed at her home in Stevenage.

The married mental health nurse from Clifton, told her he loved her and was going to leave his wife, Luton crown court heard today (Friday).

The young mother, who has been diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder, told Judge Lynn Tayton QC: “He was someone I trusted my deepest thoughts and memories to.

“He made me feel special and I believed him. He built my world up and caused it to come crashing down.”

Addressing Bland, who had been employed by the Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, she said: “You were completely unprofessional. I thought your marriage was over, that was a lie.”

She said he had put her through hell, that she had been self-harming, considering suicide and was now not sure if she could committ to a relationship in the future.

Prosecutor Isabel Asherson said the woman had attended group therapy and one to one sessions run by Bland in the summer of 2016. At the end of the year he told her he was moving jobs but would retain contact with some of his original patients, including the victim.

“They met for coffee and he expressed a personal interest in her. It became intimate and there was sexual activity between December 2016 and January 2017.

“He was seeing her two or three times a week. He stayed overnight six or seven times and they had full sexual relations.

“He continued therapy sessions with her and told her she should not mention their relationship to others in the group because they would hate her.

“He said he would leave his wife and paid a deposit for a flat in Stevenage,” said the prosecutor.

She went on: “In the end the victim found it difficult to cope with having a relationship with her therapist. He told her he wanted to stay with his wife and she (the victim) felt betrayed.

“She felt he was not leaving his wife and felt entirely used.

Jason Bland, of Linkway in Clifton, pleaded guilty to sexual activity with a person with a mental disorder by a care worker.

Defending Janine Sheff asked for a pre sentence report to be prepared.

Judge Tayton agreed and bailed Bland for sentence on Monday 8 October.

Two men from Chronicle country have joined an elite group supporting the Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, Helen Nellis.

The duo, Philip Fothergill and Charles Whitbread, are among five who have been made Deputy Lieutenants of the County of Bedfordshire on September 1.

Mr Fothergill has been a broadcaster and chairman of MKFM Radio, covering Beds, Herts and Bucks and a presenter on Biggles FM.

Mr Whitbread, who was High Sheriff of Bedfordshire last year, has been chairman of the Greensand Ridge Local Action group and is currently a director of the Shuttleworth Trust.

He is also involved in Southill PCC and a Friend of Southill Church.

The three others to have received the honours are Mrs Emma Carolyn Brayn Garrett, Mr Mark Glyn Hardy and Mrs Colette McKeaveney.