As a local Council, we are proud to be a force for growth, helping to drive prosperity across Bedford Borough. That means championing major investment and attracting new opportunities, while ensuring the benefits are felt Borough wide.
I have long believed that Bedford and Kempston have huge, untapped potential, and now that belief is being recognised far beyond our borough. Universal’s decision to choose our borough for its theme park shows that others are finally seeing the same strengthens and opportunities that we all see.
As your Mayor, I am determined to make the most of this opportunity and help Bedford Borough go further and faster - reaching every community, strengthening our local economy and expanding opportunity wherever we can.
And while big, transformational developments matter, so too do the everyday investments we make as a local Council to improve lives and build pride in our place.
Investment that matters
Investments such as the new track at Bedford Athletics Stadium is about more than delivering a manifesto commitment; it is about giving young people first-class facilities to develop their talent, aim higher, and show that Bedford Borough is serious about backing ambition.
Seeing the track come to life, and watching young athletes already making the most of it, was a powerful reminder of why this is the best job in the world. The right investment can inspire ambition and help deliver the future our children deserve.
That ambition for our town hasn’t stopped there, we are also backing projects that strengthen our town centre. One example is bringing part of the former Beales building back into use with Dancebox, transforming the space into a professional dance training facility and adding fresh energy to the heart of our town.
But investing in our town centre also means making sure it is a place where people feel safe and confident to visit. I have stepped up action to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. A further £65,000 has been invested this year to strengthen patrols, building on the £96,000 already invested in additional officers. Through the new Town Centre Task Force, this will provide a stronger visible presence in the town centre, alongside two roaming officers who can be deployed in hotspot areas across the borough where they are needed most.
We are also seeing real momentum in GP surgeries. After years of campaigning and around £9 million of investment, NHS England has now committed major funding for new surgeries in Great Barford and Wixams, including up to £750,000 for Great Barford and up to £6.9 million for Wixams. This is a significant step forward, helping growing communities access modern healthcare facilities closer to home.
Each of these projects reflects a simple belief: when we invest with purpose, Bedford Borough grows stronger. Which brings me to Debenhams.
Shaping the future of our town centre
Purchasing the former Debenhams building was about taking confident, long-term stewardship of a key site at the heart of Bedford. By stepping in as a major landowner, the Council can help ensure this prominent location is developed in a way that genuinely benefits residents and strengthens our town centre for years to come and crucially protect it from the development residents don’t want to see.
While headlines can sometimes focus on disagreements, there is a great deal of positive progress happening across Bedford Borough. We are honest about the financial pressures we face, including rising demand-led costs in children’s placements and adult social care, and we are working hard to put our finances on a sustainable footing. At the same time, we will keep building on what is working, celebrating successes, investing in opportunity, and delivering practical improvements that make a real difference to residents.
