30 June 2009

Conservatives Spark New Electric Initiative

Electric charging points could be coming to a car park near you.

At a meeting of the Environment, Regeneration & Corporate Services Committee on 1 July, Borough Conservatives will be calling on the Council to investigate the potential introduction of electric charging points for vehicles in Council-run car parks.

They say charging bays could be set up in car parks with sockets concealed in pillars, so that drivers can simply park up, unlock a flap and plug in to charge. Average time to top up batteries is two hours.

A trial scheme could run for 12 months with vehicle owners paying a one-off annual fee for the use of the charging points at £75 per year, or pay per use at a fixed rate of around £1 for up to 3 hours charging.

Conservative Councillor for Bromham & former Chairman of the Committee, Roger Rigby, said:

“The new unitary authority has the powers to make a real difference for Borough residents and Conservatives believe it

should be using them to take the lead on tackling issues such as climate change and air quality locally.”

“Electric cars provide zero emissions at their point of use. Yes, they also require electricity generation but we believe

they can greatly assist in reducing CO2 emissions in the Borough. The Council should be doing all it can to make these

cars attractive and easy for residents to use.”

“Other Councils are leading the way in installing charging points for electric vehicles. Westminster Council has already

installed over 60 charging points, and we believe the new unitary authority should, at the very least, review what the costs

and benefits could be for Borough residents.”

“Over 20% of the UK ’s total carbon emissions are produced by road transport every year. A review would enable the Council

to gather valuable data with a view to launching a trial service for residents in the very near future.”

 

   

29 June 2009

Council Rescinds Controversial Penalty To Village Committee

The case of a Village Fete Committee fined for advertising a community event in their village has been rescinded.

Ravensden Village Fete Committee had been fined £70 by Bedford Borough Council for putting up posters in the village advertising an upcoming fete.

However, Conservative Borough Councillor for Great Barford Ward, Councillor Carole Ellis, took the matter up with the Council & has managed to get the fine overturned.

Cllr Ellis said,

“I fully understand that Bedford Borough Council was acting within the law, but other Councils warn organisations in advance before demanding a fine is paid & this action seemed very heavy-handed.”

“Bedford Borough Council made no attempt to contact Ravensden Village Fete Committee before issuing the fine and we need to be working with village organisations not against them.”

“Normally these notices are overlooked, however if the Council receives a complaint, and this time it did, it has to be investigated, but in future a letter of warning will be sent before fines are issued which I am happy with.”

“Ravensden Village Fete Committee are a very hard-working organisation who rely on advertising to promote their events, and I am delighted that the fine has now been cancelled.”

 

 

26 June 2009

Controversial Fine Taken Up With Mayor

The case of a parish organisation fined for advertising a community event in their village has been taken up with the Mayor.

As reported in Bedfordshire on Sunday last week, Ravensden Village Fete Committee were fined £70 by Bedford Borough Council for putting up posters on village lampposts advertising an upcoming fete in the village.

The new unitary authority issued a stern warning letter & slapped the fine on the Fete Committee.

                                                        Conservative Borough Councillor for Great Barford Ward, Councillor Carole Ellis, has now taken the Fete Committee’s                                                         case up with the Mayor, Frank Branston.

                                                        Cllr Ellis said,

                                                        “I fully understand that Bedford Borough Council is acting within the law, but other Councils take steps to warn

                                                       organisations in advance before demanding a fine is paid, in some cases, giving them several days notice.”

                                                        “It seems very heavy-handed to me that the Council made no attempt to contact Ravensden Village Fete Committee                                                          before issuing the fine. They are a hard-working organisation who relies on advertising to promote their events, and

                                                       they would have been only too happy to cooperate.”

                                                        “I am sure the Mayor will be able to sort this out as he, like all of us, realises that we need to work with our rural

                                                       community not against them.”

 

 

25 June 2009

 

Conservatives Welcome Park & Ride Progress

 

The new Biddenham Park & Ride facility could be up-and-running in the Borough by 2010 following a meeting of Bedford Borough Council’s Executive Committee last night.

Measures to meet the costs of a new Park & Ride site at Great Denham & approve design works for another Park & Ride site in Clapham to the West of Cut Throat Lane were approved.

Conservative Borough Councillor for Bromham, Biddenham & Great Denham, Roger Rigby, had this to say:

“I am delighted with this news after nearly 10 years of waiting and hoping, while the traffic on the A428 has grown dramatically. This site, when operational, will I hope help remove rat-running through Biddenham and be of great benefit to all our local communities.”

“It is of modest size, with around 270 cars expected to park their every day, but given the Western Bypass & Bromham

Road are forecast to generate over 20,000 journeys a day, having this Park & Ride facility here with a short bus ride to

the train station is vital.”

“This modest measure in no way addresses the Mayor’s fiasco in failing to deliver simultaneously the final link of the

Western Bypass between the A428-A6, which will result in the bypass and Bromham Road becoming a massive car

park at peak times.”

Conservative Borough Councillor for Bromham, Roger Gwynne-Jones, added

"With the Western Relief Road opening in a few months time, funnelling even more traffic on to the A428 into Bedford

- a road already virtually at a standstill in the morning and evening peaks - the main problem remains that until the A428/A6

link is built our villages will continue to suffer.  That link is vital."