Archived News
August 2010
Fire Station Open Day Dunstable
Dunstable Community Fire Station Open Day on Sunday 19th September 2010, between 2:00pm and 4:00pm.
Children, parents and grandparents can get a close look at fantastic fire engines, talk to firefighters and get some tips which could save their lives in the future.
Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service Chief Paul Fuller says: "Our fire stations belong to the local community and we want people to come along and get to know their local firefighters.
"These Open Days are a great opportunity to learn more about how we as an organisation serve the public and for the public in turn to give us some vital feedback about what more we can do to help them.
"We now call these our COMMUNITY fire stations because we want organisations and groups to make use of the meeting rooms when they are not occupied by our own staff. So come along and have a great FREE day out."
A vital FREE service offered by the local fire service is Home Fire Safety Checks which can include the fitting of free smoke alarms. To book a visit contact (0800) 0435042.
For full addresses of fire stations go to www.bedsfire.com.
Source: Ringmaster Bedfordshire
The Community Right To Build
If you and your neighbours had the power to decide, how would you develop your community?
What homes would you build? Or perhaps your neighbourhood needs business premises, a community hall or a sports facility?
The Government is acting to remove the red tape and bureaucracy that hold you and your neighbours back from improving your local area to make it a thriving, vibrant place to live.
The Community Right to Build is part of the Government's drive to create the 'Big Society'.
It's only right that you make the decisions about how your local area should grow.
The Community Right to Build will
- Allow communities to get together and take forward developments for new homes, shops and facilities in their area.
- Allow a community organisation to go ahead with development without the need for an application for planning permission, if there is overwhelming community support for the development and minimum criteria are met.
But the Community Right to Build won't be used to expand the size of communities by more than 10 per cent over a 10 year period.
Contact us by 31 August 2010 at:
For details on the plans, visit:
How you can get involved
The details of how the Community Right to Build will work are being developed.
We want you to tell us how to get it right, and we want to know about your community development projects and ideas as well.
Source: NALC
Barron Knights helping support Iain Rennie
Join Pete Langford and Butch Baker of the Barron Knights for an entertaining evening of lively music, chat about the group's history and lots of laughs.
Come early and join the boys in the bar for a chat!
Following the interval, the stage will be taken by Mr Kite's Benefit Band (Hertfordshire's Premier Charity Group) playing dance music from the 50s to the present day. Mr Kite's Band only play for special causes and we are privileged to have them in Eaton Bray to support Iain Rennie Hospice at Home.
The event takes place on Thursday 23rd September at Eaton Bray Village Hall. Doors open at 7.30pm for 8pm start.
Tickets from Beryl Bishop or direct from Iain Rennie Fund Raising Team on 01442 890222. Tickets priced £15.
Kindly note: Pete, Butch and Mr Kite's Band have all donated their time in order that all proceeds from this event will benefit Iain Rennie.
Source: Focus, August/September 2010
Alex is one of the Guys at The Grove Theatre
Schoolboy Alex Mustoe can't wait to be one of the Guys when he appears on stage at The Grove this week in his biggest role so far.
Alex will be starring as mission leader Arvide Abernathy in the Broadway classic Guys and Dolls which is The Grove's big summer musical, performed by some of the most talented young stars in the area. Guys and Dolls is a classic 1950s musical filled with big numbers like Luck Be A Lady and You're Rockin' the Boat, along with larger than life characters from New York's underworld.
The Grove Summer Musical Project gives aspiring actors aged between 12 and 19 just nine days of intensive rehearsals before the show opens on August 12 This year there will be more than 40 involved and they come from every part of the county to take part.
Alex is also a member of the Edlesbray Players, regularly performing to smaller audiences at Eaton Bray Village Hall, and as a student of Aylesbury Grammar School he has appeared in major productions there. Alex auditioned for Guys and Dolls following encouragement from his gran, Central Beds councillor Marion Mustoe.
"I've been in quite a few pantos for the village and they're been really good fun," said Alex. "I've been acting since I was really young. My sister used to be in the pantos and I'd watch her and really enjoy it."
He continued, "This is my biggest role to date. I play Arvide, who is the leader of the mission and he's there to bring in some sinners and to get people to turn to God. I hadn't seen the show before but we went and got the DVD when I heard I was in it. It's a really great show.
"I have to do a song - More I Cannot Wish You - on my own which is going to be a challenge but it should be okay. I'm a bit worried about that. I do quite a lot of public speaking with my school so I'm all right with audiences but I'm just concerned about my singing voice. When I came to the auditions I had lost my voice so when I tried to sing nothing came out!
"My gran told my mum about Guys and Dolls and I was really up for it. We'll be rehearsing for nine or ten days, between 9am and 8pm which is going to be really hard work."
Guys and Dolls runs from Thursday (August 12th) to Saturday (14th) at The Grove Theatre in Dunstable.
For tickets call the box office 01582 602080 or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk
Beware Distraction Burglars
Bedfordshire Police are warning elderly people to be on the look out for a pair of distraction burglars after three similar incidents in Dunstable, Barton-Le-Clay and Bedford.
On 31 July at around 11am in Chiltern Road, Dunstable, two offenders knocked on the door of the victim, an elderly blind man, and told him that a large tree in his garden needed cutting down. They asked him to go into the garden with them so they could describe the problems it is causing. While at the bottom of the garden one of the offenders has searched the house. The two men have then left saying they would return on another day to do the work. The victim has then discovered that cash, cheque book and documents had been stolen.
On 3 August at around 11am in Granville Street, Bedford, two men told the elderly victim that they would replace his loose guttering at the rear of his property. The victim has allowed the men into his house and shown them around. The men have left saying they will return in half an hour. When they have gone the victim has discovered money has been taken. In this case one of the men is described between 20-30 years old with fair hair, wearing light coloured sleeveless top and light coloured trousers.
On the 7 August around 11am Dunstall Road, Barton Le Clay offenders have attended the property and the victim has let the offenders in who have offered to cut the hedges. They have engaged the victim in conversation, and have removed money. The offenders have left in a small grey car. One offender was described as male; around 5 foot 7 inches tall, white, around 35 years old, fat, and had a local accent.
PC Ron Callender, investigating, said: “People should be wary of people calling at their homes offered to do work for them at low prices. They should not let strangers into their homes or leave them unattended. If anyone has any information about these burglaries or has suffered a similar theft they can contact me or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Follow this advice to protect yourself against distraction burglaries:
- Always ask for photo identification from service or delivery people before letting them in - if you are worried, ask them to wait outside while you close the door and call their company.
- If someone keeps you talking on the doorstep, be aware of any movement or activity in the rest of the house - before you answer the door, you should check all back doors, patio doors and windows are close and preferably locked.
- Mark all your valuables with your house number and postcode - contact your Crime Reduction Team for more information.
- Never keep a large amount of money in the house - keep in the bank or post office.
- Don't keep your chequebook and cards in the same place - a thief could use the card to forge your signature on cheques.
- Don't fall for anything that sounds too good to be true - a free holiday, cash prizes, cures for arthritis or cancer, or low-risk high-return investment schemes.
- Don't buy goods or services from doorstep callers and NEVER let them into your home.
If you have any information about these crimes or other suspicious incidents or crimes, please call the Police Control Centre on (01234) 841212.
Alternatively text your message to (07786) 200011 or email your message to [email protected]
Thank you for your support.
Source: Ringmaster Bedfordshire
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment
Central Bedfordshire Council is currently conducting the statutory Childcare Sufficiency Assessment. On the Central Bedfordshire website, under quick links, questionnaires can be found in which parents, employers and childcare providers are asked to give their opinions on Childcare in their area.
From this we hope to identify any gaps in the childcare market and any areas of improvement. We have been publicising the assessment through various outlets such as children's centres, doctor's surgeries and libraries as well as at events such as the River and Canal Festivals.
If you require further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Catherine Lydon
Project Officer for Childcare Sufficiency and Poverty Needs Assessments
Tel. 0300 300 5732
Central Bedfordshire Council
The Council Offices, High Street North
Dunstable, Beds. LU6 1LF
Source: Central Bedfordshire News Release, 4th August 2010
Quiz Night
Tickets are £8 per person and include a ploughmans-style supper. Bring your own drinks and glasses and make it a real night out! Tables of up to 8, but if you have part of a table don't worry - we can help you find team mates.
Source: Focus, August/September 2010