There’s something truly magical about a community coming together to celebrate its own and that’s precisely what happened at the 2024 Bedford Independent Everyday Heroes Awards The atmosphere was electric from the moment guests arrived at the Quarry Theatre to celebrate these awards which are organised in partnership with the Harpur Trust people spilt out into the Quarry Theatre garden enjoying the pleasant weather and soaking up the positive atmosphere They were helped along by cold drinks and nibbles served by Bedford School It felt like everyone in the room—whether a nominee or just a proud supporter—was here for one reason: to celebrate the heroes of Bedford The Quarry Theatre bar was alive with energy as guests mingled and the Bedford School Jazz Orchestra keeping the tempo lively and helping to build excitement as the ceremony was about to begin It was clear: this was going to be a special night The awards ceremony officially kicked off with Paul Hutchinson Paul’s opener reminded us all why we were there—to celebrate the unsung heroes of Bedford These are the people who quietly change lives making a massive impact without ever asking for recognition These weren’t just people receiving awards; they were our neighbours it felt like Bedford was cheering them on as one A moment of the evening that will no doubt be a highlight for at least one attendee and his family was just after the Young Achiever (Up to Age 13) heartfelt rendition of “Happy Birthday” from the packed theatre singing with joy as Oscar stood there beaming warm reminder of the sense of community that makes Bedford unique Oscar turned 14 on that day of the ceremony; we’re confident he’ll be nominated in the older Young Achiever category in the years to come it wasn’t just about recognising the winners but celebrating Bedford as a whole watched as the nominees walked up to claim their well-deserved recognition making space for each new winner with the kind of warmth and respect that only a tight-knit community can provide The evening carried on in a wonderful mix of excitement and emotion the Bedford School Jazz Orchestra continued to play adding that special touch of energy that kept the ceremony buzzing The packed theatre was a testament to how many people were there to celebrate Bedford’s Everyday Heroes it felt like the whole room was collectively holding its breath waiting for the names of those who would be honoured for their outstanding contributions to our community But it wasn’t just the winners who were celebrated—the highly commended finalists were met with just as much enthusiasm a clear sign of how much their efforts meant to everyone in the room and Paul Kellett from Bedford Giving both took the stage to express their pride in being part of such a special event David highlighted how inspiring it was to see the variety of people nominated each year from community artists to those working behind the scenes to improve lives Paul spoke about the importance of giving young people a platform to have their voices heard and the Youth Voice Award—sponsored by Bedford Giving in memory of Laura Pottinger—was a true highlight of the evening Sporting Aid’s “Next Generation Podcast,” was applauded for amplifying the voices of young people The night was also filled with stories of unsung heroes those who work quietly to make a difference bringing people together through community events and workshops was named Fundraiser of the Year (Individual) raising more than £1,500 for Embrace Charity it was a reminder that heroes come in all shapes and sizes Frankie was unable to collect her award herself they tell us they couldn’t be more proud of all she has achieved We will catch up with her soon when she is able Bedford School helped make the evening more than a simple gathering The boys and staff pulled out all the stops to ensure that the finalists We are grateful for their continued support which helps our Everyday Heroes enjoy a night for themselves when at all other times they are doing things for others Director of The Bedford School Association introduced the Excellence in Education Award and spoke of the deep connection between the school and the town we strive to instil a sense of community and responsibility contributing to the strong fabric of Bedford,” he said The event was watched by Bedford and Kempston MP Tom Wootton (Conservative) and Deputy Lieutenant (DL) Nick Kier he chose a quote often repeated by Pope Francis “Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves No matter how difficult it is… life is good when you are happy but much better when others are happy because of you,” said the DL “The Everyday Heroes Awards are more than just a celebration of outstanding individuals “They reflect the incredible spirit that makes Bedford such a special place It’s an honour to be part of an evening that showcases the heart of the Bedford Borough community.” You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security 06/05/2025  The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) 17/04/2025  Mitsubishi Electric Europe Kempston Controls has signed a new distribution agreement with Mitsubishi Electric that will enable the distributor to now offer an end-to-end automation solution for customers The UK-headquartered specialist technical distributor will now offer the full suite of Mitsubishi Electric automation products and services Kempston Controls will make an immediate investment in training including a sizeable investment in stock at distribution facilities that service customers nationwide Kempston Controls aims to use the agreement as a springboard to target new sectors with automation solutions particularly the process industries including key verticals such as pharmaceutical and food and beverage says the agreement completes Kempston Controls’s automation offering.  “This is Kempston Controls’s biggest move in a decade and a very exciting new venture that opens up significant opportunities for both companies This agreement fills a gap in our technical capability and enables us to provide full turnkey automation solutions to our customers “Our commitment to this agreement is clearly demonstrated by our sizeable investment in stock training and support and we are confident that together we can provide outstanding technical solutions for our customers and grow our respective businesses.” Kempston Controls employs 300 staff with operations in the UK including distribution sites in Earls Barton in Northamptonshire and Huddersfield along with manufacturing sites in Manchester and Holyhead the company has distribution centres and sales support in Ireland and UAE along with a sales support in North America Mitsubishi Electric recently attended Kempston Controls’s two-day ‘Plugged-In’ event with excellent feedback from customers “The reaction from our customer base was very positive,” says Damian “Our customers can see that this agreement will enable us to provide an end-to-end automation solution from design and technical support through to aftersales service that is market leading in the UK.”  Divisional Director of Mitsubishi Electric’s Automation System Division in the UK comments: “This agreement is about more than bringing another distributor onboard Our strategy is to develop incremental business for both partners by increasing market reach and penetration.”  He continued: “There are strong synergies between the two companies with Kempston Controls adding a further dimension to our channel strategy and will have a very strategic role in the development of Mitsubishi Electric’s portfolio of automation solutions in the UK market our sales and technical teams will work closely together with the Kempston Controls team focused on market serve and our own Mitsubishi Electric team focused on market creation – all for the benefit of the end-user.” says the agreement is part of a long-term strategy “Mitsubishi Electric’s Automation Systems Division is on a journey to increase its market share in Europe we are transitioning from being a stable business to a growth business moving away from being a product-focused company to a solutions provider Kempston Controls has a very complementary approach with a multi-level service capability that mirrors our own approach to the market.” Request information on the products Print this article Visit company profile page Manufacturers turn to ‘resilience’ according to PP C&A chief Login or Register Process and Control Today are not responsible for the content of submitted or externally produced articles and images. Click here to email us about any errors or omissions contained within this article View our eNewsletter Archive Sign-up for our weekly eNewsletter Advertise with us | Media pack © Copyright 1999-2025 Process and Control Today LtdRegistered in England No. 3733110 - studio44 15 March for a magical illuminated light walk along the riverbank and see Kempston like never before artistic installations will be revealed along the Kempston Riverside Path between Kempston Mill and Sanders Close/Hillgrounds Road as part of the Kemspton Light Walk This family-friendly event invites you to discover Kempston’s nighttime wildlife and immerse yourself in the work of talented local artists Live acoustic music will provide the perfect soundtrack as you explore and hot drinks and snacks will be available from vendors along the route The event is free, but booking is required. You can secure your spot here told the Bedford Clanger what inspired him to take part in the project “I was drawn to the brief for the Love Kempston Light Walk as it was something different and exciting to respond to the location,” he said “Creating the light walk has enabled me to bring together both technical and artistic challenges I hope that the light installations will both surprise and  amuse and that there will be something for everyone from the pretty to the intriguing.” Karl has created the lighting installations along the footpath between Kempston Mill and Sanders Close.  He has worked in theatre and music light production as well as lighting weddings and other outdoor events.   Visual artist Janet Reddy worked with Kempston residents to create work for the event I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the Kempston community to create beautiful and creative clay masks using natural materials,” she said “The process of coming together—young and old from as young as three to as wise as seventy—has been truly inspiring and excitement as each person shaped their own unique 3D mask has reaffirmed my passion for community-based art “The joy of creating something meaningful with our hands and witnessing the pride in each finished piece has been an unforgettable experience “This project has strengthened my belief in the power of art to bring people together and leave a lasting impact on both individuals and the community as a whole.”   you can join Janet to make a beautiful lantern to light your way Head to the Kempston Landing Stage before your walk and take part in a lantern-making workshop If you’d like to carry your lantern throughout the walk The 40-minute walk follows the Kempston Riverside Path the organisers recommend starting at either end of the route The evening will feature installations and performances from a range of talented creatives storyteller Toby Sharp and local singer and musician Bruce Carson Lantern Making from 4:30pm (Kempston Mill & Landing Stage)Walk begins @ 4:30pmEvent ends @ 6:30pm The Love Kempston Light Walk is part of River/ Flow/ Connect a BCA creative initiative that helps Kempston residents connect with the River Great Ouse it encourages people to explore the benefits of riverside spaces for their well-being and fosters ideas for long-term improvements to the riverbank area This project is made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund Bedford Borough Council Ward Councillor Funds Location: Approx MK42 7FB to MK42 8RX. You can find out more about the project here A Labour councillor has criticised Bedford Borough Council’s administration for what she described as a lack of urgency in progressing vital healthcare projects – particularly in Kempston Referring to a later agenda item giving an update on the healthcare estate at Wednesday’s Executive (23 April) which is the alternatives considered and rejected in this report it states that with regards to the Great Barford project the option of ‘do nothing’ has been rejected “Are we therefore to infer from this that do nothing is exactly what’s happening?” Conservative) the portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and communities: health and wellbeing All business cases are being worked through at the moment – it’s a very slow process “We have to be very inventive to find the money for these projects “Kempston is a very interesting project “That is an ongoing project so ‘doing nothing’ is not on the agenda,” said the Conservative member for Riseley “We have a population that is growing at 20 per cent – three times the national average – which does not have the services it should have “We have to get in front of the curve and it’s not a project that we can dismiss “We need to get all GP services up and running as fast as we possibly can “It’s finding the money,” he said Cllr Oliver responded: “Thank you for your answer although I’m not very reassured by it.” She added that during a meeting in December to discuss a new Kempston health facility attendees were told that they will meet again in March,  once the consultants had refreshed the findings of the 2019 strategic outline case “I’ve received an email this afternoon asking for my availability on June 2 three months later than this meeting was promised “So it seems to me that in Kempston’s case it is certainly true that nothing happens unless Kempston councillors demand action “And the only things set in stone are the feet of you and your administration.” The Mayor of Kempston is extending a warm invitation to all Bedfordians to join the community to switch on the town’s festive lights this weekend Kempston’s Christmas light switch-on will take place outside the Saxon Centre on Sunday with the festive family fun beginning at midday gospel singers and the fabulously festive Kempston Concert Band will provide the entertainment alongside Lissie Allsopp who will be singing Christmas favourites ahead of the big switch-on There will also be children’s fairground rides and festive stalls said: “We look forward to welcoming people to Kempston on Sunday There will be lots of fun for everyone.” Two locations in Bedford and Kempston are part of this winter’s Warm Spaces Initiative phone charging facilities and even a hot shower Kempston Pool & Fitness and John Bunyan Sports & Fitness have been designated Warm Spaces by GLL the charitable social enterprise that operates Better leisure centres on behalf of Bedford Borough Council The Warm Spaces initiative is open to leisure centre members and non-members alike on Mondays at 9am – 3:30pm and Fridays 9am – 1:30pm at Kempston Pool & Fitness and on a Monday at 11.30am – 13:30pm at John Bunyan Sports & Fitness coffee and biscuits donated by wholesalers there is also the opportunity to charge a phone or device Commenting on the Warm Spaces initiative Aaron Colbert GLL Community Sports Manager for Bedford’s Better leisure centres said: “We know that winter can be a difficult and isolating time of the year and at the heart of the community “There’ll be a warm welcome from our staff to anyone who wants to pop in.  It’s an opportunity to meet new people and connect with others in the community Better leisure centres have also joined forces with NHS England this winter and there will be flyers available to read on how to stay well this winter Edited 10/12/24 09:13 to include Bedford in the headline and opening paragraph A 50-year-old man who sexually assaulted a teenage girl in a park in Kempston in August last year has been jailed for 14 years He intercepted her and took her into a nearby obscured area of the park and sexually assaulted her A couple walking their dog saw something was happening and shone a torch towards them This disturbance caused Kumar to let go of the girl and she was able to run to them for help Following extensive enquiries involving CCTV and phone work and an investigation was launched by Bedfordshire Police’s Protecting Vulnerable People team (PVP) was found guilty of six different sexual offences and was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Friday (21 March) to 14 years He will also be subject to a deportation order after his sentence is served the victim said: “I’d like to thank the police for their determination to bring this man to trial “It has given me faith in moving forward with my life and he is no longer able to harm anyone the way he harmed me.” Detective Inspector Rachael Foy from Bedfordshire Police’s PVP team said: “This has been a very distressing time for the victim and so I commend her for her bravery and strength in giving her evidence in court and ensuring that this predator is punished for his actions.  and we will always pursue justice against those who threaten that safety.” Bedfordshire Police says it has placed significant focus on tackling perpetrators of male violence against women and girls and is working with other organisations to support and improve women’s safety across the county Victims of rape and sexual assault can receive support and guidance from police and partner agencies including the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and Bedfordshire Domestic Abuse Partnership (BDAP) as well as support through the criminal investigation process The first 60 pupils crossed the threshold at a new SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) school in Kempston today (10 February) built on the site of the former Robert Bruce Middle School on Hillgrounds Road was due to open to students in January but was delayed due to essential safeguarding measures Read: Funding secured for 200-place Kempston SEND school with one saying: “I feel like my child now has a place where they can truly belong Rivertree Free School has been funded in conjunction with the Department for Education (DfE) and will be run by the Bedford Inclusive Learning & Training Trust (BILTT) It will welcome its next 60 pupils in September 2025 and will reach maximum capacity in 2026 with 200 pupils said: “We are thrilled to welcome our first cohort of pupils today “This is a monumental moment not only for Rivertree but for the entire community We believe that education is about more than just academic growth It’s about nurturing each child’s potential and helping them to discover their passions “Seeing the faces of parents and their children as they entered the school was something truly special.” She went on to explain that each of the classrooms at the new school is named after a river reflecting the diverse and ever-flowing journey of learning “We wanted to convey the idea that learning “Rivers shape the land and nurture the ecosystems around them Our classrooms are spaces where children can be shaped “We want them to be curious like a river and flow confidently toward their future.” the school’s curriculum encourages pupils to be both explorers and creators of their own learning paths “We want to create a space where every child feels valued and supported,” said Rivertree head “Our goal is to inspire pupils to dream big and develop the skills they need to succeed in the world We are excited to see how this vision comes to life as we move forward.” A police stop during a routine patrol led officers to discover more than £3,000 worth of Class A drugs strapped to the leg of a man who was driving erratically Bedfordshire Police officers noticed a vehicle driving dangerously Despite officers turning on their sirens and indicating for the vehicle to stop before he was forced to stop when his tyre burst after he hit a kerb Officers noticed a strong smell of alcohol as well as drugs paraphernalia in the passenger side footwell Gbonda was subsequently arrested on suspicion of drink driving and failing to stop A search of his vehicle also located more than £2,000 in cash Officers then found a bag of 23 individual drug wraps inside his trousers strapped to his leg and he was further arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs The substances were later analysed and found to be cocaine and heroin worth more than £3,300 Gbonda’s mobile phone was also seized and examined by detectives where numerous messages revealed his drug dealing enterprise Kempston was sentenced to a total of five years and nine months for failure to stop being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and being in possession of a Class B drug He will also be disqualified from driving for two years Detective Constable Nema Behzadi from the force’s Boson Guns and Gangs unit the force brought about more than 620 charges against individuals fuelling the illegal drugs trade across our county Our focus on tackling this crime type remains the same this year media campaigns and work in education settings we’re committed to tackling the possession and supply of drugs while ensuring young people are aware of the dangers and consequences of being involved in such activity “We continue to ask the community to raise the alarm when they see things that aren’t right Your information is what guides our activity and reaps these great results.” For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 07:21 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 cloud will increase from off the North Sea to bring a few light showers during the day Some bright or sunny spells developing by late-afternoon Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places Largely dry with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells on Wednesday with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout the period Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average Bedfordshire Police is appealing for witnesses after a man was robbed in a violent attack in Kempston on Sunday night (25 August) The man was attacked and robbed near the 4 foot 9 bridge in Kempston by three men wearing balaclavas Two are described as white and one being of Black heritage who pushed him off his custom e-bike before assaulting him The man was then threatened with a knife before having his keys The victim was then thrown into the river while the robbers made their getaway A family member told the Bedford Independent that he was taken to hospital for treatment for his injuries “He tried to fight back but they pulled knives on him They then repeatedly kicked him on the floor and then threw him into the river he is full of bruises and had to have scans of his vital organs and head but the doctor said he was lucky that when he went into the water he didn’t pass out said: “This incident has left the victim very shaken up and we are keen to catch those responsible as quickly as possible “We would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have dashcam or CCTV footage available.” Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Bedfordshire Police online or by calling 101 You can also contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 An applicant who had their plans to build on a plot of land in Kempston rejected for a second time has submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate The planning application to build a detached home on land adjacent to 19 Rosedale Way was refused for the second time in four months by Bedford Borough Council’s planners in July The council listed various reasons for its second rejection scale and form of the proposed dwelling and the limited size of the development site contrived and incongruous form of development.” Read: Plans resubmitted to build house on grass verge in Kempston More information can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s appeals casework portal The deadline for comments from interested parties is Thursday The applicant was approached via their agent for a comment but they did not respond at the time of publication September is traditionally the start of the rugby season in the UK taking to the pitch for the first time in the new season to open their account in the newly-formed Bedfordshire Merit League on Saturday Kempston were up against Bletchley 2nd’s – a familiar rival – and both clubs can recount many tales of good The warm-up was briefly truncated by a storm of biblical proportions and proceeded to dump water and a little hail on the pitch and the ground was thankfully softened up a little Kempston completed their warmup and returned to the sheds to don their matchday kit and after the customary motivational speech from their captain returned to the pitch to meet the opposition Kempston got first points on the board with an early penalty within kicking distance to give an early 3-0 to the hosts There then followed a bit of a low patch for Kempston as Bletchley ran in two unanswered tries and this would prove to be the big test Kempston needed to respond and to show their characters in the form of a barnstorming try from our returning centre The two sides left the pitch for half time after a penalty to Bletchley saw the scoreline settle at 10-17 to the visitors resulting in three more points from the boot of their captain Chris Mayhew and John Higginson put the K’s well ahead at 34-24 repulsing wave after wave of Bletchley attacks the final whistle went and a final score of 34-31 was notched up fair and even battle with Kempston edging it and never saying die A win is always an excellent way to start the season and whilst Kempston will be nursing sore bones the warm glow of a strong start will always motivate A debate over special area charges saw a majority of Bedford borough councillors reject a Lib Dem objection calling for a rethink on how open space maintenance costs are allocated across the borough Putnoe) strongly opposed the Executive’s recommendation to exclude Great Denham and Land West of Kempston from special area charges He argued that this decision would unfairly burden residents elsewhere who would effectively subsidize maintenance costs for open spaces in those areas Special area charges allow the council to charge specific areas of expenditure that are judged to be for the benefit of a single parish or other area of the borough unless the council has resolved to do otherwise. The charges in the case of Great Denham and Land West of Kempston are for the management of open spaces “This is one of the most blatant attacks on normal process I’ve seen at this council,” councillor Headley said “Anyone supporting this tonight should be ashamed of what they are doing.” The objection stated that the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) review recommended these costs should be included in special area charges as is the case for other open spaces across the borough He warned that failure to follow this guidance meant some residents would overpay council tax and the Executive’s motion to maintain the current allocation system was passed said the CIPFA report recommended a number of reviews that would make the setting of a special area charge “more accurate and fairer” “The only thing that seems to be focused on here is the charge levied on Great Denham and Land West of Kempston,” he said you just want to pull one thing out,” he said “It’s worth highlighting that the play area in the Country Park is paid for by residents from Great Denham and from Kempston West but enjoyed as a destination by everyone in the borough and I think we’re never going to understand each other,” he said The passed motion means the open spaces maintenance costs in the Great Denham and Kempton West developments will not be treated as special expenses by the use of a discretionary power conferred by the Local Government Act 1992 I am writing to provide an important update on the growing concerns among Kempston residents regarding Grace Community Church’s controversial proposal to develop land along Cemetery Road includes a “community hub” (a church by another name) and seventy-eight houses — the latter presented as “enabling development” to fund the church Let’s begin with the most glaring issue: the site lies on a floodplain Building here not only risks exacerbating runoff into Church Walk and nearby properties but also ignores the increasing reality of climate change Recent floods in Kempston — not to mention the devastating scenes in Leicestershire and other parts of the UK — are stark reminders that flood plains are becoming even more dangerous for development and residents are rightly concerned about the consequences Another contentious issue is the developer’s refusal to include affordable housing in their plans This flies in the face of Bedford Borough Council’s policy which requires 30% of new housing to be affordable The Council must now commission an external “viability assessment” to scrutinize the developer’s costings but residents are growing increasingly frustrated Why should the applicant be allowed to sidestep their obligations to provide affordable homes especially when housing affordability is a critical issue in our community Bedford Borough Council’s education department has raised alarms about the strain seventy-eight new households would place on local schools the additional provision needed for school-age and SEND pupils would cost over £1 million in capital investment Read: “Places are tight” as council confirms pressure on secondary school spots If the developers claim they can’t afford affordable housing how will they possibly fund the Section 106 contributions required to support our schools A longstanding vision to connect Milton Keynes and Bedford via a waterway championed by the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust This ambitious project would link the Grand Union Canal to the River Great Ouse with the route running from Kempston Mill along Cemetery Road — directly through the proposed site of the church and housing estate The Council has previously preserved this route under its allocations and designations policy and the waterway has enjoyed widespread support including £4 million in funding from the Covanta incinerator planning deal Local residents have already embraced the waterway’s first stages such as the popular landing stage at Kempston Mill Yet Grace Community Church’s plans barely acknowledge this major project they’ve offered no financial contributions to the waterway as would typically be expected under Council policy this proposal doesn’t just fail Kempston residents; it actively undermines our community’s future From flooding risks to the lack of affordable housing and disregard for our cherished waterway project Grace Community Church’s plans are deeply flawed Cllr James Valentine,Labour Borough Councillor Kempston West.Editor’s note: Cllr Valentine writes this letter as ward councillor for Kempston West It is not written on behalf of the Council’s Labour Group nor are they responsible for the content Letters published do not reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.If you would like to respond to any issues raised, please emailletters@bedfordindependent.co.uk Barbadians from across the UK descended on Kempston last weekend to celebrate the 58th anniversary of Barbados Independence and three years as a republic At an interdenominational service at the Church of God of Prophecy Pastor Stephen Nelson of the Calvary Church of God in Christ – Cardiff led the clergy procession as the congregation sang “All things bright and Beautiful” A hymn chosen to match the service’s theme of conserving the planet Rafael Francis presented the national flag while his brother Joel Francis read the national pledge of Barbados Esther Pitt—Leicester read Bible readings and a poem by Leeds member Sharon Patricia Jones and International Opera Singer Alison Buchanan sang a rendition of The Lord’s Prayer This was met with rapturous applause with those in attended commenting that it was “not just powerful and emotional but also uplifting” Pastor Nelson also responded with an emotional “wow,” before asking Alison to take another bow and Olivia Worrell of BOCFA led the prayers A further sermon was also delivered by Bishop Richard Trotman the senior Pastor at this Church of God of Prophecy This musical celebration continued as the band kept the tempo at the event in a reggae-like beat with the congregation singing ‘He’s got the whole world in his hands.” Organised by the National Council of Barbadian Association UK a spokesperson said the occasion was “a true reflection of community spirit with members from all over the UK coming together Cedric Lynch sang a medley of Bajan Folk songs by Joseph Niles inviting the audience to sing along as they swayed from side to side in authentic gospel style singing tunes like The Royal Telephone and Holy Train and the service ended with “Great is thy Faithfulness.” The congregation then headed downstairs for lunch and Conkies with a full Caribbean menu NCBA Chair Sherry Maxwell and Phillips Alls from the North Pole expedition were among the many invitees I represent residents in the area affected by Grace Community Church’s proposals for building on land by Cemetery Road in Kempston These proposals were controversial from the start The area concerned is a valued open space enjoyed by countless residents next to properties that are subject to flooding At a packed public meeting back in 2021 I appealed to Grace not to proceed with their project “I can envisage that the planning process… will turn into an almighty battle that would divide the community and I would say to the church But my appeal fell on deaf ears; Grace proceeded with a planning application and it has indeed divided the community Since the application was made in February there have been nearly four hundred written objections and many informal representations and more acute – the latest event making national news by blocking the A421 some homes were flooded and residents evacuated The overwhelming feeling is that if Grace wishes to build a permanent home for their church the application isn’t just to build a church There’s to be a large housing development too Additional houses by Cemetery Road are not required by the Government and they are not included in Bedford Borough’s Local Plan The applicant proposes them purely as an ‘enabling development’ Grace’s planning application styles the proposed church as a ‘community hub’ available to residents for various charitable activities the ‘need’ for such a hub requires cash from house sales to help ‘enable’ an asset with community value This is all very puzzling because Kempston is already blessed with numerous churches charities and community organisations that have worked with families or older people and provided a vast range of community activities Residents don’t see the ‘need’ for others to provide a ‘community hub’ in an area that already has a vibrant community Residents are also frustrated by the length of time that the application is taking The application has repeatedly been rejected by statutory consultees and Grace has been given additional time to modify their proposals to the end of January 2025 has made residents quite angry The developers have claimed that given the cost of their project they will be unable to include any affordable housing as part of it the Council has a policy of requiring 30% of newly built housing to be affordable They therefore need to employ specialist viability consultants to check the developer’s costings Regardless of how the viability assessment turns out the idea that this church should attempt to avoid including social housing is outrageous beyond belief battle lines are being drawn up for a Planning Committee meeting sometime early next year and I’ll be there to represent local residents Kempston West.Editor’s note: Cllr Valentine writes this letter as ward councillor for Kempston West It is not written on behalf of the Council’s Labour Group nor are they responsible for the content Letters published do not reflect the views of the Bedford Independent.If you would like to respond to any issues raised, please emailletters@bedfordindependent.co.uk and perhaps even scared – those were the feelings many of us felt to discover that Bedford was on a circulated list of target locations for far-right riots One of our local communities was being threatened by thugs with the intention of spreading division We came together as one community with neighbours looking after neighbours Bedfordshire Police communicating with local residents and elected representatives and residents standing together as one to say firmly that an attack on one of us in Bedford is an attack on all of us and we will not stand for it It was heart-warming to have received so many calls to my office not from constituents who were scared (though of course there were some calls asking for advice) but from people outside of Queen’s Park wanting to know how they could best help or if they could be useful in any way It would have been so easy for residents on the other side of Bedford or in Kempston to ignore what was happening It was my experience that people truly wanted to be helpful in the actions they took when the Police said a counter-protest would only escalate the risk the vast majority of residents listened and stayed at home I am relieved that no far-right rioters came to Bedford the headlines from the events here and across the country did not reveal a town or a country cowed by fear rather they highlighted the underlying hope within our society and unity against hate Opinion: We are Bedford and we won’t be intimidated but there’s still work to be done That’s what lasted; our hope and our love for our communities will always beat hate When we stand together no one can divide us we come together and I believe there is a lesson here This is what we can achieve when we work together in unity and taking this approach is what is required to bring about the positive changes we want to see to Bedford and Kempston or securing improvements for local health services many issues and opportunities inevitably lie ahead to blame others for delays or problems along the way or to simply oppose something for the sake of taking a different view to someone else But I believe we need to take the harder choice that of taking responsibility and actively working together to achieve the best results for our towns and to work through any differences through compromise Let’s continue to show our community spirit and stand up for Bedford and Kempston This is a monthly guest column provided byMohammad Yasin Labour MP for Bedford & Kempston.It is published unedited and does notreflect the views of the Bedford Independent Local community groups and the Mayor of Bedford Borough today marked the official opening of the dedicated burial grounds for the Muslim community – a project supported by local residents and community leaders Project leader Parvez Akhtar said; “This project has been five years in the making and without the support of Bedford Borough Council and the Mayor Many bigger councils up and down the country don’t have such a facility and it is a testament to the community and our council that we can boast about this burial ground “It was really pleasing to have cross-party support at full council for this project and I look forward to the official opening in the summer where we hope to invite everyone for a big celebration.” The opening event was also attended by Mohammad Yasin MP (Labour North Bedfordshire) and Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) the Mayor said: “This initiative goes far beyond land and planning approvals It is a long journey and many different people have helped on the way “It embodies our commitment to respect and meeting the diverse needs of every community member Just as our Christian community has traditionally enjoyed access to consecrated burial grounds it is essential that our Muslim residents receive the same provision It was really pleasing to have support by all councillors from all groups on a cross-party agreement and residents whose advocacy was instrumental in realising this project.”