Town is not a short-term cash cow
Sir - Along with others I was appalled to read in last week’s Bedfordshire on Sunday (October 9) about the decision to allow HMV the use of retail space in Bedford Town Centre during the forthcoming Christmas period.
It is well documented that this company has clearly no intention of having a permanent presence in our town. Were that to be the case then I for one would applaud the granting of shop premises to HMV.
But to allow them the luxury of using Bedford as a ‘cash-cow’ for a short period of time is not only detrimental to other businesses who support our town through good times and bad, it is also a sad reflection on just how low
Bedford has been allowed to fall behind other similar towns in order for this kind of situation to arise.
Yes we do need stores like HMV in Bedford in order to raise the profile of the town but what is the point of letting them come in, knowing that they have no intention whatsoever of making a long term commitment to the town?
I, for one, would welcome the day when Bedford is once again able to attract similar stores back into the town but on a permanent basis rather than the situation as it is today, enabling like-minded companies to exploit the prevailing trading conditions whenever a ‘quick-buck’ is to be made.
Michael Henman
Leith Road, Bedford
Hmv should be for life
Sir - With Christmas again hitting the shops of Bedford, it’s time to look forward to the traditional joys of the festive season - chestnut roasting on an open fire; carols sung over mince pies and mulled wine; HMV taking a short-term lease on a town centre store.
Your article on October 9 (BoS page five - Music store accused of aiming for quick Christmas buck) regarding HMV visiting the town for the third consecutive Christmas, reported a large degree of scepticism concerning its plans, suggesting it was only here to milk the people of Bedford in a cynical attempt to exploit the goodwill of the season.
However, this year I am confident HMV will retain their presence in the town beyond Christmas, to the long-term benefit of all, but then again, I still believe in Santa Claus as well.
Jon Askew Cleeve Abbey, Bedford
We need safeguards
Sir - If the decision as how to deal with the continuing problems with travellers is, as suggested by Councillor Ian Clifton, all about votes (BoS Letters September 25) the rural community should be worried.
Staploe, Stevington, Bletsoe and now Felmersham have all suffered and no doubt more Bedfordshire villages will experience encampments unless the council takes a more robust approach to quickly identifying and developing suitable sites, in accordance with its own well-founded strategic priorities that first look for urban and nearurban locations.
It is starting to look as though the council may take the view that it is easier and cheaper to let the burden fall on those unfortunate few villages where the travellers opportunistically buy small parcels of land in open countryside and set up home regardless of the law rather than getting on and providing suitable sites itself.
Furthermore, the Government’s controversial planning proposals for creating a presumption in favour of sustainable development may well have unintended effects in this context unless safeguards are put in place through the shortly expected guidance on Planning for Travellers Sites.
Without such safeguards the presumption could open the floodgates for the less scrupulous travellers, who may see this as a green light to play the system even more.
Lance Feaver, Rushden Road, Bletsoe
I will make use of store
Sir - I do not understand the fuss being made over opening the new Tesco store in Bedford town centre.
I remember the outcry caused by the closure of the town’s Safeway and Sainsbury’s stores on the grounds that it would be difficult for the elderly and non-drivers to do their shopping. Surely the new Tesco will make it more convenient for those who would normally have to go to Goldington Road, Cardington Road, Clapham Road or Kempston.
I believe that this new store is a bonus to the town. I rarely shop at Tesco but I will be definitely be using the new shop.
Jon Hayward Merton Road, Bedford
Gags better than court
Sir - I am not sure why Councillor Tom Wootton was “surprised and shocked” by Bedford Borough Council’s expenditure on compromise agreements (BoS Oct 9 - Council staff gagged by £86k hush money).
This approach to the management of employment issues is commonplace in both private and public sectors. In respect of expenditure that the public would not see as a priority, would he prefer the council takes its chances in court? In one case of sex discrimination in the last set of published statistics, a claimant received £289,167.
Even in the many cases in which employers prove the claims are abject nonsense, they seldom recover their expensive costs. Out of the 218,100 applications in the year to March 31, 2011, only 355 costs awards were made in favour of employers.
If the council is sensibly using this tool in the effective management of risk, your readers should be grateful.
If conversely council managers are throwing hard earned taxpayers’ money at indisciplined or poorly performing employees who should be sacked, I will support him in his quest for an explanation.
Willy White Brook Street, Bedford
Residents deserve more
Sir - I have now heard and read it all. The council using taxpayers’ money to silence any leaks that would compromise the council (BoS October 9 - Council staff gagged by £86k hush money). Do we really have democracy? I note the Government has spent £1.7 billion to liberate Libyans from Gaddafi and their oil and yet there are cutbacks in the NHS, police, army, fire and education.
I fear that until the politicians are held to account under the same law as any member of the public, and no Parliamentary privileges, then we will always get sub-standard service from them.
The Government has done well to kill off any industry or manufacturing in the UK. May I congratulate the local council on doing its best to finish off the rest of small businesses.
I see its camera van, which was supposed to be used around schools, is driven around in the early mornings to catch out motorists parked overnight.
I was given a ticket by the van when taking my 83-year-old disabled mother and had the badge displayed.
They later withdrew their evidence when I appealed to the ombudsman. Guilty till proven innocent is against the backbone of our legal system. How about reducing rates and taxes to encourage local businesses? Assist them to create jobs. The people of Bedford deserve more and need to hold people to account.
Nasim Awan Hartwell Drive, Kempston
Is drug user the victim?
Sir - In response to your story on the man who pleaded guilty to smoking cannabis (BoS October 9 - Man told magistrate to crack on after cannabis destruction order).
In addition to the fine and costs he was ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge. Who exactly is the victim in this case? If he is the victim (because of possible adverse health effects of smoking cannabis) then surely he should receive the victim surcharge, in which case why is the victim being punished? Nick Carter Westrope Way, Bedford RIP Marston Vale Sir - So the Infrastructure Planning Commission has given the go ahead for Covanta to build an energy from waste facility at Rookery Pit.
Thank you IPC for taking into account local residents’ views.
Thank you to the Marston Vale Community Forest Trust for not objecting to the plant. Your legacy will be to have this monstrosity literally right on your ecological doorstep. I wonder what your customers will think? Stand by for lower visitor numbers.
Oh! and by the way, I resign as a Forest Volunteer.
Thank you Councillor Hare for all your Covanta supporting claptrap.
When the prevailing winds take emissions from the stack in the direction of Elstow I hope that your parishioners will remember you when elections come round. But genuine and sincere thanks to our MP Nadine Dorries for her advice, unwavering support, often at very short notice, and listening to her constituents. From Covanta’s track record in the USA stand by for a load of broken promises on safety, emissions, and disruption to our rural community. RIP Marston Vale.
Mike Green Hillson Close, Marston Moreteyne
Thanks for the support
Sir - I have recently had a pretty rough time with health problems.
First of all, I suffered a broken bone in my spine while on holiday in late August. I offer my sincere thanks to Mr Handley and all his staff in the Orthopedic Clinic for the wonderful care and attention that has undoubtedly made a difference to my prospects for a full recovery.
Then in late September/early October, I suffered from several allergic reactions which led to stays in Bedford, South Wing Hospital totalling nine days. I wish to record my appreciation to Dr Burova, and to the A&E, Whitbread and Elizabeth Wards’ doctors and nurses for their superb care and attention which was of such a high standard that, apart from the first ten hours in Elizabeth Ward, I was able to receive the rest and recuperation I so desperately needed to ensure a full recovery.
I also wish to publicly record my thanks to my constituents, my two Parish Councils and my Borough Council Liberal Democrat friends for their patience and understanding during this very difficult time for me. Last but absolutely by no means least, this difficult time has been made considerably easier for me by the love and support of my partner, my family and my friends.
It could cause embarrassment to name names but to all of them, especially those who have looked after my two kids and our dog whilst I have been in hospital, you know who you are and I thank you from the very bottom of my heart.
Cllr Tim Hill Liberal Democrat Focus Team Bedford Borough Councillor for Elstow, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick
My parking frustration
Sir - On Saturday I was enjoying a refreshing pint at The Embankment Hotel, Bedford I was watching a young traffic warden patrolling the stretch of embankment. After watching him ticket three cars I was amazed to watch as a grey van pulled up and parked in the middle of the road.
Out gets a council worker to collect the money from the ticket machines. This frustrates me in two ways, one as there was a perfectly decent space yards away and the other, where was the mobile CCTV patrol vehicle to issue the inconsiderate council worker with an enforcement notice? It is a shame that Charles Royden hasn’t given his inconsiderate parking speech to the workers at the Borough Council.
Chris Payne Mowbray Close, Bromham
