Cllr. Marc Frost

26/06/2026

Missed Food Bins in Abbeyfields

Please be aware that while the vast majority of bin collections were completed today, unfortunately, the crews (and some vehicles) were beaten by the heat. We have been unable to collect some food waste bins in Abbey Fields, and also in Kempston, which will now be collected tomorrow.
These collections will still show as ‘scheduled’ on your online calendar at www.bedford.gov.uk/Bins, so there is no need to report them as missed.

We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience, if you are affected, please leave your bin out for collection tomorrow, Saturday, 27 June.
We thank our crews who have been working hard through the extremely hot temperatures today, they will be back out tomorrow.
If you do ever need to report a missed collection, you can do so on your online bin collection calendar at www.bedford.gov.uk/MissedBin

Food waste collection timings Weekly food waste collections started on Monday 30 March. Outdoor food waste bins are collected by different crews than the rest of your wheeled bins, so collections may not all happen at the same time of day. Check if our crews have visited your road on our ‘Check yo...

26/06/2026

Should Have Gone to Specsavers 👀

Over the last couple of weeks we've had a few incidents locally.

The underpass was vandalised with graffiti, cleaned up on the 19th, then targeted again shortly afterwards.

We've also had two vehicles pull up at the bottle bank in Wilstead, unload rubbish and drive off.

No, we don't like it. No, it shouldn't be happening.

What makes it even more baffling is that all of this happened right under the nose of CCTV cameras.

People often assume they won't get caught, but doing it in full view of cameras takes a certain level of confidence, or a serious need for an eye test.

The evidence is being reviewed and, where appropriate, the council will pursue enforcement action and prosecutions. If you were involved, don't assume nobody noticed. CCTV exists for a reason.

25/06/2026

WILSTEAD GAS WORKS - PUBLIC EVENT

Public event taking place on Wednesday 8 July between 12pm and 2pm.

Opportunity for residents in the Cotton End Road area to learn more about essential gas work taking place in the village.
Work scheduled from Monday 20 July and will last eight weeks.

Residents and business owners in Wilstead are invited to attend a public event organised by Cadent, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, to learn more about essential gas works taking place in the village this summer.

The event will give everyone the opportunity to learn more about the necessity for the project and the traffic management in effect to deliver these vital upgrades.

Between 12pm and 2pm on Wednesday 8 July, customer teams from Cadent will have a gazebo set up on the grass verge at the junction of Cotton End Road and Whitworth Way – close to Wilstead Village Hall (What3Words ///mega.texts.owned) - for people to call at and learn more about the project which gets underway on Monday 20 July.

There is no need to book an appointment, just turn up and speak to the team.

Cadent are returning to Wilstead following mains replacement work that took place in February this year. During that time, it was discovered that the gas pipes were in particularly poor condition which led to emergency replacement work being carried out.

The scheme starting on Monday 20 July will see old gas pipes being decommissioned and supply running through the brand-new plastic pipes which will last for decades, future proofing the local network.

The project is part of a £123million investment this year, which will see more than 395km of gas pipes upgraded across the East of England.

Due to the location of the gas pipe, it will be necessary for rolling road closures to be in operation along Cotton End Road as work is carried out in phases. There will also need to be temporary traffic lights in operation at the junction of Cotton End Road and Bedford Road to assist traffic flow in the area.

Following consultation with Bedford Borough Council, it was agreed that most of the work would take place during the school summer holidays with completion expected by mid-September.

Gas stays ON for the duration of work. The only interruption to supply will be to properties that take a direct feed from the pipes being replaced. Supply to these properties will be disconnected for a short while, as the property gets connected onto the new pipe. Advance notice will be given, and more information will be provided to these properties.

If you smell gas, always ring the National Gas Emergency Service immediately on 0800 111 999**, day or night. Do not assume it is related to this work; it may not be and needs to be checked.

24/06/2026

Brooklands Avenue

Residents will recall that some time ago Cllr Graeme Coombes and myself met with the Borough to discuss resurfacing parts of this road and the juncion with Southern Cross.

The emergency patches were done and i've chased up dates for the more permanent repair.

I have today been told that due to the requirement for a road closure, it's scheduled for the 21st September, for 3 days.

I'm pleased we've now got a date and we'll continue to press for dates for all the other works yet to be scheduled.

24/06/2026

Thanks to the resident who reported this overgrown vegitation in Stewartby Way, it's all now trimmed back.

If you see anything that needs attention, the links to the main reporting areas are pinned on my page.

23/06/2026

Good afternoon,

Following the incident that took place on the railway over the weekend, we have taken the decision to cancel the public event planned for 23 June at 6pm regarding the preliminary works at Wixams station.

We will update our web page when plans for this work are confirmed: www.networkrail.co.uk/wixams

Please could we ask you to share this on your local channels?

We will also be in touch again soon to update you about meetings for future work.

We apologise for the inconvenience and we thank you for your understanding.

Kind regards,
Becky

Becky Robinson
Senior Communications Manager
East Midlands Route
Email: [email protected]

We’re working with the Department for Transport (DfT) on developing plans for a new station at Wixams in Bedfordshire

22/06/2026

I have received a request for a temporary road closure for Cotton End Road Wilstead 26- 094

Length Affected: from the Junction Luton Road to Junction Chapel Lane

Reason: gas mains replacement

Dates: This temporary road closure is anticipated to be in operation 24 hours from 20th July 2026 to 11th September 2026

Contact/Applicant: For further information please contact Core Highways on behalf of Cadent GasTel: 0330 043 3030

Signed Alternative Routes for Vehicles:Cotton End Road, Bedford Road, A6 Wixams Bypass, Elstow Bypass, West End, Progress Way, Mile Road, London Road, Harrowden Road, High Road, Old Harrowden Road, Tinkers Hill, The Highway, Carmichael Drive

The reverse route applies

Note 1: Please also click on the link https://one.network/?tm=GB149926380 showing the closure extent and alternative routes.

Note 2: Access will be maintained for Emergency vehicles

21/06/2026

Useful information for anyone travelling next week.

𝐁𝐞𝐝𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞

I have just been on a call with the Department for Transport, British Transport Police, East Midlands Railways and Govia Thameslink Railways following the horrific incident between Bedford and Luton on Friday.

Over 80 people were treated in hospital, 28 remain in hospital, with 9 of those in a critical condition. My thoughts remain with those injured, their family and friends, and the driver of one of the trains who sadly passed away.

A full investigation will be undertaken into the collision and how it happened.

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

We have been provided with some important travel updates for anybody who usually travels by train during the week. The line between Bedford and Luton is expected to remain closed for the rest of the week.
As a result, there will be no GTR services north of Luton and no EMR services south of Bedford, with a
rail replacement bus service in operation between Luton and Bedford. Passengers are advised to travel only if their journey is essential.

From Monday, north of London St Pancras, Thameslink will run a limited service as far as Luton only. People should travel only if absolutely necessary. There will be no trains between Bedford and Luton, only rail replacement buses.

Elsewhere, north of London St Pancras on Thameslink, there will be:

- Four trains an hour to and from Luton during peak hours
- Two trains an hour to and from Luton outside of peak hours

The following buses will run from Monday:

- Bedford to Luton Airport Parkway and back, calling at Luton only (shuttle every ~15 mins)
- Bedford to Luton and back, calling at Flitwick, Harlington and Leagrave (shuttle every ~30 mins)

For as long as the Midland Mainline is closed at Bedford, train operators are accepting tickets for EMR customers. If passenger journeys are affected, their tickets will be accepted on any alternative route. If passengers decide to travel on EMR once the line is reopened, then their connecting ticket on other
operators will be valid on that other day too.

Passengers are encouraged to check National Rail Enquiries for the latest information.

EMR has established a dedicated call line for those customers and their families who were directly involved in the incident on Friday night. The line is staffed by trained colleagues who will be able to help with queries including the return of personal possessions and from Monday 21 June refer customers and families to the British Red Cross should further support be helpful. The line is open today until 8pm and from 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday. The telephone number is 0333 212 59 34.

Finally, I have seen some amazing stories of our local community coming together to support those affected by Friday's incident. Thank you to everybody who has been involved in supporting those impacted in anyway.

21/06/2026

Mowbray Road / Moore Lane

I’ve been contacted by a group of residents regarding this piece of land earmarked for housing.

Together with Cllr Graeme Coombes I opposed the proposed development at Mowbray Road and Moore Lane and I remain firmly of the view that this land should remain green open space.

Green space should stay green space, once it is built on, it is lost forever.

This site forms part of an important green corridor alongside the John Bunyan Way, enjoyed by walkers, runners, cyclists and families across Bedford. Development here would fundamentally change the character of the area and erode a valuable community asset.

In January, Full Council voted to retain this land as green open space. Residents were given a clear commitment.

I support new housing. People need homes and Bedford must play its part. But development must happen in the right places, with the right infrastructure and at a pace our communities can absorb.

Many thousands of homes have already been approved across Bedford Borough in recent years. Before approving even more, we should see the impact of those developments and ensure the supporting infrastructure is delivered. It’s not currently, so what changes with more approvals?

Residents regularly tell me the same thing. Roads are busier. Traffic is worse. GP appointments are harder to get. School places are under pressure. Infrastructure is struggling to keep up.

Bedford already suffers from incredibly poor traffic flow. More traffic lights, congestion and bottlenecks have turned many routes into daily queues. Adding further development without first addressing these issues is not responsible planning. Traffic flow already needs to be vastly improved before Universal opens it’s doors, more housing without fixing the existing problem is a recipe for gridlock.

Growth must be planned properly. Housing numbers alone should never be the measure of success. It won’t escape anyone that developers can’t sell the new houses they are building.

The test should be simple. Will this make Bedford a better place to live for existing and future residents?

On this proposal, I do not believe the case has been made.

19/06/2026

That Elstow Cycle Path

Work is scheduled for the 16th to 22nd July for this long overdue maintenance.

Thanks to all the residents who kept raising this and to Elstow Parish Council for funding it.

Sharon Crisp