Cllr. Marc Frost

02/06/2026

Cadent - The Sequel (Cotton End Road)

Yesterday the Parish Council met with Cadent and Costain reps to listen to the scheme for the remaining gas main replacement works.

They are going to start approximately one week before the school summer holiday commences on a section of pipe on Cotton End Road.

This is the length that runs past the Carriage drive and is the section deemed to be in the worst condition. During this time the road will be permanently closed to through traffic. The usual diversion route will be put in place.

Once completed they are then going to start where they left off on Bedford Road. They will then do the Luton Road section before moving down Cotton End Road and passing by the school whilst it is still shut over the summer holiday.

They did not indicate full closure for this work so not entirely sure on the plan here, there is a different (or additional) main in the ground and they plan to bypass some of the old pipe I believe, but that may yet change*.

They admit the schedule is tight to be completed before school is back but feel they are better prepared this time.

There was some discussion on pipe capacity etc. It was pointed out about the new housing development at Village Farm and asked if the pipe had capacity for those additional 95 new dwellings? They seemed unaware of this development abnd are now going to look into this.

There is a promise of lots of engagement prior and during the works with pop up tents on some of the adjacent grass areas, leaflets, notification through the Homewatch, social media etc.

Mark Brooks has a large scale map showing the sections to be done and will bring to the next PC meeting on the 15th June.

01/06/2026

Another issue raised by residents, another issue being dealt with.

Following reports of damaged fencing near Romsey Way in Elstow, I contacted Bedford Borough Council's Environment team over the weekend.

I'm pleased to say officers will inspect the site this week. If repairs are required they will be carried out, if not, any debris will be removed and the area made good.

Thank you to everyone who continues to report issues. Whether it's damaged street furniture, fly tipping, potholes, overgrown vegetation or other local concerns, please keep letting me know.

The more eyes and ears we have across our communities, the quicker problems get identified and resolved.

If you've spotted something that needs attention, drop me a message.

01/06/2026

A positive update on Moot Hall.

Following a lot of pressure and chasing for progress, I have now been advised that the works requested by Historic England, together with the necessary roof repairs, are scheduled to begin during the week commencing 8 June.

The works are expected to be completed by 19 June.

Assuming everything proceeds as planned, the temporary fencing around the building will then be removed.

This is an important step forward. Residents have been frustrated by the lack of visible progress and the continued presence of fencing around one of Bedford's most historic buildings. I share that frustration.

Moot Hall is a Scheduled Monument, which means works require specialist surveys, specialist contractors and approval from Historic England. That has contributed to the delays, but residents rightly expect to see progress on the ground.

The key thing now is delivery.

I will continue to monitor progress closely and push for the works to be completed on schedule so that the fencing can finally come down and we can move on to the next phase of repairs.

31/05/2026

Plenty of evidence now.

Dozens of people attended the Wilstead Parish Council meeting on Monday...

30/05/2026

I spent time around the site again today following further reports from residents.

Last night Bedford Borough Council enforcement officers attended but no notices were served. Residents were then woken at sunrise by activity on the land and work has continued throughout the day.

This morning officers returned and served a Stop Notice. Despite that, activity has continued.

Residents are rightly asking how a situation was allowed to reach this point.

Many will remember that planning permission for stables on adjoining land was previously refused.

One of the reasons was the need to protect the strategic gap and prevent inappropriate development in the countryside. Other concerns included environmental impacts, protected species, highways safety and the suitability of the location.

Those same questions remain.

Where is the water supply?

Where is the electricity supply?

How will rubbish be stored and removed?

How will sewage be dealt with?

How will animal waste be managed if animals are brought onto the site?

What environmental protections are in place given the sensitivity of this area?

The access onto the A6 is another serious concern. I witnessed a near miss myself yesterday. Anyone who uses this stretch of road knows how dangerous it can be. Increased vehicle movements onto a fast road with limited visibility should concern all of us.

I have been in contact with council officers and will continue pressing for action. Residents expect planning rules to be applied fairly and consistently.

If local people are refused permission for developments because of planning policy, environmental constraints and highway safety concerns, they are entitled to expect the same standards to apply to everyone.

I will continue keeping residents updated. If you have photos, videos or information that helps build an accurate picture of what is happening on the site, please post below or send it to me privately.

This is not about stopping legitimate activity. It is about ensuring the rules that apply to everyone else are applied here too.

29/05/2026

EDITED BELOW

I've received a number of messages, photos and calls this evening regarding activity on the land off the A6 that was recently sold.

I'm aware of the situation and have let the relevant authorities know.

If there is any information that can be shared publicly, I'll provide an update as soon as I'm able.

If you have any information, photos or concerns that you would like to share, please post them below or send them to me privately.

I'd like to thank Planning Enforcement officers for attending the location tonight, out of hours, and speaking to the individuals working on the site. I'm not going to post next steps publically, however i encourage residents to report any vehicles or activity to:

[email protected]

and please copy me

[email protected]

29/05/2026

This morning I was delighted to join the Save Wixams Masterplan Group for a meeting at Wixams Retirement Village.

A big thank you to Tony M for organising the venue and coffee, and to Blake Stephenson MP and Cllr Graeme Coombes for coming along and contributing to the discussion.

There was a positive and constructive conversation about the future of Wixams and the importance of making sure the town develops in line with what residents want and expect.

We now await the results of the community survey with great interest.

What do you think will come out as the number one priority for residents?

A pub?
A leisure venue?
Something else entirely?

I'll continue to follow developments closely and get involved where I can.

Wixams deserves facilities and services that match the size and ambition of our growing town.

29/05/2026

A quick update following the recent antisocial behaviour in the Wilstead to Wixams underpass.

Today, CCTV has been installed.

Residents were rightly concerned about what has happened there recently and many of you got in touch.

The cameras are funded by Wilstead Parish Council and Wixams Town Council.

The vast majority of people use the underpass responsibly. A small minority should not be allowed to make others feel unsafe.

Thank you to everyone who reported concerns, community feedback matters and it helps get things done.

28/05/2026

If you're looking for some entertainment on Saturday, pop along. Sat 30th May - discounted tickets available until Friday night.

https://bucksyfcshow.co.uk/tickets/

26/05/2026

Nearly HALF of all crime in Bedford is now concentrated in the town centre.

Over a 12 month period, the area around High Street, Silver Street, Harpur Street and Midland Road accounted for 1,855 offences, representing 46.4% of all crime in Bedford Borough.

Violence alone accounted for more than 700 offences in that area.

And this is not just happening late at night.

More than 40% of offences took place between midday and 7pm, during normal daytime hours when residents, families, shoppers and visitors are actually trying to use the town centre.

Nearly 700 offences happened directly on streets and roads.

Antisocial behaviour hotspots mirror the crime hotspots almost exactly, with nuisance behaviour identified as the dominant issue.

And the latest crime figures suggest things are not improving quickly enough.

In just the first half of May there were:
• 275 violent offences
• 172 theft offences
• 70 criminal damage offences
• 50 vehicle offences
• 37 drug offences
• 36 sexual offences
• 28 burglaries
• 12 weapons offences

These are not isolated incidents. This is sustained, high volume offending across Bedford.

At the same time, I continue to receive complaints from residents in Wilstead, Wixams, Elstow and Shortstown about nuisance bikes, intimidation, graffiti, and antisocial behaviour that residents say is being reported but is often not properly reflected in the headline figures.

This is why so many people feel there is now a disconnect between the statistics and the reality on the ground.

If Bedford is serious about rebuilding the town centre, attracting visitors back, increasing footfall and encouraging businesses to invest, then safety has to come first.

People will not spend time or money somewhere they do not feel comfortable.

The police have shown previously that visible enforcement and targeted action can reduce crime. But the scale of the problem makes it clear that far more needs to be done. The Police and Borough Council need to work even more closely together to halt this.

This is not about talking Bedford down, it's a lovely market town, blighted by crime. But we must recognise the scale of the challenge honestly and deal with it properly.

Do you think crime and antisocial behaviour in Bedford is improving, getting worse, or simply not being dealt with properly?