Leighton Buzzard Lib Dems

13/08/2026

📣 SUPPORT DURING THE HEATWAVE THIS WEEK

Central Beds Council has an online information hub where you can find sources of support during the continued hot weather.

🟠 An AMBER heat warning has been issued for our area, lasting until Friday. The highest temperatures are expected today (Thursday).

The Met Office warning highlights likely health impacts, as well as potential water safety incidents and travel disruption. Some heat sensitive systems and equipment may also be disrupted, with the potential for power cuts in places.

The Council’s website page includes:

⚪️ Links to health advice for the hot weather

⚪️ Information about cool spaces - the Leighton Leisure Centre is available.

⚪️ Support for rough sleepers

⚪️ Links to water advice

⚪️ Links to fire safety advice, as well as much more information that may be helpful

Please do check on friends, family and neighbours who may be vulnerable in the hot weather.

Please do also share the below information with those who may not be able to access it online ⬇️

https://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/environmental-issues/severe-weather

12/08/2026

📣 HAVE YOUR SAY TO HELP PROTECT ROMAN GATE PARK & GREEN SPACE ON DUNNOCK DRIVE

Local Lib Dem councillors are supporting residents of the Roman Gate and Sandhills estates after valuable green spaces have been proposed for development.

There are two key sites at risk in this area:

📍The Roman Gate Park - a precious area of green space that has faced threats of development in the past (site 136589)

📍Green space under the pylons either side of Dunnock Drive on Sandhills (site 136585)

These spaces are vital places for residents to get out in the fresh air, for children to play and to support wildlife. They must be protected.

It’s really important that residents have their say by taking part in the Local Plan submitted sites consultation. The consultation closes on 17 August 2026.

https://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/news/politics/council/campaign-to-protect-precious-park-in-leighton-buzzard-threatened-with-development-8847966

11/08/2026

📣 MAKE SURE YOU SHARE YOUR VIEWS TO HELP PROTECT THE SOUTHCOTT COUNTRYSIDE

There are just days to go before the consultation on sites submitted for the next Local Plan closes.

We are supporting residents working to protect the beautiful countryside around the Stud Farm in Southcott.

There is lots of information on how to respond on the resident led https://futureoflinslade.org website.

https://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/news/people/campaign-calls-for-support-to-protect-linslade-greenbelt-from-development-8843652?fbclid=IwZnRzaATiWFZwZG9mAWZkaWQWUMDCZkHLyXUv1ocxMzLuDCZUqXx16WV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR65ZvbG9ZIC9bNgEv4rruUohEtJ9d3Rgn8yej3CZAQmge7P9Ou8n7bMEYpweA_aem_bNMQCTU__P1sw6xBsoWS8Q

Councillors and residents are urging people to have their say as greenbelt land west of Linslade has been suggested for potential development.

04/08/2026

🚧ROAD CLOSURE 🚧

We want to make people aware of a road closure on Heath Road, by The Star pub. The road is closed to allow Anglian Water to carry out 'remedial work'. We have asked the Central Bedfordshire Council for more details about the closure.

Updates about the closure can be found here https://one.network/?GB151354293

28/07/2026

📣 ROMAN GATE PARK UNDER THREAT AGAIN

We are encouraging residents of Roman Gate to have their say on proposals that could see Roman Gate Park under threat of future development.

The park has been put forward for potential development as part of the next Central Bedfordshire Local Plan.

Roman Gate Park is a vital green space for local residents with a playground as well as mature hedgerow supporting wildlife.

This has come as worrying news to the local community as the park has faced planning applications for commercial use in the past. The Roman Gate Action group of residents has spearheaded the campaign to protect it.

As your local councillors we have been working to try and get the park protected so that it is safeguarded for the future. We have been dropping letters to local residents in the area to make them aware of this latest threat.

It’s vital that residents respond to the consultation and make their voices heard.

The consultation closes on 17th August so please take a few minutes to submit your comments before then.

You can respond at the link below by commenting on site 136589.

https://centralbedfordshire.oc2.uk/document/99/9183

28/07/2026

27/07/2026

📣 HOW YOU CAN HELP PROTECT SOUTHCOTT VILLAGE COUNTRYSIDE 🌳

Linslade Liberal Democrats are encouraging residents to have their say on proposals that could see the beautiful countryside around Southcott Village built on in future.

A large area of land on both sides of Wing Road, including the fields above the old Stud Farm and land stretching towards Soulbury Road has been put forward as a potential development site in Central Bedfordshire’s Local Plan process.

We know how important this area of countryside is to our community who rely on it to get out in the fresh air. It also supports local wildlife and helps preserve the unique character of Southcott Village and Linslade.

Residents are also concerned about the traffic impacts of any development as well as the lack of infrastructure in the town.

While not all sites submitted will go forward into the final local plan, it is really important that residents make their voices heard in the consultation.

✍️ Please respond to the council’s consultation and comment on Site 136785

🗓️ The consultation closes on 17th August so make sure you respond by then.

We are also supporting the Future of Linslade group of residents who have developed a really detailed website setting out how to respond - visit https://futureoflinslade.org/

➡️ Respond to the consultation here:

https://centralbedfordshire.oc2.uk/document/99

10/07/2026

📣 LIB DEMS DEFEAT REFORM IN LOCAL BY-ELECTION

The Liberal Democrats gained a seat on Houghton Regis Town Council last night, defeating Reform UK in Parkside, Houghton Regis.

After successive defeats to Reform UK for the Conservatives and Labour in Dunstable, the Liberal Democrats have shown that only they can defeat Nigel Farage’s Reform UK across our local area.

Parkside forms part of the Houghton Regis East ward on Central Bedfordshire Council, which is represented by Reform UK’s Council Group Leader.

This defeat is another blow for the party following the news that their scandal ridden Party Leader Nigel Farage faces a strong challenge from a man dressed as a bin in the upcoming Clacton by-election.

It also shows that residents want local councillors who will fight positively for our local community, not sow seeds of division.

We would like to thank the Labour and Green supporters who we met on the campaign who decided rightly that voting Lib Dem was the only way to stop Reform UK.

With local elections coming next year, this result shows clearly that it is the Liberal Democrats who can beat Reform UK in our area.

If you would like to support our campaign by volunteering, please get in touch:

https://www.centralbedslibdems.org.uk/contact-us

06/07/2026

📣 BANKING HUB PLANS - FIND OUT MORE

A drop-in session is being held tomorrow (Tuesday 7th July) for residents to find out more about the plans for a banking hub in the town.

The details are:

🗓️ Tuesday 7th July

⏰ 10am to 2.30pm

📍Santander, 1 Hockliffe Street, LU7 1HG

This is a chance to find out more about how banking hubs work, the services available and how they can support individuals and businesses.

The plans for the banking hub were announced earlier this year when Santander announced its intention to close its branch in the town. This branch will not close until the banking hub is up and running.

02/07/2026

🚧STANBRIDGE ROAD CLOSURE 6th JULY to 4TH SEPT 🚧

There is a road closure taking place on Stanbridge Road to allow a much needed new footpath to be constructed.

At present residents are having to walk along the verge on this busy road to access the bus stop at the top of Fraserfields Way. This work will install a footpath to improve safety for residents.

📍 The closure will be from the roundabout at Roundel Drive to the Fraserfields roundabout.

🏡 Access for residents - during the works every effort will be made to maintain access for residents and residents will still be able to access their properties by vehicle where it is safe and practical to do so. The team on-site will work directly with residents to assist with this and provide advance notice of any occasions where access is temporarily restricted.

♻️ Waste and recycling collections are notified of the closure in advance and if alternative arrangements are required residents will be notified.

🚌 Bus service changes: during the closure some bus services will change their routes:

* Centrebus route L4 will not serve stops on Fraserfield Way or Leighton Road, but will continue to run along Briggington Way and around Astral Park / Roundel Drive.

* Arriva route X3 will not serve stops from Stanbridge, Deans Farm to Stanbridge Road / Linwood Drive inclusive, and will run non stop between Lake Street / Morrisons and Chalk Hill / ‘White Lion’.

* Arriva routes X4 and CS1 will not serve stops on Leighton Road, Stanbridge Road, or at Lake Street / Morrisons, and will divert via Fraserfields Way and Hockliffe Road.

* Arriva route X2 and other Centrebus routes will run as normal.

🚧 Please note that the coming weekend Saturday 3rd July - Sunday 5th July there is also a second closure on the Leighton Buzzard bypass.

The closure will run from the Billington road roundabout to the Watling Street roundabout.

This is to finish surface dressing works to improve the road surface and to reinstate the road markings.

Further details can be found on the One Network website and in the attached images.

https://one.network/