Eagle Farm Road Biggleswade - School Burglary

Local Crime Message

Incident Type:	School Burglary.
Location:	Stratton Upper School, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade.
Date and Time:	Wednesday 12th March, between 0:45 and 1:45 a.m.
Incident Details:	Two male offenders have gained access to the school grounds. A window, next to a fire door has been forced, reaching through to release the door. The alarm system has activated, causing the offenders to leave the location. It appears that no property has been taken. Both offenders were white males, 20 years old, 5 foot 10, with a medium build.
Crime Reference:	J D / 9 6 2 5 / 2014.
Crime Reduction Advice:	Bedfordshire Police ask residents that live near to schools to be extra vigilant, especially at the weekends and in the holidays. Please report suspicious vehicles or any activity on the roofs of school buildings.

Potton Rd, Biggleswade Development Plan Consultation 13 March - 9 April 2014

The draft Development Brief (PDF 5.7MB) is being published for comment starting on Thursday 13th March 2014 for four weeks until Wednesday 9th April 2014.

This site has been allocated for residential development under policy HA1 of the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (North) which was adopted by the Council in 2011.  The development site is located on the north-western site of Potton Road (B1040), immediately to the north-east of Biggleswade.

Policy HA1 requires a minimum of 330 dwellings to be provided on the site and there is also a need to produce a development brief. A development brief is a document which is produced for a site with the intention of being adopted as technical guidance for any future development of that site. Once finalised, the development brief will guide and inform management decisions in respect of any future planning applications for the site.

The development brief is to provide design guidance on the aims for the development and indicate likely planning obligations required.  It also identifies the particular constraints and opportunities of the site, and confirms the range of technical work which any subsequent planning application must address to support any planning application for the development site.

The production of the brief provides an opportunity for members of the public to have greater involvement in the development of the site, and provides certainty for both members of the public and prospective developers as to the future development of the site.

This development brief is being produced by developers Bellway Homes and Bloor Homes working alongside the Council.

How to have your say

You are invited to view plans and have your say on the emerging development proposals for the land off Potton Road in Biggleswade. The easiest way to have your say is to complete the online questionnaire. If you would rather complete a paper copy of the questionnaire they will be available, along with copies of the draft document, by: 

1) Visiting the Public Exhibition:

• A public exhibition is taking place on Thursday 13th March 2014 (between 2pm-8pm) at Biggleswade Town Hall, The Old Court House, 4 Saffron Road, Biggleswade. 

2) Viewing the document and picking up a paper questionnaire at the following locations:

• Biggleswade Library, Chestnut Avenue, Biggleswade
• Biggleswade Town Council Offices, The Old Court House, 4 Saffron Road, Biggleswade
• Central Bedfordshire Council Offices, Priory House, Chicksands

3) Requesting paper copies of the document and questionnaire by contacting the Local Planning and Housing Team on Tel. 0300 300 4353.

All comments and completed questionnaires should be received by Wednesday 9th April 2014, please post to the following freepost address or email to ldf@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

FREEPOST RSJS GBB2 SRZT (you do not need a stamp), Potton Rd Biggleswade Consultation, Central Bedfordshire Council, Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, SG17 5TQ

What happens next.

Following this consultation period, the draft Development Brief will be updated, taking account of any relevant suggestions or comments received. The revised Development Brief will then be considered by the Executive Committee of Central Bedfordshire Council for endorsement as technical guidance.

Have your say on plans for the land off Potton Road, Biggleswade

A public exhibition will kick off a consultation on development plans for the land off Potton Road in Biggleswade.

  

The land, which has be allocated for housing under policy HA1 of Central Bedfordshire Council’s Site Allocations Development Plan Document (North), is on the north-west of Potton Road (B1040), to the north-east of Biggleswade.

  

 There will be an exhibition on Thursday, 13 March at Biggleswade Town Council Offices, The Old Court House, 4 Saffron Road, Biggleswade between 2-8pm where residents can view the plans and have their say on the emerging development proposals. The public consultation also kicks off on 13 March and will run until Wednesday 9 April.

The plans and consultation questionnaire will be available from 13 March online at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations, or paper copies can be viewed at:

• Biggleswade Library, Chestnut Avenue, Biggleswade
• Biggleswade Town Council Offices, The Old Court House, 4 Saffron Road,Biggleswade
• Central Bedfordshire Council Offices, Priory House, Chicksands

Residents can also request a paper copy by contacting the Local Planning and Housing Team on LDF@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or calling 0300 300 4353.

Cllr Nigel Young, Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Economic Development, said: “The site has been allocated a minimum of 330 dwellings and we want to make sure there is a solid development brief in place. This brief can then be adopted by the council as technical guidance for that site and so we want to make sure that local residents can have their say on the initial proposals.

“We would encourage people to go along to the exhibition and have their say during the consultation. It is important that we have a good Development Brief in place for when planning applications come in to ensure any applications follow a quality design that builds on the existing character of Biggleswade.

Cllr Young added: “The consultation means that the local community can comment on the broad view of the development now in order to have more control over the plans in the future.”

The development brief is being produced by developers Bellway Homes and Bloor Homes working alongside the council.

Biggleswade - all recorded crime between 20th January & 16th February 2014 (compared to previous year)

CRIME TYPE
		20/01/2013		20/01/2014
		to		to
		16/02/2013		16/02/2014
Violence against the Person		9		14
Sexual Offences		2		0
Robbery		1		0
Domestic Burglary		3		1
Burglary Other		6		4
Vehicle Crime		7		3
Other Theft		23		14
Fraud & Forgery		0		0
Criminal Damage		9		11
Drugs		0		2
Other Notifiable Offences		0		0
TOTAL		60		49

Dwelling Burglaries

There is 1 reported instance of Dwelling Burglary which took place between 06/02/14 (2230 hrs) – 07/02/14 (0630 hrs) at an address in Lincoln Crescent. It is thought access to the property was gained whilst the occupiers were present with the offender(s) gaining entry via the cat flap at the rear of the house. This same method was used towards the end of 2013 at 2 separate addresses in the town and we would urge all home owners who have cat flaps to ensure they are appropriate for use and that house keys are NOT left on show close to the rear door where they could be hooked by offenders.

Vehicle Crime

There have been 3 vehicle crimes during this period;

01/02 (1800 hrs) – 02/02/14 (0730 hrs) Mercedes Smart car stolen from Reynolds Close, Biggleswade after visitor in town claims car keys were stolen from his pockets at some stage throughout the night. Vehicle later found after being involved in RTC.

05/02/14 (1415 – 1445) Station Road, Biggleswade. Handbag left partially covered behind driver’s seat. Window smashed and bag stolen.

08/02/14 (2000 hrs) – 09/02/14 (2235 hrs) Red Lion Pub Car Park, Lexus Motor vehicle left in car park overnight, victim contacted by police on 09/02/14 at 2235 hrs to inform him that it had been found burnt out in field close to Stratton Way, Biggleswade.

Arson

There are 3 reports of Arson (Not Endangering Life) in Mill Lane (Play Park). These offences were committed on 27/01/14, 31/01/14 and 04/02/14 with items of play equipment being damaged.

Violence Against The Person

Bearing in mind that this encompasses all Assaults and Public Order Offences:

Offences linked to the Night Time Economy in Biggleswade

18/01/14 (not recorded as a crime until after 20/01/14) White Hart Pub, Market Square. Male punched in an unprovoked assault

01/02/14 White Hart Pub, Market Square. Male punched again in an unprovoked attack.

24/01/14 Asda, Church Street, Biggleswade. Male threw shopping basket at staff when informed he was banned from store, this accounted for 2 x instances of Common Assault. This mas was dealt with by way of Restorative Justice Disposal.

Racially Aggravated Assault

10/02/14 Between workmen on a building development in Saxon Drive area, 4 x males arrested.

Assault on Police

10/12/13 (not recorded as a crime until after 20/01/14) Laburnham Road, Biggleswade. 2 x Police officers assaulted whilst detaining a male who had made off from them at the location, 1 x male charged with Assault on Police.

There are a number of Domestic Related assaults within the 14 recorded offences (details not included)

Police Report

There have been 3 offences in the town centre area in early February which are causing some concern.

JD/4612/2014 – Theft Person. Elderly male (84 years) approached by male/female offenders speaking non English engaged in conversation during which time they removed his wallet from coat pocket and removed bank card. £250 removed from ATM nearby. Victim previously in ASDA where card was used.

JD/5108/2014 – Theft of a handbag from an elderly female shopper (Spar). Unaware it was missing until she returned home.

JD/5037/2014 – Theft of a purse from an elderly female shopper (Age UK). Again unaware until later.