Parish of Biggleswade (Part) Ivel

NOTICE OF VACANCY

IN THE OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR

 

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN

 

That due to the death of Rex Skinner, a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council.

 

If by 10 January 2014 (14 days excluding Dies Non, after the date of this notice) a request for an election to fill said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer at the address below by TEN electors for the said Parish, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy, otherwise a vacancy will be filled by co-option.

 

If an election is called, it will take place not later than 14 March 2014.

 

Dated 17 December 2013

 

Brian Dunleavy

Deputy Returning Officer

Priory House

Monks Walk

Chicksands

Shefford

Bedfordshire

SG17 5TQ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A1 roundabout improvements, Biggleswade

What is happening and why?

Central Bedfordshire Council is working with the Highways Agency (who are responsible for the A1) to replace the existing roundabout to the south of Biggleswade, on the A1 at the junction with A6001 London Road.

 

We will be enlarging and elongating the roundabout into a long-about. The new layout will increase the capacity of the junction to cater for increased traffic.

 

You can see a drawing of the new layout (PDF 1.4MB).

 

This work is an important predecessor to support and encourage jobs and housing growth in Biggleswade. Without this reconfiguration of the roundabout, Stratton Business Park and London Road Retail Park are not as attractive for development. Any development would increase the traffic, HGVs in particular, which would try to go through the town of Biggleswade to get onto the A1 via the northern roundabout if the A1 long-about at the south is not able to cope with the increased traffic.

 

The development of the roundabout is key to unlocking the potential for approx. 2,000 new jobs, 2,100 homes (at the Land East of Biggleswade (LEOB)) and increased shopping choice over the next 5 to 10 years in Biggleswade.

When is it happening?

We plan to start work on 20 January 2014, although this will depend on the weather, and it will last for approximately six months.

 

The works will require several different phases of traffic management during the construction. Please pay attention to the signs and diversion routes as these are likely to change throughout the works.

The initial programme is as follows although this is subject to change:

 

Phase 1: 20 January to mid-February - night-time works in order to work on the central reserves and the southern approach to the roundabout.

 

Phase 2: 20 January to end of March - day-time works in order to work on the other approaches and exists from the roundabout.

 

Phase 3: Mid-late March to mid-April - day-time works in order to work on the exit splitter islands and the roundabout.

 

Phase 4: Last two weeks of May - by this stage we should be starting some of the surfacing work at night-time.

 

Phase 5: End of May to 18 July - we have allowed some time for any issues that may crop up and to remove the traffic management.

 

Keeping you moving – closures and diversions

 

Clearly the A1 is a very busy strategic route and it is essential that we keep the traffic moving. We will need to narrow the lanes on the A1 and occasionally close a lane but the lane closures will be done at night time whenever possible. A temporary 50mph speed limit will be in force on the A1 throughout the construction period.

 

Central Bedfordshire Council has recently installed a new roundabout at the Sun Street/ Shortmead Street junction further north into Biggleswade in order to increase capacity at this junction in order to ease congestion prior to the A1 roundabout works.

 

We know that the A6001 is also a major access route in and out of Biggleswade and in order to keep the traffic moving we will not restrict traffic flow during peak periods (from 7:30am to 9:30am and from 3:30pm to 6:30pm).

 

On A6001 London Road, any restrictions (i.e. from two lanes to one lane) shall be confined to daytime off peak periods, between 9:30am and 3:30pm or overnight between 8pm to 6am on weekdays.

 

Any proposed carriageway closure on A6001 London Road shall be overnight (between 7:30pm and 6am). Road closures at the weekend will be between (6pm and 8am).

 

During night time lane closures when access between the A1 and the A6001 London Road is unavailable, we will divert local traffic via the B659 accessed from Hitchin Street, passing underneath the A1, turning left at Langford and back onto the A1 at Tower Close, south of Bleak Hall Farm (see local traffic diversion route plan (PDF 4.4MB)).

 

When delays occur on the A1 or for heavy goods vehicles and abnormal loads, the standard Strategic Diversion Routes for southbound traffic will apply. The Strategic Diversion Route takes traffic from the A1 at the Black Cat Roundabout onto the A421 (or via the A603 from Sandy), turning left onto the A6 south of Bedford, continuing on to the A507 at Clophill going past Shefford and rejoining the A1 at Junction 10 at Stotfold, south of Biggleswade (see strategic diversion routes plan (PDF 5.4MB)).

 

There will be periods requiring the closure of either the northbound or southbound sections of the A6001 between Pegasus Drive and the A1 south roundabout. Local traffic will be diverted along the A6001 London Road via the High Street and Hitchin Street on the B659 for A1 southbound, while northbound traffic will continue through Biggleswade for access to the A1 north of Biggleswade roundabout.

 

Contact us

 

Contact the Highways Team if you need more information or wish to comment.

Telephone: 0300 300 8049

Email: highways@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Did You See Biggleswade Assault?

Police are looking for information about an assault in which a 42 year old man was left with stitches in his head.

The incident happened in at about 2.50am on Sunday December 15 outside the Pizza Town takeaway in High Street, Biggleswade.

The offender, a white man aged in his mid-thirties standing about 6ft 2ins tall, had struck up a conversation with the 42 year old victim outside the shop but then, in an apparently unprovoked attack, hit him in the face. The victim fell to the floor unconscious, cutting the back of his head and causing a large lump on his face.

Emergency services were called immediately and the man was taken to Lister Hospital for treatment.

Det Con Mike Armstrong now wants to hear from anyone who was around at the time.

“Despite the late hour, there were quite a few people around the Pizza Town shop and elsewhere nearby in the street. We know that several of them saw some or all of what happened but as yet have not come forward to the police.

“Officers called at the time did arrest a man* and perhaps people think that we do not need their information but we are very keen to hear from anyone who was there, so that they can help us put together exactly what happened.

“The injured man was knocked unconscious for some time and is still feeling the effects now, so I’m sure once people realise we need their help to progress the investigation they will make contact.”

Det Con Armstrong can be contacted direct on 01234 275227, or at any time via the 24 hour police non-emergency number 101; or text the force control room at any time on 07786 200011.  

*The arrested man is currently on police bail pending further enquiries.

Two Sentenced for Clifton Robbery

A pair of criminals did not count on the bravery and tenacity of shop staff who fought back in two raids on mid-Beds businesses in May.

One woman working at the One Stop Shop/Post Office in Clifton managed to pull the coat off would-be robber Manny Buckland, while minutes later another shop owner dragged him bodily over her counter in an attempt to thwart a robbery at the Clifton Filling Station.

39 year old Buckland, then living at Station Road, Tempsford, and his friend Stuart Battams, 41, of the same address, got a friend to drive them to their target premises on Bank Holiday Monday, May 27.

Buckland pleaded guilty to robbery and burglary at a hearing earlier this year and today (Friday) was sentenced at Luton Crown Court to three years in prison. Battams had also pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary and was jailed for two years today.

Arriving at about 4.55pm at the One Stop Shop in Shefford Road, the men got out and Battams waited outside while Buckland entered the shop with his face covered and tried to take money from the till.

However, a member of staff grabbed his jacket and as she refused to let him go, Buckland had to wriggle out of the jacket and leave it behind, fleeing empty handed from the shop.

A few minutes later the pair turned up at the nearby Filling Station where the two men came to the cash desk. Buckland leaned over the counter and made a grab for the till while Battams went behind the desk to steal some bottles of spirits.

The lone female staff member put up a tremendous struggle in an attempt to stop the robbery and pulled Buckland’s hair, ending up by heaving him bodily over the counter and on to the floor. Rasika Yakanwala was given an award by the Gulf petrol company for her bravery, captured on the shop CCTV. She sustained bruises on her back, legs and hands as she grappled with Buckland over the counter. Buckland gathered up some cash from the floor behind the desk while Battams meanwhile had snatched three bottles of brandy, one of vodka and two of whiskey.

Det Con Surinder Ram, of Greyfriars CID, said: “The staff in these incidents were really brave and tried their hardest to prevent money being stolen. They deserve the greatest of credit for their actions.

“At the filling station, Mrs Yakanwala was temporarily on her own while her husband had gone next door and was absolutely terrified when these two men, both much larger than her, invaded the staff area by the cash desk. She fully believed they were going to hurt her in order to get what they wanted but instinctively fought back to protect herself and her property. Both fully deserve a substantial punishment for their involvement in these frightening offences.”

Local Crime Message

 

Incident Type:	Garage Burglary.
Location:	London Road, Biggleswade.
Date and Time:	Monday 16th December, between 6:30 and 8:00 a.m.
Incident Details:	The offender has forced the padlock from the door to the garage. Hedge trimmers have been taken. A witness saw a male in the area at the time. He wore a Yellow High Vis jacket, and grey hooded top.
Crime Reference:	J D / 4 4 6 6 7 / 2013.
Crime Reduction Advice:	Check that all doors and windows are locked at all times. Ensure that Security lighting covers the building. Make sure that any connecting doors in the house are secure at all times. Consider fitting a Garage Alarm. Valuable property can be secured in a cage or bolted to the ground. Report suspicious activity in neighbours gardens.

Kitelands Recreation Ground Lights - breach of planning conditions again!!

On Monday 2nd December 2013 at dusk the lights came on over Kitelands. They were switched off on 22nd May 2013 as Biggleswade Town Council had failed to comply with the terms of the Planning Consent since early October 2012.

On Monday the lights remained on until 10.45 pm and were on at 6.00am in the morning.

The terms of the planning consent are:

“The lighting hereby permitted shall at no time be switched on between the hours of 8.00 pm to 7.00 am”

The lights being on at 6.00 am and going off at 10.45 continued that week.

On Thursday 5th December 2013 I emailed the Town Clerk, Biggleswade Town Council & copied it to Councillor Hazel Ramsay, Mayor and Steven Watkins who had tried in previous years to address this issue.

Having been switched off again for the Summer, on Monday afternoon 2nd December 2013 the lights came on over Kitelands Recreation Ground. They remained on until well after 10.00pm and came on again well before 7.00am on the Tuesday 3rd December 2013.

As you know The Town Council has been in breach of the Planning Conditions, regarding the times for at least the last three years. Every year the remedy has been to switch them off.

In view of this, I do not intend to enter into another drawn out exchange of correspondence but will register a complaint with Central Bedfordshire Planning Enforcement.

email to Central Bedfordshire Planning Enforcement:

I am writing to you as you have been involved in this in the past.

As part of the planning application (MB/01/00869)  approved in December 2001, one of the conditions applied was that :

The lighting hereby permitted shall at no time be switched on between the hours of 8.00 pm to 7.00 am

June 2010 was the first time I brought a breach of those conditions to the attention of Planning Enforcement. Since then Biggleswade Town Council  have been in breach of the conditions every year, but never resolve the problem, they just turn the lights off. Well they have turned them on again and are  in breach of the conditions again as the lights are currently on in the evening until well after 10.00pm and they come on well before 7.00am.

I have advised Biggleswade Town Council that I am registering a complaint with yourselves.

I attach a summary of the history of this complaint and trust you will pursue this with the Council.

This was the response from the Biggleswade Town Clerk on Friday 6th December 2013:

For your information the lights at kitelands have been tampered with and the fact that they came on Monday was not down to Town Council.

We now have our electrician looking at the lights.

I have no comment to make on the remainder of your e mail.

After the Town Council Electrician “looked” at the lights on the Friday, they were on from dusk to dawn from Friday night (6th December 2013) and during the hours of darkness over the weekend. It appears that the time switch had been disabled but no account had been taken of the light & dark sensors.

I understand that someone was looking at them again on Monday 9th December 2013 and they went off at 8.00 pm that night, but on Tuesday morning, 10th December the lights were on before 6.00 am.

Also on the 10th December 2013, I had two emails from CBC Planning Enforcement:

Thank you for bringing this to my attention again and I am sorry that you have had the need too.

I am already on the case as the matter was raised last week by another member of the public.

I can confirm that I spoke with BTC last Wednesday and told them to sort this out.

I have not been advised that this is still happening and so I believe this has once again been resolved.  Please do let me know if the lighting is still coming on outside of the approved hours and I will take it up with them this time by way of a formal letter.

AND later that day:

I received a further email from a resident yesterday to say that the lighting still remains an issue.

Just to let you know that I have sent a strongly worded letter to the Town Council for them to address this matter.  I have asked that they do this as soon as possible and no later than the 15th of December 2013.

I am hoping that they will re-set any timer used and that the matter will be resolved once again.

All during the week the lights were on at 6.00am (in breach of the conditions) but were off at 8.00 pm.

On Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights (13th /14th & 15th December 2013), the lights stayed on all night!!!!!!!!!!

PREVIOUS POST ON THIS SUBJECT

http://biggleswadeonline.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/kitelands-recreation-ground-lights.html

Kitelands Recreation Ground - Safety Inspections

18th June 2013 - to Biggleswade Town Council.

The British and European safety standard BS EN1176 and the Health and Safety Executive strongly recommend that all play areas have at least one inspection every year from an independent suitably qualified body.

Can you provide me with a copy of the last independent inspection carried out at Kitelands please?

21st June 2013 - from Biggleswade Town Council

Thank you for your email which will be treated as Freedom of Information request and dealt with accordingly in line with the Town Council’s policy.

14th July 2013 - from Biggleswade Town Council

Further to your email request I can advise that the Town Council operates an inspection regime in line with the recommendations set out in BS EN1176 and BS EN1177.

The Council has competent individuals within it’s workforce that undertake a programme of routine, operational and annual inspections for all Town Council play facilities.

I would not expect to provide copies of actual inspection reports under the Freedom of Information act, but would be happy to answer questions for example on the number of items at a site requiring urgent attention, or numbers of items requiring attention within 6 months etc. 

If there is particular information that you would like to identify regarding Kitelands Recreation Ground I would be more than happy to meet you on site to discuss at your convenience.

27th July 2013 - to Biggleswade Town Council

If you do not have annual independent inspections, then you are not operating in line with the recommendations of BS EN1176 or the Health & Safety Executive.

I would have thought that for the sake of less than £100 per site, the Council would be left exposed in the event of a claim against its insurance. Some Insurance Companies insist on annual independent inspections, does BTC insurers?

You say  "I would not expect to provide copies of actual inspection reports under the Freedom of Information act."

The Freedom of Information Act says:

Part I - General right of access to information held by public authorities.

(1) Any person making a request for information to a public authority is entitled-

(a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds information of the description specified in the request, and

(b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to him.

You have now told me that "The Council has competent individuals within it’s workforce that undertake a programme of routine, operational and annual inspections for all Town Council play facilities."

Firstly can you tell me what makes these individuals competent to carry out these inspections and secondly can you now provide me with copies of these inspections for Kitelands Recreation Ground that were carried out in the last 12 months.

If you consider the information is exempt, please inform me under the Act what exemption you are claiming.

Part II - Exempt information.

1. Information accessible to applicant by other means.

2. Information intended for future publication.

3. Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters.

4. National security

5. Certificates under ss. 23 and 24: supplementary provisions.

6. Defence.

7. International relations.

8. Relations within the United Kingdom.

9. The economy.

10. Investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities.

11. Law enforcement.

12. Court records

13. Audit functions.

14. Parliamentary privilege.

15. Formulation of government policy, etc.

16. Prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs.

17. Communications with Her Majesty, etc. and honours.

18. Health and safety.

19. Environmental information.

20. Personal information.

21. Information provided in confidence.

22. Legal professional privilege.

23. Commercial interests.

24. Prohibitions on disclosure.

By  Friday 23rd August 2013 at the latest please.

16th August 2013 - from Biggleswade Town Council

I am currently considering the appropriateness of disclosing the various information that you have requested in your emails of 18^th June and 27^th July. 

Owing to annual leave commitments I will be unable to issue this response by Friday 23^rd August, however I will ensure that a response to your enquiry will be sent to you by Friday 30^th August at the latest.

16th August 2013 - to Biggleswade Town Council

By not providing the information I requested by the 23rd August 2013 and not claiming an exemption, Biggleswade Town Council is again in breach of the Freedom of Information Act.

Having said that I am prepared to wait until Friday 30th August 2013, but if the information is not forthcoming by that date I will again refer Biggleswade Town Council to the Information Commissioners Office.

29th August 2013 - from Biggleswade Town Council

Further to my email dated 16th August 2013 I have now had the opportunity to consider the matter further and I can advise that I consider the inspection reports that you have requested copies of to be exempt in line with Part ii 19 Environmental Information.

I would reiterate my previous offer to meet you out on site to discuss the play areas at Kitelands Recreation Ground with you. 

29th August 2013 - to Biggleswade Town Council

Firstly I was trying to establish if BTC was having annual independent safety inspections carried out on the play equipment – you have confirmed you are not.

You told me :

“The Council has competent individuals within it’s workforce that undertake a programme of routine, operational and annual inspections for all Town Council play facilities”. I asked “can you tell me what makes these individuals competent to carry out these inspections “. You have chosen not to answer this question.

I also asked you  “can you now provide me with copies of these inspections for Kitelands Recreation Ground that were carried out in the last 12 months by these competent individuals.”

You are now claiming exemption under Environmental Information which is obscure to say the least and I am not even sure what it means:

(1) Information is exempt information if the public authority holding it-

(a) is obliged by regulations under section 74 to make the information available to the public in accordance with the regulations, or

(b) would be so obliged but for any exemption contained in the regulations.

(2) The duty to confirm or deny does not arise in relation to information which is (or if it were held by the public authority would be) exempt information by virtue of subsection (1).

(3) Subsection (1)(a) does not limit the generality of section 21(1).

Can you explain, as you are meant to, how this exemption applies in this case?

To say further delay, in line, with previous advice from the ICO,  I am lodging an appeal against the decision by BTC to release the information and request that an Internal Review is carried out immediately.

12th September 2013 - from Biggleswade Town Council

I am writing to advise you that I will sending a response to your email during the early part of next week.  Unfortunately it has not been possible for me to send a reply sooner due to the Town Clerk being on annual leave last week and again this week. Once I have had the opportunity to discuss the content of your email a response will of course be sent to you.

12th September 2013 - to Biggleswade Town Council

The Information Commissioners Office would expect an Internal Review to be carried out within 20 working days from the date of the request.

The result of this Review should be with me by Thursday 26th September 2013 at the latest.

26th September 2013 - letter from Biggleswade Town Council, Mayor, Councillor H Ramsay.

"I am writing to inform you that myself, Councillor Mrs W Smith (Chair Public Lands & Open Spaces Committee, Councillor G Wilson (Vice Chair Public Lands & Open Spaces Committee) have now conducted an internal review as per your request of 29 August 2013.

I can advise that the Council's insurers do not require annual independent inspection of play equipment items.

The Town Council are satisfied that their staff members are competent to undertake the programme of play equipment inspections and that these are carried out appropriately and in a regular and timely manner.

With regard to the exemption we would refer you the guidance contained with Environmental Impact Regulations Section 39, specifically clauses 2.2, 2.3 and 3.1.

We note that an offer has previously been made by the Deputy Town Clerk to meet you at the Kitelands Recreation Ground to discuss your concerns. However the internal review panel are prepared to meet you at the Town Council offices to clarify the situation with regard to your information request."

26th September 2013 - to Biggleswade Town Council, Mayor, Councillor H Ramsay.

I am sorry but you seem to have missed the point.

This is the short version of  events:

On the 18th June 2013, I asked for a copy of the last Independent Safety Inspection carried at Kitelands Recreation Ground.

On the 14th July 2013 Louise Wilcox told me that competent Council individuals carried out a programme of inspections.

On the 27th July 2013 I asked for a copy of those inspections.

On the 16th August 2013, Louise Wilcox told me she could not comply with the statutory 20 working days, so I agreed to wait until 30th August 2013.

29th August 2013, exemption claimed by Louise Wilcox so I asked on the same day for an Internal Review.

On the 26th September 2013, after your Internal Review you have refused my request.

Since 18th June I have been asking Biggleswade Town Council to demonstrate by providing copies of safety inspections, that the equipment and the area is regularly inspected. I cannot see the point of a meeting with any representatives of the Council unless you are going to provide me with copies of the inspections. You are clearly not going to do that.

I will now refer the case to the ICO.

26th September 2013 Case referred to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO)

9th December 2013 - rang ICO office to check on progress.

Due to volume of work and staff reductions, they are still dealing with early September 2013 cases.

Watch this space!!!!!!!

Windermere Drive, Biggleswade - Burglary

 Local Crime Message

Incident Type:	Burglary.
Location:	Windermere Drive, Biggleswade.
Date and Time:	Wednesday 4th December, between 0:00 and 3:55 a.m.
Incident Details:	The offender has climbed a side gate to access the rear garden. The cat flap has been removed from the back door, allowing the offender to reach through to the keys. The owner has heard noises and has disturbed the offender. The offender was seen jumping over the back fence. It appears that no property has been taken.
Crime Reference:	J D / 4 3 0 3 4 / 2013.
Crime Reduction Advice:	Keep Doors locked, even when you are in the house. Keep garden tools locked away to avoid them being used to force a door, or window. Don't leave out anything that can be used as a climbing aid, either to reach a window or into a neighbours garden. Keep hallways clear of valuables like vehicle keys, handbags and laptop where they may be seen. Report suspicious activity in neighbours gardens.

Be Extra Vigilant When Using Bank Cards

Bedfordshire Police is warning the public to be extra vigilant when using their bank cards after two elderly residents had their cards stolen from them when out shopping.

The first incident happened on Friday (Nov 15) when the 85 year old victim was at the Sainsburys Store in Bells Brook, Biggleswade.  The victim had noticed that someone was watching her pay for her shopping using her bank card. When she returned to her car a woman approached her and asked if she wanted help putting her shopping in to the back of her car. The victim agreed and a short time later a man approached and told the girl it was time to leave. On returning home the victim realised that her bank card was missing and when she contacted the bank she was told it had been used several times.

The second incident happened on Wednesday (Nov 20) when an 82 year old victim was approached by a woman as she was putting her shopping in to the back of her car in West Street, Leighton Buzzard. The woman, who is described as having an Eastern European appearance and spoke with an accent, asked the victim for change. The victim removed her purse from her bag to illustrate that she didn’t have any change and the woman left.  However, shortly after the victim realised her bank card and credit card had been taken.

Gary Maxey, investigating, is keen to remind members of the public to take extra care when they are out shopping and to ensure they protect their pin numbers and payment cards.

He said: “I would warn anyone who is out shopping, especially over the busy festive period, to ensure they take extra precautions to ensure they are not being overlooked when using payment cards. Always cover the key pad when entering your pin number, and if anyone is standing too close to you, politely ask them to step away or alert the store security staff.

“Often people will use a number of tactics to distract and trick people in to revealing where they keep their cards and cash. Asking for change or saying that you’ve dropped something on the floor can be a ruse so please avoid getting your purse or wallet out in public.”

Anyone with information relating to these crimes can contact Gary Maxey, in confidence, at Bedfordshire Police on 101, or text information to 07786 200011.

Alternatively, contact the independent crime fighting charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.