Destruction of chimneys would damage Stewartby

SIR – I write with regard to the proposed destruction, and I use the word on purpose, of the remaining chimneys at Stewartby.

It has come as no surprise that the planning for this, and for the
proposed 1,200-house development on the site, is being rushed through.

A closing date for objections of July 16 is barely enough time for
villagers, and they are the ones who will be affected, not the political parties who are so quick to get their name and face in the press, to collectively put their thoughts forward.

How can the fate of these chimneys, that have towered over our great village for so many years, be decided so quickly, especially as they have recently been given listed status? One suspects that the
planning will be railroaded through as it obviously sits well with the
borough's desire for more and more homes in the Marston Vale.

I may have only been a resident of the village for just over ten years but would like Stewartby to hold on to its heritage for future generations, as opposed to being thought of as the village between the landfill site and the incinerator.

Paul Fraser
by email

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Adding congratulations to achievements of NHS

SIR – Thank you Alistair Burt for congratulating the NHS on its 60th
birthday! I recently spent time in Bedford Hospital for a knee
replacement and the care and attention I received was excellent.

The NHS has much improved in the last ten years thanks to the Labour Government raising standards, increasing doctors and nurses, building new hospitals and reducing waiting times – a great achievement.

Angela Underhill
Spenser Road, Bedford

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Borough 'does all it can on travellers': bailiff

SIR – Having resisted the temptation to enter into the debate over
travellers for some time, I now feel compelled to do so and, as the
managing director of local bailiffs Constant and Company, feel that I am qualified in this respect for the following reasons.

We deal with travellers on a daily basis throughout England and Wales on behalf of private landowners and local authorities, which includes assisting Bedford Borough Council. Currently, we are involved in 40-50 'evictions' per month, a majority of which are from privately-owned land, the owners of which are not compromised by the central
government guidelines with which local authorities are obliged to
comply.

The route necessarily taken by a local authority to evict travellers takes time and it may be costly although will almost certainly result in the magistrates granting an Order for Possession.

I can confirm from our own involvement with Bedford Borough Council that they are as proactive as the guidelines within which they have to operate allow them to be, and any criticism of the council is
misguided, although it may be through ignorance of the procedures.

The company has also been involved with a large number of direct enforcement action operations under planning legislation and I believe I am correct in saying we are the only company in the country which has the wide ranging experience to both guide and assist councils in the execution of direct action where the eviction of travellers is required.

The recent planning decision on the Bletsoe travellers may ultimately result in direct action, however, we have been involved in many cases, including the high-profile sites at Smithy Fen in Cottenham and Dale Farm near Basildon, where local residents believed they had won the day, only to discover that due to various judicial procedures the
decision of the planning committee is very much the first hurdle, and the finishing line may be months if not longer ahead.

In these cases it is also important to recognise that the action of local authorities is likely to be closely scrutinised by the likes of the Commission for Racial Equality and other traveller support groups, and I always advise clients they should proceed with caution in these cases.

The only other thing I might add is that our staff meet the good and not so good travellers; they are not all the same and, bearing in mind the number of times we move them on, the absence of any major
physical resistance might be regarded as surprising by some.

We treat them with respect and politely and, in those few cases where force might be required, it is used in a proportionate and controlled way.

Bryan Lecoche
Constant & Company
Harpur Street, Bedford

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No other council would dismantle this amenity

SIR – It is understood that despite its highest membership of any council green club, its highest usage every day of the week during the bowling season, that the borough parks and leisure department (an authority that should be promoting sport for the elderly) is planning to close down two bowling greens, Bedford Priory Bowling Club and Kempston East Bowling Club, by next year.

At previous council meetings mention has been made about the maintenance costs but, despite requests for details of the actual breakdown of these costs, this information has never been supplied. The council is now making issues about the usage of greens and green space.

The parks and leisure department is now claiming there should be more green space and a wider usage for the public; can it seriously claim there is no green space at the Priory Gardens and between the pavilion and Beaumont Court, where they want to plant rose trees on one of the best bowling greens in Bedford town centre?

Could not the rose trees be planted on the green space between the
pavilion and Beaumont Green, thus creating an attractive area for tourists to watch a game of bowls, and offering the future residents of the new development of Bedford town west centre the facility to take up bowls during their retirement?

Can there be any other council authority in the UK that would go ahead to destroy and dismantle an excellent bowling green within its locality, and thus deny pensioners a pleasant and active healthy
environment?

Bedford Priory Bowling Club has a unique history dating back to 1899 when Bedford Borough Council laid out the site as a recreational ground to include tennis courts and a bowling club. In 1902 Bedford West End Bowling Club was formed and in 1952 adopted the title of Priory
Bowling Club, thus we were hoping to celebrate our centenary year in 2011, since affiliation to the Beds County Bowling Association in 1911.

When we examine Kempston East Bowling Club's position, to lose their facilities will result in no council bowling club in Kempston, a town with a population of 20,000 people. Had the parks and leisure
department provided adequate changing rooms and good facilities, then their membership would have been quite extensive over the years.

Let the borough council seriously consider what its real plans are for promoting sport for the elderly, or are the younger element of the
community the main priority?

Ted Bowen
Bedford Priory Bowling Club

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Band deserves a bit of our support

SIR – Thank you for featuring Bedford Town Band in your leisure
section, (T&C, July 3). This group of musicians practise regularly with commitment and dedication to remain in the elite championship section.
Unlike footballers (with whom you make a comparison), they do not receive millions of pounds for their performance, neither,
unfortunately, do they have their own premises in which to rehearse.

Bands in the north of England also in the Championship section, and indeed in lower sections too, receive sponsorship and have their own club and practise facilities. Bedford Town Band, always willing to play for the public and support charities, appears to be expected to perform like champions, without facilities. That this is expected of them, and that this situation exists, is a disgraceful state of affairs.

Is there a generous sponsor out in the community who could provide a permanent site for this group of musicians? A band room with good acoustics for practise, plus adequate storage for music stands and
instruments, and recreational facilities? Perhaps it is time for
Bedford Borough Council to consider providing these facilities free of charge of charge, or at least at a peppercorn rent, in recognition of the honour and prestige which the band brings to the town.

I have seen and heard Bedford Town Band playing, proudly in the north of England, against bands with sponsorship and proper practise facilities. How much more dedication is needed for members to have to pay up from their own pockets to do this?

If you can help with sponsorship or with the offer of permanent premises, please contact this deserving group of musicians.

L Heley
Cotton End Road, Wilstead

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Speed limit would not reduce pollution

SIR – Coun Dillingham (T&C, July 3) states that a 20mph limit will "reduce the number of crashes" and decrease pollution. Time would tell if the former is true – 'before and after' studies would see if this is the case.

However, what it would not do is reduce pollution. All vehicles would have to use lower gears, which means their engines would be turning more times for any given distance, thus increasing pollution.

Howard Lawrence
Wentworth Drive, Bedford

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Thanks for memorable dining experience

SIR – Re: A T&C competition prize, comprising three-course lunch for two with glass of champagne at the French Horn, Steppingley. What a wonderful prize to have won. My friend and I went on Friday, June 20, the food was excellent, as was the service. We enjoyed the memorable dining experience and in such a relaxed, tranquil setting.

Thank you once again.

Mrs Brenda Martin
Steppingley Road, Flitwick

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Lyrics hardly in keeping with village fete vibe?

SIR – What a real treat the attendees of Cardington village fete, July 5, had, thanks to a jamming session from the great John Verity. Shame about one of the songs being about "cocaine" and the effects of it
"swimming around the brain".

It wasn't really in keeping with the village fete vibe, or was it?

Gary Bower, by email

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Eco-towns or eco-ghettos?

SIR – Plans for eco-towns are unlikely to have a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions or meeting Government housing targets.

Eco-towns run the risk of simply being isolated pockets of housing whose environmental benefits are severely reduced by reliance on private car use. The Government must start again and consider eco-extensions to existing towns or eco-quarters on large sites within cities.

The current proposals run the risk of creating isolated eco-
ghettos rather than thriving and sustainable new towns.

James Rowlands
RICS policy officer
by email

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Hardworking medical staff deserve better

SIR – With reference to a report printed in the Times & Citizen exposing the continuing problems with hygiene at Bedford Hospital ('Hospital fails hygiene target', June 19).

I find it of concern that, despite improvements from Bedfordshire Primary Care Trust and Bedfordshire and Luton Mental Health and Social Care Trust, our hospital is still failing to meet basic hygiene
requirements.

The Liberal Democrats, nationally and locally, have called for democratically-elected, locally-accountable health boards to be put in place, with a specific member of the board responsible for meeting hygiene standards.

This would ensure that our healthcare professionals would be free from governmental interference whilst being accountable to the needs and
concerns of the people of Bedford with a clear line of responsibility.

The people and hardworking medical staff of Bedford deserve better and need better than this underfunded and centrally-controlled system.

Henry Vann
Lib Dem parliamentary candidate,
Bedford and Kempston

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Help cut congestion and pollution

SIR – Are you fed up with being stuck in traffic on your way to the town centre, work or railway station, and then, when you get there, only to spend further time either trying to find that elusive on-road parking space or queuing for one of the car parks?

With the warm, lighter days now with us, why not dust the cobwebs off that bicycle at the back of the shed or garage, check the brakes, pump up the tyres, oil the chain and experience the thrill of cycling?

You will be pleasantly surprised how quickly you can reach your destination and, once tried, you will find yourself feeling invigorated and less stressed, and will want to try it again and perhaps become a
regular cyclist.

A cycle map of Bedford and Kempston, showing how to avoid the busy main roads by using, wherever possible, quiet roads and off-road cycle tracks, is available from Bedford Tourist Office and independent book shops, together with other books on cycle routes into the countryside.

More than 300 commuters already cycle to Bedford railway station each working day, helping to reduce Bedford's traffic congestion and pollution problems, and further cycle stands are being considered to cater for increasing numbers.

Peter Blakeman
Cycling Campaign for North Beds,
Dove Road, Bedford

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Hospital charity funds

SIR – We are most grateful to all those who supported The Bedford Hospitals Charity annual street collection in the town centre on June 14 when £535.06 was collected. There were no expenses.

BG Woodrow
Chairman of the trustees
Bedford Hospitals Charity

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Cancer collection

Macmillan Cancer Support would like to thank all those who donated to collections in Bedford town centre and at Sainsbury's, Clapham Road, on June 7 when £1,122.24 and £1,790.23 was raised respectively.

Sue Pegley
Goodrich Avenue, Bedford