Mayoral column by Cllr Tom Wootton - More big wins for our Borough

After years of making the case again and again for modern high quality healthcare facilities in these communities, major NHS funding has now been secured for new GP surgeries!

This has been a non-negotiable manifesto pledge for me and my Executive because this really matters because communities cannot continue to grow without the services local people rely on.

Over the last decade new homes were built, families moved into these new homes, schools filled up, roads got busier, and GP appointments get harder to access – it was backward. Vital infrastructure like healthcare must keep pace with growth and it is good to see real progress being made.

There is still work ahead but this is a major milestone and proof that when Bedford Borough comes together and speaks with determination, we can get results.

> For Wixams, NHS England is now committing £6.9 million towards the new surgery.

> For Great Barford, NHS England has also increased its contribution from £525,000 to between £600,000 and £750,000, helping move that scheme closer to delivery too.

Residents and local businesses have told us clearly that they want to feel safer, see problems dealt with earlier, and have a cleaner, more welcoming town centre – my budget does just that.

We have invested in further action to tackle anti-social behaviour across the borough. This builds on the progress already being made with the support of Bedfordshire Police, who continue to fund two Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) officers. Alongside that, the Council now has two additional roaming ASB officers of its own, giving us a stronger visible presence on the streets.

These officers will not just focus on the town centre. They will also support areas such as Queens Park, Wixams, Shortstown, and other parts of the borough where the need is greatest.

But residents have also been clear that feeling safer is not just about enforcement. It is also about the environment people see around them day to day. That is why we have invested £30,000 in the town centre to help improve the experience for residents, visitors and businesses.

This includes £20,000 for additional Sunday cleaning in the town centre and £10,000 for extra cleaning of public toilets.

It may sound simple, but keeping the town centre looking sharp and welcoming is an important part of restoring pride in our Borough.

While the big announcements are always welcome, there is also a huge amount of practical work happening behind the scenes every day.

In February alone, our Highways and Engineering teams completed:

> 5,035 square metres of carriageway resurfacing and patching

> Resurfaced 852 square metres of footways

> Attended 403 streets for pothole repairs

> Cleared 366 highway gullies

This is just a snapshot of a single month, but it shows the sheer scale of the work our highways teams carry out to keep our roads and footpaths safer. It is not glamorous work and rarely are there thank you, but it is essential.

It is not glamorous work, and it rarely comes with much thanks, but it is absolutely essential. know there are roads and footpaths that residents still want to see improved, but it is important people understand just how much work is taking place across the Borough all the time.

Things are improving however, it will take time and, yes, there is a lot of work still to do.

But it is important to celebrate the real progress. New GP surgeries moving closer, stronger action on anti-social behaviour, and slowly but surely restoring the roads that have been neglected for the past decade. That is what leadership looks like, and that is what this administration will keep delivering.