Mayor

Clockwise from top left: Bedford Borough Council, Luton Town Hall, Milton Keynes Council and Central Bedfordshire Council

Devolution deadline day - but agreement still uncertain

Mayes Yard artist's impression (Cityheart)

Mayor defends Mayes Yard project saying Rushden Lakes has "surged ahead"

Tom Wootton was elected Bedford Borough's directly elected Mayor in 2023

Call for referendum on whether Bedford should keep directly elected mayor system

The former Debenhams building and inset, Bedford mayor Tom Wootton

Row over '£1 sale' of former Debenhams as mayor brands claim 'misleading'

Shaun Burton

Train driver who died in train crash near Bedford is named

Mayor Tom Wootton (Image: June Essex)

Mayor cuts council portfolio holders in reshuffle following resignations

Borough Hall, Bedford, and inset, Councillor Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant

Second Bedford council cabinet member steps down

Queen's Park in Bedford. Picture: Bedford Borough Council

Queen's Park could be 'overwhelmed with traffic' in East West Rail car park plan

Borough Hall, Bedford Image LDRS

Mayor's decision over charges for green spaces goes back to the drawing board

River Street Car Park

Call for council to look again at overnight parking charges

Borough Hall, Bedford Image LDRS

£59 million funding gap over lifetime of council's 'improvement plan'
Bedford Borough Council’s administration has told councillors there will be a £59 million funding gap over the lifetime of its 2025-30 Improvement Plan.
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter

The map released by the government and inset, Mohammad Yasin MP and mayor Tom Wootton

'Red rating for Bedford roads is wrong' says mayor as he hits back at MP

Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford.

Mayor rejects 'fire sale' claim as four council-owned properties to be sold

Former St. Josephs Lower School Screenshot DECISION NO. 1843 Image: LDRS

Mayor approves plan for first social, emotional and mental health special school

Councillor Abu Sultan

Political Opinion: We must preserve our urban green spaces

Robert Daws stars in upcoming musical theatre show in Ampthill

Ampthill's upcoming musical show will light up your Christmas

Mayor Tom Wootton

Political opinion: Mayor secures landmark development for Bedford River Valley P...

Mayor for Bedford Borough, Tom Wootton

Political opinion: Mayor secures landmark development for Bedford River Valley P...

Bedford marked Remembrance and Armistice Day.

We will remember them - Bedford marks Remembrance and Armistice Day

Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford.

Mayor's Column: Leading Bedford Borough Council through financial challenge: A c...

Bedford Borough Council has been criticised over its response times in dealing with residents' queries

Council criticised over 8 months delay in replying to land sale query

Get advice about flood prevention at a public event at Bedford's Harpur Square, next Friday (Ocober 17)

Bedford Borough: Take steps to prevent your home flooding this winter

Mayor Tom Wootton outside the Debenhams building

Mayor rejects call to sell former Debenhams site

Bedford Academy celebrates grand opening of £12m community building

Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford.

With unity and honesty, we can steer Bedford through these Financial Headwinds

Mayor Tom Wootton addresses crime in his latest column

Mayor's Column: Asylum hotels, crime, Universal – important updates for you

Independence Day is a public holiday in India, commemorating the 1947 India Independence Act

Bedford to celebrate India's 78th year of independence with vibrant festivities

Wixams Sign Photo: LDRS

Mayor cancels Wixams station project to make way for a larger one
Bedford’s mayor has agreed to formally terminate the borough council’s agreement with Network Rail to build a new two-platform station at Wixams, clearing the way for a larger station to support the proposed Universal Studios theme park and resort.
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter

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Mayor's Column: Financial Firestorm - A borough brought back from the brink

Poster for the VJ80 Day Event in Ampthill

Ampthill honours VJ80: Remembering our heroes' sacrifice in the Far East

Bedford Borough Hall.

Call for transparency after report not shared with all councillors

Mayor Tom Wootton pictured with his new Cabinet

Cabinet reshuffle at Bedford Borough Council

Screenshot of Trustees of the Mayor of Bedford's Charity meeting Tuesday, 24th June, 2025 Image: LDRS

Four local charities selected to benefit from Mayor’s fundraising efforts

Universal and, inset, Bedford mayor Tom Wootton (Main picture: Universal Destinations & Experiences)

Universal Studios Bedford: Mayor wants to declare April 9 'Universal Day'

Announcing the 10 different activities planned for each day of our 9 day Week with the theme “Making our area a better place to live – together”.

Celebrating 40 years of Bedford Neighbourhood Watch Week

Mayor Tom Wootton (left in all pictures) and councillor John Wheeler hand over checks to Andy Lewis, EEAA; Nicola Sherhod, director at John Bunyan Musseum and Clare Dunkinson, Creating Memories. Pictures: LDRS

Thousands of pounds handed to 3 good causes by Bedford mayor's charity

Discussions took place between the students, the Mayor, and key stakeholders involved in the Universal Studios development planned for Bedford.

Mayor of Bedford visits students to talk about the Universal Studios development

Bite Back's campaigners earlier this month.

Young people welcome Bedford Council’s move to curb junk food ads

Universal Studios: "The work is just beginning" to manage impact

Blake Stephenson MP (C-L) and Mayor Stephen Judge (C-R) with The Ampthill and District Choral Society.

Mid Beds MP and Ampthill Mayor in tune with their community

John Tizard, Police and Crime Commissioner

Monthly Column: Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard

Members of The Bedford Sixth Form Learning Lounge Team.

The Mayor of Bedford awards students from The Bedford Sixth Form as Ready2Lead? ...

Lloyds Bank building, High Street, Bedford Photo: LDRS

Mayor urged to reconsider plans to buy Lloyds Bank building on High Street

St John's School Choir performing Jingle Bells at Kempston Light Switch on.

St John’s School choir shines bright at Kempston Christmas Light Switch-On

East West Rail route map

'There is no consultation about what East West Rail is offering' claims mayor
The subject of East West Rail (EWR) has “troubled” Bedford Borough Council for “a very long time”, Bedford’s mayor has said.
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter

Cllr Graeme Coombes has stepped down from his role as Finance Portfolio Holder at Bedford Borough Council

Finance boss at Bedford Borough Council steps down due to work commitments

Oasis Beach Pool in Bedford.

Oasis Beach Pool will close for good months after major refurb

An aerial view of Bedford. Photo by Historic England Archive/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Mayor says town centre redevelopment plans will help people be proud of Bedford

Medical stethoscope head lying on silver keyboard at doctor office worktable closeup

Councillors clash over progress in building more GP surgeries

Watch as War Horse memorial gets purple poppy coat to remember fallen service animals

Watch as War Horse statue gets draped in beautiful purple poppy coat

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Mayor of Bedford visits Wyboston Lakes Resort

Garry Lewis, Councillor Nawaz and Phil Holyoak at The Newells

Mayor of Kempston meets homeowners at new retirement community

Baa heck ... Ben, centre, with other Freemen and the Bedfordshire sheep

Baa gum ... Ampthill man herds sheep over London bridge

Kay Burley retired from frontline politics last year, and in November was honoured for decades of public service by being made an Honorary Alderwoman

Colleagues pay tribute to longstanding former Bedford councillor Kay Burley

Mayor Tom Wootton pictured with John McReynolds, Senior Vice President of External Affairs from Universal Destinations and Experiences

Theme park could boost Bedford economy says Universal boss on tour of town

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