Mayor's Column: Positive progress on GPs and what’s the deal with devolution?

Ask residents what matters most in their community and being able to see a GP close to home is often high on the list. Which makes perfect sense, local surgeries after all provide essential care and help people get support without travelling further than they need to.

But hasn’t always been the case in Bedford Borough.

For too long, housing growth across the borough has moved ahead while provision for GP services lagged. That was not good enough and since taking office in 2023, we have made improving access to healthcare a priority.

It started with the establishment of the Strategic Health Estates Board to coordinate work on the borough’s GP infrastructure. This was backed by £9 million of investment to help unblock projects, with additional NHS funding for GP services secured earlier this year.

Significant progress is continuing to be made on these important schemes, with three moving ahead very smoothly.

Great Barford’s new GP surgery received planning permission on 21st October, which is fantastic news. The new surgery will include 40 parking spaces and will bring the former Great Barford Lower School site back into use. The school buildings have stood empty since 2018, so this project will provide a valued local service while giving the site a new purpose.

In Wixams, the design work is progressing. At a meeting in September, myself, ward councillors and Council officers reviewed the proposals with the NHS Integrated Care Board and Urban & Civic. The design is being developed so the building could expand upwards in future if demand grows and funding becomes available. Officers are finalising the agreement needed to take the project to its next design stage.

In Wootton, the Council and NHS have agreed to progress the scheme through its next design stage, including a planning application. A project group involving the local GP practice will help shape plans around the healthcare needs of residents, now and in the future.

While each project is at a different stage they are all making positive progress to our goal of better access to local GP services. A big thank you needs to go out to the local Councillors, parish councils and residents that have helped keep these projects moving.

In other news devolution has been making headlines this week with all manner of claims and figures flying around.

The Government is proposing a new regional authority with Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK). This leave North and West Northamptonshire outside, even though our businesses, transport links and future opportunities connect us to these areas.

Simply put, the BLMK proposal is ill-advised.

First, the Government’s own population guideline for an authority of this kind is 1.5 million, yet BLMK falls well short. The Government has also acknowledged that a wider authority would be preferable. If so, why not pursue the six-council option now?

More importantly, there is still no clear account of how much funding the proposal would bring or what the new arrangements could cost Bedford residents, including whether they could mean new taxes.

The Government appears to be working on basis of a “you’ll just have to trust me” mentality with regard to the benefits. Without those details, there is no one that can judge whether the deal offers value for money.

I support devolution that gives Bedford a meaningful voice and a fair deal. I will keep pressing the Government to consider a wider South Midlands partnership that better reflects how our communities are connected.