Category: Bedford

8 May 2026

Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all…

River ooze

As Bedford prepares for the Regatta this weekend, with crews once again taking to the River Great Ouse, it’s worth taking a moment to think about the people looking at what’s actually in the water.

Read: The River Great Ouse to welcome 1,800 rowers for 160th Bedford Regatta

Groups like BedsGOVET have been conducting regular testing and monitoring of pollution levels in Bedford Borough’s waterways, helping to shine a light on something that really should be causing far more outrage than it currently does.

The pollution in our river.

The same river people row on, walk beside, photograph, fish in and build events around. The same river woven through Bedford’s identity.

And yet, across the country, waterways continue to suffer from sewage discharges and pollution incidents while water companies pay executives huge salaries and ordinary people are left wondering why standards seem to keep slipping.

Yes, the Environment Agency has recently been given stronger powers to hold water companies to account. Good.

But powers only matter if there are enough people and enough resources to use them properly.

Read: Police called after activists attempt ‘citizen’s arrest’ of Anglian Water CEO

That’s been the frustration for years. Underfunded regulators are trying to oversee giant companies with teams of lawyers, consultants and PR departments.

Meanwhile, volunteer groups and campaigners are often left to do the monitoring work the public assumes someone else has already covered.

And perhaps the strangest part of all this is how normalised it’s become.

Read: Don’t Lose the Ouse

Imagine telling people 30 years ago that raw sewage in rivers would become a routine national story, and the public reaction would mostly amount to a tired shrug and moving on to the next thing.

It’s a national disgrace.

So while Bedford celebrates another Regatta weekend, perhaps we should also spare a thought for the people fighting to make sure the river at the heart of it is properly protected, and ask ourselves why we aren’t all a lot angrier about the state of our waterways.

Brilliant Bedfordians

It was wonderful to see the best of Bedford at the Quarry Theatre last night for the Bedford Independent Everyday Heroes Awards.

Read: Bedford’s Everyday Heroes celebrated during emotional awards night

Sitting amongst the gathered guests, it was an emotional evening as the finalists, all heroes, waited to hear whether they’d be announced as highly commended or a winner.

People talk Bedford down, but of all the places I’ve lived, it’s Bedford that truly fills me with hope when you look at those who quietly dedicate themselves to helping others, often without recognition, applause or reward.

From volunteers and carers to fundraisers, young people and community champions, the room was full of people proving that kindness, compassion and decency are still alive and well in Bedford Borough.

As many said on the night, in a world with so much uncertainty and division, it’s ordinary people who really do make this world, and Bedford, a better place to live.

Swing vote

Continuing with the awards, I also hear that Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin (Labour) thoroughly enjoyed the music at the Everyday Heroes Awards after arriving fresh from an urgent East West Rail public meeting.

Apparently, the Bedford School Jazz Band had the MP tapping his feet throughout the evening.

“I don’t usually dance or listen to jazz,” he said, “but they were so good I wanted to get up and dance.”

And if truth be told, they had quite a few who felt the same. Nice work, boys.

Rubbish parking

I’m sure the motorists on Queen’s Drive appreciated this bin lorry trying to keep the road clear so it was easier to avoid the potholes, not sure the pedestrians did, though.

Bedford Borough Council Bin lorry parked on the pavement on Queen’s Drive, May 2026. Image: Bedford Independent.

See you soon, Bedford Ian.

PS: If you see anything Bedford Ian might find amusing, let us know at news@BedfordIndependent.co.uk.

Pair convicted for their roles in the death following planned attackAuthor: Harrison CablePublished 8 hours agoTwo teenagers have been convicted following the fatal stabbing of 26-year-old Adam Khan in Luton.The attack occurred last August on Humberstone Road, when a 17-year-old boy, who was 16 at the time, used a machete to wound Mr Khan. He has been found guilty of murder. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old girl, also 16 during the incident, was convicted of manslaughter due to her involvement in luring Mr Khan to the location. Due to legal restrictions, their identities cannot be disclosed. Emergency services responded to the scene shortly after 6pm on 31st August last year. Despite being transported to the hospital, Mr Khan succumbed to his injuries. During the trial at Harrow Crown Court, it was revealed that Mr Khan had been in contact with the girl via messages leading up to the attack. The boy admitted under oath that he and the girl planned to trick Mr Khan with the promise of cannabis, which he alleged Mr Khan had offered to her in exchange for sex. Phone records show the girl played a key role in convincing Mr Khan to drive to St Luke’s Close, where the boy lay in wait nearby. The situation escalated when Mr Khan parked on Humberstone Road, leading to a violent altercation with a tyre iron before the fatal stabbing took place. After the incident, both teenagers were seen leaving the scene, while Mr Khan sought medical assistance. Detective Inspector Adam Bridges of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit commented on the case: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with Mr Khan’s family and friends. This was a violent and vicious incident that resulted in the wholly unnecessary death of a young man, with consequences that will be felt by those who loved him for the rest of their lives. The teenager who stabbed Adam arrived at the scene armed with a knife, demonstrating a clear willingness to use extreme violence if the situation escalated. That deliberate decision ultimately led to Adam Khan losing his life. There is never any justification for carrying a knife. This tragic incident, which took place in August last year, stands as a stark reminder of the devastating and irreversible consequences such decisions can have for everyone involved.” The teenagers will be sentenced at a later date. Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

Celebrating 15 years of transforming perinatal mental health at Bedfordshire Hospitals
In January 2016, Luton and Dunstable University Hospital launched its first perinatal mental health service with just one member of staff.
The purpose of the service is to provide support for pregnant women / birthing people experiencing mental health difficulties during pregnancy and in the early postnatal period.
It is part of routine maternity care for all women / birthing people to be asked about their emotional wellbeing at every appointment. This is an important part of maternity care because many women and birthing people can experience changes in their emotions during pregnancy and this can be entirely normal. However some will begin a pregnancy with a pre-existing mental health diagnoses and require support during their pregnancy journey.
Ten years later, what began as a one person team has flourished into an established service which provides evidence based assistance and advice, including with mental health medication. There are three dedicated perinatal mental health midwives across both hospital sites, a number of consultant obstetricians with a specialist interest in perinatal mental health, and as of 2026, the first ever Advanced Clinical Practitioner within maternity.
Five years ago, the same service was established at Bedford Hospital by the original member of staff, bringing the total to 15 years of service delivered across Bedfordshire.
The teams are very proud to work closely with a number of local mental health services. This includes the community perinatal mental health team; a multidisciplinary team including nurses and psychiatrists caring for service users with moderate to severe mental health challenges in pregnancy and the postnatal period and the OCEAN service. OCEAN is a small integrated team of Psychologists and Emotional Wellbeing Midwives working with women / birthing people antenatally and postnatally who are experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress from their previous experiences of pregnancy or baby loss and birth trauma. They can also work with people who have had fertility difficulties and are childless not by choice.
Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Michelle holds sign with 15 on it
Over the past 15 years, thousands of families have been supported through clinics and one-to-one care.
Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Michelle, was the first member of staff within the service. She reflects on the journey so far: “I’ve been here since the beginning and seeing how the right support can change things for a whole family is what has kept me so motivated.
“Within my new role, I’m excited to develop our service further to offer a seamless care pathway for families experiencing mental health difficulties.”
“It is an absolute privilege for me to be in this position and to continue to provide support within my local community.”
Jenni, Interim Head of Midwifery at the L&D said: “This is a fantastic achievement and this milestone belongs to everyone who has been part of the journey from the dedicated staff who remain focused on providing support to the courageous families who have embraced the service provided. Thank you everyone.”
If you need support with your mental health in pregnancy or postnatally, please speak to your midwife or request support during admission to the maternity wards.

A police officer has been jailed after he failed to stop at a junction and crashed into a driver, causing her life-threatening injuries.

Misho Tamoev, who was until today a serving officer with Bedfordshire Police, was having a conversation with his wife, who was also in the car, when his Mercedes C320 sped through the junction of Big Lane and Paudy Lane near Sileby, to the north-east of Leicester.

His car ploughed into the side of the victim’s Mazda MX5, sending it smashing into a van stopped on the opposite side of Big Lane.

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The crumpled Mazda ended up a short distance from the van, on the grass verge.
The victim, a woman in her 60s, was knocked unconscious and suffered numerous broken bones, as well as a ruptured spleen that caused internal bleeding, requiring life-saving surgery.

PC Tamoev, 43, appeared at Leicester Crown Court today (Thursday, May 7) for sentencing after admitting causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving.

Prosecutor Josephine Loft said that in his statement to his insurance company later that day, PC Tamoev claimed there were “no proper road signs” and “no road markings”.

She described the Big Lane approach to the give-way junction and the numerous warnings from 150 yards before the junction, including an illuminated give-way sign and blue rumble strips on the road to alert drivers of the junction ahead.

She said the “extremely forceful impact” happened at about 12.30pm on Sunday, November 23, 2024, and the victim had to spend 13 nights in hospital, at first in the intensive care ward at Leicester Royal Infirmary. She remains unable to return to work due to her injuries.
As well as the life-threatening internal injury – which required the removal of part of her spleen, leaving her more at risk of infections for the rest of her life – she suffered a broken vertebra, two broken ribs, two breaks to her pelvis, cuts to her hand and head and an “arterial dislocation” in her neck.
Her victim statement was read out by Ms Loft, in which she described being “lucky to be alive” after the crash. The victim attended the hearing via videolink from New Zealand.
In the statement she described regaining consciousness moments after the crash and being unable to get out of the damaged car until she was cut free by firefighters.
She feared the powder from the deployed airbags was smoke. She said: “I was terrified my car was going to explode and I was going to burn to death.”
She added that the memories of the crash “haunt me on a daily basis” and that she had to give up her occupational therapist job since the crash, which had a “devastating” effect on her life.
She said: “I can’t understand how the driver missed the junction despite so many warning signs.”

The court heard that just months before the crash, PC Tamoev had been temporarily suspended from driving a police response vehicle by his police force after concerns over his driving. He remained suspended for several weeks before passing an assessment.
James Varley, representing Tamoev, said: “The brow of the hill conceals the junction. It’s known to be a dodgy junction.
“There are a number of signs and there must have been a couple of seconds of not noticing. It’s unintentional, genuinely careless driving.”
He said Tamoev, of Grasmere Avenue, Luton, had been driving with his wife and nine-year-old daughter to a family event. He said: “His attention has dipped and that, tragically, is all that it takes.”
He said Tamoev had been a PCSO and later a PC for Bedfordshire Police for the past eight years, “serving the public”, and had been present at numerous “dreadful road traffic collisions” over the years.
Mr Varley urged Judge Keith Raynor not to jail his client, saying it would lead to the loss of the family’s income, the loss of Tamoev’s job and added that life in prison would inevitably be harder for a police officer.

He said the Bedfordshire force had kept him on despite his conviction but that he would lose the job if jailed.
The judge described the numerous road markings and road signs that make it clear to drivers that they are approaching the junction, saying there were 11 different warnings in total for motorists approaching the junction.

Commenting on Tamoev’s statement to his insurance company about the lack of warnings, Judge Raynor said: “It’s plain there are road markings and talk of ‘not proper road signs’ does not seem to be consistent with [the evidence].
“In this case it was wilful carelessness and it was not far short of dangerous driving.”
He jailed Tamoev for 10 months, saying he was unable to suspend the sentence due to the seriousness of the crime and the previous concerns over Tamoev’s driving by Bedfordshire Police. Tamoev was also banned from driving for two years and five months.

In the six districts, roughly a third of councillors will be elected in Broxbourne, St Albans, Stevenage, Three Rivers, Welwyn Hatfield and Watford, where a mayor will also be elected.There are also by-elections in Hertsmere and East Herts, and one for Hertfordshire County Council in the Flamstead and Turnford ward.Despite the election, a local government reorganisation is expected to scrap those councils and replace them with between two and four unitary authorities.Voters need to bring an accepted form of photo ID to the polling station.Accepted forms of ID include a passport, driving licence, older person’s or disabled person’s bus pass and a Voter Authority Certificate. Expired ID can be used, as long as the voter is still recognisable in the photo.

Councillors warned of an education “crisis” as falling pupil numbers push more schools towards deficit budgets.Warning of education ‘crisis’ as Central Bedfordshire faces 10,000 empty school placesAuthor: Emma SmithPublished 12 hours agoLast updated 12 hours agoCentral Bedfordshire is facing what councillors have described as an education “crisis”, with more than 8,000 school places currently sitting empty — a figure expected to rise above 10,000.A council meeting heard that at least 25 schools are forecast to be running at a financial deficit by 2026/27, with falling pupil numbers and surplus places putting growing pressure on budgets. Councillor Hayley Whitaker warned the situation was worsening year-on-year and called for urgent action from the council. She said: “We’re consistently in the lowest quartile for school performance and that shows no sign of improving.” The meeting also heard concerns over SEND reforms, falling attainment levels and the impact of future housing growth creating extra school capacity while pupil numbers decline. Council leaders acknowledged the scale of the challenge, saying work was already under way with schools, academy trusts and families to tackle financial pressures and improve education outcomes. But councillor John Baker warned the number of spare places could eventually lead to “very difficult decisions” over potential school closures. The motion calling for action on the issue was backed unanimously by councillors.

The beavers being released, a beaver after being released.Credit: SWNSNEED TO KNOWA family of beavers — an adult Eurasian male and female and two Eurasian baby beavers — has been released into an area where they previously went extinct during the 16th century”This has been a long and complex journey, with challenges we didn’t always know we would overcome,” the owner of estate where the beavers were released”We hope the return of beavers will be the first of many lost species to find a home at Southill,” the owner addedA family of beavers has been released into the wild in an area where they had long been extinct more than 400 years ago.Two adult Eurasian beavers and two Eurasian baby kits, or pups, were released on the Southill Estate in Bedfordshire, a county in eastern England, according to SWNS News.The species were hunted to extinction in the area in the 16th century, driven by a demand for their fur, meat and castoreum, which is a chemical excreted from a gland at the base of their tails that was used for food flavoring, as well as the perfume industry, per the outlet.The beavers being released.Credit: SWNSThe recent release took place in two phases: the adult male and two kits were brought from Scotland and released into an enclosure on the estate.The adult female, who had been in rehabilitation for 14 months, was introduced to the enclosure several days later.”This has been a long and complex journey, with challenges we didn’t always know we would overcome, and there were moments when we genuinely wondered whether this day would ever come,” Charles Whitbread, the owner of the estates, said of the release, per SWNS.Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.”To finally see the beavers released and swimming in the landscape was truly wonderful, and something I will not forget,” he continued.He added, “We hope the return of beavers will be the first of many lost species to find a home at Southill, and that what we are building here will continue to grow in ambition for years to come.”Bedfordshire has become one of the driest areas in the region, and the hope is that the introduction of beavers will help restore natural balance to the county.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!A beaver after being released.Credit: SWNS”Beaver dams slow water flow, helping to retain water in the landscape, [which is] a critical function,” explained a specialist from the nature restoration company RESTORE, which provided management planning for the release project.”By attenuating peak flows, they contribute to natural flood mitigation within the River Ivel chalk stream catchment,” they added.Read the original article on People

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust appoints chief executive

Pippa Nightingale has been appointed chief executive of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Pippa Nightingale (c) London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust

Nightingale, who will join the trust in August 2026, is currently chief executive of London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.
David Harrison, chair of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Pippa is an outstanding and values‑driven leader who joins us at a pivotal moment in Bedfordshire and Luton. With major developments such as East West Rail, the new town at Tempsford and the arrival of Universal Studios, this is an exciting time for our communities and our trust.
‘Pippa brings the experience, ambition and collaborative approach needed to lead Bedfordshire Hospitals confidently into the future. She will be joining an already high‑performing executive.’
Nightingale said: ‘I am delighted to be joining Bedfordshire Hospitals. The trust has strong foundations and a clear commitment to delivering outstanding care. I look forward to working with staff, partners and our communities as we respond to the opportunities and challenges ahead.’
Current chief executive David Carter is stepping down on 8 May. Cathy Jones, deputy chief executive, will act as interim executive until Nightingale takes up the role.
 

A man is calling for national changes to dementia care after his mother died following a night-time attack by another resident in a care home.Author: Charlotte BarberPublished 5 hours agoRichard Uridge has launched the Shut That Door campaign to raise awareness of the right for people living with dementia to have their bedroom doors closed at night.His mother, Sheila Hartman, 88, died on October 2, 2022, after being attacked while she slept in her room at a care home in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.Mr Uridge, from near Ludlow in Shropshire, said: “My mother was asleep in her care home bedroom… the woman in the room two doors down had woken up in the night… and wandered into my mum’s room.”“In her confusion, she thought that my mum was an intruder in her own home.”“So she set about my mum with her walking stick and beat her many, many times… my mum was very seriously injured and died in hospital six or seven hours later.”He said the incident led to a police investigation and inquest, where the care home operator admitted failings in the care of both women.The other resident, who also had dementia, “had no idea what they were doing”, he added.Now, nearly four years on, an adult safeguarding review has concluded the case was not isolated and highlights wider national concerns about dementia care.Mr Uridge said: “The report shows that this wasn’t an isolated incident, but that resident-on-resident violence is a much more prevalent issue than perhaps we’d like to think.”The review found that Mrs Hartman’s death “occurred within a system that did not adequately protect people living with dementia” and identified a number of national issues, including the lack of clear standards.“One of the things that leapt off the page… was the fact that there are no national standards for dementia care in England and that there is no dementia strategy,” Mr Uridge said.“That means pretty much any old people’s home can say that it’s a specialist dementia care home – and that really isn’t the case.”He also highlighted the routine practice of leaving bedroom doors open at night in care homes.“The other thing that leapt off the page… is that care home bedroom doors are routinely left open at night,” he said.“I think it’s to make it easier for staff to check on residents… but it’s not possible to do a proper safe and well check from a distance.”Mr Uridge believes simply closing doors could help prevent similar tragedies.“For me, the number one recommendation is simple – shut that door,” he said.The safeguarding review also found that decisions about bedroom doors are often treated as routine, rather than being discussed with residents and families as part of individual care and safety planning.It warned that while open doors may help staff monitor residents, they can remove choice and increase risks—particularly as people with dementia who wander cannot legally be locked in their rooms.Mr Uridge said his campaign aims to ensure families, care providers and professionals understand that residents have the right to sleep behind a closed door if they wish.Alongside the campaign, he is also keen to remind people that those living with dementia are more than their condition.“It’s very easy to think of older people with dementia as… ‘patients’,” he said.“But what we should always do… is remember we did have a backstory. We were young once.”He hopes the campaign will spark wider national change and improve both safety and dignity in care homes.The findings of the review are expected to contribute to ongoing discussions about dementia care standards across England.Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.

Experts now believe the kiln at Sutton points to significant pottery production in the decades after the Black DeathA pottery kiln found beneath a primary school could be more historically significant than first thought, experts say.The find, beneath Sutton Primary School, near Potton, Bedfordshire, was initially believed to be from the Tudor era but is now thought to pre-date Henry VIII’s reign by more than 100 years.Archaeologists said the kiln would once have supplied pottery to Sutton and nearby settlements.Central Bedfordshire Council said the revised dating made the find even more significant, describing it as a “tangible link to the area’s medieval past”.The kiln was uncovered in late 2024 during ground investigations ahead of the construction of a new multi-use sports pitch at the school, with exploratory work carried out by the council’s archaeology service, Albion Archaeology.Originally thought to be Tudor in origin, further analysis of the pottery and kiln structure suggest it dates from the late 14th to the early 15th Century, in the late medieval period.Although no complete pots were found, the haul of fragments weighing over a tonne offer a glimpse into the scale of productionDuring the excavation, more than 30,000 fragments of pottery and tiles were recovered.Specialists believe only broken or discarded items remained when the kiln was abandoned, which explains why no intact vessels were found on site.Councillor Tracey Wye said the updated findings gave Sutton an extraordinary connection to its history.”What began as routine planning work, to provide Sutton Primary School with new sporting facilities, turned into a find of real national interest.”The discovery has also helped reshape understanding of Bedfordshire’s historic pottery industry.Experts now have enough data to reconstruct the kilnAlbion Archaeology project manager David Ingham said: “We already knew that medieval pottery was made at Everton, but finding a large kiln producing similar pottery three miles away at Sutton suggests that this area of Central Bedfordshire played a much more significant part in the region’s medieval pottery industry than we previously realised.”He said the kiln was probably used in the decades following the Black Death.Local people are invited to an event at Sutton Village Hall on 12 May, where they can hear about the latest research, view pottery from the site and take home a small fragment as a memento.Some of the finds will also feature in a six-month exhibition at The Higgins Bedford from 27 April, exploring medieval and Roman kiln sites across the county.Do you have a story suggestion for Beds, Herts or Bucks? Contact us below.Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.More on this storyRelated internet links