Community News
Everything happening across Shortstown, Cardington, Cople & Cotton End.
Residents of Shortstown are being invited to have their say on two new traffic proposals for the streets being built as part of Bellway Homes’ Cardington Hangars development. Bedford Borough Council is proposing a 20mph speed limit zone and a restricted parking zone covering Mason Road and the surrounding residential streets. Both schemes are required
By Leigh
After more than a century in government and private hands, the building that gave our village its name now belongs to the people of Shortstown. By Leigh Coombs Some stories are a privilege to write, and this is one of them. Shortstown Parish Council has completed the purchase of the Shorts Building, the historic landmark
By Leigh
More than 400 local businesses packed King’s House for the launch of BedX — the Bedfordshire Opportunity Exchange. Cllr Leigh Coombs reports on what it means for businesses across our ward — Shortstown, Cardington, Cople and Cotton End — and the wider Bedford Borough.
By Leigh
Let me describe and idea for you. I’ll start with a question or two. In what kind of community do we want to live? Is it a community where we live in isolation, disconnected from our neighbours, commuting in and out of the neighbourhood for work, leisure and meaningful relationships? I believe most of us
By Community Network
The Nomad Dads Society C.I.C. is hosting a free Dads Mental Health Social — an evening for dads, about dads, for dads. 📅 Date: Tuesday 6th May 2025 🕕 Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm 📍 Venue: Provident House, 44 Harpur Street, Bedford, MK40 2QT This is a chance for dads in Bedford to find out what
By Leigh
From 31 May 2026, Stagecoach will make significant changes to bus routes serving Shortstown, Cotton End, Cardington and Cople — including the removal of Newton Street and Potter Meadows stops from Service 3, but with new school-time services secured for Bedford Academy students.
By Leigh
A planning application to change the use of Howards House in Cardington into a specialist education school is still live, but faces serious obstacles following responses from council officers. The scheme, which proposes converting the historic Grade II* listed building into an independent special educational needs (SEND) school, has now drawn formal objections from highways
By Leigh
Residents across Shortstown are being encouraged to take part in an important local survey that will help shape the future of the village. Households will have recently received, or will soon receive, a small green leaflet inviting them to share their views as part of the early stages of creating a Shortstown Neighbourhood Plan. The
By Leigh
Every 4 weeks us dads will meet up, with the kids, in a different cafe or pub or similar. This time we’ll be meeting at 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘁𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱 – 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺, 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗚𝟭𝟵 𝟮𝗔𝗬for a little day trip out with the kids.This event will run from the earlier time of 10:00 am on Saturday,
By Leigh