Latest News and Newsletters

The Potton Town Council Newsletter is published quarterly and the Town Council will keep you informed on this page of any latest news between Newsletters.

Taking precautions to fight spike in burglary as the nights lengthen January 31, 2025
Bedfordshire Police’s specialist residential burglary team – Operation Maze – is urging residents to take precautions to deter thieves as the clocks go back

It is also posting a video on social media channels offering crime prevention advice.

Burglaries in the county go up by more than 20 per cent in Autumn as burglars take advantage of longer nights.

The advice starts with locking doors, and if possible double-locking them. Thieves will be able to “pop” single-locked doors with relative ease.

Close and secure windows.

Keep keys and other valuables out of sight and away from letter-boxes.

If you are going out after dark, close curtains and leave a light on, possibly the TV too. If you are out all day set a timer device to turn lights on automatically.

Mark your valuables with security ink such as Smartwater. It will deter burglars in the first place and if property is stolen, it makes it easier to return it if it’s recovered.

Lock up side gates and outbuildings.

If you have one, set your burglar alarm.

View more crime prevention advice

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PCC invites residents to give their view on police plan January 30, 2025

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Police and Crime Commissioner John Tizard has today (Monday 22nd July) launched a consultation survey for the people of Bedfordshire to share their views on the core objectives of his Police and Crime Plan.

The people of Bedfordshire can feed back on topics relating to improving policing, reforming a broken criminal justice system, protecting victims, and addressing the social and economic causes of crime across the county.

Residents can also highlight what they think should be prioritised by Bedfordshire Police service.

The PCC’s missions are set out in the consultation paper which can be found on the PCC’s website.

Police and Crime Plan Missions:
• Prevention – work as a partnership to prevent crime.
• Tackle serious crime – reduce serious and organised crime as well as serious youth violence.
• Tackle Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) – reduce violence and protect all women and children.
• Excellence – deliver an excellent police service and criminal justice system.
• Local policing – work with local communities to engage, prevent and solve crime and community issues.
• Victims – put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system.

John Tizard, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) said: “When I was elected earlier this year my pledge was to do everything I could as PCC to make Bedfordshire safer for its residents, businesses, and visitors to the county.

“It is important that there is zero tolerance of all crime wherever it occurs and of the causes of crime.

“The theme of the Police and Crime Plan to be published in the Autumn is a safer and fairer Bedfordshire, and this is a plan for both social and criminal justice.

“We must ensure that the rights of individuals and communities are always respected and safeguarded.

“To tackle crime and make our county safer will require all our local public bodies, businesses, and residents to support this goal.

“As PCC I am adopting a mission-driven approach to ensure that this police and crime plan is focused on the outcomes that the residents of Bedfordshire want and deserve.

“I very much look forward to hearing the views and ideas over the next few weeks before I finalise a Police and Crime Plan that will make our county safer and fairer.”

In his consultation, the PCC has listed his objectives for the first year of his term as short-term goals, he will then consult with stakeholders and the public after this on the longer-term commitments that span over the following three years.

Residents can complete the survey here: https://forms.office.com/e/y1jFCJthRP
For more information, please contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner by emailing pccplanconsultation@beds.police.uk.
Safer Central Youth Survey January 29, 2025

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Community Safety Survey – Have Your Say April 9, 2024
Your voice matters

Tell Safer Central the issues where you live; is it the dog poop, areas of fly tipping, or do you have serious organised crime happening near you?

Please join them to improve safety for everyone in Central Bedfordshire. You can help shape the work of the Community Safety Partnership by sharing your views and completing the Safer Central Survey. They ask for your opinions every year to keep them up to date on safety issues in your community. They know that no one knows better what is happening in your immediate area, and with the information you can provide they can work together to make a difference, creating a safer environment for everyone.

Your opinions really do make a difference to help them focus their work where you, our residents, want to see improvements.

If you would like to contact the Community Safety Team, please email community.safety@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

Complete the survey.
MMR Information January 29, 2024

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UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported an increase in measles across the country and is encouraging people to check that they and their children have had two doses of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The free MMR vaccine is a safe and effective way of protecting against measles, as well as mumps and rubella.

It’s important for parents to take up the offer of MMR vaccination for their children when offered at 1 year of age and as a pre-school booster at three years, four months of age. If children and young adults have missed these vaccinations in the past, it’s important to take up the vaccine now from GPs, particularly in light of the recent cases.

Check your child’s Red Book to see if they’ve received MMR vaccinations as scheduled or check with your GP surgery if you’re unsure.

Anyone with symptoms is also being advised to stay at home and phone their GP or NHS 111 for advice.

Measles symptoms to be aware of include:

· high fever
· sore, red, watery eyes
· coughing
· aching and feeling generally unwell
· a blotchy red brown rash, which usually appears after the initial symptoms.

For more information about measles, see the NHS website: Measles – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Leaflet download
UKHSA MMR A5 leaflet English
Market Square EV Parking Bays January 16, 2024
At the Town Council meeting on Tuesday 9th January 2024, the confusion around parking in the Market Square EV parking bays was discussed.

Following the meeting, the Town Clerk has made a request to Central Bedfordshire Council’s (CBC) Senior Sustainable Transport Officer, of the Sustainable Transport and Active Travel Department, to mark the dedicated EV charging bays with the additional word ‘ONLY’ to try to avoid the confusion caused to people parking in the Square.

CBC Cllr Tracey Wye posted the following message on Facebook on 28th November 2023.
“Potton Market Square Tickets Cancelled
When it was reported that a number of drivers were issued fines for parking in the EV bays on the Market Square, I contacted CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL to find out what was going on.
I got officers to investigate and as a result five out of the seven tickets have been cancelled.
They will also be ensuring traffic wardens are reminded that only two of the parking bays are for EV only, the rest can be used by drivers of petrol, diesel or electric vehicles.
Parking in the square is free for up to two hours, no return within two hours, Monday-Saturday, between 8am and 6pm.
Electric vehicles can be parked in EV bays for up to six hours if they are charging.”

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Don’t take it out on our staff, town councillors or volunteers September 15, 2023

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Due to a further incident today, a reminder please to be polite and courteous when speaking to town council staff, councillors and volunteers.
Stop idling, start saving! September 6, 2023

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“Every minute counts” is Central Bedfordshire Council’s message as they launch a campaign urging drivers to switch off their engines when they are stationary.

The campaign comes after the council’s survey last year, which 1,687 people responded to, which revealed almost half of Central Bedfordshire residents believe engine idling has a negative impact on their health.

Leaving a car running while stationary, known as engine idling, reduces air quality and, as emissions stay near the car, those nearest to you are most affected. Exhaust fumes are especially harmful to children, who are closer to car exhaust pipes, and older people who are more likely to have cardiovascular illnesses.

Idle engines are also wasteful because the car is using fuel unnecessarily. Contrary to a common misconception, idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel and gives off more emissions than stopping and restarting your engine. Idling can also damage car engines over time, creating a build-up of carbon which makes them work less efficiently and wear out faster.

Other results from the 2022 survey reveal:

88% agree that engine idling has a negative impact on air quality
Just under half (49%) say it has a negative impact on their physical health
Almost a third (32%) believe their day-to-day activities were affected by the problem
Nearly two thirds (63%) say that people are not generally aware of the issue
Idling outside schools and shops were highlighted as the problem areas.
Potton Friendship Group September 6, 2023

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Essential life saving equipment installed at Henry Smith Playing Fields August 25, 2023

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Potton Town Council has installed its new essential life saving equipment at Henry Smith Playing Fields today.

The Reach and Rescue long-reach, telescopic water rescue poles and equipment enable emergency services, search and rescue teams and the public to conduct swift, directionally accurate rescues by retrieving casualties from safe distances – minimising the danger posed to themselves whilst also boosting casualty survival chances.

If you should need the equipment at any time, the instructions for use are on the board.

Newsletters

Each publication has been compiled and published by Potton Town Council who are the owners of the copyright. No reproduction is permitted without the express permission of the Council. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the various entries within this publication. In no circumstances can Potton Town Council accept any liability for any loss or damage of any kind which may arise as a result from any error in, or omission of, any entry, artwork or telephone number. The editorial content is not necessarily the views of the Council.

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