John Guinn
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A “dangerous” journalist who asks “too many questions” & has “trust issues”. National World Local Democracy Reporter covering Bedford Borough. Views are my own
Articles by John Guinn
Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire saved as government scraps abolition plans
Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire has welcomed the decision to retain local Healthwatch organisations and Healthwatch England, following what it described as 18 months of uncertainty. In a statement, it said that it's looking forward to building on its work and strengthening relationships with organisations and partners who share our commitment to improving local health and social care.
Marston Moretaine boy, 11, raises over £1,000 in Macmillan head shave
Oscar will have his head shaved at Marston Beans coffee shop in the village on Saturday, November 14, as part of Macmillan Cancer Support's Brave the Shave fundraising campaign. His father, Adam Peacey, said Oscar came up with the idea himself a few weeks ago and was determined to take part. He has since raised more than £1,000 for the charity. Explaining his decision, Oscar said: “I am doing 'brave the shave' as I have always loved helping people and I wanted to do something for charity.
Bedford grandmother with stage four cancer organises fundraiser to tackle isolation
Joanne Gordon, a former learning and development consultant, was diagnosed in January 2025 after experiencing chronic stomach pain for two years. She said the cancer had spread to her liver and affected other internal organs, while chemotherapy and major surgery had left her unable to enjoy many of her former activities. But Joanne,who lives in Bedford, said one of the hardest aspects of her diagnosis had been the isolation, particularly with most of her family and friends living in London.
Bedford borough pays tribute to fallen servicemen and women on Remembrance Sunday
Mayor Tom Wootton laid a wreath on behalf of the borough as communities came together to remember the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces. In a statement to Bedford Today, the mayor said: “It was incredibly moving to see so many people come together across Bedford borough to pay their respects to the brave men and women who have served our country.
Bedford restaurant named among OpenTable's top 100 just one year after opening
The Mala Dragon, on Pembroke Street, which specialises in Sichuan cuisine, has secured a place on OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in the UK list for 2026, compiled using more than 860,000 reviews from verified diners and other booking data. The restaurant, run by husband and wife Joe Pattinson and Layla Wang, opened in October 2025. Reacting to the recognition, the couple said: “Honestly, we're a bit stunned.
Woburn brothers' wartime tragedy uncovered after more than a century
Francis Arthur Stanford and his younger brother John Thomas Stanford are among 39 people commemorated on Woburn War Memorial. Now, research by family history website Findmypast has revealed more about their lives before the war. The brothers grew up in Leighton Street, where their father worked as a woodsman on the Woburn estate. Both attended Woburn Boys' Council School, where records show they received awards for perfect attendance.
Robbery suspect found hiding in loft during armed police arrest in Bedford
Bedfordshire Police said officers attended a property in Attadale Walk on October 17, following two incidents at another address in the same street on October 13 and 16. According to the force, the suspect heard officers calling out and attempted to evade arrest by hiding in the loft. However, officers located him and he was taken into custody.
Bedfordshire firefighters share safety advice at Bedford's Festival of Lights
The event, which has been hosted by Bedford's Indian community for 16 years, brought together people from different cultures and backgrounds to celebrate Diwali. Fire service staff offered advice on safe cooking, the use of candles and diyas, and the importance of working smoke alarms.
New 24-hour NHS mental health text service now available in Bedfordshire
The NHS-funded Crisis Text Support Service is open to people of all ages, with no minimum age requirement. It offers an alternative for people who prefer communicating by text rather than speaking on the phone or face-to-face, including those experiencing anxiety, loneliness, overwhelming thoughts or emotional distress.
Bedfordshire hospital theatre staff secure pay deal after 14 days of strikes
Staff at both Bedford and Luton & Dunstable hospitals had been told in February that extra shifts would no longer be paid as overtime at time and a half, but would instead be worked at standard rates through the trust's internal staff bank, according to UNISON. The union said the proposals would have discouraged staff from taking on additional shifts, potentially affecting efforts to reduce hospital waiting lists.
Riseley farm planning dispute heads to fresh appeal hearing
Scott Hodson is challenging Bedford Borough Council's decision to refuse permission for an existing caravan at Hill Farm, Melchbourne Road, Riseley, to be retained as temporary accommodation for an agricultural worker. The application sought permission for the caravan to remain for three years, subject to a condition restricting its occupation to agricultural workers.
Milton Keynes pub bucks industry pressures by slashing pint prices for Christmas
The 17th-century pub has seen turnover treble since reopening three years ago and they are giving something back by reduce pint prices from £4.10 to £3.95 between Friday, November 6, and December 31. That poigniantly returns prices to those introduced when The Chequers reopened in 2023. The pub said the 15p reduction applies to pints of draught beer, lager and cider.
Bedfordshire Police 'committed to tackling misconduct' as figures show officer bans fall from 14 to nine
College of Policing figures show nine officers from the force were added to the police barred list in 2025/26, compared with 14 the previous year. Bedfordshire's assistant chief constable (ACC) John Murphy said some cases involved historic misconduct, including officers who had already left policing.
Bedford dad runs half marathon for liver charity after son's rare disease diagnosis
Elan Weedon took on the 13.1-mile challenge on Sunday, November 1, to raise money for Liver UK, which has supported his family since his youngest son, Sonny, was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called biliary atresia. Sonny was just three weeks old when he was diagnosed with the condition and underwent major surgery at King's College Hospital in London three weeks later. His mother, Sophie, said the diagnosis had transformed family life.
New clean energy research laboratories officially open at Cranfield University
The Cranfield Future Energy Laboratories was officially opened on Thursday (October 30) by Dr Kim Hackett, director for system health and sustainability at Research England – a major funder of the project. The laboratories will bring together university researchers, students and industry partners to develop technologies aimed at reducing emissions in sectors including aviation, transport, manufacturing and heavy industry.
Bedfordshire GP websites hit by healthcare firm's collapse
The Central East NHS region integrated care board (ICB) confirmed 49 practices in its area have online services provided by Schappit Ltd, trading as Silicon Practice Digital Health Solutions – but has not said how many are experiencing outages. The ICB said it is “working urgently” to support affected practices. One Bedfordshire surgery, Marston Forest Healthcare, has confirmed that its website and online patient dashboard are unavailable.
Steppingley village pub overwhelmed by support after £1 children's meals branded desperate
The French Horn in Steppingley introduced the offer, available with a dining adult, to help families enjoy meals out despite increasing pressure on household budgets. But after someone criticised the promotion, the pub published a statement on Facebook defending its efforts to support customers and maintain its place in the community. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, according to the pub, with more than 600 likes and over 80 supportive comments.
Stewartby waste facility given until 2028 to meet updated environmental standards
The Environment Agency (EA) has varied the permit for Veolia's Stewartby Waste Management Facility following a regulatory review which introduced new requirements for waste storage, emissions controls and fire prevention arrangements. The permit variation was issued on October 21, and Veolia said the permit changes formed part of a wider EA review of hazardous waste facilities in England, rather than a response to problems identified at Stewartby.
Bedford councillors accuse mayor of acting alone over devolution plan
In a letter to Local Government Minister Jim McMahon, the Labour and Liberal Democrat group leaders, the Green Party group convenor and an independent councillor said mayor Tom Wootton's support for the proposal had not been discussed with borough councillors. They instead backed a devolution arrangement involving Bedford borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK).
East of England Ambulance Service answers record 1.5 million emergency calls
The East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST), which operates control rooms in Bedford, Chelmsford and Norwich, said calls were answered in an average of two seconds during 2025/26. It said this was an improvement of 10 seconds compared with the previous year.
Bedford council speaker remanded in custody after threats to kill charge
Councillor Tim Casswell, a ward councillor for Goldington Ward and the speaker of Bedford Borough Council, appeared at Luton Magistrates' Court this morning (October 26), charged with making threats to kill, threats to damage or destroy property and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place. The 66-year-old, of Crispin Drive, Bedford, has been remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Luton Crown Court scheduled for November 27.
Bedford council speaker in court charged with threats to kill
Councillor Tim Casswell, a ward councillor for Goldington Ward and the speaker of Bedford Borough Council, has been charged with making threats to kill and possession of an offensive weapon. Bedfordshire Police said officers were called shortly before 7.15pm to an address in Crispin Drive, Bedford, following a concern for welfare. The spokesperson said a number of police resources, including specialist firearms officers, attended the scene to ensure the incident was managed safely.
Bedfordshire soldiers laid to rest on the Western Front after more than 100 years
Private George McIntosh, who died aged 34 in April 1917, was identified through DNA testing after his remains were discovered during construction work on a hospital near Lens. He was buried alongside an unidentified soldier from the same regiment at Loos British Cemetery Extension on October 20. Ten members of Pte McIntosh's family attended the ceremony, including his great-nephew Jeff MacIntosh, who travelled from North Carolina, USA.
570 new homes could be coming to Clapham
Hallam Land has submitted a screening opinion request covering a 41.9-hectare site on the north eastern edge of the village, between High Street, The Slade, Green Lane and The Baulk. The proposed development would include up to 570 homes, including affordable housing, public open space, a new village green, landscaping, parking and associated infrastructure, together with the partial demolition, retention and conversion of existing agricultural barns for residential or commercial uses.
Plans to convert former Stagsden pub into housing resubmitted to council
The application seeks permission to convert the former pub into a dwelling and build a second house on part of the former car park, following the dismissal of an appeal for similar plans in January last year. Planning documents submitted with the application state that the revised scheme seeks to address the issues identified by the inspector through the proposed relocation of the bus stop and a planning obligation to fund the necessary works.
'Coverage can be inconsistent and unreliable' - Serious concern raised over use of O2 network for Riseley emergency responders
The council has written to the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST), Bedford Borough Council, mayor Tom Wootton and MP Richard Fuller detailing its fears.
Bedford council refuses to comment after backlash over AI generated 'World Cup' image
The image was used in a Facebook post advertising a planned “Bedford Restaurant World Cup” (May 22, 2026) and showed a gold World Cup-style trophy bearing the words “FIFA WORLD CUP”, alongside football-themed imagery. The post attracted criticism from some social media users, with several questioning the council's use of AI-generated artwork and others suggesting local artists could have been used instead.
Bedfordshire MP 'disappointed' to be left out of major announcement
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East West Rail and Bedford Hospital working in partnership on new care hub and parking
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter The comments follow an announcement by EWR and Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that they had agreed what they described as a “collaborative approach” to the delivery of both the railway project and the Trust's planned Elective Care Hub.
Decision on plans for 'adult gaming centre' in Bedford town centre due next week
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter A report to councillors says the authority can either grant the licence, grant it with conditions, or reject the application. The applicant's local gambling risk assessment describes the site as being within a “mixed-use town centre environment with high levels of public footfall, where some indicators of vulnerability may be present alongside a concentration of retail, leisure and licensed premises”.
Bedford councillor for adult services quits - blaming mayor's leadership
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter The ward councillor for Bromham was the portfolio holder for valuing families: adult services. In a statement, he said: “It is great regret that following a meeting with the mayor I have resigned from the cabinet with immediate effect. “I felt that I could no longer stay in his cabinet any longer.” Councillor Rigby added that he gave mayor Tom Wootton a “detailed letter” of his concerns over the mayor's leadership.
Plans for drive-thru coffee shop near Bedford's Fairhill roundabout approved despite congestion fears
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter Councillors on Bedford Borough Council's planning committee backed proposals for the coffee shop with drive-thru, car parking and landscaping on land south of the junction of Paula Radcliffe Way and Clapham Road. The site is close to Brewpoint and an existing McDonald's drive-thru, while Aldi and Sainsbury's are located nearby on the opposite side of Fairhill.
Bid for new homes in Oakley returns as developers argue housing land shortage outweighs planning restrictions
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter The Planning in Principle (PiP) application relates to land at the rear of 20 Lovell Road and proposes between five and seven dwellings. The site was previously refused planning permission earlier this year after the council said the scheme conflicted with local planning policies, would create a “cramped and contrived” form of development and raised flood risk concerns.
Bedford's shortage of housing land supply 'weakens' policies used to decide planning applications
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter The issue was raised during last night's Planning Committee (Monday, May 18) by councillor Jim Weir (Conservative, Great Denham) when he referenced an earlier email. “I wanted to understand the consequences of a statement which is cropping up in more applications,” he said. “[Which is] because we don't have a five-year housing land supply the Bedford Borough Local Plan 2030 is out of date – obviously we are still four years away from the end of that plan.
Bedford schools to introduce menopause support guidance for staff
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter Members of the Joint Consultative and Negotiating Committee for Primary and Secondary Education approved the new “Menopause at Work Guidance for Schools” during a meeting on Friday (May 15). The guidance has been developed to improve awareness and understanding of perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause within school settings and applies to all school-based staff, including trans and non-binary colleagues who may experience symptoms.
Bedford councillor challenges local government pension rule for over 75s
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter Councillor Weir (Conservative, Great Denham) wrote to the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) questioning whether the restriction was compatible with equality legislation. In the letter, dated May 4, he said he had been informed that despite being eligible “in all other respects”, he could not join the scheme because he was over 75.
Plans for up to 1,000 new homes in Bedford's Ford End Road take a step forward
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter This follows a formal request from the developers asking Bedford Borough Council to provide a formal opinion on whether the scheme requires a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The submission describes proposals for “up to 1,000 dwellings” alongside commercial floorspace on Ford End Road, community-use space, public open space and riverside walking and cycling routes.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy
Yesterday's Finance and Improvement Committee (Thursday, May 14) heard that the Informal Independent Improvement and Assurance Panel believed the council's aim of becoming “financially sustainable and resilient” should currently be rated red rather than amber. Under the council's Red-Amber-Green (RAG) monitoring system, projects are rated according to delivery timescales, resources, costs, and progress towards savings targets. Red-rated actions trigger immediate escalation and enhanced scrutiny.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy
In his acceptance speech councillor Caswell (Lib Dem, Goldington), who was the previous year's deputy speaker, set out his approach to chairing meetings in this election year. He said the council's constitution described the speaker as the “conscience of the council” and urged councillors to share responsibility for maintaining respectful debate despite political differences.
Renters' Rights Act: Bedford council fails to answer questions on impact on homelessness
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter In a statement published on its website (May 7, 2026), Bedford Borough Council said the first phase of the Government's Renters' Rights Act came into force on Friday, May 1. The council said changes include abolishing Section 21 eviction notices so that landlords can no longer evict tenants without a legal reason, a ban on fixed-term tenancy contracts, and rent increases being limited to once a year.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) mayor Tom Wootton said Bedford could become a “building site for a long time” as work progresses on the scheme. “What worries me, and annoys me, is that the local population just don't get it that it's going to be a really, really horrid, torrid time for a very long time,” he said. He also questioned the decision to route the line through the town. “They went around every other town, why are they coming through the middle of ours?
Third time lucky? Plans for flats behind Bedford High Street shops return
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter The latest application proposes a two-storey block of four one-bedroom flats on land to the rear of 72–74 High Street, accessed from Lime Street. Planning documents show similar schemes were approved by Bedford Borough Council in January 2017 and August 2022, but both permissions lapsed after the developments were not started within the required timeframe.
Figures show 28 more neighbourhood policing roles in Bedfordshire - but questions still remain
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter A spokesperson for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) said additional neighbourhood officers have been funded using Government Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee funding. The increase broadly matches a commitment made when the police precept was raised for 2025/26, which stated there would be 20 additional police officers and eight Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) “on the beat”.
Proposed £100k savings linked to councillor allowances vanished from approved Bedford budget
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter The cash-strapped council's original budget, debated on February 4, included plans to “rationalise and/or consider freezing” members' allowances as part of savings proposals. That budget was rejected by councillors; 16 for, 18 against, and 11 abstentions. When a revised budget returned to an extraordinary meeting on February 18, the saving had been removed.
Bedford council officers can spend up to £250k without executive sign-off - as Paddington pub questions still unanswered
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter A report to next week's annual council meeting (Wednesday, May 13) confirms that portfolio holders can take decisions within their areas of responsibility, with only those involving expenditure above £100,000 required to be referred to the mayor or Executive.
More than 300 Bedford council staff now using AI to create meeting reports
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter A report to next week's Finance and Improvement Committee (Thursday, May 14) says the authority has introduced an AI tool called “Magic Notes” across Adults' and Children's Services as part of its wider transformation programme. According to the report, the system records and transcribes meetings with service users and can also populate report and assessment templates automatically.
Plans for 47 homes in Willington submitted
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter The outline application for land off Bedford Road, proposes up to 47 new homes, including affordable housing, along with open space, landscaping and access from Balls Lane. A previous proposal for up to 46 homes was refused by Bedford Borough Council in March 2020, with concerns including development in the countryside, harm to the village's character and impact on nearby listed buildings.
Plans for more than 300 homes near Renhold submitted to council
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter The proposal, on around 21 hectares of agricultural land between Hookhams Lane and Ravensden Road, includes a mix of housing, with 30 per cent affordable homes, alongside open space, drainage infrastructure, footpath improvements and new vehicle access points. A previous proposal for the site for up to 400 homes was refused by the council in June 2020 .
Waste management company in Stewartby applies for retrospective planning permission over changes in how it works
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter FCC Environment has submitted an application to Bedford Borough Council to “regularise” changes at the rail sidings site off Green Lane. Planning documents state the scheme now in use differs from the 2022 permission and seeks to retrospectively approve amendments to the layout, operations and working hours.
NHS trust voices concerns over East West Rail impact on Bedford Hospital expansion plan
John Guinn, Local Democracy Reporter Minutes from a February 2026 meeting between Bedford Borough Council and East West Rail (EWR) show the rail company submitted a “holding objection” after concluding the “footprint of the hospital design has now caused a problem”. The issue related to a potential overlap between the hospital's proposals and East West Rail's plans for a multi-storey car park linked to the wider scheme. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) asked EWR about its objection.
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