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.

General Assistant Vacancy February 27, 2024
We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and reliable General Assistant to carry out caretaking, maintenance and ground-keeping activities.

Please click here for more details.
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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Winter break for garden waste collections November 20, 2023
Kerbside collections of household garden waste will pause as usual during the winter months across Central Bedfordshire.

Garden waste collections will be suspended for 12 weeks from Monday 4th December 2023 until Friday 23rd February 2024 inclusive. Potton’s final collection will be on Friday 24th November, and will resume on Friday 1st March 2024. During this period, all other waste collections will operate as normal.

Over the winter, very low volumes of garden waste are collected so it is not cost-effective or environmentally friendly to provide the service during these months. Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) is encouraging residents to sign up for email alerts to receive timely notifications about the resumption of garden waste collections and other waste service changes throughout the year. For more information about garden waste and collection dates you can also visit: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/garden-waste.

During the break, garden waste can still be recycled at any of CBC’s four Household Waste Recycling Centres which are open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm, including bank holidays. For further details, including the opening times over the Christmas and New Year period, please visit: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/tidytips

Residents with enough space in their gardens are encouraged to home compost and can access tips and advice on CBC’s website.

Residents can also prepare for the festive season by following the CBC’s social media and checking the website for collection dates throughout the Christmas period: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/waste
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.
Community Safety Survey for Young People August 17, 2023
Young people from 11 – 18 years old can take part

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Safer Communities & Partnership Team is asking individuals between 11 and 18 years old to take part in its youth survey.

Designed with the input of young people, the survey will help the team understand how they feel about safety in their local area and identify the issues they believe need attention.

The survey is an offshoot of the annual Safer Central Survey, where residents can give feedback on issues like fly tipping and anti-social behaviour. The team recognise the importance of gathering feedback from a younger demographic, who may have slightly different concerns and priorities, which was why a separate survey was designed.

The results from the survey will help inform future community safety priorities. The survey was shared with schools in Central Bedfordshire before they broke up for the summer holidays, and features information about local support services specifically for young people.

If you’re a parent or take care of someone between 11 and 18 years old, please encourage them to take part. It won’t take long, just a few minutes, and will allow them to have input into improving their local community.

Take part in the youth survey.

Anyone over 18 can take part in the Safer Central Survey.
Twinning Charter July 31, 2023

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A councillor from Langenlonsheim and her family recently visited Potton and met with Cllr Carol Leggatt. Carol was given information on the Twinning Charter (above).

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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