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.

  • Potton’s mark of respect for Captain Sir Tom Moore February 25, 2021

    The funeral of Captain Sir Tom Moore will take place this Saturday 27th February and, as a mark of respect, the Union flag will be flown on the Library at half mast on the Library.

    St Mary’s Church has been asked to arrange for the tolling of one bell at midday on the day of the funeral, again, as a mark of respect.

  • Potton’s Spring Litter Pick Cancelled February 24, 2021

    It is with regret that Potton’s Spring Litter Pick will not now take place on Saturday 13th March, as following the government announcements on Monday 22nd February, our outdoor activities will still be restricted as part of the National Lockdown.

    However, should you choose to pick up litter on your daily exercise, please ensure you do so safely and, in line with the latest government guidance, you should only undertake outdoor activity as an individual, with one other person or with members of your own household/support bubble, while maintaining social distancing at all times.

    Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

  • Bedfordshire church launches online Book of Condolence for Sir Tom February 8, 2021

    The parish church of St Mary’s, Marston Morteyne, the parish where Captain Sir Tom Moore lived for so many years, has launched an online book of condolence, primarily for the people of Bedfordshire. Anyone may contribute to it, but Bedfordshire residents may identify themselves as such by ticking a box.

    The initiative is supported by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedford Helen Nellis and The Rt Revd Richard Atkinson, Bishop of Bedford who want the communities of Bedford to be able to honour Sir Tom in this way and express their gratitude for his life and sorrow at his loss.

    The Bishop said: “The parish church would ordinarily have placed a book of condolence in the church for anyone to use but in a sign of the times, as they cannot visit the church under pandemic rules, this is a way of providing that opportunity to them and a wider group of people at the same time. The entries are being recorded and moderated and we hope to publish as many as is practical, in time. I hope that this will provide people with a chance to express in words what they thought and felt about Sir Tom.”

    The Bishop will also preside at St Mary’s Sunday usual Sunday morning service at 10 am which will also be on YouTube. During the service Sir Tom and all who have died in the pandemic will be remembered in prayer. The Revd Kate McFarlane, Curate-in-Charge of the church will preach.

    St Mary’s has written a prayer for all who mourn his loss. The condolence book and the prayer can be accessed directly via www.sirtom.org and from the parish’s own website: stmarysmarston.org where a link to the YouTube service can also be found.

    The Lord Lieutenant and the Bishop also expressed their own thoughts about Sir Tom:

    The Lord Lieutenant said:

    “We were all so sad to hear that Captain Sir Tom Moore passed away in Bedford Hospital this week and we send our thoughts and prayers to his wonderful family who are grieving the loss of a much-loved father and grandfather.

    “Captain Tom was a national treasure who inspired us, and NHS staff, with his gentle, clear and hopeful messages, encouraging us to know that “tomorrow will be a good day.” The image of him walking 100 hundred laps of his garden will always make us believe that we are all capable of doing something to help.

    “The twinkle in his eye and his humble dignity touched the hearts of the world and we are proud to honour him as a son of Bedfordshire whose remarkable contribution will be forever remembered by history.”

    The Bishop added:

    “To so many, Sir Tom represented the best of our courage and character. Though we are sad, we are also profoundly grateful for him and his magnificent contribution over the last year.

    “We will be learning lessons from his optimism and can-do approach to life for some time, but for now the impression left on me is of someone for whom it was never too late to make a difference and a powerful statement about the value of each person’s contribution.

    “Though we miss him, how much more will his loving and extensive family, who are in our prayers.”

  • Census 2021 February 8, 2021

    Households across Central Bedfordshire will be asked to take part in Census 2021 this spring.

    The census, run by the Office for National Statistics, is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every ten years since 1801, with the exception of 1941.

    Understanding the needs of the nation helps everyone from central government to organisations, such as councils and health authorities, plan and fund public services across England and Wales. Census outputs inform where billions of pounds of public funding is spent on services like transport, education and health – on cycle routes, schools and dental surgeries.

    Information from the census is also important in helping lots of other people and organisations do their work.

    Charities and voluntary organisations often use it as evidence to get funding. It helps businesses to understand their customers and, for example, decide where to open new shops. Plus, those doing research, like university students and people looking into their family history, use census data. It provides important information on population diversity, allowing organisations to know whether they are meeting their responsibilities and triggering action where necessary.

    Census 2021 will be the first run predominantly online, with households receiving a letter with a unique access code, allowing them to complete the questionnaire on their computers, phones or tablets.

    “The census provides a unique snapshot of our communities,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at Office for National Statistics, said. “It benefits everyone. Based on the information you give, it ensures millions of pounds are invested in emergency services, mental health care, school places, hospital beds, houses, roads, GP’s and dentist’s services.

    “No-one should miss out. Everyone can complete on online with a new search-as-you-type ability and paper forms for those who need them.”

    Census day will be on March 21, but households will soon receive letters with online codes explaining how they can take part. The census will include questions about your sex, age, work, health, education, household size and ethnicity. And, for the first time, there will be a question asking people whether they have served in the armed forces, as well as voluntary questions for those aged 16 and over on sexual orientation and gender identity.

    Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.

    For more information and advice on how to answer the questions, visit census.gov.uk.

  • Greensand Country – Exciting Volunteer Opportunity February 2, 2021

    The Greensand Country Landscape Partnership is looking for volunteers from across Greensand Country to take part in fascinating Oral History and research project which will inspire content for our commissioned artists.

    Volunteers will also get to work with the artists and become an integral part of the creative
    process.  This could be a great lockdown project, with free training in Oral History, Historical Research and Archiving.

    Get more information here.

  • Would you know what to do in a flood? January 29, 2021

    Slide 1

    Due to the persistent and sometimes heavy rain over the last few days, the Community Engagement Team at Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) is alerting town and parish councils of potential flooding.

    Should the situation worsen, CBC will send out a further update to residents, town and parish councils and Ward Councillors – they are also alerting residents on social media at this stage too.

    A flood alert means you need to prepare: flooding is possible.

    If you haven’t already done so, you should:

    • check your flood risk
    • sign up for flood warnings
    • keep up to date with the latest situation – call Floodline on 0345 988 1188 or follow @EnvAgency and #floodaware on Twitter for the latest flood updates
    • have a bag ready with vital items like insurance documents and medications in case you need to leave your home
    • check you know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water mains supplies
    • plan how you’ll move family and pets to safety

    More details here: https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/what-to-do-in-a-flood

  • CBC has launched a new, quick and easy, highways reporting system January 26, 2021

    You can now report highways issues quickly and easily, and track their progress, through a new online system launched this week.

    Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) has partnered with ‘mySociety’, creators of ‘FixMyStreet’, a system that allows residents to make reports directly against certain council assets, like gullies, streetlights and trees. The user-friendly reporting system allows reports to be pinpointed on a map, photos to be added and shows residents’ reports that have already been created, plus any planned roadworks, which saves time and avoids multiple reporting.

    The level of updates you’ll receive is much improved too. You’ll now receive an update during every step of the repair, meaning you’ll know when works are booked in and when the repair is complete.

    The new system allows residents to report highways concerns such as potholes, faulty streetlights, blocked drains and roadside ditches, overgrown roadside hedges and trees and more.

    It’s not just highways issues that can be reported; the new system allows reports on fly-tipping, weeds, litter and dog waste bins and graffiti.

    FixMyStreet Pro already works seamlessly on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers and can be downloaded on Android and IOS devices. It’s free and easy to do and doesn’t take long to create a report.

    To start reporting issues you see on the roads and for more information please visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/reportit.

  • Update to Coronavirus COVID-19 page January 5, 2021

    Our Coronavirus COVID-19 page has been updated.  Click here to find out more.

  • Christmas & New Year Refuse, Recycling and Garden Waste Collections November 18, 2020

    Slide 1

    Central Bedfordshire Council has announced dates for all Refuse & Recycling and Garden Waste collections over the 2020/2021 festive period.

    Please note: all kerbside garden waste collections will be suspended between Monday 7th December 2020 and Friday 26th February 2021 inclusive, thus making Potton’s last garden waste collection on Friday 27th November.  Collections will resume from Monday 1st March 2021, and Potton’s collections will begin again on Friday 5th March 2021.

    You can find out more information from the CBC website here.

  • Help raise £2,000 to Support Potton families during the COVID-19 Lockdown April 11, 2020

    Slide 1


    Potton Community Help need your financial support

    Potton Community Help are working hard to support those who are self-isolating due to the COVID19 virus, ranging from shopping, collecting prescriptions and other urgent supplies to making a friendly phone call and posting mail.

    However, during the COVID19 Lockdown, many Potton families are going to suffer from short-term financial hardships leading to Food Poverty. Potton Town Council has set up and will manage a support fund to enable us to provide food for these families, working closely with the Potton Community Help coordinators and our current Community Agent and Community and Wellbeing Champion.

    As we progress through this lengthy period of lockdown, we will need to raise further funds in order to support our Potton residents that have been severely affected financially. We are therefore asking you to help us by donating whatever you can afford to this JustGiving fund. All of the money raised will go towards supporting our Potton residents in their hour of need. £58 will feed a Potton family for one week (source – The Need Project).

    Please give generously.

    At the end of the pandemic, we will use any remaining funds to continue supporting Potton families in need.

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.