Mayor Dave Hodgson has described the High Court ruling which against Covanta Incinerator's (BACI) claim to quash the environmental permit for the Covanta Incinerator at Rookery South Pit near Stewartby as a 'dreadful blow' to nearby communities.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "This is a dreadful blow to communities in the vicinity of the planned giant incinerator. The BACI team of volunteers deserve huge credit for the incredible battle they have fought on behalf of local residents. At the very least a clear message has been sent to Covanta and all regulatory bodies that every move will be watched closely and that residents will fight tirelessly for the good of their community."

Mayor Dave Hodgson has wished all who are celebrating a happy Diwali.

Writing on both his Twitter and Facebook pages, Mayor Dave offered his best wishes and a very happy Diwali to everyone celebrating today.

On Sunday, Mayor Dave attended the Festival of Lights event at the John Bunryan Sports and Fitness‬ Centre in Bedford. The event was organised by the Bedford Indian Community group, and they have posted photos from the event on their Facebook page, including with Mayor Dave.

In a major boost for local shoppers and traders, Mayor Dave Hodgson's Cabinet has resolved that all car park charges will be frozen for 2019, with the wide array of free parking options for Bedford Town Centre maintained and even extended.

The freeze cuts the real cost of parking for a second successive year, delivering a pre-Christmas boost for local traders and shoppers alike. The freeze applies to all charges, covering both on street parking and Council car parks.

Remembrance events and activities are already underway across Bedford Borough, and on Sunday Mayor Dave Hodgson attended the Scots Society's Remembrance Service at Foster Hill Road. The service was a remembrance for all service personnel who have lost their lives in the armed forces, and it commemorates the large number of members of the Highland regiments who were stationed in Bedford prior to heading to the Front in the First World War, and who sadly lost their lives in large numbers due to infection and illness.

This weekend will see a range of events in Bedford marking the centenary of the end of the First World War and remembering those members of the Armed Forces who have lost their lives. The weekend of events will culminate in the lighting of a 'Beacon of Light', as part of the 'Battle's Over' National Tribute on 11^th November.

Mayor Dave Hodgson has issued a rallying cry in support of local markets, in the week that his Executive agreed a freeze in the cost of pitches in support of local market traders.

Markets provide important additional footfall at a time when town centres across the country are facing major challenges, and they are an important and historic feature of Bedford. In support of the Bedford Charter Market and Kempston Market, Mayor Dave Hodgson's Excecutive this week agreed an inflation-defying freeze for pitch hire in 2019, cutting real costs for traders.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have today launched their campaign to freeze fares for Bedford rail users.

The Government has announced another fare rise for January, with 'regulated' fares rising by over 3%. However, Mayor Dave Hodgson and local Lib Dems are calling for an immediate freeze for Bedford rail users due to the downgraded and failing services they are suffering.

Commenting on yesterday's Budget delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mayor Dave Hodgson has noted that the claim that 'austerity is over' has proven to be simply not true, and called on the government to cut out the spin and reverse the ongoing cuts for local services.

Mayor Dave said: "So it turns out that when Theresa May said 'austerity is over', it simply wasn't true. Yesterday's budget confirmed that the painful cuts for local services continue, barring some sticking plasters and some long overdue relief for the NHS. The Conservative government got some misleading headlines about austerity ending, but meanwhile our communities face ongoing funding cuts for our council services, our police and more."