Councillor Jake Sampson's will be holding a Young People's Political Workshop as part of BedPop Fun Palaces at 11am this Sunday (6th October) at The Higgins Bedford.

Newnham Liberal Democrat Councillor Jake Sampson became the youngest Member of Bedford Borough Council in May's elections.

The workshop will explore the fundamentals of UK politics and the role that young people themselves can play both locally and nationally.

Local NHS bosses have finally committed to keeping key services at Bedford Hospital in a huge win for local residents and supporters of the campaign to save Bedford Hospital.

NHS bosses recently told a meeting of local NHS and Local Authority leaders that Bedford would retain its maternity services, accident and emergency and 24-hour children's wards.

Following news that the High Court have today dismissed the claim brought by two women representing the BackTo60 campaign group, Mayor Dave Hodgson has expressed his disappointment.

Dave said "For the High Court to find in favour of the Department for Work and Pensions is incredible disappointing. It is quite clear to me the claimants, and all WASPI women, have been discriminated against on grounds of age, sex and age & sex combined.

This weekend, Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October, BedPop will join hundreds of Fun Palaces nationally and internationally set to explode with FREE and fun activities, bringing art, science, craft, heritage and adventure to the heart of the community.

This year there are four Fun Palaces popping up, all taking place in Bedford's town centre and Cultural Quarter with FREE events for everyone to enjoy. The Fun Palaces will be at The Higgins Bedford, John Bunyan Museum, the Panacea Museum and Bedford Central Library.

On Monday evening, Mayor Dave Hodgson's new Climate Change Committee met. This follows the Mayor declaring a Climate Emergency earlier this year.

Mayor Dave set a target to achieve a 40% carbon reduction target when he was first elected in 2009. Since then the Council has reduced its carbon emissions on council buildings by 62% and delivered a number of energy efficiency projects across the Council's estate including installing solar panels on several Council sites.

Mayor Dave Hodgson has presented Graham Mabbutt of the John Bunyan Community Boat project with with the inaugural Love Bedford Visitor's Award in recognition of the hugely success of the project in brining people into Bedford and onto the river.

At a recent BedfordBID breakfast, Mayor Dave spoke of the outstanding contribution of Graham, who led the project from its launch in 2013. Since then over 38,000 trips have been taken on the boat on the River Great Ouse.

Mayor Dave Hodgson this week visited Foxgloves Children's Home and Sunflower House to help celebrate the completion of enhanced facilities for children with disabilities to enjoy.

Commenting on Facebook, Mayor Dave said:

"I really enjoyed visiting Sunflower House this week to celebrate its improved facilities for children with physical, sensory and related learning disabilities. Most excitingly, they include this formula 1-style wheel chair raceway. Brilliant!'

Today is the day of Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee Morning, and events to raise money for the charity have been taking place across Bedford Borough today and throughout the week.

Mayor Dave Hodgson visited Kempston Post Office's Macmillan Coffee Morning event earlier this week, and he commented on his Facebook page: