Alex Pope
BBC News Online

Image source, Watford Council

Parks are at risk of becoming "rubbish dumps", a council has said.

A barrier has been installed at Cassiobury car park, and will operate from 07:45 to 22:00, Watford Council said.

The council is also working with the police to "tackle ASB (anti-social behaviour)" and is looking to increase the number of bins and carry out litter picks.

Image source, Watford Council

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

Image source, Bedford Borough Council

Health officials are working with a council and a biosecuirty centre to carry out a "deep dive" into why coronavirus cases are relatively high in a county town.

Dr Aliko Ahmed, Public Health England's regional director, said it was working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Bedford Borough Council "to explore the high coronavirus infection rate in Bedford and investigate why the rates are not falling as quickly as other areas".

As it was responsible for analysing the data from tests and tracing the virus, by examining this information, he said "it should be possible to identify the emergence of ‘hotspots’, so that appropriate action can be taken to help reduce the spread”.

Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford Borough, said the "deep dive investigation" is needed to answer questions.

"We need detailed data to be able to take effective action to control the spread of the virus at a local level."

There have been 776 reported cases in the borough and a rate of 452 per 100,000 people, making it the 11th worst unitary authority relative to population in the country, external, according to government figures.

For contrast, Peterborough has a rate of 231, Milton Keynes 191, and Luton 390.

Two hundred deaths have been reported at Bedford Hospital and 21 care home deaths in the borough.

Patrick Byrne
BBC News

Police raiding three addresses in Luton found six women and arrested six people in an operation to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

The properties were suspected of being used as brothels with links to organised crime.

Image source, Bedfordshire Police

All of the women, who were from Romania, have been offered support through a national organisation for victims of modern slavery.

Specialist support workers from local charity Azalea, external, Luton Council public health, external’s vulnerable women’s group and sexual health services joined Bedfordshire Police, external on the operation.

Three men and two women from Luton and one man from Kent were arrested on suspicion of keeping a brothel.

All six remained in police custody while inquiries continued.

After just four days in operation,Milton Keynes Council, external has scrapped a scheme to close Newport Pagnell High Street to traffic.

The road was originally closed because they feared pedestrians would not be able to maintain social distancing unless they had more space.

More shops reopened on Monday, and the road closure was put in place amid fears customers would return in droves, but that has not materialised.

Image source, Jane Carr

Liberal Democrat Jane Carr, who represents the Newport Pagnell South Ward, said on Facebook that she had been feeding back residents' and traders' comments to the council.

"They believe that with the current level of trade, it is not necessary for the High Street to remain closed at this time to ensure social distancing," Ms Carr said.

A council has revealed a funding gap of £32.6m over two years, brought on coronavirus.

Bedford Borough Council's executive will meet next week to discuss the matter.

The council said the pandemic would place "unprecedented pressure" on it to "deliver care for the vulnerable, elderly and shielded, while keeping vital day-to-day operations running in challenging circumstances".

Image source, David Howard/Geograph

Michael Headley, portfolio holder for finance, said: "We are expecting difficult decisions ahead and with so much still unknown about the course that the coronavirus pandemic will take and the final impact it will have on the economy, we will be keeping a very close eye on the unfolding funding shortfall and doing our best to minimise the impact on local services.”

Income from Luton Airport "has all but dried up" due to the pandemic, the authority says.

Villagers say the bus shelter was "part of the landscape" and wanted it to stay.

A micro-brewery has been granted permission to sell its own beer from its premises, despite the concerns of nearby residents.

Hadham Brewery has been brewing a range of beers at their Hadham Industrial Estate site, in Little Hadham, Hertfordshire since 2015.

Conservative-controlled East Herts Council’s licensing sub-committee heard, external the brewery's submission included the opening of a "tap room" with capacity for 20-30 people to "drop in for a drink".

Residents said they supported the plans for a shop, but were concerned noise from people gathering at the tap room could affect neighbours in the evening.

The committee approved the plan but restricted the hours and stipulated that only beer brewed on the premises could be sold, along with tea, coffee and soft drinks.

Luton is one of the most vulnerable towns to the financial impact of coronavirus, says its council.

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

More than 100 laptops have been purchased by a charity to help disadvantaged children.

The computers are being offered to 14 secondary schools in the Bedford Borough area.

They were bought by The Harper Trust's , externalCovid-19 community fund, including a donation by The Bedford Educational Association.

Kelli Foster, acting headteacher at Mark Rutherford School, said: "This will make a real difference to some of our families who are in desperate need of technology to support their home learning.”

Image source, The Harpur Trust

Irene Saenger, chairman of the association, said: “We hope that it will make a huge difference to the learning potential of some of the most disadvantaged young people in our area during these difficult times.”

The charity is also asking for donations of spare laptops.

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

Image source, Woburn Safari Park

A safari park has said it is "sad and confused by the government guidance", that means it has to stay closed.

Woburn Safari Park, external, in Bedfordshire, said it does not understand how car showrooms and drive-through fast food outlets have reopened, but its park, where you can be socially distanced in cars, cannot welcome back visitors.

"Central Bedfordshire Council, our licencing authority, has visited for an inspection and has confirmed that the drive-through has passed all Covid-19 requirements," a statement said.

"And there are so many new arrivals at the park that we cannot wait for you to meet," it added.

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

Image source, Watford Council

A big thank you has been given to a number of volunteers who have taken part in a litter pick.

Watford Borough Council, external praised the hard work of the Friends Of Cassiobury Park, external group but said: "Please don't rely on good, willing volunteers or hard-working park rangers!

"When visiting Watford's parks put your rubbish in the bins provided or take your rubbish home."

Image source, Watford Council

Starting on Tuesday residents can pick up a "takeaway play box" from one of the Stevenage Borough Council, external's play centres.

Because it is expected to be a busy time residents are requested to observe social distancing and other pandemic guidelines when queuing.

Boxes can be picked up from these play centres on the given days:

• Tuesday at St Nicholas
• Wednesday at Bandley Hill
• Thursday at Pin Green

Two multi-storey car parks in Bedford are due to reopen next week in an attempt to encourage people back into the town centre.

River Street and the Harpur Centre car parks will open on 15 June, the same day government guidance allowing "non-essential" shops to open comes into effect.

The Harpur Centre, external has remained open to provide essentials to the community throughout the crisis and has already began to implement new measures to try to ensure a safe environment for visitors and employees.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "We have been working throughout the lockdown period to ensure that people feel safe and welcome in our town centre."

Harpur Centre manager, Samantha Laycock, said: "We’re making every effort to protect our colleagues and customers, and while safety is paramount, we look forward to welcoming our visitors and non-essential retailers back as they gradually reopen to serve our community."

Any personal or fitness trainer is being reminded to register with a council first if they want to use open spaces for training sessions.

Bedford Borough Council said they will need to submit a Covid-19 risk assessment, external explaining how social distancing will be maintained.

Charles Royden, portfolio holder for environment, said: "I know that our parks have been a real lifeline for local people, and as lockdown starts to ease we have seen more people start to gather, and more and more training sessions taking place.

"If you are running a training session in a park or open space and have not registered, or are not abiding by government guidelines, you may be asked to leave."

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Watford will see changes to parking in the light of non-essential shops reopening from the 15 June.

Image source, Watford Council

From that date:

• Parking controls will be reintroduced in local streets to make sure parking spaces are prioritised for local residents. For areas that normally have restrictions until 22:00, these will finish at 18:30 due to late night restaurants and bars still being closed
• Residents will get a three-month extension on their permits to compensate for having reduced parking controls for the last 12 weeks
• Enforcement in council car parks near the town centre (Avenue and Town Hall carparks) will be reintroduced
• Third party-owned car parks (Intu and CitiPark) will also begin enforcement again
• NHS and other key workers will still be able to park for free in pay and display car parks and permit bays free of charge, provided they display a national parking pass issued by their employer

Full details can be found on Watford Borough Council's website, external.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A council has no plans to dip into its £21m reserve pot to prop up small businesses in Milton Keynes, a meeting has heard.

Milton Keynes Council, external has said it intends to lobby the government to top up £1.97m it has been given to help struggling small firms that have so far fallen between the cracks of coronavirus financial help schemes.

Councillor Rob Middleton, who is in charge of the finances, told the cabinet’s first virtual meeting that the council faced a shortfall of between £27m and £55m in its £200m budget at the end of four years.

“Digging into our reserves might not be a prudent move,” he said.

Image source, Steven Haslington/Geograph

Some councils are to reimburse parents any costs they might incur for taking their children to school from next week.

Image source, Reuters

Social distancing rules, external has meant pupils should avoid public transport (including school transport) and either walk, cycle, or use their own car to get to school.

"If your child is eligible for home to school transport assistance and normally travels on a school bus or coach, but you are planning to drive them to and from school instead, we can refund you for the mileage you drive," Central Bedfordshire Council said on its website, external.

It will be offering 36p per mile but Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire county councils will be paying more, at 45p. All will be offering a reduced school bus service.

School transport will still be provided in the usual way for those pupils that cannot make their own way to school, though with a reduced number of seats due to social distancing rules," said Sue Clark, of Central Bedfordshire.

Essex County Council said it would not be reimbursing parents who chose to make their own arrangements as they would still be providing "tax-payer funded" buses.

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Businesses in St Albans are being asked to take part in a survey about the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.

Image source, Geograph/Colin Smith

St Albans City and District Council is conducting the research to see what kind of support businesses will need to survive it..

The authority's cabinet has set up a cross-party Recovery Task and Finish Group that will consider all feedback before deciding what actions should be taken.

The survey runs until 9 June and is available here, external.

Councillor Karen Young said: "This survey will provide us with vital information about the current challenges faced by our business community and shape our response to their needs.

"The Recovery Task and Finish Group will also be looking at a later date at the actions we can take to help community groups as well as residents, including the most vulnerable."

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

A local education authority is planning to pay parents to drive their children to school in a bid to reduce numbers on school buses.

Central Bedfordshire Council , externalwill be offering parents a mileage reimbursement, external when schools return from half term on Monday - if their child is eligible for home to school transport assistance and normally travels on a school bus.

The mileage rate of 36p per mile is from home to school, and can be claimed for four journeys a day - driving to and from school twice. Schools will be asked to verify any expenses claims by parents.

The council said parents of children who currently travel by bus, coach or taxi are strongly encouraged to accept this offer so social distancing rules can be maintained on buses.

Where children can't walk, cycle or be driven by parents, the council will still provide transport in the usual way.