Staff working at a tip have been "verbally abused" according to a council.

In a tweet, Luton Borough Council said it was "disappointing as they're doing a difficult job at a difficult time - trying to keep everyone using the tip safe and well".

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Individual schools in Luton will decide how and when to accept more pupils back, the local education authority said.

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Borough Council said its schools had been working "exceptionally hard" to follow the government’s request to open for more children in nursery, reception, Year 1 and Year 6 from 1 June and, while it recognised parents concerns, it did not feel it could stop all of them from taking more pupils back.

"We do not believe that advising all local authority schools not to open for more children on the 1 June would be the best approach," a statement said.

"Keeping children and staff safe is the number one priority, therefore individual schools will decide how and when to accept increasing numbers of pupils."

It said it was working with head teachers and risk assessments were being conducted and reviewed.

Councillor Aslam Khan, who is responsible for education, said: "Based on current assessments it is extremely unlikely that any Luton primary school will be welcoming all pupils back before the summer holidays."

Access to the High Street in Watford is being closed from Water Lane - by the blue pyramid - in order to prepare for a "safe, phased reopening" of the town centre, the borough council, external has said.

Image source, Google

The authority said Hertfordshire County Council was closing the road from tomorrow with no access to the lower part of the High Street through to Kings Street for vehicles except for buses, delivery vehicles, taxis and blue badge holders.

It's to allow visitors, and those who work in the town centre, to move around safely, queue if needed and maintain social distancing.

The town's elected mayor, Peter Taylor, said: "Watford town centre is such an important part of our town and we know people will be looking forward to seeing it come to life again.

"However, it is critical we put everyone’s safety first and making sure people have enough shared space is vital... but we must remember staying at home is still the best way to stay safe and stop the spread of the virus."

Luton Borough Council expects to lose £37m revenue from the town's airport, which it owns.

BBC Look East

The leader of Labour-run local authority has said reports it is on the brink of declaring bankruptcy were "premature".

Sharon Taylor told BBC Look East that coronavirus had created a difficult financial situation at Stevenage Borough Council, and it was expecting to have a £4m shortfall by the end of July.

"At its worst it will mean making cuts to essential key services that everyone has really valued during the epidemic and potentially to the jobs of those people that at the moment are our local government heroes," she said.

Jane Perrone wants people to put their "plant glasses" and "open their eyes" to the natural world.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Getty Images

Key workers in Milton Keynes could be given the freedom of the borough to honour their efforts during the coronavirus pandemic.

Conservatives, including both of the town's MPs and the council's Tory leader Alex Walker called on the local authority to consider bestowing the honour and think it could be granted to hospital workers first, and then to other groups like social workers, postal staff and supermarket employees.

Milton Keynes South MP, Iain Stewart, said so may people "have done an incredible job to help us cope with this challenge" and Milton Keynes North MP, Ben Everitt, added they were "all heroes".

Mr Walker said: "We should never forget the sacrifices that have been made, which is why we are calling on MK Council to confer onto our key workers the highest civic honour a borough can provide as a constant reminder of the immense work, dedication and courage shown."

It looks like the move could get support as Douglas McCall, leader of the Liberal Democrat group, said: "We support recognising the key workers, who have gone above and beyond to help our city in such unprecedented times."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

As people can now enjoy unlimited exercise, destination parks – like Fairlands Valley in Stevenage – are expected to be increasingly popular and the town's Borough Council is considering how social distancing can be ensured.

Image source, Geograph/Nigel Cox

At a council meeting this week, it emerged a one-way system was one option which would mean walkers and joggers would be directed to travel around the lake in the same direction.

But after the meeting, the council’s executive member John Gardner said that option was "low probability", because the number of entrances around the park would make one-way signage difficult and it would be to difficult to instruct visitors to walk in a particular direction, when it would not be enforceable.

He said that where people did approach each other around the lake there was already room to move aside.

Councillor Gardner said he expects there may be new signs advising visitors to observe social distancing.

A warning has been issued after a number of disposable gloves and face masks were thrown away in streets.

Luton Borough Council said they may be "contaminated" and pose "a threat to people", including bin collection crews picking them up.

It is asking people to dispose of them property and safely.

Image source, Luton Borough Council

More than 1,250 items, including toys, books and jigsaws, have been donated to a project aimed at keeping people active during lockdown.

Bedford Borough Council, external is seeking unwanted items, like board games, DVDs and craft items, to share with people in the community who need them the most.

Its community hub has a team of volunteers who can collect, sanitise and then redistribute these items to people in need, the council said.

Image source, Bedford Borough Council

Katy Lewis
BBC News Online

Watford Borough Council, external has said it is making some "small" changes from today in the light of the recent government announcements on Covid-19 restrictions, external.

Image source, Watford Council

Public car parks will reopen including those at Cassiobury Park, Cheslyn Gardens, King George V Playing Fields and Radlett Road Playing Fields.

Public tennis courts and West Herts Golf Club will open but outdoor gyms and playgrounds will remain shut and parking enforcement will be reintroduced on St Albans Road and Whippendell Road.

Elected mayor of Watford, Peter Taylor, said: "We are making these changes in our town following the new advice but we still have a long way to go in tackling this virus.

"It is important that people continue to stay at home as much as they can, that we keep two metres away from other people when we are out and wash our hands when we return home."

Nic Rigby
BBC News

West Norfolk has seen the highest rate of Covid-19 infections in the East of England with 420 cases per 100,000 of the population.

Image source, Rob Noble/Geograph

The figures are for the King's Lynn (pictured) and West Norfolk Council area which has had 638 people infected, according to statistics released by the government.

The whole of Norfolk has had 1,913 cases of people being infected. The rate of infection is 211 across the county is 100,000 of population.

It compares to Norwich where there were 143 infections per 100,000 of the population.

In the East of England the second highest is Hertsmere where there were 359 infection per 100,000 of population.

A temporary testing centre for key workers is operating in Bedfordshire.

The Army is running the site at Cedars Upper School in Leighton Buzzard, until 17:00.

It is only for key workers displaying symptoms of Covid-19 and it is also open tomorrow.

Image source, Central Beds CPT

An ice rink which was converted into a temporary mortuary has not been used yet.

Milton Keynes Council decided to convert Planet Ice into a "temporary place of rest" in case funeral directors were unable to cope with the rise in coronavirus-related deaths.

Image source, SBNA

A council spokesman had called the move "a precaution," with the rink capable of holding hundreds of bodies.

However, in a statement today, the authority said the mortuary "has not been required to date".

A spokeswoman said the council was working "to monitor the situation and to understand the potential capacity required on a regional basis".

The building of the M1-A6 Link Road is set to go-ahead after a High Court bid is rejected.

A collection of sweet treats, cakes and biscuits have been handed to the recycling and waste collections team at Watford Borough Council.

The kind donation came from Bushey Community Bake Off.

Image source, Reuters

Families whose financial situation has been transformed for the worse during the lockdown are being urged to find out if their children are eligible for free school meals.

Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Headley, portfolio holder for finance at Bedford Borough Council, said: "We are concerned that families now struggling financially because of the coronavirus outbreak may not realise their child could be eligible for free school meals or where to go for help."

Parents or carers in Bedford can find out more here, external, as vouchers worth £15 a week are available until schools reopen.

And if this is you but you don't live in Bedford, check out your own council website - it will have its own scheme.

Alex Pope
BBC News Online

We have heard of many face mask being made for the NHS, but in Luton, a "huge thank you" has gone out to Donna Stevens who runs My Sewing Basket in Dunstable.

Luton Council said she made 160 masks for the council's bin crew.

"This important safety equipment will help to protect our bin men as they continue to provide a vital front line service," a spokeswoman said.

Image source, Luton Council

Without funding from an airport, a council says the coronavirus lockdown is having a "disastrous" effect on its finances.

Luton Council has said it is facing a shortfall of £49m this year.

An emergency budget is being prepared which could mean "extremely difficult cuts to key services" it said.

Councillor Hazel Simmons, Labour leader of the council, said: "The council uses money from the airport to fund crucial services to everyone, particularly the most needy.

"With this key source of income obliterated, the council is compelled to consider painful solutions which will drastically affect services and have a profound, long-lasting and bleak impact on the lives of many."

Image source, London Luton Airport

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, Google

A former hotel by the A1 is due to be turned into temporary accommodation for homeless people.

The Days Inn at Sandy in Bedfordshire has been bought by Central Bedfordshire Council as part of a scheme to provide transitional housing for local residents.

A change-of-use application for 42 rooms, with a shared kitchen and dining room, is being prepared by the local authority for approval by its development management committee., external

The property would include family rooms, as well as accommodation for couples and single people, and would be owned and run by the council.