Lutonline Luton Borough Council’s newspaper for local people Issue 138 September 2013 www.l uton. gov. ukY our normal Lut online is inside Find out more about the busway at www.tra velluton.co.uk Busway services operated by: Fast, frequent and reliable Lynn’s farewell to education after 36 years p3 p4 Seven parks nowamongbest in countryCustomers open relocated day centre p11 p6 Checks to make before buying a dogB u s s e r v i c e s s t a r t o n W e d n e s d a y 2 5 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 3 Hip-hop tickets: the smart way to get around iv Get moving: the Luton Dunstable Busway is coming! ii Route map: a premier service that doesn’t cost the earth iii
prompted by a change in the law whichallows the Council to arrange orhomeless amilies seeking help to begiven a property in the private sectorand not necessarily in a council orhousing association at or house.
The new policy also reects theGovernment’s Welare Reorm Actin supporting Council tenants under-occupying their home by oering
priority or a transer to downsize. This will open up opportunities or currentlyovercrowded households who need toupsize.
Cllr Tom Shaw, Portolio Holderor housing, said: “We have a massivechallenge in Luton with demand orhousing ar exceeding our very limitedsupply. I am thereore pleased that wenow have a air and transparent policy inplace that ensures that priority is givento those who need and deserve it most.
“I also want to make it clearthat anyone who has been guilty o unacceptable behaviour such as domestic violence will not be given priority.
“I would like to thank residents whoactively took part in the consultation which helped shape the new policy.”
The changes will be phased in over
the coming months.
Housing: priority is given
to those who need it mos
Over 3,500 people ocked to Wardownin June for the annual Picnic in thePark, sponsored by Bartham Press andDiverse FM.
Opened by the Mayor of Luton CllrSheila Roden, the event was co-hostedby the Council’s family information serviceand the Pre-School Learning Alliance.
This year’s theme was healthy teethand lifestyles, with children and parentsqueuing at the Department of Health unitto ‘show the dentist their smile’ and enjoya series of entertaining challenges.
Other activities for the under-ves
Family fun in the par
LutonlineLuton Borough Council’s newspaper for local people
Issue 138 September 2013
www.luton.gov.uk
www.luton
Lynn’s farewell toeducation after 36 years
p3 p4
Sevenparks now among best incountry
The Council has agreed a new llocations policy to ensure thatriority or social housing goeso residents who need it most.
With more than 8,000 peopleurrently on Luton’s housing waitingst, the new rules have been introducedo ensure that allocations can be better
managed given the severe shortage o ocial housing and limited land availableo build on.
A new local connection rule meanshat applicants must have lived in Lutonor three years, or worked in the townor 12 months or more, to be acceptednto the waiting list.
Applicants with no connection touton will no longer be accepted. Therevious policy allowed applicants romnywhere in the world, making the
waiting list unmanageable.
Other changes mean thatomeowners, people with housing orouncil tax debt or anyone with a history violence will no longer be givenriority or social housing.
A new category o assistance haslso been introduced or injured ormerrmed services personnel.
The review o the policy was also
Customers openrelocated day centr
p6
greenline.co
Green Line 757 isthe great-value wayto travel to Londonfrom Luton. 7
GREAT VALUEWAY 757LUTON - LONDON
Commuting, sightseeing, shopping, nights out...
@Gree /GreenLineUK
SAVE
£££SLUTON/LONDON
included crafts, face painting, bouncastles and slides, obstacle coursestorytime and theatre, while childrewere also able to get behind the whof a re engine and ambulance.
Other advice for parents coveredand home safety, fostering opportuand road safety, and there was alsochance to meet a number of childcaproviders and nd out more about fsupport services available in Luton.
Cllr Roden said: “It was great to smany families from different commuall having a fantastic time.”
For inormation on all Councilservices and departments visit: www.luton.gov.uk
Lutonline is delivered to 72,000
homes in the borough. Private
advertising keeps productioncosts to a minimum.
Keeping our community sae
Less crime means ewer victims
Leader’s
columnCllr Hazel
SimmonsSince the decisionby trustees o theSouth Beds Dial-a-Ride scheme toterminate servicesin Luton at shortnotice, the Councilhas been working
hard with partners to make sure thatelderly and vulnerable people in ourborough can continue to request localtransport.
To this end the Council has been verygreatly assisted by both Shopmobility, whose sta have agreed to rise to thechallenge and take bookings or thisservice, and by Age Concern which hasbeen working quickly and thoroughly toidentiy those customers in priority need.
The Council ocused immediatelyon ensuring that eective temporaryarrangements were put in place asquickly as possible because this is animportant service that enables people who may otherwise be let eelingisolated to get out and about, whetherthat is or shopping, health appointmentsor to socialise with riends.
That is why South Beds Dial-a-Ridereceived around £130,000 through acombination o unding direct romLuton Borough Council and a donation
rom London Luton Airport.Customers who had booked a journey,or who now need to do so, are asked toplease contact Shopmobility on 01582738936, open every weekday rom 9am-2pm. Clients using the service should bein possession o a concessionary bus pass.
For urther inormation or advice,customers should contact the Counci l’sPassenger Transport Oice on 01582547219, open rom 8am-5pm.
We have understandably beenocusing on vulnerable customersreceiving care packages, and those withsevere mobility issues, and we apologisei other transport needs have not orcannot be met in the short term.
A review o how this service mightnow be provided in the uture is alreadyunder way. In the meantime I am
additionally obliged to colleagues withinthe Council’s own transport service who have brought in extra vehicles anddrivers who are taking on the workload.
Customers who are able to accessgeneral bus services can o course alsocontinue to use their concessionarypasses in line with terms and conditions.
It was amazing to learn recently thatlocal residents have given up more than20,000 hours o their own time in thelast 12 months as part o the Council’s volunteer scheme.
This milestone serves as a useulopportunity to remind people about the
“Less crime means ewer victims,”
said Chie Constable Colette Paulater Bedordshire Police againrecorded some large reductions incrime rates.
Figures published nationally in Julyshowed Bedordshire’s overall crimerate ell by 11 per cent in 2012/13, withother signifcant reductions in burglaryand violent crime.
Ms Paul said: “It is important toacknowledge that this achievement isagainst the backdrop o challengingunding cuts but since I arrived atBedordshire Police I have beenoverwhelmed by the determination andability shown by all our sta to fndnew and creative ways to meet thesechallenges. We have cut costs whileimproving our perormance and that is
something we should all be very proud o.“While we must celebrate success
where we can, I am not complacent andour ocus must remain on victims o crime to ensure they get the best service we can deliver, while also protecting the wider public so they eel sae as they goabout their day-to-day lives.
“We have some way to go withsatisying victims and there are o course still areas where we need to work even harder and be more creative with the resources we have to keepreducing crime.”
The ollowing reductions wererecorded:
● 13 per cent in violence against theperson, the ourth largest decrease inEngland and Wales
● 20 per cent in robbery compared to13 per cent nationwide
● seven per cent in domestic and 17 percent in non-domestic burglary
● 12 per cent in vehicle oences.
Meanwhile, 30 per cent o Bedordshire residents experienced or witnessed anti-social behaviour, similarto the England and Wales rate o 29 percent, and a 16 per cent reduction – whileseven per cent experienced drink-relatedbehaviour, signifcantly below thenational rate o 10 per cent.
Bedordshire’s overall crime rate or
the period was 57.8 crimes p
population, below the Englanrate o 66.4 crimes. The 11 preduction in overall crime conine per cent across the cou
Bedordshire did experiencent increase in sexual oensecond highest increase, bueighth lowest overall
Ms Paul said: “While we rthere has been a considerabin reported sexual oences,number o crimes committe very small in comparison wcrime. Changes to such smacreates signifcant percentagand there are a number o rethis including the publicity Operation Yewtree.
“I have asked or more wodone to understand the high
o sexual oences. What is pabout this though is that it sconfdence and willingness report such crimes.
“Another reason or the inis the enorcement activity asoliciting and kerb crawling which we have been ocusinparticularly in Luton where the local authority we have targeted an issue causing coconcern and this has resultesignifcant increase in oenrecorded and detected.”
Chie ConstableColette Paul
www.luton.gov.uk/parks
Love to play gamesin Luton’s parks?Then the Council wouldlike to hear from you!
various ways they can give sback to the community – and valuable experience.
Volunteer roles have inclu
community centre activities with vulnerable adults, evenmanagement and promotingto improve local communitie
Now the Council is lookinnew volunteers or day care in community roles, adult leas health champions or as parecently-launched cancer awteam.
Volunteering with the Couopportunity to meet new peoa reerence and, where a proundertake a qualiication. Inthan 50 volunteers have recequaliications and specialistto help them increase their csecuring work in the uture.
We ensure that volunteersneeds and goals are at the he
their placement – whether itconidence, giving somethinlearning new skills or providpathway into employment, etraining.
Volunteering is somethingproud o and can be a lie-chexperience. I you would likemore, please call 01582 54 87 [email protected]
ater seven o the town’s parks were awarded Green Flag statusthis summer
In recent years Wardown, Stockwood,Memorial and Brantwood Parks as well as Kidney Wood have all beenrecognised among the UK’s leadinggreen spaces.
This year People’s Park and ManorRoad Park also achieved the accolade.
Over the past year several ‘riendso the parks’ groups have worked hardalongside Council sta to improve theirlocal areas by carrying out a variety o projects.
Friends o Manor Park securedalmost £50,000 o unding to upgradethe ormal gardens, resuracingpathways, landscaping and installingnew benches and noticeboards.
People’s Park is a diverse area andincludes a County Wildlie Site whichis home to the Great Pignut, a plantspecies only ound locally.
The park has benefted greatly romthe involvement o local people over thelast ew years, with events includinga Jubilee Tea Party in the recreationarea and the Love Luton Festival whichtook place on the area known as PopesMeadow.
The Friends o High Town have also worked tirelessly alongside the Counci land the local Groundwork Trust tosecure unds to plant hedges and makeaccess improvements.
At Kidney Wood a number o localbusinesses and organisations have gotinvolved in woodland management
activities as part o their community and
Seven Green Flags oour town’s great park
Mayor Cllr Sheila Rodenraises the Green Flag at Wardownand volunteers plant up Manor Road Park
News in Brief
Essential worksat Chapel ViaductMotorists are advised of overnightroad closures to allow for essentialmaintenance on the Chapel Viaductover the August Bank Holidayweekend.
The eastbound carriageway willbe closed for three nights from theevening of Friday 23 August until themorning of Monday 26 August. Asigned diversion will be in operationvia Telford Way, Guildford Street andPark Viaduct.
This work was originallyprogrammed for late July but had tobe postponed for reasons beyond theCouncil’s control. The bridge servesthe town’s busy inner ring road and
some disruption is inevitable whilework takes place to replace expansion
joints.The road closures will take
effect from 8pm-6am each evening.However, the carriageway will remainopen from 6am-8pm each day. Allworks are dependent on dry weather.
Similar works to the westboundcarriageway of Chapel Viaduct andPark Viaduct have recently beencompleted.
Mayor’s AwardMayor of Luton Cllr Sheila Roden willbe honouring an outstanding residentat the upcoming Community Awards.
The Mayor’s Award categoryrecognises ordinary people who make
an extraordinary difference to the livesof others.
It could be that they help thevulnerable or disadvantaged, give theirtime to charity or fundraise for differentgroups. Anybody can be nominated,from football coaches to carers.
Closing date for nominations isMonday 2 September. Shortlistednominees will be contacted before theceremony on Thursday 24 October atVenue Central in Leagrave Road.
● Go to www.communitycommunications.co.uk
Conrm yourdiscount onlineThe Council has launched a pilotscheme asking residents to conrmonline that they are entitled to thesingle person discount on theircouncil tax.
An initial batch of 2,000 letters was
sent to residents in July, asking themwhere possible to register online andconrm their entitlement. A further25,000 customers will receive lettersby December.
Cllr Robin Harris, Portfolio Holderfor nance, explained that by usingthe online service residents will behelping the Council save moneyand allow staff to focus on helpingvulnerable customers.
He added: “We are already reallypleased with the success of the pilotand are listening carefully to whatour customers are telling us.”
● Further details are available at www.luton.gov.uk – see the linkto council tax on the home page.
Warning: keep a lookout odangerous beauty product
● For urther advice call trading standards on 01582 547262 or www.everythingregulation.org
The Council’s trading standards serviceissued a saety warning or consumersand retailers this summer ater seizing640 comestic and beauty products onsale locally which were not correctlylabelled in line with UK law.
Testing revealed banned or
dangerously high levels o chemicalsin acial skin lightening creams byStillmans, Faiza, Pearl, Seven HerbalUbtan and Roop Amrit. Potentiallydangerous henna included hair productsMoon Star and skin product Rani KoneBlack.
The acial whitening creamscontained mercury which is bannedrom all EU products. Mercury ispoisonous and can damage the kidneys,skin, brain and nervous system.Pregnant women using skin lighteningcreams containing mercury couldpotentially harm their unborn baby.
Breast eeding mothers using thesecreams may have mercury in their milk, which is then passed on to their inant.
PPD (p-phenylenediamine) is achemical banned rom skin products.It can cause nasty reactions i applieddirectly to the skin, producing a swollen
and sore red burn-like mark andincreased sensitivity. Although up totwo per cent PPD is permitted or usein hair colourants, these products mustcarry special warning labels and clearinstructions and should not be used byanyone under 16.
Cllr Mohammed Ashra, PortolioHolder or trading standards, said: “Theseized cosmetic products appearedto be rom outside Europe and weremissing the importer details who shouldget the products saety assessed andhold the inormation about them. TheCouncil asked local retailers to check
social responsibility programmes.Groups o volunteers regularly give
their time to undertake tasks in Luton’sparks and green spaces or to organiseevents or local residents to enjoy.
Cllr Mohammed Ashra, PortolioHolder or parks, said: “I am delightedthat all seven parks that we nominatedor Green Flag awards were assessed asmeeting the award criteria.
“We are extremely proud o our parks
and green spaces in Luton, our oemployees and a lot o local peohard to ensure that everyone canthem.
“Parks are a antastic place tounwind and very important to theconomy, helping to attract peopand business to the town. I am pthat we now have seven parks threcognised as being among the the country.”
their stock and remove any potedangerous cosmetics rom sale, ofcers are continuing with spoton retailers.”
He added: “We are also urginpeople to check their own supplinot to use any cosmetic product
not properly labelled, tell us whebought it. Anyone who has beenthese products and eels unwell contact their GP.”
Trading standards ofcers arurging retailers to buy beauty prrom known reliable suppliers ato stock cosmetics including eyelipsticks and mascaras unless thare correctly labelled because thmay contain mercury or other bchemical such as arsenic and lea
whole-school picnic to celebratethe retirement o headteacher,Lynn Alexander at the end o thesummer term ater a career ineducation stretching back morethan 36 years.
Mrs Alexander worked in Lutonschools or 28 years, including 16 yearsas head o William Austin Inants.
She said: “I have loved being aheadteacher. It has been incrediblyrewarding to work with inant schoolchildren and their amilies, making surethat children get the best possible startin their education so that they achievehigh standards, and that school is ahappy place or them.
“At William Austin we have employedlots o very talented and committedteachers and support sta who all work together to do the best they can or thechildren. I have also been very ortunatethat our school governors have beencommitted and supportive and thismakes a huge dierence.”
Mrs Alexander oversaw many changesat the school including its expansionrom 360 to 450 pupils aged rom our toseven years, making it one o the largestinant schools in the country.
She was particularly proud o takingpart in Luton’s ‘Flying Start’ initiativethat the Council introduced beore theGovernment’s Sure Start programme was rolled out nationally, which
Headteacher Lynn Alexander and William Austin pupils say arewell
encouraged amily learning and pre-school education.
Mrs Alexander added: “When Ibecame a headteacher, ewer thanten children in our school had beento pre-school beore they joined thereception classes and it showed, not just in their readiness or school butin their confdence. The developmento children’s centres has made a realdierence, not just or the children butor their amilies.
“I am very proud o the work that ourschool and others in Luton have done topromote amily learning, and also o ourcommunity where children and amiliesrom dierent backgrounds get ontogether and enjoy sharing each other’s
celebrations and special tim
“When I meet ormer pup whom are now in their earlyand see how well they are dproud that I have played a plives.”
Ater spending some welltime with amily and riends Alexander is hoping to sti ll bin education on a part-time
Cllr Waheed Akbar, ExecMember with responsibility children’s services, said: “Lyo experience has been invaraising standards in Luton sand we are very grateul or years o service, helping to gchildren the right start in li
Young riders’ree training A popular training course supported bythe Council or young moped, scooterand motorbike riders is to continue or athird year.
Take Control is a ree hal-daycourse delivered by local instructorson behal o the Motorcycling Matterspartnership and is open to any young
rider aged between 16 and 20 years who lives, works or attends education within Bedordshire or Luton, and hascompleted their Compulsory BasicTraining.
Chie Insp Richard Hann, rom theBeds and Herts roads policing unit, said:“Young riders are over-represented inour casualty statistics. With improvedhazard perception and anticipationcapabilities some o these collisions mayhave been avoided. Additional training,such as Take Control and BikeSae,enables young riders to increase theirriding knowledge and abilities, andpotentially prevent these collisionsoccurring.”
● For further information visit www.motorcyclingmatters.org/training/ take-control
Don’t let raud ruin your H With this year ’s Hajj approachingrom 13-18 October, Council tradingstandards ofcers are warning the localMuslim community not to all victimto raudsters who steal hundreds o thousands o pounds every year rompilgrims travelling to Mecca.
Criminals posing as legitimate traveloperators oten oer discounts o up to50 per cent on the average price o thetrip – but shortly beore the departurethe ‘operator’ closes, leaving the victim with no tour and no reund.
Some pilgrims have lost up to £20,000and been let to sleep on Mecca’s streets.
● To report a fraudster pleaConsumer Direct on 0845the police.
The Association o British Hujjajestimates only 10 per cent o Hajj raudis reported, so the true extent o thecrime is yet to be uncovered, leavingraudsters ree to operate undetected.Hajj raud victims are urged to reportthis crime and help bring thesecriminals to justice.
Cllr Mohammed Ashra, PortolioHolder or leisure and community, said:“Most Hajj tour operators provide areliable service and oer the appropriateprotections and accreditations. But pleasedo your homework beore booking anddon’t ruin your once-in-a-l ietime trip.”
Tips to avoid becoming a victim include:● look or the ATOL (Air Tr
Organisers’ Licensing) mtravel operator’s promoti
● check the company’s namthe online database – www.packpeaceomind.c
● beore confrming your bocheck an ATOL certifcateprovided once payment ha
● get everything in writing
Cash boost to tackle empty proper A number o empty shops and ofceunits in Luton town centre will betransormed into 30 aordable homesor amilies in need, it was announcedthis summer.
Thanks to a £600,000 Governmentgrant rom the Homes and Community Agency (HCA), the Council will work with Omega and Aldwyck housingassociations to bring the derelictproperties back into use.
Nationwide, the HCA schemeaims to deliver almost 2,000 new aordable homes by reurbishing
● If you own an empty homhouse is not being lived in54 63 70 or email empty.hluton.gov.uk
empty commercial and non-residentialproperties.
Cllr Tom Shaw, Portolio Holder orhousing, said: “This is antastic news orLuton as it will ensure a number o localamilies can move into aordable homesthat they so desperately need. Theseproperties have been a real eyesore soI am very pleased to have worked withboth Omega and Aldwyck to make thishappen.
“Empty homes are not only a wastedresource and a fnancial burden orowners but also attract crime, arson,
vandalism, squat ting and anbehaviour. We will thereoreto work closely with homeowresidents across Luton to brproperties back into use.”
The Council has a numbeprogrammes aimed at tacklblight o empty properties, ihelping homeowners with vgrants that are available or
Winner BenWinner of the Green Line 757competition featured in the July/ August edition of Lutonline, claiminga fabulous family weekend in London,was Ben Woodley, of Luton.
www.luton.gov.uk/parks
Love parks?
Tell us what you think aboutStopsley Common and Lothair
Dozens o volunteers gatheredor two community clean-up daysecently, supported by unding
rom the Council’s Your Say YourWay programme.
In Lewsey an initiative was led byewsey Farm Empowered, a localrganisation that aims to help youngeople achieve their potential throughports and other projects.
Attendees included councillorsHazel Simmons and Aslam Khan
lus colleagues rom the council’sommunity development service,
with support rom local businesses.
Teams were split into our groups andovered a large area o Lewsey Farmncluding Dominic Square, Brunel Park,
Beadlow Road, Tomlinson Avenue andussex Close.
Youth team leader Mohammed Uzayraid: “It was great to see people come
Pupils to learn moreabout county’s historyThe Bedordshire and Luton Archiveand Record Service has received a granto £82,400 rom the Heritage LotteryFund to help young people fnd out moreabout the rich history o their countyover the next three years.
The award will pay or a learningofcer to work with all 290 schoolsn the county and provide pupils with
material they need or projects in topicsncluding history, geography, religious
education and science.New documents, school visits andvideo conerences are planned.
A spokesman said: “This grant wil l
www.luton.gov.uk
If you are directly affected by the cap and wantmore help and advice:
• read the letter and booklet sent to you by the Council
• see www.luton.gov.uk/benefitchanges
• speak to a specialist welfare benefits advisor on 0300 790 034
• visit a specialist welfare benefits advisor at the Town Hall.
Volunteers get to work cleaning up Biscot
Your views aboutneighbourhoodsA major survey took place earlier thissummer inviting Luton residents to givetheir views on their local area.
It was part of the Council-led scheme‘Your Say, Your Way’ which is all aboutincreasing opportunities for people toget involved in decision making and helpshape the future of their neighbourhoods.
The survey asked for residents’opinions on a number of issues such ascommunity safety, street cleaning, parks,schools, health, public transport, shops,leisure facilities and youth activities.
Developed in partnership withBedfordshire Police and the LutonClinical Commissioning Group,information from the survey will beused to help shape local priorities andservices. And later in the year residentswill again be invited to vote on speciccommunity projects and initiatives.
know that issues and concerns varybetween wards and neighbourhoods andtherefore require individual solutions.This survey is a great way for us tocapture what matters most to people.”
Fitness undra A undraising event organised byLuton at Inspire: Luton Sports Vi June could raise up to £3,000 in s
o a Luton lung treatment centreFitness activities, NHS health a silent auction and book stall aito pay or a new exercise bike oLuton Chronic Obstructive PulmDisease Centre, whose customerregularly use Inspire’s gym as ptheir rehabilitation rom the lie-condition.
Stockwood ‘excellent’ says TripAdvisortockwood Discovery Centre haseceived the TripAdvisor certifcate excellence.The accolade is given only to
stablishments that consistentlychieve outstanding reviews on the
world’s largest travel site website, andmaintain an overall rating o our or
● For more information, contact Martin Deacon on 01234 228827 oremail [email protected]
● Find out more at www.luton.gov.uk/ neighbourhood
together or a common cause. This wasan identifed priority or Lewsey and wehope we can replicate this in areas all
over Luton.“The event was a colossal successand bears testament to the positivecommunity relations and collaborative work Luton is so good at delivering timeand again.”
In Biscot an equally wide-rangingeort was led by the Young MuslimOrganisation that also supported theLewsey clean-up.
Leader Muhammed Muhit Miahsaid: “We organised this event because we eel cleanliness o onesel andthe local environment is an integralpart o Islam. We eel there is a hugedierence between people saying wecare or the environment and practicallydoing something about it. An activitysuch as this unites people o dierentbackgrounds and breaks all barriers.”
Chance to jothe peace waLuton’s annual peace walk is takion Saturday 21 September this ye will be supporting the town’s oo
Meeting at the Town Hall at 1.4the walk will give people the chato visit the Guru Nanak Gurudwathe Holy Ghost Church and the JGhousia Mosque beore fnishingaround 6.15pm.
Everyone will be able to learn mabout the cultures o others in a inormative way, and beore settithere will also be an opportunitydonations or the ood bank.
Recommended groceries includtins o fsh, meat, vegetables, ruitomatoes, powdered or UHT milkrice, ruit juice, 500g packs o brecereals, pasta or sugar, biscuits, jpudding, custard, soup, baked bepasta sauce, teabags and instant
● For more information call 01569 46 or email info@lutonfaith
enable us to use the latest technology toreally open up the archives to childrenand young people, helping them to learnabout their heritage. The service willbe looking or a passionate person tofll the role, someone who is brilliantat inspiring young people. This is a wonderul opportunity to supportstudents and we want to thank theHeritage Lottery Fund or the supportin making this possible.”
higher out o a possible fve.Karen Perkins, director o arts and
museums at Luton Culture, said: “Wealways strive to give visitors a warm
welcome and a wonderul experienceat Stockwood Discovery Centre and arepleased that amilies and visitors o allages love the place as much as we do.”
I you are thinking about buying adog, make sure you use a knownor reputable source.
The Council recently seized twopuppies under anti-rabies laws becausetheir owners could not produce genuinelegal documentation. One dog wasound in the town centre and anotherin Stopsley ollowing concern raised bymembers o the public.
Rabies is a serious inection. Itinvariably kills any creature, includinghumans, bitten by a rabid animal andcan spread throughout a neighbourhoodat an alarming rate.
Although the seized animals hadpet passports rom other Europeancountries, neither had received a rabies vaccination. One o the two dogs seized was bought or £300, even though it would normally have been sold rom a
reputable source or up to £1,500.Cllr Mohammed Ashra, Portolio
Holder or trading standards, said: “I you are think ing about buying a puppy,check the paperwork careully. I youhave any concerns then call tradingstandards or advice on 08454 040506.”
Avoid dogs being sold at below themarket price or rom dealers in privatehouses as this may indicate the animal is
an illegal import. Pay particular attentioni the documentation is not in English.
Any imported animal with or withoutan invalid pet passport will be seizedto protect this country rom rabies andkept in quarantine. Unless the ownercan prove the dog is here legally, they will be bi lled or costs which can be upto £1,000.
Lots to enjoy atsummer estivalsLuton’s summer o un has been in ullswing with community estivals takingplace all over the town.
Residents rom many wards havecome together over the last ew monthsto enjoy music, games, activities andmuch more.
Already estivals have been held inPark Town, Challney, Bushmead, Farley
and Marsh Farm, giving local peoplethe opportunity to meet others romtheir area.
The days also provided a valuableopportunity or residents to get involvedin local decision making through the‘Your Say, Your Way’ scheme.
Council employees attend theestivals to fnd out how residents think the area could be improved, and how, when possible, money should be spent tobeneft the community.
Later, residents are given theopportunity to vote on projects whichthey think are most worthy o beingsupported at decision days.
Cllr Khtija Malik, Portolio Holder orcommunity development, said: “As ever,it’s antastic that we have had another
packed summer o un amily estivals.“We know rom how well theevents are supported that local peoplethoroughly enjoy these events, and theyprovide a great opportunity or us tofnd out directly rom communities how they think the area could be improved.”
Both the seized dogs have vaccinated, placed in quaranappear to be ree rom the r
This course offers practical teacheParticipants learn to teach withinsupportive environment, or in theplace. The teaching component isover a year, with evidence being through practical work, observati
collaboration with colleagues andreflection. The Certificate in Teachthe Lifelong Learning Sector is foplanning to become a teacher or an associate teacher role withoutqualification.
9 Month Programme £1,280
Counselling has become an increasinglyrecognised and important social resource inrecent years, as shown by the rise in counsellingservices across the UK and the corresponding risein demand for qualified counsellors. The IODTDiploma in Counselling - Entry Level to Level 4
is designed to respond to this need by trainingparticipants to an adequate professional standardin terms of both theoretical knowledge andpractical skills, allowing them to obtain all of thenecessary elements towards their professionalaccreditation. The programme providesSUPERVISION, and CLIENTS (required by BACP) tocomplete the course. We will provide an excellenthigh level of teaching and course materials toensure you are trained to the highest possiblestandard.
18 Month Programme £8,000
The course is amongst the industry goldstandard for training which will allow youto immediately apply for work or set upyour own business as a self employed GymInstructor or Personal Trainer. This courseis ideal for aspiring personal trainers who
are looking to enhance their existing skillset. The course covers elements of nutrition,physiology, anatomy, customer service andhealth & safety, as well as focusing on how todevelop appropriate personal training sessionsfor your students.
6 Month Programme £2,7006 Week FAST TRACK Course £3,000
The Institute of Development and Training, also known as IODT, is a leading provider of high quality professional courses, designed to deliver the key skills thatyou take your career to the next level.
With over 15 years of experience designing work-based professional development training programmes, IODT is active across Luton and the UK. Our courses are geared towmaximising your expertise for increased business results, and keeping you in work. Our qualifications will help you to increase motivation, skills and gain a competitive edgesuccess for the future.
Accredited, Vocational Qualifications, Programmes for Personal & Professional Development
New You! IODT Diploma in Counselling - EntryLevel to Level 4 qualification programme
Certificate in Teaching in theSector - CTTLS
Contact us to book youSeptember place by emat [email protected] www.iodt.orgTelephone: 0778347129
Freephone: 0808 16859
Your Career Starts Here!
New Skills! Level 3 Certificate in CareerDevelopment Programme AWARDWINNING!!
Regardless of where you are in your career,there may be moments when you feel thatyou are not achieving your full potential or arenot able to deal with changing circumstancesas well as you would like. This award winning
Level 3 Certificate in Career DevelopmentProgramme, designed by IODT and accreditedby NCFE, is designed precisely to create achallenging, however stimulating context inwhich delegates can focus on themselvesto develop action plans for their continuousprofessional development and future growth.
12 Week Programme £995
New Courses! Level 3 Certificate inPersonal Training
● For more information about the Your Say, Your Way programme, visit www.luton.gov.uk/neighbourhood.
● I you have any inormatidog which may have beenimported into this countrythe Council on 01582 5472tradingstandards@luton.
Waulud Primary’s year six pupils signedo their time at the Marsh Farm schoolin style ater putting on a antastic
perormance o Malcolm Sircom’smusical ‘Olivia’ at the end o thesummer term.
Having rehearsed over six weeks, the50 schoolchildren involved welcomedaround 120 parents and riends to theshow.
Tiegan Dempsey excelled in thelead role while Devdan Ndagi andFemi Adesanwo gave great supporting
Waulud wows with Oliv
perormances as the whole cast dsome antastic songs.
The pupils also helped to creat
backdrops and lent a hand to stamade all o the period costumes.
Headteacher Patricia Grifn sa“All o our year six pupils spent adeal o time preparing or the shoit was antastic that their hard woo with such an amazing perormIt was a great way to engage our community and get people to enjsomething together.”
A change in the Council’s rulesmeans more local landlords now need to license their properties.
The new rules apply to Houses inMultiple Occupation (HMO) which makeup around a quarter o households in the
rivate rented sector in Luton. An HMO is a building, or part o building such as a at, occupied by
unrelated people or households whohare acilities such as a bathroom,oilet or cooking acilities.
From 1 August any property whichs occupied by three or more people,orming two or more households, now equires a licence.
Previously landlords only required aicence i they were renting out three-torey HMOs shared by fve or moreeople.
The Council has introduced thehanges to improve the standard o local
housing, as it will now have more powero stop landlords renting out unsuitabler unsae properties.
The cost o an HMO licence will varydepending on the size and number o edrooms.
Landlords registered to Luton’sLandlord Accreditation scheme areligible or a discount. A ull breakdown the ee structure is listed on the
Council’s website.
Housing ofcers have begunnspecting properties aected by these
changes and the Council is able tospeciy conditions on the licence thatthe landlord must comply with or acelegal action.
Landlords who are renting outproperties that are damp, cold, dirty,
unsecure, too small or without theappropriate number o bathrooms ortoilets will be required to bring them upto a suitable standard beore the licenceis issued.
The Council is asking or landlordsaected by these changes to get in touchnow and avoid a fne. Licences will be valid or fve years.
Cllr Tom Shaw, Portolio Holder orhousing, said: “We are committed toimproving the standard o housing o Luton and protecting the health and wellbeing o tenants who rent in theprivate sector. Applying a licence is a way o controlling the management andoperation o HMOs to prevent landlordsacting irresponsibly.”
Smaller HMOs, including oneand two-storey properties, will also
need to be licensed in the uture, andannouncements will be made closer tothe time.
● For information about the new rules,including details of the standardrequired and to license your
properties, go to www.luton.gov.ukand search ‘HMO’. Alternatively call01582 54 72 22.
www.luton.gov.uk/fis
• you live in Luton• receive benefits or tax credits.
Parents can claim up to 15 hours of free childcare per week at an Ofstedregistered early years provider.
Children learn and develop physical, social and emotional skills throughplay, so give your child the best possible start in life.
So what are you waiting for? Don’t let them miss out!
In partnership with
You may be entitled to a free early educationplace for your two year old child if:
Call the Family Information Service 01582 54 88 88 or email [email protected] to find out if you qualify.
West Luton Area BoardChallney, Leagrave & Lewsey Tuesday 8 October 20136pm Ward Meetings7.30pm Area BoardDownside Primary SchoolChaul End Lane, Luton, LU4 8EZ
Central Luton Area BoardBarnfield, Biscot, High Town& Saints Thursday 24 October 20136.30pm Ward Meetings7.45pm Area BoardBushmead Community CentreHancock Drive, Luton, LU2 7SF
East Luton Area Board Crawley, Round Green, Stopsley & WigmoreThursday 7 November 20136.30pm Ward Meetings7.30pm Area BoardWigmore Primary SchoolTwyford Drive, Luton, LU2 9TB
Area Boards are designed to give you avoice in your neighbourhood. And a sayin how things are run.
For further information contactGary J Roberts Area Boards Support Manager
Town Hall, Luton, LU1 2BQTelephone: 01582 54 69 85 Fax: 01582 54 63 69Email: [email protected] or
South Luton Area BoardDallow, Farley & SouthWednesday 13 November 20136pm Ward Meetings7.30pm Area BoardFarley Junior SchoolNorthdrift Way, Luton, LU1 5JF
If you require transport,phone Gary Roberts on
54 69 85.Transport suitable for peoplewith disabilities.
North Luton Area BoardBramingham, Icknield, Limbury,Northwell & Sundon Park Thursday 17 October 20136.30pm Ward Meetings7.30pm Area BoardBramingham Primary SchoolFreeman Avenue, Luton, LU3 4BL
www.luton
Lutonline September 2013
Council cuts costsby vacating ofces
particularly in Luton, and at a time when we are having to review al l theservices we provide, it is also right that we continue to identiy savings rom within our own estate.”
The new-look Town Hall Extension
will provide a ft-or-purpose andunctional open plan workingenvironment. By carrying out this work,and by extending the Council’s agile working policy, it will be possible tosignifcantly increase the number o sta based there. The building will alsobe more energy-efcient.
Cllr Harris said: “I emphasise that thedesign is not in any way lavish. Budgetor the programme is £5 million, whichmostly needs to be spent on renewingthe heating, ventilation, electrical andIT systems that are now up to 30 yearsold and at the end o their useul lives. And we will o course be making everyeort to get the work done or less.Much o the work is being done by theCouncil’s own team at very competitiverates, and sensible efciencies are being
made such as re-using desks and chairs wherever possible.”Having completed on time and
on budget the Inspire Luton Sports Village, Tokko youth space and major works at six Luton schools in recent years, projects with a combined valueexceeding £200 million, the Council hasan excellent track record in deliveringschemes o this kind.
Having already vacated ourbuildings over the last two years,now the Council is looking to savemore money or Luton’s council taxpayers by moving out o anotherwo ofces in the town centre.
The programme involves a majoreurbishment o the fve-storey Town
Hall Extension in Upper George Streetwhich will not only extend its lie bynother 30 years but also enable the
Council to vacate the oor it rents atWesley House in Chapel Street, and alsodispose o the our-storey Unity House
wned by the authority in Stuart Street.The savings generated in rent, service
harges and associated costs makehe project one o the most importanturrently being undertaken by the
Council, explained Portolio Holder orfnance Cllr Robin Harris.
“It will lead to long-term savings o more than £1.1million every year thatan be reinvested in rontline servicesn Luton, and will also generate a capital
eceipt that will go a long way towardssetting the cost o the work,” he said.“With the Government’s ongoing
defcit reduction programme tighteningur purse strings seemingly at everyurn, Luton Council has already had toave £36m over the last two years yettill has to fnd a urther £49m by 2016.
“Money is extremely hard to comey or all councils at the moment,
Some of the group on completion of the course
Nine people rom Luton received the JohnMuir Award recently ater completing a12-week course on gaining green skills.
Run by Groundwork Luton &Bedordshire and Mind BLMK, with thesupport o the Council and with undingrom the Luton Trust CommunityLearning Fund, the aim was to helpdelegates increase their confdence andimprove their mental wellbeing throughexploring conservation and wildlie in Wardown Park and other green spacesin Luton.
Attendees constructed wooden insecthomes, completed a tree survey andcrated bird eeders out o willow as well as learning about the history o Wardown Park. They were also ableto develop inormation-sharing skillsthrough photography, creative writing
Adult learners gain green sk
and displaying inormation or tpublic.
Vicky Duxbury, environmenteducation ofcer or Groundwor“It is well documented that gettioutdoors is good or your menta wellbeing, and this course has cshown that this is true. We haveo positive responses rom the leas to how much better they wereater attending the weekly sessio
Cllr Mohammed Ashra, ExecMember with responsibility or said: “We were extremely pleasehost this project in one o LutonFlag parks. Luton’s parks and grspaces are extremely important health and wellbeing o local peprovide opportunities or relaxameditation and quiet contemplat
Who’s sleeping in your house?Have you got a child or young person under 16 years old (or 18 if they have a disability) who is staying with you for 28 days or more and you are notthe parent, close relative or legal guardian with parental responsibility? If yes, in the eyes of the law you could be deemed to be a private foster carer.
Private fostering is an arrangement between a parent and another adult who has agreed to look after their child. A private foster carer may be a friend of the family, the parent of a friend of thechild, someone previously unknown to the family, a member of the extended family such as acousin, or great aunt but not a relative as stated in the Children’s Act 1989 i.e. a grandparent,brother, sister, uncle, aunt or step parent.
young people living apart from their families following a divorce or family breakdownteenagers living with the family of a boyfriend or girlfriendchildren sent to this country to access education and healthcareparents working or studying involving unsociable hours, making it difficult to use ordinary daycare or after-school facilities.
By law, the parent and/or the private foster carer must inform the Council as it has a legal duty toensure the child’s needs are being met, including making sure they are safe, well looked after,healthy, receiving a proper education, and are living with someone who helps them value theirculture and sense of identity. A specialist worker will work together with the child, parents andprivate foster carer to ensure the best possible arrangements are in place, and will offer supportand advice to help the carer look after the child and provide them with details of any financialbenefits they might be entitled to.
The parent retains parental responsibility for the child and must be available for any importantdecisions as well as provide the Council and the carer with as much information about the child apossible, including health records, dietary preferences, school records and hobbies.
What is private fostering? Why must the Council be informed?
For more information or to register a private fostering arrangement,telephone Luton Borough Council referral and assessment team on 01582 54 76 53.
www.luton
Lutonline September 2013
Improvements agreedor sheltered housing
In this way scheme managers willbe available to more tenants and orlonger hours. The teams will have anofce surgery rota to ensure that help isavailable on site at known times.
Another change wi ll be the creationo a dedicated ‘telecare’ team to
carry out the installation, testing andmarketing o the alarm service. This will ensure scheme managers can spendmore time on site and with tenants.
Following eedback rom residents,the Council has also decided to employa dedicated activities coordinator acrossthe sheltered housing service to ensurethere are more opportunities or tenantsto get involved and socialise.
The authority urther agreed toinvest in a programme o works toimprove the condition and security o Luton’s sheltered housing schemes andmodernise communal lounges.
Cllr Tom Shaw, Portolio Holder orhousing, said: “The reason we havesheltered housing schemes is to ensureolder people aged over 55 years canlead healthy, active and independent
lives in their own homes. We thereorereally appreciate all o the eedback we received rom tenants during theconsultation which has helped us shapethe uture o this important service.
“By telling us what is important tothem, we have been able to come up with a positive solution which ensurestenants can have access to the rightsupport when and where they need it.”
The Council recently agreed aeries o measures to improve theown’s sheltered housing service.
The recommendations were putorward ollowing suggestions rom sta,enants and their amilies during a 90-dayonsultation on the uture o the service.
The consultation revealed thatcheme managers, oten reerred to as
wardens, are highly valued by tenantswho use them, particularly where they
ve on site.It was thereore agreed that the
managers will remain on site at tenheltered housing schemes in Luton andoth o the town’s ‘extra care’ schemes.
In addition, and as many schemes doot currently have on-site managers,he Council will be introducingeighbourhood scheme manager teams
who will oer targeted support to tenantscross the sheltered housing service.
Ribbon-cuat the ofopening o Milan Day Cent
Day centre ofcially open
The relocated Milan Day Centre wasofcially opened during a celebration at itsnew premises in Marlow Road earlier thissummer.
Customers, family members, carers andofcials from the Council and Dallow Trustall came together for activities, a buffetand speeches. Milan Day Centre customerMaradulla Shah cut the ribbon.
The centre, which provides dayservices largely for older people from theSouth Asian community, had moved fromits previous base in Solway Road Northwhere it operated for 13 years.
The new location at Dallow Learningand Community Centre provides peoplewith support to help them live independentand fullling lives in the community,while developing friendships and takingadvantage of other activities.
The centre offers a wide range of daysessions and therapies including arts andcrafts, cooking, gardening, music, and
movement and reminiscence sessIt also provides much-needed respfamily members and carers.
Cllr Mahmood Hussain, PortfolioHolder for adult social care, saidcustomers seem very happy with tnew location.
“There are now more opportunitand activities for customers which them better choice and exibility,” said. “Despite the tough nancial cwe are in, I am delighted we can stinvest in services for older people. centres play a vital role in ensuringpeople can stay in their own homeliving independently for as long aspossible.”
Service user Jamina Shah said:am really enjoying the new locationgetting to meet a range of new peoat the community centre. Staff are welcoming and friendly, and there always something good to get involv
Skates onPupils at Sundon Park Junior Schoolfound a different way of keeping coolat the end of the summer term as anice rink was installed to raise moneyfor The Brain Tumour Charity.
Children paid £1 each to wear abandana, and a bench was unveiledin memory of year three pupilReece Nelson.
Society as a whole has never been less exposed to death. As a result, fear of the unknown means that
people sometimes avoid others who are ill or dying, and do not feel able to support them.
Not at all! We all live and we all die, and life is something to be celebrated throughto death.
Talking about dying and death is something people understandably feeluncomfortable about, but it is something we all need to do – otherwise we (or ourloved ones) may not die in the way we want.
We are all fortunate to live at a time and in a society where most people livehealthy lives through to old age. Increased life expectancy and a steep declinethe numbers of deaths from disease have made death a taboo subject.
Today, many more people live to old age and tend to die outside the home. Thmeans that many people do not experience a family member or close friend duntil they are into their mid-life, and it is even less common to have seen a de
body.
Why should I talk about death? Isn’t it morbid?
Not talking about dying and death has manyunwanted consequences:
• If relatives and loved ones do not know a person’s preferences, they maymake decisions about care the dying person does not want
• Close relatives may be unaware of how best to help and support a personwho is approaching death
• Those nearing death may feel isolated, distressed or frightened, whichcan impact on the level of pain they experience
• People may die without writing a will, or relatives may be unsure aboutfuneral wishes
The stats
• 81% of people have not written down any preferences around their owdeath
• 25% of men and 35% of women have not told anyone about the funearrangements they would like to have after they die
• Nearly two-thirds (63%) of us would prefer to die at home, yet of the500,000 people who die each year in England, 53% die in hospital.
• Nearly two-thirds of people (60%) have not written a will – including quarter (25%) of over-65s.
Your wishes will help ease their grief
We want to get people talking. Look out for usaround town during October.
“The thought of dying scares most people.However, a bit of thought now will make things easier for you and your family later.”
good Osted reportPupils and sta at RamridgePrimary School are jumping oroy ater being assessed as ‘good’y Osted inspectors.
Having been issued with a ‘noticeo Improve’ less than a year ago, sta nd governors have worked hard or
Ramridge to be recognised as a schoolhat has made signifcant improvements.
Headteacher Carolyn Doherty said:I eel very proud o the pupils, sta,arents and governors and I am luckyo have a committed team who areetermined to achieve the best outcomesor our children.
“With support rom Luton BoroughCouncil we put detailed plans in placeo deliver rapid results and we are veryleased that our hard eorts have paid and the school is now on the rightrack.
“We appreciate there is still morework to be done and are determinedo urther improve the level o
chievements.”Osted said the achievement o pupils,
uality o teaching, leadership andmanagement, and behaviour and saety
pupils were all ‘good’.Inspectors acknowledged
mprovements in learning and oundvidence o outstanding teaching inome classes, with children in the
nursery and reception making goodprogress. Gaps in achievement haveclosed.
The report said pupils enjoy attendingschool and work hard in lessons,highlighted valuable pupil visits toplaces o interest and also notedopportunities in art and music.
A strength is the school’s partnership with parents and the wider community.
Lead inspector Philip Mann said:“Senior leaders have created a positiveand inclusive climate or learning wherethe eorts o pupils, sta, parents andcarers are valued. And school leadersdemonstrate that the school has goodcapacity or urther improvement.”
Parents who spoke to the Governmentofcials were ull o praise or what theschool has achieved in a short space o time.
The report recommended urtherraised achievement in English andmaths, and improved links betweengovernors and middle managers.
Cllr Waheed Akbar, ExecutiveMember with responsibility orchildren’s services, said: “Theheadteacher together with her teamand governing body have done aantastic job in raising standards. I amconfdent urther improvements will beachieved as they strive to become anoutstanding school.”
‘Graduation’ rom
nursery school!
have made. It was also a ftting ea school year and a great way togoodbye to our pupils who are mon to inant school.”
Cllr Waheed Akbar, ExecutiveMember with responsibility orchildren’s services, said: “Early learning is a great way to get yochildren o to a ying start withormal education. Nurseries helppre-schoolers develop confdencindependence, communication ainterpersonal skills.”
Graduation came several years early orpupils at Pastures Way Nursery School when they took part in a ceremony tomark the end o their time there.
Their graduation took place in theschool’s garden where more than 85pupils donned mortar boards and gownsto receive certifcates in ront o around300 parents and grandparents.
Headteacher Jan Allen said: “It was an opportunity to celebrate withparents their children’s learning andto acknowledge the progress they
Would you like a greener gardennext spring?
Why not make your owncompost now?
Not only will it save you money, but you will be helping theenvironment too. By composting at home you can stop a thirdof your waste going to landfill.
Order your 220-litre* compost bin now for just £15 andget a second for only £7.50.
To take advantage of this exclusive offer fromLuton Borough Council and Evergreener,
visit www.luton.getcomposting.com
Please note a delivery charge of £5.49 per order also applies.
Be part of the challengeStoptober is back. All over the country people will take the 28 day challenge to stop smoking duringOctober. Last year over 160,000 people successfully quit smoking for Stoptober, thanks to thewide range of quitting support on offer.
For more information search ‘Stoptober’ online or visit www.smokefree.nhs.uk/stoptober Alternatively, speak to your local Stop Smoking Service on 08000 130845 or text Quit to 60003.
Luton’s rst street arts festival featuredan incredible line-up of some of the bestcircus, carnival and theatre artists fromacross the UK.
It was held from 11-20 July at theUK Centre for Carnival Arts and StGeorge’s Square, with most events freeso families could take part in danceclasses, costume making and children’sstorytelling sessions.
Highlights included the brilliantnew show Futurespark from Luton-based theatre company How it EndedProductions, a series of short playsinspired by Carnival and blended withlive music, DJs and circus acts.
Pax Nindi, creative director, said:“We hope that the festival becomes ayearly event so we can really put Lutonon the map as a European street artsdestination.”
Our rst streets festiva
● For more inormation or to register goto www.readytoswitch.co.uk or www.luminaenergy.co.uk. All that is neededis the name o your current supplier,tari and energy usage. Registrationis open until 16 October 2013.
For more inormation about thebrokers call 01582 54 79 70.
Firms oeredcheaper energySmall and medium-sized
usinesses (SMEs) in Luton areeing given an opportunity to
oin a collective energy switchingcheme that could mean a massiveeduction in their bills.
The Council has joined six other localuthorities in the ‘Ready to Switch or
Businesses’ scheme to help local SMEsccess cheaper gas and electricity pricesnd ree advice on how to avoid pitallsuch as expensive rollover contracts.
The scheme encourages businesseso come together to use their potentialulk-buying power to get a better dealn energy prices.
It works by means o a reverseuction in which suppliers will benvited to bid the lowest price to providehe energy to all SMEs signed up.
Businesses will then be sent an oer towitch provider at lower rates.
There is also no obligation orusinesses to switch at the end o therocess – every registered SME willeceive their own personal oer and it’sp to them whether they accept or not.
Cllr Hazel Simmons, Leader o theCouncil, said: “Business success is vitalor Luton so we are doing everything
we can to help local SMEs prosper.This scheme is easy to join and will
elp business owners who do not have
the time or do not know where to startlooking or a new energy supplier.
“This is a great opportunity to getcheaper energy by simply registering
your details. There is absolutely nothingto lose.”
Chie executive Trevor Holdenadded: “Lots o Luton households arealready saving money thanks to thedomestic energy switch scheme and we want to give local businesses the sameopportunity in order to help them grow and boost the local economy.
“We know that many SMEs struggleto fnd the best deal or their gas andelectricity because they are not asreadily available as domestic ones. We also know that a lot o owners arepaying up to 35 per cent more than theyneed to. The more people that sign upthe better, as this will drive better dealsor businesses.”
The Council has selected two brokers
to manage the scheme on behal o Lutonbusinesses – ‘Ichoosr’ and ‘Lumina’.
We’re on the lookout for volunteers to reachout within their own community to help peoplespot the signs and symptoms of cancer, get themsigned up to screening programmes and seek help early if they have concerns.
More and more effective treatments are nowavailable for cancer. But doctors need people tounderstand risks and symptoms and to contactthem if they are worried so any treatmentneeded can be offered quickly.
In Luton in particular, many people areconsulting their doctors about symptomsvery late, which may affect their chances of surviving the disease. This situation affects somecommunities more than others.
Interested in volunteering?
You can get in touch by callingtel 01582 548773 oremailing [email protected]
Would you like to help others
understand more about the
disease, and how they can help
themselves?
Help us beat cancer in
our communities
Why not join the Luton Cancer Awareness Team?
www.luton.gov.uk
That’s where you come in
If you care about the health of your communityand think you have the qualities to help peopleknow the risks and spot the early signs of cancer,we can offer you training and support for a reallyrewarding volunteering role – one that will offeryou proper development opportunities and givereal benefits to people in your community.
Who is affected by cancer? Worried about cancer affecting your friends and family?
Whipsnade Zoo and the Council’s New Horizons service have been workingogether over the last six months toeliver training opportunities or adults
with learning disabil ities.
Trainees have been involved innumber o on-site jobs includingardening, painting, cleaning andeeding animals.
Each week the team were given tasksy the supervisors at Whipsnade andhey worked through the morning toomplete these to a standard replicatedn real employment.
Zoo provides New Horizons
● I you are interested in running a similar scheme with New Horizons,contact Chris Brandom on 01582 5483 71 or email [email protected]
Cllr Mahmood Hussain, PortolioHolder or adult social care, said: “We are very grateul to the team at Whipsnadeor letting people trial new challengesand gain vital work skills. The confdenceand sel-worth o adults with learningdisabilities can really be boosted throughdeveloping new skills which helps themreach their true potential.”
oo rota: feeding animals was one of the work tasks undertaken
● To book your place at the event, [email protected]. For moreinformation, call 01582 54 62 71.
Come along toour unding airAnyone who works in the voluntaryector is invited to make a note inheir diary or the Luton Funding
Fair on Wednesday 18 September.The event takes place at Futures
House Community Halls, Marsh Farm,LU3 3QB rom 10.30am-4pm, whenome o the UK’s most prominentnvestors will be represented.
The day will provide a antasticpportunity or people who are lookingor fnancial support to network andeceive advice, with a number o
workshops led by national undersncluding the BIG Lottery Fund, Charity
Bank and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Everyone is welcome, regardless o whether you represent an organisation
who would like hundreds o pounds orthousands.
Cllr Sian Timoney, Portolio Holderor economic development, said: “This
unding air gives local groups theopportunity to meet some o the largestinvestors in the country.
“Now more than ever it is crucialthat voluntary groups know about allo the support that is available to them,so I would really encourage everyone tocome along.”
Workshops will run on a frst-come,frst-seated basis, so attendees shouldallow plenty o time to secure their place.
Help to change your lifeThe Council is also joining forces with JobCentre Plus, Community Interest Luton andother local organisations to support Luton’sEmployment, Training and Skills Fair onTuesday 10 September at Venue Central,15-17 Chapel Street, Luton LU1 2SE, from10am to 4.30pm.
The free event is designed to help localemployers, and education and trainingapprenticeship providers and careeradvisers, to meet potential candidatesand showcase the wide variety of training,volunteering, apprenticeships and jobopportunities available in Luton.
Cllr Sian Timoney, Portfolio Holder for
regeneration, said: “We want to help ourworkforce gain new skills and to help localemployers address any recruitment issuesand skills gaps. It is nonsense to suggestthere are no jobs or relevant trainingopportunities in Luton and the Councilis doing everything it can to help andencourage people to expand their minds,nd jobs and prepare for the future.”
Everyone is welcome including those stillat school through to ages 50 years plus,including young people not in education,employment or training, graduates, loneparents, lifelong learners, experiencedworking adults and anyone unemployed.
LASAGNERecipe by Lyndon Gee
This can be made in advance so is perfect for entertaining as youcan completely assemble the dish, then pop it into the oven onehour before it’s needed. The recipe is enough for a big lasagneso halve the ingredients for a smaller version or divide into twoseparate dishes and freeze one ready for next time!
HOW TO PREPARE1 Add oil to a large pan, cook the onion
until lightly browned, then add theminced beef and cook for three to fominutes, stirring regularly until cookethrough and breaking up any clumpswith the back of a spoon.
2 Now add the mixed vegetables, garlic
herbs, pepper and tomatoes. Mix welturn down the heat, cover and simmegently for 15 minutes.
3 Meanwhile, dissolve the cornflour anda pinch of pepper into a dash of milkHeat the rest of the milk in a pan.When nearly boiling, turn down theheat, stir in the cornflour mixture andcarry on stirring until it has thickenedthen stir in 50g cheese.
4 In a lightly-oiled ovenproof dish(around 5-6cms deep) spread a spoonof the meat sauce, then add a layer olasagne, top with a layer of the fillingand a little cheese sauce, then anothelayer of lasagne, making three to foulayers in all, ending with a final layerof lasagne, spread with the last of thecheese sauce and sprinkle with theremaining cheese.
5 Bake at 180ºC/gas 6 for 45 minutesuntil the top is golden brown.
• 1 heaped teaspoon dried oreganoand 1 of dried basil
• 2 good pinches pepper (1 for the sauce)
• 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 1 pint milk
• 1½ tablespoons cornflour
• 50g cheddar, grated plus 20g to top
• 300g lasagne
DID YOU KNOW...That the average UK family throws away food worth £50 every month?
To help you make the most of the groceries you buy, Luton Borough Council isbringing you a super series of recipes in association with the Government’s LovFood Hate Waste campaign.
For more tasty tips from chef Lyndon Gee and advice on how to reducefood waste, go to www.luton.gov.uk/recycling
William Billington, a 75-year-old marathon runner and a member of the Stopsley Striders
club, signed up to Travel Luton in May when he spoke with an adviser on his doorstep about
his local travel patterns.
He requested information about local walking and cycling routes and took a Travel Luton
challenge to keep walking regularly.
The Travel Luton team had the chance to go back and speak to William recently as he
was nominated as a project champion – an inspirational individual helping motivate other
residents in Luton to use active travel.
He said: “The Travel Luton project is a great idea. Getting people active is good, and it has
all the information to help people get started with an active lifestyle.”
William has been running competitively for more than 20 years, winning several trophies andraising money for various cancer related charities in the process. He rst took part in the
London Marathon in 1988 and completed the gruelling 26-mile course in a very respectable
3hrs 28mins.
More recently he has won veterans titles in the Three Counties League, at Sandy and in the
Doug Anderson Memorial 5k.
On running, William said: “It’s great. You meet lots of people, it’s cheap and it’s good for your
health.”
And advising people who want to do more walking to benet their health, he added: “Go to
your doctor and get checked out rst to make sure you are OK. Good shoes are essential
too. Then just get out there and do it – run and walk, and be sure to pace yourself.”
We hope William’s experience is an inspiration for you to take up walking or running in Luton.
To nd out more about local walking routes in the town, contact the Travel Luton team today
on 0800 0281 755 or email [email protected] and we can provide you with maps and
advice to get started.
The Upper Lea Valley Way is open!
Eric Morecambe’s daughter Gail Stuart unveiled a portrait of her father in
sheet steel to mark the opening of the Upper Lea Valley Way.
The cycle way and footpath links our town, where the much-loved comedian
was a director of Luton Town Football Club, with Harpenden, where he lived.
Situated across the valley from the Luton Hoo and its walled garden, the
portrait bench also celebrates Capability Brown, the landscape designer
who remodeled its grounds in the 1700s, and the First Luton Sea Scouts,
formed in 1909, who use the lakes on the River Lea.
The route was developed by Sustrans in partnership with Luton Borough
Council, Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire County Councils.
It forms part of National Cycle Route 6 which continues to St Albans one
way and to Leagrave the other.
Access points are near Luton Airport Parkway, by the Lower Harpenden
Road, or at Waveney Road, Harpenden. There is also a new leaet for the
Upper Lea Valley printed by Sustrans which can be downloaded from
● For help and advice on quitting smoking, visit the Tobacco Free Luton website www.tobaccofreeluton.co.uk,call the NHS Stop Smoking Service0800 013 0845 or text Quit to 60003.
Cigarette U-turndisappointmentLuton Council is disappointedollowing news that the
Government will not introduceegislation requiring standardised
packing on cigarettes and otherobacco products. With more than 200,000 young people
n the UK starting to smoke beore their6th birthday each year, the need orction was clear, said Luton’s director o ublic health Gerr y Taylor.
Luton says evidence showed thatigarettes in plain standardisedackaging are ar less attractive tooung people, and that the health
messages on boxes are noticed more onlain packs. Standardised packaginglso helps to dispel myths that someigarettes are ‘saer’ than others, whichn turn means that young people woulde less likely to take up smoking.
In Luton, smoking attributable deaths
rom heart disease, hospital admissionsand the number o pregnant women whocontinue to smoke are particularly high.
Ms Taylor, who is also chair o theTobacco Free Luton Partnership, said:“We want to do absolutely everything we can to ensure that as ew youngpeople as possible take up smoking.Many cigarette packs these days aredesigned to look ‘cool’ and particularlyappealing to young people. It is simplyunacceptable to use packaging to try toinuence young people.
“The introduction o standardisedpackaging would have helped to reducethat appeal, and we are disappointedthat the legislation was turned down.”
Neighbourhood Watch AGMThe annual general meeting of Luton’sNeighbourhood Watch takes place onTuesday 24 September from 7-9pm atFutures House, The Moakes, Marsh FarmLU3 3QB.
The meeting will be looking at how localNeighbourhood Watch can adapt to meet
community needs with police and Councilresources being reduced.● Everyone is welcome. For more
information about becominga volunteer or co-ordinatorcall 07580 326426 or [email protected].
Baby TimeMonday 9 S eptember, 10-11amStockwood Discovery Centre
Sensory play or babies a nd young toddlers agedrom birth to two years. All children must besupervised by a parent or carer. Please book bycalling 01582 548600.£3.
Talk Like a Pirate DayThursday 19 September, 3.30-4.1Luton Central Library
Lots o swashbuckling pirate activve+ years.Free, drop in.
Toddler TimeFriday 6 S eptember, 10-11amWardown Park Museum
Fun and creative activities or ages three to veyears. All children must be supervised by a parent orcarer. Please book by calling 01582 546722.£3.
ExhibitionsMonster Creepy Crawlies29 March – 3 NovemberStockwood Discovery Centre
Discover a world o giant animatronic bugs. Aninteractive exhibition eaturing human-sizedmodels.£3.95 adults, £2.95 children/concessions/CultureCard, £12 amily o our (two adults maximum),£15 amily o six (three adults maximum).
A Stitch in TimeUntil 8 SeptemberWardown Park Museum
Closing soon – come and see a small collectiono beautiully embroidered childhood samplers,sewn by local children in the 1800s. Be amazedat the level o their needlework skills and get anidea o why samplers were made.Free, drop in.
Hats of to
High TownHigh Town shoppers may have alreadspotted a colourul new addition to HTown Road. High Hats was created the High Town Team to help the localcommunity discover more about thelocal hat-making industry.
The hat shop and micro-museum, wis being run by Luton Culture and locvolunteers, is in the exact building inwhich a straw hat manuacturer namMinnie Bonner worked over a 100 ye
ago, rom 1894 until about 1898.
High Hats has an assortment o hatand ascinators or people to look atand buy, including some hats that arperect or ladies with weddings toattend! Prices range rom £5-£200,and there is lots to capture the intereo locals too, with displays about locaheadwear company Snoxells andworkshops on everything romcreating your own ascinator todecorating hat-boxes.
FACT FILE:
Within High Town there were hat blomanuacturers, bleachers and dyers,bonnet sewers and box makers, as was suppliers o eathers, ribbons, owand other materials. The High Townarea contained a mix o larger actorand houses with rooms built onto theback or use as amily businesses. Maamilies produced hats which were sto destinations all across the world.
Where: 77 High Town Road, Luton,Bedordshire LU2 0BW
When: Thursday and Friday 11am-6and Saturday 10am-5pm
See: www.lutonhats.com
Grin Players presentThe Vicar o Dibley12 - 14 September, 7.45pmplus Saturday matinee at 2.30pmLuton Library Theatre
The Hat Factory65-67 Bute Street, Luton LU1 2EY01582 878100
Luton Library Theatre &Visitor Inormation Centreare located within Luton C
Talks, Courses,Workshops andOther EventsComputer Training or Over 60sSaturday 7 and 21 September, 10am-12pmLuton Central Library
One-to-one computer advice and trainingsessions or over-60s, including basic computingor rst-time users and intermediate internetand sotware or more advanced users.Free, drop in.
Ghost HuntSaturday 7 September, 8pm-2amWardown Park Museum
Dare you spend a night at haunted WardownPark Museum? Strictly 21+ years. Booking isessential; please call 01582 546722.£30 per person. Cofee, tea andnger bufet included.
Museum Makers: The LaunchSaturday 14 September 2013, 12-6pmWardown Park Museum
Come along. Find out. Sign up. A community
team o Museum Makers is being challengedto transorm Wardown Park Museum into athriving hub o activity, innovation and cultureor the whole community to enjoy. All ages areinvited to drop in on the mayhem and dreamsome new dreams or the uture o thisspecial museum.Free, drop in.
Book Festival: Luton Poetry SocietyAnnual Poetry SlamSaturday 28 September, 2-4pmLuton Central Library, Conerence Rooms
A showcase o Luton talent in verse perormance.Turn up and listen or bring a poem o your own
to perorm. Booking essential.Box oce: 01582 547474.£3.
Groups and SocLuton Poetry SocietyLast Saturday o the month, 2pmLuton Central Library
£3, ree or Poetry Society membe
Saturday Speakers
A series o un aternoon talks on o topics. For urther inormation www.lutonlibraries.co.uk or callNeil Rowland on 01582 547426.
Luton Writers’ GroupFirst Friday o the month, 8-10pmThe Hat Factory
Tickets are available at the box o01582 878100 or 547474.£5, £2.50 concessions.
Luton Book Festival 201328 September – 2 November
I you love a good book (and who doesn’t?)then you will be delighted to hear that thewonderul world o words and imaginationis throwing open its doors once again thisautumn or the Luton Book Festival. With loadso events rom talks with authors to illustrationworkshops, perormance poetry to story slams,there is bound to be something or you.Check www.lutonlibraries.co.uk or moreinormation and updates on all Luton BookFestival events.
Coming UpPDM RawFriday 4 October, 8pmThe Hat Factory
Come along to watch or to collaborate with
other musicians, including house band GoodLittle Roses. I you are new to perorming orhave loved it or years, then this is your chanceto show your talent. Register to perorm [email protected] oce: 01582 878100£3.
MusicMusic on Mondays: Frith Piano Quartet
3 September, 7.45pmuton Library Theatre
Music on Mondays welcomes one o the
nest chamber musicians playing in Britainoday, pianist Benjamin Frith. This will becelebration o Scotland and major worksom the Celtic nations, showcased alongsidearly virtuoso showpieces by Beethoven.ox oce: 01582 547474.14, £8 concessions, under 18s ree onhe door.
Music on Mondays: Simon Callaghan0 September, 7.45pmuton Library Theatre
virtuosic solo piano recital specially devisedy this brilliant young player. Callaghan willresent music written by teenage composersongside juvenile gems rom Chopin and
rokoev.ox oce: 01582 547474.14, £8 concessions, under 18s ree on the door.
16+ yearsBox oce: 01582 547474.£15 in advance, £17.50 on the door.
Friday Aternoon FilmsFriday 18 October, 2.30pmStockwood Discovery Centre
Join us or tea, cofee and a selection oBritish Pathe lms. Booking essential; p01582 548600.
Children’s Theatre: Captain CalamAdventures in Story LandWednesday 30 October, 2-3pm and 4-5Luton Library Theatre
Captain Calamity presents an all-new tshow. Follow his adventures through stas he spreads cheer, solves problems anspecial powers o magic, song, dance, band bubbles to make your childhood drwishes come true.£10, £8 concessions.
More inormation can also be ound by visiting www.travelluton.co.uk
Bus services start on Wednesday 25 September 2013
C l i
o n R o a
d ( f o
r L u t
o n T o w n
F C )
G a l a x
y
L u t o
n S t
a t i o n I n t e
r c h a n
g e
S t a n
t o n R o
a d ( L u t
o n &
D u n
s t a b l e
H o s p i t a
l 7 0 0
m )
P a r k s
i d e D
o g &
D u c k
B e d f
o r d S q
u a r e
W h i
t e L i o
n R e
t a i l P a
r k
P o r t l a
n d R i d
e
H i g h S
t r e e t
N o r t h
M o r r i s
o n s
L u t o nP a r k w
a y
L o n d o n L u t o n A i r p o r t
TODDINGTON
E
CB
A
DUNSTABLE
HOUGHTON REGIS
LUTON
Beecro
Downside
Tithe Farm
W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l
A s d a
S o u t h w o o d R o a d
KEY
from Parkside, Houghton Regis, to London Luton Air
via Dunstable and Luton Station Interchange, Mon−S
from Downside estate to Luton Station Interchange
via Dunstable, Mon−Sun
from Beecro estate to Luton Station Interchange
via Dunstable, Mon−Sat
from Toddington Green to Luton Galaxy Centre
via Dunstable, Mon−Sat
A
B
C
E
The Busway made simpleA ast, requent and reliable way to travel both during the day and afer dark – services A and B run seven days a week, services C and E six days
A premier servithat doesn’t cothe earthArriva, Centrebus and Grant Pa
will operate services on the Bus
and all will charge the same on
busway services as they do or
equivalent journey using curren
routes.
As with usual bus journeys, y
pay the driver when boarding. A
as single and day return trip ticbeing available, a range o day
weekly tickets oer even bette
or money.
Oering additional convenien
separate multi-operator ticket
as ‘Hip-hop’ is also available (
back page).
Operators also oer discount
or students with an NUS card
children under 14 with photoca
Service A rom Parkside, Houghton
Regis, to London Luton Airport
via Dunstable and Luton Station
nterchange.
Monday to Saturday services
approximately every 15 minutes at
peak times (hourly in the late evening),
plus regular Sunday service.
●Journey time example: HoughtonRegis centre to Luton Station
![Customs Tariff Amendment (Schedule 4) Act 2012 No. 138, …Act 2012 No. 138, 2012 An Act to amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995, and for related purposes [Assented to 25 September 2012]](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/607f3806b66b6f299f125d5a/customs-tariff-amendment-schedule-4-act-2012-no-138-act-2012-no-138-2012-an.jpg)
