Latest News and Newsletters

The Potton Town Council Newsletter is published quarterly and the Town Council will keep you informed on this page of any latest news between Newsletters.

Help shape the future of transport in Central Bedfordshire 6 August 2026

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Central Bedfordshire Council.

Would you like to travel around more without taking your car? Struggle to catch a bus? Concerned about road safety?

We’re halfway through our Local Transport Plan consultation and we want to hear from you.

Whether you walk, wheel, cycle, drive, catch the bus or travel by train, your feedback will help shape future transport priorities and investment across Central Bedfordshire.

Have your say before the consultation closes on 20th September 2026.

Don’t leave it too late. If you haven’t taken part yet, now is the time to get involved.

Find out more and have your say.

The draft Local Transport Plan is available to read in full on our website: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations
Drains maintenance – Brook End Car Park 3 August 2026

The town council is currently carrying out maintenance to drains in Brook End car park.

Please could the owner of registration LR61 YYG move the car from the space so that the drain under the vehicle can be cleared.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Have your say: PCC launches survey to improve support for victims of crime 29 July 2026

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The Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire is asking residents to take part in a survey to help improve support services for victims of crime across the county.

The PCC is keen to hear from as many people as possible, whether you have reported the incident to the police or chose not to. Responses will help identify what is working well, where improvements are needed and how agencies can better support victims throughout their journey.

Click here for the survey.

Click here for Press release for information.

The survey closes on 17 August.
Graffiti on new Mill Lane Play Equipment 15 June 2026
Disappointing to report that the new play equipment at Mill Lane has been graffitied.

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New play equipment at Mill Lane 11 May 2026
In the May edition of the town council newsletter the Chairman Cllr Vicki Gwilliam announced ‘We are pleased to announce that we have funding in place to order and install some new play equipment at Mill Lane Recreation Ground. The previous equipment was removed some months ago for children’s safety, as it was nearing the end of its life and beyond repair. Potton Youth Council consulted the children of Potton Primary School earlier this year, and they have selected their preferred scheme. The new equipment should be in place early in the Summer, and I am sure it will be a welcome addition to the play area. We would like to thank Potton Consolidated Charity for their contribution to match funding this project.’

Update – Work should commence later this month, we apologise for any inconvenience caused whilst work is being undertaken.
Update – Future management of Brook End Car Park 8 May 2026
Update – Future management of Brook End Car Park 8th May 2026

The original news item posted on the 6th May 2026 is below.

Firstly, we are disappointed to report that following an incident on the 7th May we have been in contact with Bedfordshire Police. We remind Don’t take it out on our staff, town councillors or volunteers. Our staff and volunteers have a right to work in a safe environment and are here to help you. We will NOT tolerate harassment, violence, physical aggression or verbal abuse towards our staff and volunteers. Potton Town Council reserves the right to take further action against anyone acting inappropriately towards members of its staff and volunteers.

The town council has noted the comments on the various Facebook channels (e.g. Cllr Adam Zerny and We Love Potton!).

We are aware that Cllr Zerny mentioned in his Facebook post provisional charges to park in the car park. The charges mentioned by Cllr Zerny are provisional, though at this stage the charges have not yet been agreed, the only thing that has been agreed is that that car parking charges are needed in the Brook End Car Park. At this stage the implementation of car park charging is on hold. The town council is not wanting to make a massive profit from car park charges, though the council would like to cover some of the costs it incurs in providing the car park. Like previously mentioned the town council regularly receives complaints about the lack of parking and the fact that many cars parked in the car park never move.

The town council is exploring about having a car park permit scheme so that local residents and people who work in local businesses can purchase a yearly permit to park in the Brook End Car Park as we are aware that several houses and businesses close to the town centre in for example Brook End, Market Square and Royston Street have no dedicated parking. Though it should be noted if permits are put in place, this will not guarantee a car parking space in the car park.

As a town council we want to be supportive to our residents, local businesses and visitors to the town. The town council is trying to find a solution to the dissatisfaction of car parking as raised in the benchmarking surveys. The town council would welcome any sensible suggestions on how car parking in Brook End Car Park which is managed and maintained by the town council and also in the rest of town centre – which is not managed or maintained by the town council – could be improved. Please send your sensible suggestions on how car parking in Brook End Car Park and the rest of town centre could be improved to the Town Clerk enquiries@pottontowncouncil.gov.uk

One solution would be build another car park, though as far as we are aware no land is currently for sale especially close to the town centre. If land was for sale, in addition to the cost to purchase the land there would also be the cost to construct the car park. If you own any land close to the town centre, and would be willing to sell the land to the council for a car park, please contact the Town Clerk enquiries@pottontowncouncil.gov.uk

The town council is always delighted to welcome members of the public to its council meetings and the next meeting is scheduled for the 23rd June.

Original news item posted on the 6th May 2026 below

The Future management of Brook End Car Park was an item on the Annual Town Council meeting agenda on the 5th May 2026.

Brook End car park is owned by the Town Council, who are responsible for its management and maintenance. Following a Town Benchmarking survey in 2017 which was carried out to provide evidence for the Potton Neighbourhood Plan, the need for additional parking in the town to support our key services and shops was identified. Parking was seen as the largest single factor likely to deter people from using local shops and services. The town council therefore proposed the extension of the car park given that space and land is at a premium in the centre of town. We hoped the extension, which was completed in 2019 and cost nearly £100,000, would alleviate parking issues and make it easier for people to access the shops and the local surgery.

Central Bedfordshire Council with the assistance of the town council have arranged for three further benchmarking surveys and these have been undertaken in Potton in 2019, 2022 and 2025. Again car parking was identified as the biggest negative. The town council regularly receives complaints about the lack of parking and the fact that many cars parked in the car park never move. It should be noted that there is no guarantee of parking in any car park, particularly when free of charge.

The town council have kept residents and businesses informed and given them the opportunity to engage with the town council.

The town council included in the February 2025 edition of the town council newsletter an article about Brook End Car Park A copy of the newsletter is either hand delivered or royal mailed to every household and business in the town, with copies available to collect from the town council office and the library and is added to the town council website. The article mentioned ‘At the meeting of the town council in March 2025, the charging and enforcing of Brook End Car Park will be considered. Potton Town Council (PTC) currently operates the free to use Brook End car park despite Central Bedfordshire Council charging the town council over £4,000 per year in rates.’

Included on page 24 of the December 2025 benchmarking survey
WHAT TWO SUGGESTIONS WOULD YOU MAKE TO IMPROVE POTTON TOWN CENTRE? Improvements to ‘Car Parking’ was the key them to emerge with three categories. ‘More Parking’, ‘Parking Enforcement’ and issues surrounding ‘Electronic Car Charging Points’.

The town council included in the February 2026 edition of the town council newsletter an article ‘What do you think about Potton?’ following a further Benchmarking of the town The benchmarking survey included car parking – dissatisfaction has increased from 44% in 2019 to 72% in 2025 and is now the biggest negative issue. Like mentioned above a copy of the newsletter is either hand delivered or royal mailed to every household and business in the town, with copies available to collect from the town council office and the library and is added to the town council website.

At the meeting on the 5th May 2026 the town council agreed that car parking charges are needed in the Brook End Car Park. The town council is not wanting to make a massive profit from car park charges, though the council would like to cover some of the costs it incurs in providing the car park. Like mentioned above the town council regularly receives complaints about the lack of parking and the fact that many cars parked in the car park never move.

The town council is aware that Adam Zerny Potton Town Cllr / Central Bedfordshire Ward Cllr for Potton has added a post to his facebook page.
Dog Waste Bag Dispensers 6 May 2026

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The Town Council have decided to remove the Dog Waste Bag Dispensers located in Brook End, Henry Smith Playing Fields and Mill Lane Recreation. This is because some people have been taking dozens and dozens of bags at once and the dispensers have often been left empty.

The dispensers were put in so that dog owners who need one in an emergency because they had forgot to bring a bag would have one if required. In the last six months 24,000 dog bags have been taken from the dispensers (at a rate of approximately 1,000 dog bags per week). Based on the current rate it is costing the town council £1,700 a year to purchase dog bags.

The dispensers will be removed when the remaining dog bogs have been used.
Mosaic to celebrate and commemorate HM Queen Elizabeth II 31 March 2026
The mosaic commissioned to celebrate and commemorate HM Queen Elizabeth II was unveiled outside Potton Library on Monday 30th March. The Chairman of the Potton Town Council was delighted that the new High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Deputy Lieutenant Mr Ismail Anilmis and Deputy Lieutenant for Bedfordshire Mr Charles Whitbread were able to join her at the unveiling.

Photo Credit: Alec Gallagher

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Struggling with heating oil costs? 23 March 2026

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Support available for Central Bedfordshire residents struggling with heating oil costs

Central Bedfordshire residents who rely on heating oil and are struggling with rising costs can now apply for financial support from a new fund.

Central Bedfordshire Council has been allocated £2.7 million by the UK Government to provide crisis support for households up to April 2027 through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund. £106,000 will support low-income households in the area who use oil to heat their homes.

Find out more about crisis payments and how to apply.

The fund is designed to provide short-term support to residents who are experiencing a financial crisis or sudden financial shock. It can help with essential costs such as food, energy and utility bills, essential transport costs and basic household items.

The first phase of funding is now open, to support low-income households affected by rising heating oil costs. Wider support will be available from 1st April 2026, to provide broader support for residents experiencing a crisis or sudden financial shock.

More information about the new Crisis and Resilience Fund is available on the CBC website.
How good are Potton’s green spaces for birds? 10 March 2026

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The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) have just launched a new project ‘Birds in Greenspaces’. It aims to find out how important they are for birds and provide guidance on effective management for birds and people.

It runs from April until June across the UK and provides a wide range of resources to help people take part and build their skills, regardless of experience. It is open to anyone who wants to participate and not limited to one person per site, allowing for multiple individuals to record on a site. Potton has two registered green spaces, they are Henry Smith Playing Field and Mill Lane Recreation Ground. We have also added additional sites to the BTO map, for the Tall Trees Public Open Space and St Mary’s Church.

For more information and registering to take part, visit: https://www.bto.org/get-involved/volunteer/projects/greenspaces

Newsletters

Each publication has been compiled and published by Potton Town Council who are the owners of the copyright. No reproduction is permitted without the express permission of the Council. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the various entries within this publication. In no circumstances can Potton Town Council accept any liability for any loss or damage of any kind which may arise as a result from any error in, or omission of, any entry, artwork or telephone number. The editorial content is not necessarily the views of the Council.

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