of the Meeting of Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden Parish Council
held on Monday, 20th July 2026 at 7:30pm in Wyboston Village Hall
Councillors: Cllrs M Yemm (Chairman), A Betteridge, A Murrie and A Roche
In Attendance: Clerk, and 3 members of the public
Public Participation: Standing Orders will be suspended for a period of approximately 15 minutes (at the discretion of the Chairman) to allow members of the public to address the Council:
• Borough Cllr Report – Cllr Sira’s annual report is available on the PC website.
• Parishioner complained about excessive number of HGVs driving through Chawston Lane. He wanted to request a 7.5T weight limit. Chairman explained that BBC wanted evidence – times/vehicle identity (number plate, business name etc). Cllr Betteridge suggested that a weight limit here would only push the problem further down to Roxton Road. Will continue to monitor.
• Street lighting – turning onto flyover (Roxton Garden Centre side). Resolved: Clerk to ask Highways England whether they are planning to install signage or lighting on the triangle on the bottom of Roxton Road opposite the Garden Centre. On the roundabout from the garden centre on Roxton Road – concerns regarding no crash barrier when there is a significant drop to the south side – ask for Highways England to consider installing safety feature here.
There were no further matters raised, and Standing Orders were duly reinstated.
1. Apologies
Cllr G Johnston and Borough Cllr Sira sent their apologies
2. Declarations of Interest:
There were no interests declared.
3. Minutes of the Annual Parish and Annual Parish Council meetings of 18th May 2026:
With the agreement of all those present, the above minutes were confirmed as a correct record and were duly signed by the Chairman.
4. Matters Arising from previous meeting:
1. Item 4.2 re: vehicle movements at W S Transportation – Clerk has sent a further request to BBC regarding access to data but has not yet heard back. Resolved: Clerk to submit breach to Planning Enforcement.
2. Item 6 re: Vacancy – WCCPC is still looking for members. Any interested parties should contact either the Chairman or Clerk for further information.
3. Item 15.2 re: bins at the new road (Baron Way) up to Roxton Road – Cllr Sira explained via e-mail that once the new road is adopted by BBC, residents can make a request through the Parish Council for bins to be installed. Once the Parish Council puts in the request, Paul Paice will meet with WCCPC to explain the process for new bin requests.
There were no further matters arising.
5. Highways
1. East West Rail Update – Cllr Johnston reported by e-mail that he understands the Local Representatives Groups (LRG’s) may soon be rationalised and come under the control of the EWR ‘Political Relations Team’ who are currently working on the ‘Land Interest Questionaries’. EWR are going through the responses from the most recent non-statutory consultation and we await the results.
2. A428 Update – Following the email regarding a delay to opening part of the Black Cat junction, Cllr Johnston has asked for more clarification but is still waiting. The planned schedule was to complete the project by ‘Spring 2027’ and whilst the A421 (over the top) and the gyratory road are expected to be completed on time along with connection to Caxton Gibbet, the Black Cat North/South underpass will require an additional 3 months to complete. Stand by for chaos as vehicles come on and off the A1/A421 and onto the roundabout!
3. VAS – Cllr Gordon had circulated the latest findings he had downloaded from the units via e-mail to Councillors.
4. Staploe Road works – Staploe Road was scheduled to be closed for repairs over the weekend 11-13th, this was postponed due to heat and the 2 days works have now taken 5 days to complete – these works seeming to be to complete the patching in between the patching carried out in October 2025 – further, surface dressing will be carried out on Staploe Road – with the Road Closed 07/08/26 for 3 weekdays: 08:00 to 18:00. Resolved: Clerk to write to Andrew Prigmore to express concern regarding all the changes to planned roadworks with little notification of changes.
5. Anglian Water – Cllr Johnston queried the reduced water pressure with a contact at Anglian Water, and their response is as follows:-
“As part of our operational response to the recent period of unprecedented exceptionally high-water demand, temporary pressure management measures were introduced within your area. These measures were necessary to help protect water supplies for all customers across the network during sustained peak demand. By carefully managing pressure, we can reduce the risk of customers experiencing a complete loss of supply, minimise leakage from the network, and help protect the environment by reducing the need for additional abstraction from rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater sources such as boreholes. While we fully appreciate that some customers may notice lower water pressure during these periods, these temporary measures are implemented to maintain resilient supplies across the wider network and ensure we continue to meet our statutory obligations.”
6. MAG005 (Multi-Agency Group) – Cllr Johnston advised that the recent MAG005 meeting had been cancelled as the new Chairman was on holiday. He contacted Anglian Water regarding the lining of the pipes in Wyboston and also the state-of-play regarding the properties on the A1 that have experienced issues. He was advised that the pipe-lining was still in the system and we will be notified further in due course. He is still waiting to hear what’s happening with sewerage issues for properties on A1, but will chase at the re-scheduled MAG meeting in due course.
7. VAS Report – Cllr Johnston had circulated the data to Councillors via e-mail.
6. Planning
6.1 Planning Applications
1. 26/00173/MAF AMENDED Change of use to storage and distribution (use class B8) including laying of hard standing and access roads at Spinney View Farm, Chawston Lane, Chawston – object [submitted]
2. 26/00173/MAF AMENDED B, as above – object [submitted]
3. 26/00923/S73A Continued use of land as residential garden and retention and completion of garden room at Cherry Tree Cottage, Colesden Road, Colesden – no comment [submitted]
4. 26/01256/FUL New entrance gates and front parking area at Cranwell Court Annexe, 123 The Lane, Wyboston – no objection
5. 26/01338/FUL Erection of timber carriage house to store up to 3 cars at 35 Rookery Road, Wyboston – object as the carriage house is outside curtilage.
6. 26/01227/EIA Outline application (all matters reserved) for a mixed use phased and severable development, comprising residential development of up to 4,400 dwellings; commercial, public open space including sport and play facilities, education facilities comprising primary and secondary school provision, provision of biodiversity net gain, transport and access infrastructure, a safeguarding zone for the delivery of East West Rail, retention, renovation and reuse of the on-site historic assets, and associated demolitions, parking, servicing, utilities, footpath and cycle links, drainage and other infrastructure at land at Barford Road, Little Barford – object as the infrastructure is insufficient and the proposed development is neighbouring Wyboston which currently suffers from flooding.
7. 26/01250/MAO Outline application with all matters submitted for approval except appearance, proposing the erection of a Trunk Road Service Area comprising an amenity building, drive-thru unit, car parking, HGV parking, coach parking, recreational vehicle parking, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, landscaping, picnic areas, formation of access onto the A1 and associated works at land south east of the Black Cat Roundabout, Great North Road, Roxton – no comment
6.2 Planning Matters
1. APPEAL 24/02097/EIA Erection of a 100.7m high wind turbine with associated infrastructure at Wyboston Lakes Hotel, Wyboston Lakes Business and Leisure Village, Great North Road, Wyboston – previous no objection stands, no further action required.
2. 26/00246/FUL Single storey front extension to existing bungalow at 4 Tythe Farm Bungalows, Staploe Road, Wyboston – permission granted
7 Police
1. To receive local crime statistics (see attached table – Appendix 2)
2. To note new PCSO Reece Forder Resolved: Clerk to invite PCSO Forder to an upcoming PC meeting.
8 Village Hall Report
1. Cllr Betteridge reported that they now have a new wireless electric meter. The WiFi connection is performing well. They will soon be able to adjust the heating remotely. The Hall is becoming more profitable with further bookings. However, the defibrillator urgently needs replacing.
9 Finance
9.1 To approve payments and note any income:
A schedule of payments and receipts that were approved are noted in Appendix 1.
9.2 To receive information regarding the current financial statement:
The updated cashbook with bank reconciliation, having been previously circulated to Councillors, was approved.
9.3 Year End Accounts 2025/2026
Clerk confirmed that the Year End Accounts have been submitted to the external auditor for a limited assurance review, and that relevant documents have been published on the PC website in line with Transparency Regulations.
10. Matters Arising from Correspondence/AOB
1. Reminder: Annual Rural Bulky Waste Collection – Saturday, 12th September at 10:00-11:30am at Wyboston VH.
2. Bedford Borough Local Plan 2050 – Call for sites and development opportunities www.bedford.gov.uk/callforsites
3. East Park Energy – Community Fund Engagement with Councillors, Officer and Parishes
4. Complaint from resident regarding weeds on Morris Walk – documents circulated by Clerk to Councillors did not show show definitively who was responsible for the maintenance of the verge on Morris Walk. Cllr Betteridge to look through Village Hall deeds.
5. Cllr Murray asked whether the footpath along the new road was a bridleway as there has been a lot of horses on footpath resulting in a lot of manure which has to be negotiated by pedestrians. Noted.
11. Date of Next Meeting:
Monday, 21st September 2026 at 7:30pm in Wyboston Village Hall
12 Clerk’s Pension Provision and Salary Review
[Under the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 (as extended by s.100 of the Local Government Act 1972), press and public are excluded from this item of the agenda.]
Resolved: Clerk to enroll with the Government NEST pension scheme with effect from 1st July 2026. An increase to Clerk’s hourly rate was also approved.