The Bedford Manifesto

A Plan for Civic Renewal, Local Pride & Prosperity

Introduction

Bedford is in decline. Boarded-up shops, rising crime, economic stagnation and civic apathy reflect a town losing its way. But decline is not destiny. This manifesto lays out a clear, actionable vision to reverse that trend, by restoring order, unlocking local enterprise, attracting new investment, and creating the conditions for long-term economic renewal.

To rebuild Bedford, we must foster a new civic spirit, one grounded in pride, shared responsibility and bold local action.

1. Restore Public Order and Safety

There is no clearer signal of Bedford’s decline than the open decay in its town centre: a plague of addiction, open drug dealing and use, rampant shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. This is wholly unacceptable. Lawlessness has driven people away, crippled local businesses and made parts of the town unsightly, unsafe and avoided. Civic pride and public confidence has been lost.

Objective: Make Bedford town centre safe, welcoming and secure, for residents, workers and visitors alike. This demands a coordinated effort between locals, business owners, the council and Bedfordshire Police.

But if the police cannot, or will not act, we will. And we will do so within the full bounds of the law.

Actions:

  • Enforce a zero-tolerance policy on drug dealing, public drug use, street drinking, aggressive begging and shoplifting.

  • Deploy permanent, high-visibility foot patrols in partnership with Bedfordshire Police, focused on peak times and high-risk areas.

  • Expand CCTV coverage with live monitoring and rapid-response protocols.

  • Broaden the use of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) to tackle nuisance and antisocial behaviour.

  • Work with addiction support services to provide meaningful help to those ready to seek it.

  • Use every legal power available to remove those who flagrantly break the law and undermine the safety of the town centre.

Rationale: Public safety underpins everything: community life, commerce and investment. When crime goes unchecked, it is local businesses and the hardworking residents who pay the price.

2. Beautify and Reclaim Public Space

A town’s appearance is a reflection of its values. Bedford’s once-proud town centre has become tired, neglected and unloved. Bags of rubbish left outside shops, drink and drugs paraphernalia scattered on side streets and abandoned spaces send a clear message: nobody cares. This visual decay reinforces the sense of decline, deters footfall and makes the town feel hostile rather than inviting.

Objective: Create a clean, attractive and well-maintained town centre that signals care, pride and purpose. This requires regular cleaning, repairs and investment in green spaces, lighting, signage and seating. It also means reclaiming neglected areas and transforming them into places people want to gather, shop and connect.

Working with the council, businesses, volunteers and community groups we will take back our public spaces and restore dignity to the heart of Bedford.

Actions:

  • Launch a dedicated Cleanliness Taskforce to tackle litter, graffiti and neglected spaces with regular upkeep.

  • Enforce commercial landlord responsibilities: penalties for dereliction, incentives for refurbishment, delivered through council partnership.

  • Use vacant shop fronts for rotating local art exhibitions to bring creativity and vibrancy to unused spaces.

Rationale: When public spaces are well-kept, people feel safer, more welcome and more inclined to spend time and money in the town centre.

3. Drive Local Economic Growth

A town without economic energy cannot thrive. Bedford’s economy has become stagnant: starved of footfall, choked by regulation and stripped of opportunity. High streets are hollowing out, small businesses are struggling to survive and investment is being driven elsewhere.

Reviving Bedford means getting money flowing again, encouraging people to spend locally, removing the barriers that hold back entrepreneurs and making the town a magnet for new ideas and investment. This requires more than vague commitments to “growth”, it demands a clear, focused agenda to champion local enterprise and reward initiative.

Objective: Increase Bedford’s local GDP by stimulating in-town spending, nurturing entrepreneurship and attracting investment. This means cutting red tape, supporting new business creation, improving access to affordable retail space and building partnerships with investors who see the value in a revitalised town centre.

Actions:

  • Create a Local Business Investment Fund, backed by public-private capital, to support both anchor ventures and grassroots start-ups.

  • Establish a designated economic opportunity zone with zero business rates to attract investment and test a pro-growth policy.

  • Partner with landlords to offer affordable short-term leases for pop-up shops by local makers and traders.

  • Launch a Pro Local campaign to educate residents on local economics and encourage them to choose independent shops over online or chain alternatives.

Rationale: Money spent locally circulates 3–4 times more in the community than money spent in national chains. Economic self-sufficiency brings resilience, jobs and better services.

4. Build a Year-Round Culture and Events Economy

Culture is the heartbeat of a town. It brings people together, animates public spaces and fuels the local economy. Yet Bedford’s cultural life is underdeveloped, events are sporadic, public spaces underused and the town lacks a clear identity that draws people in.

We must change that. A vibrant, year-round programme of events: from food festivals and live music to sport, theatre and public art can breathe energy back into Bedford’s streets. It creates reasons to visit, reasons to stay and reasons to spend.

Objective: Position Bedford as a regional destination for food, music, arts, sport and public life. This means working with local creatives, businesses and venues to develop a packed calendar of activity, investing in key spaces and removing the bureaucratic barriers that currently block grassroots initiatives.

Actions:

  • Launch a public Events Calendar with monthly anchor events: markets, festivals, concerts, exhibitions, talks and community days.

  • Involve schools, artists, musicians and venues in coordinating grassroots programming.

  • Prioritise inclusive, free-to-access events that appeal to all ages and backgrounds.

  • Partner with local media and influencers to amplify reach, celebrate Bedford’s identity and foster civic pride.

Rationale: Culture isn’t a luxury, it’s an engine of economic and civic renewal. If we build it, they will come. And if we get it right, Bedford will be known not for its decline, but for its buzz.

5. Take Ownership. Take Action.

For too long, Bedford’s future has been left in the hands of others. That ends now. If we want a better town, we need to take ownership of it. Every resident, every business, every community group has a role to play.

No one is coming to save Bedford, we either step up or watch it fall.

Objective: Build a civic culture where residents see themselves not as spectators, but as active stakeholders in Bedford’s renewal. That means turning frustration into action, ideas into initiatives and complaints into commitments. A better Bedford won’t arrive by accident, it needs people to show up and make it happen.

Actions:

  • Attend and speak at quarterly Town Hall Forums. Help shape the future by sharing ideas, raising issues and holding decision-makers to account.

  • Shop local. If every household visited the town centre just once more per week, it would inject millions of pounds into the local economy.

  • Use your voice and platform. Promote local businesses, events and initiatives online and in conversation.

  • Join or start a local action group. Whether it’s cleaning up a park, running a street market, or tackling antisocial behaviour. Do something. Small efforts drive big outcomes.

  • Encourage schools to teach localism. Push for real-world learning, civic responsibility, local economics and community projects.

Rationale: When people feel proud of where they live, they’re more likely to stay, invest and contribute. A strong sense of civic responsibility strengthens communities: reducing crime, attracting outside investment and creating the kind of place people want to be part of.

Conclusion

The slow decay of Bedford ends here.

This is not a proposal, it is a declaration of intent. It is a call to those who will no longer accept decline as destiny. We will restore order. We will reignite enterprise. We will rebuild the cultural soul of this town.

This is the line. You’re in, or you’re out.