A new 3km tarmac path including a new bridge across Elstow Brook has now been opened as the first part of the development of the Grange Estate bought by the Marston Vale Trust in 2006. The path links up two points of the Bedford to Sandy section of National Cycle Network Route 51 near Willington.

• 12 to 14 March 2008 - Bedford Station Quarter Proposed Re-development Exhibition
  

Consultants Halcrow Group Limited staged an exhibition at Bedford Railway Station to put forward their ideas for the re-development of this important gateway site.

Apart from a relocated and redesigned station there will be a new multi-storey car park, hotel, offices and flats together with increased cycle parking and improved cycle routes.

• 25 February 2008 - National Cycle Network Route 51 - Latest

It is now more than four years since the section of Route 51 was completed between Marston Thrift (Marston Moretaine West End) and Rooktree Farm (Hulcote) and to date has still not bedded down to give a 100% hard rideable surface.

The problem is still in the hands of lawyers and we have been told that it is unlikely to be resolved for this summer's leisure riding season.

In the meantime it is advised to use the alternative signed route via Cranfield.

• 28 January 2008 - Tribute to CCNB Founder Member Louis Fussell
  

It is with great shock and sadness that CCNB has learnt that one of its founder members, Louis Fussell, was killed in an accident on Friday 25 January 2008 whilst riding his bicycle though the junction of Putnoe Lane with Wentworth Drive.

CCNB Chair, Hazel Mitchell, said: "Louis will be remembered for his courageous cycling trips during his seventies on behalf of a number of local charities, for example, from Bedford to Spean Bridge in Scotland for the Primrose Appeal (often managing 70 miles or more a day), and to Dundee for the British Legion to name two. He raised thousands of pounds over the years, and helped an unknown number of people in consequence. This was a generous and committed gentleman in the truest sense.

Louis was a founder member of the campaign in 1992, and over the years attended committee meetings regularly, baking cakes for us when the meetings were in his home.

We will sorely miss his charming and gentle personality."

Louis' funeral service will take place at 3pm on Friday 8 February 2008 at St Pauls Church Bedford followed by cremation at Bedford Crematorium. No flowers are requested but donations for Macmillan Cancer Support or Royal British Legion (Bedford) may be sent c/o Arnolds Funeral Service 48 Roff Avenue Bedford MK45 7TE.

• 13 December 2007 - Bedford Station Cycle Parking
  

The installation of 116 new, under cover, 'Sheffield' type cycle stands was completed on Wednesday 12 December 2007 and officially opened by representatives of First Capital Connect and Bedfordshire County Council with the participation of Santa Claus and CCNB. The stands were already being well used.

CCNB hopes that these additional facilities will help to continue the increase, seen in the last few years, in commuters cycling to the station.

• 12 December 2007 - Sustrans Connect2 Project
  

It was announced that 'Sustrans' Connect2 had won the People's £50 Million Lottery Giveaway with 42% of all the votes cast.

Four organisations, including 'Sustrans' Connect2 project, had competed for the £50 million grant from the Big Lottery Fund's 'Living Landmarks: The People's Millions' competition with each project the subject of a television programme on ITV1 during the week commencing 3 December.

The project will revitalise walking and cycling in 79 communities across the UK by creating new routes for the journeys we all make every day. Crossings and bridges will be created over busy roads, railway lines and rivers, linking into new networks of local paths to get you to where you want to go.

In our immediate area there is only the construction of a new bridge over the River Great Ouse at St Neots but as above winning the award will give a significant boost to cycling.

• 4 December 2007 - Bromham Bridge Consultation
  

Bedfordshire County Council has launched a public consultation to ask people how they could improve Bromham Bridge. The bridge is classified as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and has to be preserved and protected from damage. With the construction of the Western Bypass now underway and the proposed redevelopment of Bromham Mill, the County Council wish to mitigate any future impacts from these schemes and aim to achieve this by producing appropriate traffic management measures.

Highway engineers have looked at all the options available and have produced two possible solutions:

1 - Close Bromham Bridge off to all motor vehicles, and give priority to cyclists and pedestrians,

2 - Make the bridge one-way to traffic on the westbound route only. This would also reduce the volume of vehicles using Bromham Bridge and 'rat-running' which is a concern to local residents.

The full consultation is available on the Bedfordshire County Council website and is open for people's feedback until 17 January 2008.

• 7 November 2007 - Western Bypass Starts
  

Work started today on the construction of the Western Bypass from the A421 Marsh Leys roundabout to the A428 at Bromham.

The work will include five new roundabouts and three cycle/pedestrian underpasses as well as a cycle track over the River Great Ouse. The bypass is expected to be completed in 2010.

Some of the cycle facilities will eventually become the new route for the National Cycle Network Route 51 through the Kempston West and Biddenham Loop developments.

• 13 August 2007 - Cycle Friendly Infrastructure Consultation Draft
  

The Department for Transport has placed on their website the consultation version of a new Local Transport Note "Cycling Infrastructure Design". The document is an update of the original 1996 document "Cycle Friendly Infrastructure" and is complimentary to the recently published DfT document "Manual for Street". The consultation period closed on 5th November 2007.

• 10 August 2007 - Win a Folding Bicycle
  

First Capital Connect, Bedford's local train operating company, has announced a competition to win one of 4 Dahon Speed D7 folding bikes. To enter visit the FCC website.

• 26 July 2007 - Pegasus Crossing Timing Amended
  

After active campaigning by CCNB the Pegasus crossing of Kimbolton Road near Mowsbury Park has now had its timing for cyclists, pedestrians and horseriders adjusted from 30-40 seconds to instantaneous. This now makes the crossing much safer, particularly for school children who are not in the habit of waiting such an excessive time if they are late for school.

• 28 May 2007 - New Bike Shop for Bedford
  

In early May the old established cycle business of Michael's Cycles (Rydion) of 54-56 Midland Road Bedford suddenly closed. CCNB is pleased to report that a new cycle shop has now opened on the same site, to be known as Bedford Cycles.

• 21 March 2007 - Official Launch of the Wixams
  

Work has started on a new dual carriageway for the A6 between the Bedford Southern Bypass and Wilstead. This will allow Village One to be built between the new and existing road. The old A6 will then have a cycle track constructed along its entire length with an underpass at the northern end of the new A6 into Elstow and another underpass at the southern end into Wilstead.

• 1 November 2006 - New Toucan Crossing
  

Bedfordshire Highways on behalf of Bedfordshire County Council have now completed in Kimbolton Road Bedford the new Toucan crossing where the Lombardy Close cycle track from Putnoe crosses over the road to the track to Larkway and the town centre via Bedford Park. This is 19 years after it was originally proposed.

• 28 July 2006 - Clapham Footpath No 24
  

Bedfordshire County Council have accepted CCNB's application to have the above footpath from Falcon avenue Bedford to Green Lane Clapham via Hawk Drive, Clapham Park and Carriage Drive upgraded to a 'Restricted Byway'. The application will be determined around Easter 2007. The footpath has been used by cyclists for more than 20 years and application has been made as a result of the recent Royal Assent of the National Environment and Rural Communities Act which gives the same rights to cyclists as previously given to walkers.