New Partnerships For Ongoing Success

The past two months have seen our charity BedsGOVET moving forwards with new partnerships with both the Environment Agency and Bedford Borough Council. We have also been busy setting up a new website which has just been launched and reviewing our social media strategy to see how it can be managed with a small number of volunteers.

Working with the Environment Agency

Following a number of meetings with The Environment Agency (EA) where we have shared our test findings over the past year, we are very pleased to say that the EA has recently made a clear commitment to work with us on ways to attack dry day discharging by Anglian Water that is happening at both Bedford and Odell. Dry day spills are illegal and result in e coli contamination at unacceptable levels.
We are meeting to agree the methodologies that both parties will work towards, to ensure clarity of approach. It was also really pleasing that the Area Director, Sadia Moeed has enthusiastically endorsed the arrangements.
“This is a major development for us and the work we do on behalf of Bedfordshire residents.” Said Alan Horn, Chair of BedsGOVET.
Bedford Borough Council On Board
A further breakthrough has been creating closer links with Bedford Borough Council, which has made its intent to partner with us clear with both the Mayor, Tom Wootton and the Deputy Mayor, Jim Weir attending our evening update at Brewpoint on September 17th (see more below) . We are sharing the Environment Agency commitment and looking forward to working closely with both parties.

Trustees of the BedsGOVET were invited to attend the recent The Borough Council’s Water Management Partnership meeting on the 18th September, where we were heard about Anglian Water’s scheme of works for 2026, whereby BedsGOVET will be asked to comment on as part of their new community initiative and play an active role in looking at the progress. We also discussed with the Chair reviewing and understanding the process and requirements for designated bathing spots being created in popular swimming areas. Richard Fuller, The MP for North Beds is an active driver in the Water Management Partnership and in the recent BedsLife magazine, was extremely positive about the contribution BedsGOVET.

BedsGOVET Update Meeting
It was standing room only at the latest update BedsGOVET gave to its volunteers and key partners and sponsors on the 17th September at Brewpoint. The evening provided the opportunity to thank all our volunteers for their ongoing commitment and hard work over the year and to update everyone on the work and plans going forward. In particular, how we need to inform residents about the issues of ecoli in the river, and provide them with the details that allow them to consider the safety of swimming. A new website is currently being developed and this will allow for test results to be more easily accessible on a monthly basis.

As mentioned above, The Mayor and Deputy Mayor were both present at our event, to together with Mohammad Yasin, The Bedford and Kempston MP who has endorsed our work and agreed to put a series of questions to Emma Reynolds MP, the new Secretary of State for proposals to deal with the water industry crisis.
In the News

Our charity featured in a BBC news article about the dangers of swimming in the river. It is great to see our work being recognised and we will