Leighton Buzzard News
The latest Leighton Buzzard news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Central Bedfordshire planning call-ins end on 31 October
From 31 October a ward councillor can no longer force a planning application to a public committee. Central Bedfordshire votes on the rule change on Thursday.
More stories
Housing
Leighton Buzzard HMOs: 3 towns hold 75% of the total
Leighton Buzzard is one of three towns holding 75% of Central Bedfordshire's HMOs, a motion says. Councillors debate planning curbs on Thursday.
House Prices
Central Beds house prices: £1,662 below the March record
The average Central Bedfordshire home hit £356,758 in July, up 1.2% in a year but still below March's record. Flats are the only type losing value, down £2,874.
Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard Railway: steam back next Sunday, it says
Today's trains are diesel again and the railway now blames track damage at Munday's Hill as well as dry weather. Its own table puts steam back on 27 September.
Transport
Leighton Buzzard blue badges: Full Council votes 26 to 5
Councillors voted 26 to 5 to send the blue badge refusal back to the executive. Two executive members voted against; it returns on 6 October.
Sport
Leighton Buzzard youth football season delayed to October
Two summers of no rain left Astral Park and Pages Field unsafe, so the season starts in October. Youth demand is up 50% and a borehole would cost £60,000.
Roads
Central Bedfordshire: three fatal crashes in ten days
Police want dash-cam footage after three single-vehicle deaths at Woburn, near Upper Caldecote and on the A1, between 4 and 13 September.
Leisure
Leighton Buzzard leisure centre: 57,000 visits in a month
The new £33.9m centre took 57,000 visits in July, up 83% on the old one, and 28,774 swims in August. The council's own figures, and the one it leaves out.
Town centre
Leighton Buzzard market: plan to revive Tuesday, vote 14 Sep
A five-year plan to rescue the Tuesday market goes to councillors on Monday. 85% of traders now work Saturdays only, and 45% of shoppers are not regulars.
Transport
Central Beds transport plan: have your say by 20 September
Six Leighton-Linslade path and cycle schemes sit in the plan's unfunded appendix. Central Bedfordshire's transport plan to 2040 is open until 20 September.
Schools
School transport failures go to Central Beds scrutiny 10 Sep
Families who applied on time started term with no transport, a Biggleswade councillor says. The council's scrutiny committee takes the item on Thursday.
Parking
Leighton Buzzard car park lift out 9 months, scrutiny 10 Sep
The West Street multi-storey lift has been out since December 2025. A councillor has forced it onto the scrutiny agenda for 10 September. No repair date exists.
Community safety
Leighton Buzzard car meets: ban backed, no signs until 2027
Residents named 41 Leighton Buzzard locations in the council's nuisance vehicle survey. 94% backed a ban, but the signs may not go up until April 2027.
Transport
Leighton Buzzard blue badges: council votes tonight
Councillors vote tonight on restoring organisational blue badges to Buzzer Buses. The executive refused in June, saying government rules bar them.
Politics
Central Bedfordshire mayor: leader backs it, wants a vote
Cllr Adam Zerny's motion tonight backs an elected mayor over an Ox-Cam region and asks for a public vote. The government's own statement offers no referendum.
What's On
Leighton Buzzard Proms in the Park 2026: free, 12 September
Free entry, films from 12pm, live music from 7pm and fireworks at Parson's Close on Saturday 12 September. Plus the town car park that shuts at 7pm.
Transport
Leighton Buzzard EV event: free test drives on 2 October
Free drop-in on Market Square, Friday 2 October, 10am to 3pm: EV test drives, e-bikes and heat pump advice. Plus what the new DfT charger figures show.
Leighton Buzzard
Greenfields Leighton Buzzard marks 10 years with mayor visit
Residents threw a summer barbecue for the over-55s community's 10th year, joined by Town Mayor Kevin Pughe and MP Alex Mayer. More follows in November.
Planning
Sandy solar farm: officers back 7MW plan, decided today
Officers back a 7MW solar farm north of the A603 at Sandy, four years after it was lodged. Also decided today: 17 homes at Langford, decking at a Dunstable pub.
Parks
Leighton Buzzard parks: 6 Green Flags, most in the district
Six Leighton-Linslade parks hold a 2026 Green Flag, more than any other council in the district. The full list, checked against Keep Britain Tidy's register.
Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard GCSE results 2026: Cedars' best ever
Cedars Upper School reports its best ever GCSE results. Across Central Bedfordshire, Attainment 8 rose to 44.5 but grade 4 passes in English and maths fell to 63.3%.
Leighton Buzzard
Leighton Buzzard Railway: no steam this bank holiday
Dry weather has put every Leighton Buzzard Railway train on diesel until further notice. Steam is booked back from 6 September, and the gala is 24 and 25 October.
House Prices
Central Beds June house prices revised down to £354,690
Land Registry has revised June down: the Central Bedfordshire average is now £354,690, £1,763 less than first published, and the annual rise 2.4% not 2.9%.
Business
Henlow stadium company wound up owing £2.28m
Henlow Racing Limited's statement of affairs lists a £2,276,092 shortfall: £1m to HMRC, £142,309 to six staff, £94,744 to the greyhound regulator.
Planning
Leighton Buzzard Local Plan sites: comments close 17 Aug
51 sites around Leighton-Linslade are open for comment until Monday 17 August, including 149 hectares west of Linslade and 294 at Heath and Reach. Where they are, how to respond.
Community
Chelsea Flower Show gold garden opens in Leighton Buzzard
The Children's Society Garden, a Chelsea 2026 gold medal winner, has been rebuilt at Leighton Buzzard Youth Centre as a permanent wellbeing space for young people.
Health
Evergreen Ampthill closure plan: consultation open to 2 Nov
Central Bedfordshire proposes closing the 6-bed Evergreen unit in Ampthill and running all short-stay reablement beds from Houghton Regis. Comments close 2 November.