News Archive 2003

29/12/2003 Do you know about the Stoplinker?

Many cities particularly in Australia offer free bus services around their center. Luton has followed suit and now we have the StopLinker bus service. This is a free service that runs around the perimeter of the town centre so if you have a heavy shopping load and don't want to walk from one side of town to the other just catch a StopLinker. Priority is given to disabled people and bus ticket holders, but there is usually space for everyone!

The service links the following places: The Station, Galaxy Centre, Police Station, Chapel Street, Flowers Way, Church Street, Arndale east and west wings, The University and bus station. Just look out for the logo at selected bus stops. Typical service varies from 15 to 17 minutes.

21/12/2003 Tram system for Luton?

The Goverment has given the official go-ahead for a tram like bus system that will run from Luton to Dunstable and Houghton Regis. It will also link the Airport. The expected cost of the system is £90 million.

The system does not actually use rails but a kerb guide in the road and can also operate as a normal bus in traffic. It is a hybrid solution and is quite a leap in public transport technology!

www.translinkexpress.org.uk Find out more at the project's website

18/12/2003 Good rating for Luton Council

Luton council was given an overall good rating by the Audit Commission this year. They scored three out of four for most services including education, care, environment and housing. They also received full marks for resource use! The best council in the Three Counties was Hertfordshire and worst rated was Bedfordshire council.

See the performance results on the BBC website

1/12/2003 World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day "Five people worldwide die of AIDS every minute of every day. HIV has hit every corner of the globe, infecting more than 42 million men, women and children, 5 million of them last year alone."

World Aids Day find out more here

12/11/2003 Town Hall uncovered

After months under a huge cage of scaffolding the Town Hall is finally unveiled. It has been scrubbed clean as part of a £500 000 renovation. The walls are now pearly white and the tower looks like it was built yesterday! The clock resumed chiming a week ago although it took a few days to set the correct time and war memorial was finished just in time for remembrance day. The picture shows the tower moments after the neon clock lights were turned on for the first time in months!

11/11/2003 Lighting Up Luton

Don't miss the lighting up Luton event this weekend. It is the official Christmas lights turn on. There are events planned from Thursday 13th through to Sunday 16th. There will be a fair on at St George's Square and a Christmas craft market! All culminates with a fireworks show on Sunday night to mark the switching on of the lights. (picture shows the first decorations at the Arndale)

27/10/2003 Galley Hill Luton

Just outside of Luton is a site known as Galley Hill. This is where the local gallows used to be located. Witches were hanged and buried here in the 16th and 17th centuries. The site was also used for rituals and during excavations a strange steer skull was found with a dice placed on top of it.

Happy Halloween!

18/10/2003 New Post Office

Soon to open is Luton's new state of the art post office, decorated in cool lime green this should be a refreshing change from the weeks of queuing at the temporary office. The post office will be located next to Maplins and Woolworths in the Arndale.

11/10/2003 More Markets in Luton

The council has approved an outdoor market in George street. Today you can get a feel for what it would be like because the french market is in town! Soon markets here will be a regular feature.

28/09/2003 All Steamed Up!

Today at Stockwood Park owners of steam and early petrol machines put these marvelous working exhibits on display. You could loose yourself in an earlier age as you listen to the pockety-poc of these engines, some churning milk, others cutting steel and pumping water. Music was also provided by a steam powered organ. But the stars of the show were the Steam tractors like the one pictured, rollers and lorries. There was even a steam powered vehicle taking people for a short ride around the park.

If you missed the Steam Exhibition why not visit the Mossman collection an outstanding collection of old carriages, cars and even bicycles some of which have been used in historical movies.

11/09/2003 Town hall becomes huge billboard

Not missing an opportunity the council has put up the the town hall for sale to advertisers. They have covered it in a huge sheet wrapped around the scaffolding and strung up huge posters. One advertises their "Cosy Rosy" campaign, another the Gallery and Museum. But amongst the council messages is a phone number to call if you are interested in placing a banner of your own!