Eddie meeting residentsI have lived in the area covered by Caddington Ward for over 40 years, having been resident in Slip End, Caddington, Kensworth and, for the last 13 years, Studham.  My children (all now grown adults) attended the local Schools and I was a Parish Councillor for both Slip End and Caddington for 12 years.

I have served on Studham Parish Council for 6 years, 5 of them as Chairman. In addition to my duties on the Parish Council, I have also been lucky enough to be able to serve on a number of other committees and organizations which benefit the local area. These include Neighbourhood Watch, Luton Airport Liaison committee, Villages Focus Group, Bedfordshire Town & Parish Council Committee and the Friends of Studham Church.

Like so many people in this area, I am concerned about preserving the Green Belt and delighted to live in an area of outstanding natural beauty.  The attractive location, coupled with links to the motorway network, mainline railways and an international airport means that pressure to develop in this area will never go away but I am passionate about ensuring that this will be appropriate, proportionate and sensitive to the rural nature of the 6 villages. 

My time working alongside and liaising with fellow parishioners during the last 6 years has been rewarding and reinforced to me the value of working in partnership and being part of a community. If elected I would be privileged to take on a wider role representing the 6 parishes in Caddington Ward. 

 Eddie Perry

Kevin Collins

When my wife and I moved to Slip End in 1997, we quickly fell in love with our new home and it is not hard to understand why people are so proud of these villages.  When our growing family brought the need for a bigger home, we moved only as far as Caddington; we have made good friends here and it is so good to feel part of these vibrant and welcoming communities.

I was a member of Caddington Parish Council for several years and, since 2013, have been privileged to serve alongside Richard Stay in representing this area at Central Bedfordshire Council.

Neighbourhood Plans play an important role locally.  It was wonderful in 2018 to see the joint Caddington & Slip End plan secure strong approval at referendum and become part of local planning policy, and work continues on plans for both Kensworth and Studham and there is now an emerging plan in Hyde.  It is important that the local communities have a hand in planning and guiding their future and are not crushed by opportunistic development or unsustainable urban expansion.

Central Bedfordshire Council continues to deliver value for our residents, balancing competing demands of growing needs with limited funding.  I hope to continue being able to be part of the positive future of Central Bedfordshire as a whole, while ensuring that the Parishes of Caddington, Hyde, Kensworth, Slip End, Studham and Whipsnade are strongly represented.

Kevin Collins