Community Governance Review - Chalton

Chalton parish has a parish council. It is unwarded and has 7 seats on the council. The forecast planned development to March 2030 is estimated at a further 388 dwellings which will generate approximately an additional 660 residents over the next 5 years.

The parish boundary adjoins the neighbouring parishes of Chalgrave, Houghton Regis, Sundon and Toddington. The parish, together with the parishes of Harlington, Sundon, Streatley and Toddington are coterminous (i.e. they border each other in the same area) within the Central Bedfordshire ward of Toddington.

As can be seen from the table above there has not been a contested election since the creation of Central Bedfordshire. The elections in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 had insufficient candidates and consequently the candidates were elected without contest. The vacant seats were authorised to be filled by co-option.

Parish/town council initial proposal for consideration for the 2025 review

At our parish meeting held on 23 May 2025, Chalton Parish Council discussed the Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) Community Governance Review. In response to the proposal from Houghton Regis Town Council (HRTC), which suggests that part of Chalton Parish Council’s (CPC) area—bounded by the Houghton Regis parish boundary, the Luton Borough Council boundary, the M1 Motorway, and the A5-M1 Link Road (Dunstable Northern Bypass)—be transferred to HRTC, Chalton Parish Council wishes to record its strong objection to this proposal.

We outline below our reasons for this objection:

1. No compelling need – There is no justifiable requirement for a boundary alteration at this time, particularly with multiple significant housing developments planned in neighbouring areas.
2. Loss of parish integrity – The proposed realignment would leave CPC with a very small parish with an illogical boundary.
3. Misguided justification – The lack of a shop in Chalton (like many villages) is immaterial. County-wide facilities and infrastructure provided by Central Bedfordshire Council are accessible to all residents, irrespective of parish.
4. Future community strength – The occupants of the houses currently under construction will contribute to Chalton Parish Council’s population, diversity, and long-term sustainability—strengthening both the viability and vitality of the parish. This opportunity to grow as a community would be lost if the proposed boundary change were implemented.
5. Support for local democracy – CPC would support a democratic referendum in future, allowing new residents to determine whether they wish to remain within CPC or move to HRTC.
6. Active planning involvement – CPC has a fine and published record of representations on planning applications in the proposed landtake area, as well as adjacent parishes, that negatively impact its residents. In particular it has dealt with a range of major warehousing and other ‘big shed’ applications affecting the parish and HRTC, many of which the latter has been notably inactive.
7. Commitment to public rights of way (PRoWs) – CPC has an excellent record, supported by a dedicated councillor, of actively protecting and promoting its public rights of way (PRoWs). In contrast, HRTC appears to have no equivalent committee or focused approach in this area. This became evident when CPC formally opposed proposed changes to PRoW routes north of the A5 bypass—proposals that HRTC did not address. Moreover, the same rural area (whose residents share little in common with Houghton Regis) has not been included in HRTC’s rationalisation proposals, despite being a more logical southern extension of Toddington parish.

Furthermore, Chalton would be no more divided by the A5-M1 link road than the A5 divides HRTC from the small village of Sewell which lies within HRTC boundary. It is equally probable that the residents of Sewell will use the facilities in Dunstable rather than Houghton Regis. Relevantly the 2018 Community Governance Report recorded “It was accepted that it was felt that the existing parish boundaries were historic and suitable and as such should remain as existing. In particular it was felt that the village of Sewell should remain in the parish of Houghton Regis as it is part of the parish’s and village’s heritage.”; given the ongoing rigidity of that HRTC review it is hard to reconcile its desire to split off a fragment of an equally historic parish fragment.

CPC would also like to highlight that, from a broader governance perspective, HRTC should be considered for a merger with Dunstable Town Council (DTC). Such a merger could deliver significant monetary and administrative efficiencies.

Conclusion

Chalton Parish Council is an active, effective, and principled representative body. We are committed to safeguarding our rural character, protecting the rights of our residents, and supporting sustainable, thoughtful development. We engage constructively with Central Bedfordshire Council, neighbouring parishes, and other local organisations to ensure fair and balanced outcomes. We take pride in our strong local knowledge, proactive engagement, and community focus. Importantly, we look forward to welcoming the new residents of the Linmere development as valued members of our community. It is our clear intention to represent and serve them with the same dedication and integrity we extend to all parishioners. We therefore respectfully urge that the proposed boundary change be rejected.

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