🏡 Our Towns, Our Future

Articles and reflections exploring how local decisions shape our towns, communities, businesses, public services and future opportunities. Covering regeneration, planning, governance, equality, safeguarding and transparency, with a focus on how decisions made locally impact residents, wellbeing, economic growth and the future of Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and the wider community.

Exploring Dunstable: A Town of History, Community and Local Pride

April 2025 Around the World event in Dunstable Priory Gardens

🏡 Our Towns, Our Future

Louise O'Riordan

Jun 215 min read

Residents protesting outside Galliford Try & Linden Homes in Uxbridge over defects, estate management and ongoing issues at Kaleidoscope at Dunstable in Bedfordshire.

Kaleidoscope at Dunstable: The Unfinished Estate

Nearly ten years after the first residents moved into Kaleidoscope at Dunstable, the estate remains affected by unresolved construction defects, disputed handovers, missing documentation, drainage issues and ongoing legal and regulatory investigations. This is the documented story of one unfinished Linden Homes estate.

🏡 Our Towns, Our Future

Louise O'Riordan

Jun 2036 min read

Ashton Grammar School to Housing: The Unanswered Questions

For generations, Ashton Middle School — formerly Ashton Grammar School — stood as one of Dunstable’s most recognisable educational and historic buildings. Its alumni included internationally known actor Gary Cooper, alongside generations of local residents educated within the historic Victorian school buildings that became part of Dunstable’s identity for well over a century. A Grade II listed Victorian school, founded in the 19th century, the site was not simply “old buildin

🏡 Our Towns, Our Future

Louise O'Riordan

May 196 min read

Same Law. Same Council. Opposite Outcomes. Why?

Why all local government decisions must be transparent, fair and lawful. They affect ALL of us.

🏡 Our Towns, Our Future

Louise O'Riordan

May 104 min read