Think back to the summer of noxious smells. Large swathes of the village were blighted by sewage stench, windows had to be kept shut and sitting in gardens was wholly unpleasant. 

The offender was quickly identified as the Anglian Water sewage works, but it took several months and the intervention of many aggrieved residents, Fairfield Parish Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and even our MP before they took responsibility and eventually resolved the problem. 

Fairfield Parish Council (FPC) then asked Anglian Water for compensation for the distress and lack of amenity suffered by residents over many months. The company’s initial offer of £6,000 was rejected as paltry and insulting; this was raised to a final offer of £7,000, which, after consulting lawyers, FPC reluctuantly decided to accept.

With the amount agreed, FPC is now asking residents to help decide what to spend the money on. They are open to ideas: a one-off community event, the purchase of a community asset, a charity donation (water related!)? Over to you. Email your suggestions to enquiries@fairfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk.