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Established in 1985, Dunstable Town Council comprises 21 elected Councillors who from their number annually elect a Town Mayor, so maintaining the continuity of the town’s civic heritage and tradition as an ancient borough. The Town Council is responsible for providing a range of local community facilities and activities. Acting as a democratic representational voice for the people of Dunstable the Council has led or supported many campaigns to ensure the views of local people are heard by higher authorities. The Council is based at the beautifully restored and refurbished Grove House, once a famous Georgian coaching inn. The impressive Council Chamber is the venue for regular music recitals and other major civic events and receptions. The building also accommodates the Dunstable and District Registrar and the Citizens Advice Bureau, as well as the offices of local charities.

Dunstable Town Council provides a wide range of local services. These include the management of Dunstable Cemetery, 7 allotment sites and over 120 acres of public open space, recreation grounds and play areas as well as the much-admired Priory and Grove House Gardens in the town centre. The Council is a direct provider of a range of community facilities including Priory House, The Place Youth and Community Centre and the Mayfield Centre. These facilities are an example of the excellent partnership which the Town Council has developed with the County and District Councils to enhance services and ensure they meet the specific needs of the local community. In partnership the County and Town Councils manage Dunstable Downs, the Library and the Youth Service in the town. Other partnerships have seen the successful introduction of CCTV in the town centre and the introduction of Byelaws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol in public places in the town centre and neighbourhood shopping parades. The Council has played a lead role in developing a partnership of public and private interests to guide its future regeneration. The strategy includes an exciting combination of measures to tackle the problems of traffic and parking, entertainment facilities, public transport and cycling, shopping, business opportunities and heritage conservation.

As well as regenerating the Town Centre, the Council is committed to supporting the social and economic regeneration of Dunstable. Policies are being developed to support the community to achieve involvement in and responsibility for its own development. In recent years initiatives have included a multi-agency approach towards supporting the community on the Downside Housing Estate, providing a comprehensive summer holiday play activities scheme, targeting grant aid to local organisations that complement the Council’s objectives and working in partnership with other agencies to fill gaps in community provision.

The Council is conscious of the town’s long traditions and depth of community identity. To support it a wide-ranging annual programme of community, cultural and artistic events has been developed. These include the hugely popular Dunstable Carnival, Battle of the Bands Competition, Band and Orchestral Concerts and weekend festivals, as well as many smaller community events and exhibitions. Many of the events are centred on the Priory House Heritage Centre, the beautifully restored guest house of the former Priory which contains an original thirteenth century stone vaulted main hall. The first floor of the building contains interactive displays focusing on the town’s historic past and another gallery features medieval wall paintings recovered from premises in High Street North. Priory House also accommodates the Tourist Information Centre where a wide range of leaflets and guides are available, promoted in partnership with the County and District Councils. For more information contact Dunstable Town Council at:

Grove House, 76 High Street North, Dunstable LU6 1NF
01582 513000 / info@dunstable.gov.uk
Tourist Information Centre, Priory House, High Street South, Dunstable LU6 3RZ
01582 890270 / tic@dunstable.gov.uk
Or visit the website: www.dunstable.gov.uk