What is #saveourtown?

#saveourtown is an independent campaign to raise awareness of plans to transform Luton town centre with major regeneration proposals called Power Court and Newlands Park, which would give the town an annual economic boost of more than £250million and create 10,000 new jobs.

We're not alone

A UK planning record number of people – 11,000 – supported the proposals when first unveiled in 2016 and, with a planning decision hugely delayed due to one major objector, we aim to make sure their voices are not forgotten. It’s also our goal to engage with thousands of other Lutonians and local people about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Here’s what you’ve told us

When Save Our Town started I remember thinking how organised it all was, a group not just ’talking’ but ‘doing’ and within a short space of time there were hundreds of people getting involved to ensure Power Court and Newlands Park happened. My dad used to talk of a new stadium many, many years ago and when I got involved with the football club, numerous mad plans were thrown at us. Now the plans are approved, it is going to happen – when the world calms down!”
Gareth Owen

Luton Town's Official Photographer

Latest news from #saveourtown

Luton heroes – Smiths Group making ventilators for the NHS

Luton heroes – Smiths Group making ventilators for the NHS

A big hello to you. We hope you and yours are safe and well in these difficult times. With the planning victories for Power Court and Newlands Park well behind us, we are continuing to support and promote new regeneration opportunities and the good things happening in...

What is #saveourtown trying to achieve?

#saveourtown is an independent volunteer-led campaign group made up of Lutonians. We love Luton, but we know there’s room for progress. There now exists a once-in-life-time chance to support major transformation of our town, the like we have never seen before.

A dual-site regeneration proposal for Power Court, in the heart of the town, and Newlands Park, by junction 10 of the M1 motorway, is the most exciting, ambitious and inspirational development for Luton in our lifetimes. It will change our town, physically, for the better, but it will also help transform perceptions of our town, which has been unfairly stigmatised for generations.
We believe it’s time to put a sense of pride back into our town so, as concerned citizens, we are helping to raise awareness of these plans.

Thousands of you, celebrities, community figures, community groups, well-known Lutonians and businesses already support these proposals, but there is one major objector – Capital and Regional, a London and Johannesburg-based property company that owns The Mall shopping centre – which is trying to block the project and, as they have publicly stated, “kick the plans into the long grass”.

We believe these proposals will benefit The Mall too, so we say it’s time for Capital and Regional to listen to the will of the people and start supporting the plans that will give Luton a bright new future that we all want and deserve.

We are doing this by giving a voice to Lutonians through positive messages, community engagement events and multi-media campaigns about our town. We want to reach and hear from as many Lutonians and local people as possible because your voice matters most.

Now you’ve discovered our website you can find out more about the work that we are doing. You can find out about all the people and businesses that support our campaign. You can also follow us on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube – and help amplify a positive message about Luton by sharing our posts and videos.

You can sign up to receive our newsletter and get all the latest #saveourtown news and information straight to your inbox.

But, most importantly, you can tell everyone, from your friends, family neighbours, co-workers and anyone you come into contact with.

Together we are stronger. Together we can #saveourtown.

Would you like to help with the campaign?

We have set up a JustGiving crowdfunding page to help generate funds for our campaign. If you are able, we'd be eternally grateful for your donation, no matter how big or small.

Why are we raising money?

#saveourtown is a volunteer-led campaign group and, while we have a popular and ever-growing social media presence, we are aiming to reach all members of our community and not everyone is on social media, or online. To produce physical campaign materials and spread the message through community events, this costs money.

So, your generous donations, no matter how big or small, have and will be used to fund the creation and maintenance of promotion activity, purchase materials and prepare advertising campaigns to help spread the word about #saveourtown, and the proposals we support.

For example, your donations have helped pay for this website and for things like banners, that have been paraded on the pitch at Kenilworth Road, plus 80,000 posters and leaflets that were sent to Luton homes, so residents could learn about the once-in-a-lifetime chance to transform their town.

This also provided people with a chance to show their support by putting the posters in their windows to further spread the word. Didn’t get one? Don’t worry you can download the poster here for FREE.

Your donations have made that possible and so much more. Every penny raised will be accounted for and our accounts will be professionally verified annually. And when we all get the victory of progress for Luton, as a community campaign, any funds left when our work is complete will be donated to a Luton charity.

Here's what you've told us

While we believe Luton will be transformed by Power Court and Newlands Park, don’t just take our word for it.

People are having their say as part of our Change.org petition urging Capital & Regional, owners of The Mall shopping centre, to stop blocking a bright new future for Luton. Sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/capital-regional-stop-blocking-a-bright-new-future-for-luton

This is a chance to add to the original UK planning record of 11,000 people who wrote to Luton Borough Council in 2016, supporting the plans for Power Court and Newlands Park. The key difference now is the opportunity to tell the major objector why they need to change their stance and listen to what the people of the town want and need.

Also, all your responses (be polite) will be sent direct to the email inboxes of the Capital and Regional Chief Executive and Chairman.

Responses such as these...

 

Anthony Mallon

These projects are vitaly important for the future of Luton!

Owen Clarke

This is a huge opportunity for not just the football club but the whole town, why should a company from London be able to control the town’s destiny

Susan Jones

We need to transform our town. The football family need a new stadium, it needs to be in our town, OUR Luton Town!

Mick Henman

I love my town, and it needs the kiss of life, dont see why non Luton people should dictate to me and affect my children /grandchildrens future

John Harley

Luton both need and deserve a better future which the Power Court and Newlands developments offer !!!

Dee Lovelock

This is a massive opportunity for Luton

Ray Coot

Let’s make Luton the town it should be & give the football club the stadium it & its supporters deserve .

Stephen Hayhurst

I. want my grandchildren to grow up to be proud of their town

JACQUI PEACOCK

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the whole town and surrounding areas. Our children and grandchildren deserve the regeneration of Luton not more stagnation.

Darren Howard

Luton needs to progress for our future generations.

Terry Coan

Best thing to happen in the history of the town

andrew kimberley

Both developments are a once in a lifetime opportunity for Luton and c&r do not own the town.

Roger Pile

I want a brighter, better town to benefit my children and grandchildren. These developments will make everyone proud of our town again.

Dave T

Future generations will not look kindly upon us if we allow big business to put their greed above this once in a lifetime opportunity to revitalise and regenerate our town.

Stuart Eaglesham

Our town needs to move forward with these developments, not just for the football club but for the town as a whole as we are being left behind the other large towns and cities locally, we cannot let them monopolize our town, We need this. THIS IS OUR TOWN!!!!!!!

Michael Pratt

This great town and its community deserve these massive projects that are planned……who in their right minds would feel it necessary to stand against such a desperately needed investment in the town of Luton…..

Ann Clarke

I love Luton amd wamt it to thrive. I want mpre opportunities for young and old.

sheila fitzgerald

I believe in this town and it’s people

Thomas Maher

I believe both project will deliver a better future for Luton, culturally and financially

Martin Roberts

This development must take place to transform Luton Town Centre for the 21st Century and restore it as a place Lutonians can return to and be proud of!

Angela Phelan

This will be the most important development in the towns history and nobody should be allowed to stand in the way of this incredible opoutunity which will benefit every Lutonian.

Helen Gatward

It is not just about the football stadium, it’s about what the town needs. And the town needs this!

Vincent Mitchell

I want this great town to have a future and a new football stadium to be proud of.

Sue Armstrong

I love my town and want to see it prosper

Chris Gathern

This will just not benefit the football club, but the whole of the town.

Rob Jones

It matters to the folk of Luton, do the right thing and support the proposals for regeneration. PC and NP are the future and the Mall can benefit from this.

Rosette Davies

This is a great opportunity to regenerate our town and to leave a lasting legacy to future generations

Nina Coodien

I sincerely believe it will move this town forward , bring opportunities to our community , our present and our future #saveourtown #please #thankyou

IAN MATTHEWS

Our Town deserves these fantastic developments. It is just not the Football club and supporters that will benefit. Just for starters a decent music venue would be great as there are no real local venues for larger bands/groups to play.

David Whittington

This is the brightest future Luton has had in many generations

Jean Large

The whole town not just the football club need this development for future generations to enjoy

Cathy Hutchison

This is essential for the future of our town and our football club – no one should stand in the way of what is so obviously a hugely beneficial development to Luton.

Simon Marshall

Luton needs this badly not just for the club but for the TOWN!!!!

Paul Haynes

Luton as a town deserves investment and as a Lutonian I want to be proud of my home town once more.

 

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7 hours ago

Save Our Town
Number four in our series of info boards used at the Luton VE-Day 80 weekend commemorating our Town's contribution to the WW2 war effort.More than 250,000 Bedford Trucks were built by Vauxhall during WW2. Based on 4x4, 3 ton or 4x2, 15 cwt units they came in a large range of variants, used for a multitude of military purposes.We were delighted to have a Luton-built, Bedford QL 4x4 truck at St. George's Square on the Saturday of the event. Owner Tony Brown kindly driving it over from his home in Suffolk. Vauxhall embedded their engineers with Motor Transport units across all theatres of the war and provided on-the-spot support, training and advice on maintenance and repair.Interestingly, after the war, many ex-motor transport servicemen purchased army surplus Bedfords and started haulage, and other, businesses. Some became very successful and carried on for generations. The reputation of these trucks for reliability, ease of maintenance and rugged performance meant, that for many years, these firms would never consider buying a different brand.Post-war Bedfords played a huge part in the government-led export drive, especially to The Commonwealth. A new slogan was born; "YOU SEE THEM EVERYWHERE"On a much more sombre note we featured two info-boards concerning the effects of bombing on our town and also on the Vauxhall works.On 30th August 1940, at 4.50pm, German bombers attacked the Vauxhall works and other parts of Luton.59 people where killed, 39 of them at Vauxhall, and 140 seriously injured. An infamous day in the history of our town.The VE-DAY 80 event would simply not have happened without Luton Council The Tank Museum Step Forward Luton to whom we offer our grateful thanks. ... See MoreSee Less
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2 days ago

Save Our Town
The third in our series of info boards used at the Luton VE-Day 80 weekend commemorating our Town's contribution to the WW2 war effort.Today we focus on the transformational role played by women in the workplace - in particular, making Churchill Tanks and Bedford Trucks at Vauxhall.Additionally we feature the wartime work of Electrolux, HAYWARD TYLER and GEORGE KENT and their staff - and outstanding work it was!The event would simply not have happened without Luton Council The Tank Museum or Step Forward Luton to whom we offer our grateful thanks. ... See MoreSee Less
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3 days ago

Save Our Town
Good morning all.We're looking forward to hearing the outcome of the meeting today, between Luton Council and Stellantis, regarding the support the owners of Vauxhall are prepared to offer the Council, in relation to the long-awaited Industrial Heritage Centre. Fingers crossed it will be something meaningful that moves the five-year project forwards towards a substantial outcome. ... See MoreSee Less
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4 days ago

Save Our Town
Day two of the storyboards used at the VE DAY 80 event. A collaboration between Luton Council Step Forward Luton and Save Our Town.This time there are four boards, all relating to the Churchill Tank, that was kindly loaned back for the weekend by the The Tank Museum and the Churchill Trust. ... See MoreSee Less
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4 days ago

Save Our Town
Thanks to all those who made the effort to get to St. George's Square, last weekend (10th and 11th of May) for the VE DAY 80 commemorations. By common consent our collaboration with Luton Council and Step Forward Luton was an outstanding success. We were delighted to see so many people with different ethnic backgrounds and every age group you could imagine.Although the fantastic Churchill tank, and Bedford 4x4 truck, were the stars of the event we worked hard to provide the background stories of Luton people and Vauxhall Motors during those six dark and tough years of WW2.For those not able to get to VE DAY 80 event we will post one or two of the storyboards we put together, each day, for the next week or so. We think it's important that youngsters understand the extraordinary efforts and dreadful sacrifices that were made for their, and our, freedoms by The Greatest Generation.Today we will feature the boards illustrating 'The Home Front' and 'Evacuation' ... See MoreSee Less
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