The D-Day 80th Anniversary beacon lighting at Dunstable Downs will go ahead next month despite the initial decision by The National Trust not to host the occasion.
On first hearing the news South West Bedfordshire MP, Andrew Selous, wrote immediately to the Chief Executive of The National Trust to reconsider their decision. Dunstable Town Council had already offered to contribute £4,000 towards the costs, as they have for previous beacon lighting events.
The National Trust later stated,
"We have now secured the funds and external support we need to help our local team put on the event.
"The last beacon lighting held at Dunstable Downs saw thousands of people in attendance, so we still need time to organise our plans for car parking, first aid and toilet facilities that comes with putting on an event of this scale safely.
"We look forward to sharing the details of this commemorative evening event with the local community soon."
Andrew Selous MP said,
“As a National Trust member, I warmly welcome this change of heart. D-Day ensured this country remained free and the beacon is an iconic symbol of our much loved Dunstable Downs.”