Leighton–Linslade Government Act 1972 the district was merged into South Bedfordshire in 1974, and was downgraded to a parish. Leighton–Linslade is recognised as a Cycling town by Cycling England, from whom it receives funding to promote cycle use. The parish participates in international town twinning: Leighton–Linslade Leighton–Linslade is a civil parish in the district of Central Bedfordshire in Bedfordshire, England, with a population of 37,469 at the 2011 Census. It consists of the settlements of Leighton Buzzard and Linslade, which have a single town council. The River Ouzel provides the border between the parts, with Leighton to the east and Linslade
Leighton Buzzard came from Old English "Lēah-tūn", meaning 'farm in a clearing in the woods'. The "Buzzard" was added by the Dean of Lincoln, in whose diocese the town lay in the 12th century (arguably it was "Beau-desert", which later turned into "Buzzard".) Having two communities called "Leighton" and seeking some means of differentiating them, he added the name of his local Prebendary or representative to that of the town. At that time it was a Theobald de Busar and so over the years the town became known as Leighton Buzzard. The other Leighton became Leighton Bromswold. Leighton Buzzard is also famous