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
Abbey Light Railway of years, eventually extending to from Kirkstall Abbey to Bridge Road, Kirkstall. Initially the line ran purely as a private railway, but in 1986 it received permission to start public passenger services. These ran from Spring to Autumn, every Sunday and most Bank Holidays. The highlight of the year was the weekend Kirkstall Festival. In 2006 plans were made to extend the line to the Armley Mills Industrial Museum nearby. This would have involved crossing both the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The project was never realised. After Peter Lowe died in October 2012, the railway closed.