as a “remarkable improver: one of the fastest improving authorities in local government history” and the Municipal Journal said it had achieved ‘Lazarus-style’ proportions. 2007–2008: Local Government Review considered proposals for replacing existing county and district councils in Bedfordshire with one county-wide unitary council or smaller unitaries based on individual and amalgamated districts. The Government announced that the County Council would be abolished in 2009. 2008: Ridgmont Bypass opened at cost of £15.5m 2009: Council achieved top ratings in children's, environment, and cultural services as well as its use of resources. Final meeting of Bedfordshire County Council was on 26 March and services were transferred to Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council on 1 April 2009. Coat of Arms Bedfordshire County Council had its coat of arms created in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations. The coat of arms became the symbol of the county being placed on many public buildings and signs. The council used the banner of arms as a flag until it was abolished in 2009. Description from heraldry-wiki.com states: Official blazon Arms : Quarterly Or and Gules a Fess wavy barry way of four Argent and Azure surmounted by a Pale Sable charged with three Escallops of the third. Crest : On a Wreath of the Colours issuant from a Wreath of Oak Or a Swan's Head and Neck proper. Supporters : On the dexter side a Lion Gules and on the sinister side a Bull Or. Motto: 'CONSTANT BE' Origin/meaning The arms were officially granted on 12 April 1951. The division of the field quarterly or and gules is derived from the arms of the Beauchamps, Constables of Bedford Castle, the leading family in the county after the Norman Conquest. The Beauchamp of 1215 was one of the promoters of Magna Carta, and their last male was killed at Evesham in 1265. The wavy bar denotes the river Ouse. The pale charged with three escallops commemorates the services of the House of Russell to the State, the County and the County Council, and is taken from the arms of that family. The crest is a swan's head and neck and again refers to the Ouse. The lion supporter is taken from a similar supporter to the Russell coat of arms. The bull supporter stands for the importance of agriculture in the county. The motto "Constant be" is taken from Bunyan's hymn: