People in Northampton will have the chance to get involved in deciding how the Borough Council spends money on services. Northampton Borough Council is inviting local people to discuss its proposed budget at:
The Guildhall, Northampton on 4 February from 6.30pm.
Neighbourhood Partnership 8 meeting held at Barry Road School, on Wednesday 3 February from 7pm to 9pm.
The Conservative County Council’s plan to hand over Unity School to an academy run by Mr David Ross is due to come to the County Council’s cabinet this month. With the council’s plans to transfer Weston Favell school to an academy collapsing in chaos with the government pulling the rug from the United Learning Trust, many questions now remain over the proposal to hand over Unity to the David Ross foundation.
Lib Dems will continue to make the point that academies are being imposed on Northampton schools by a Labour Government and a Conservative County Council without the support of the people who use the school. It is time our schools were given the support and the stability to do the job without constant meddling from outside.
The 7 different consultation events that were held during October concerning play space on The Racecourse resulted in 203 people completing surveys, including 72 children & young people aged 6-13 yrs. Apart from 3 people who had concerns about any new play space at all being provided, everyone else recorded their support and enthusiasm for the new play space with by far the most commonly heard comment that ‘we can’t believe this is actually going to happen on The Racecourse’.
The Playbuilder Project Group met on October 30th and selected Miracle Design & Play based at Moulton Park as the preferred contractor. We have subsequently met with them and have negotiated a few changes to their proposals and would like to invite you to see the design that is proposed for this exciting development.
Please drop in to The Picturedrome, 222 Kettering Rd., N’pton NN1 4BN anytime between 4.30pm and 7.30pm this Thursday, 3rd December to see the design and to speak with Miracle & members of The Project Group.
I attended a meeting organised by Labour MP Sally Keeble at Kingsley Primary School on Saturday. I hadn’t been invited, but since it was discussing the future of the County Council owned Raeburn Special School, I thought as the County Councillor for the area I may be able to help. It was made clear to Andrew Simpson that he would not be welcome.
What is Sally worried about? That councillors form different parties may actually be able to work together for the good of local people? Surely with the current reputation of politicians that is exactly what we should be doing.
Anyway, lots of local issues were raised, not just the old school site, and I have already taken some of them up with the local authorities, as I am sure has Sally.
Despite promises by the County Council, work to repair and repaint the mini roundabout have stil not been done. The County Council told us the work would be done by mid November, as reported in the recent Focus.
We are awaiting a reply on why, despite promises, this work has not been done.
The Local Police Safer Community Team hold regular surgeries for local people.
The next dates are:-
Co-op Kingsley Park Terrace Thursday 19th November 2.30pm-4.30pm
10th of every month (next is on Thursday 10th December) Morrisions Supermarket 5pm-7pm
Using the mobile speed gun purchased using my Councillor empowerment fund, the Police have targetted Kettering Rd, Kingsley Rd, The Drive and Hazeldene Rd to tackle nuisance and danger caused by speeding traffic in residential areas. So far, nearly 90 vehicles have been found to be over the 30mph speed limit. 16 of these were found to be 35mph or over and drivers were issued with speeding tickets/£60 fine.
The County Council’s plan to hand over Unity college to an academy run by Carphone warehouse boss David Ross is subject to consulatation this month (November). Dates include:-
11th November Public information open day
17th November Public consultation meetings
27th November consultation ends
8th December Cabinet decision on the issuing of statutory notice of closure.
9th March 2010 Cabinet decision to close school and open an academy
You can email your views to the County Council at nccacadconsultation@northamptonshire.gov.uk and for more information visit www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/unity
Unity (formerly Trinity) School has been through years of disruption caused by external interference. Firstly, Kingsley Park Middle school was closed and incorporated in the school. Then it was decided to turn the school into a Church school led by the Church of England, then the old Trinity School was demolished and the new school built over two years. With all of this change, the school’s performance has deteriorated, but most recently with a new head teacher exam results have started to improve. What Unity now desperately needs is a period of stability to create a stable learning environment for its pupils.
It’s time for the County Council to show confidence in the leadership of the school, not force yet another upheaval
A government planning inspector has overturned the Borough Councils decision to refuse planning permission for the car wash that has been operating for some months in the car park at the Romany pub. This is surprising and disappointing. The car wash started without proper permission and has reduced parking spaces in the car park, as well as being an unsightly operation without proper facilities, including drainage.
Plans are being drawn up for creative and adventurous new play facilities on the Racecourse. The play area will be at the head of the valley, and will be designed with landscaping and planting to offer something special and complementary to the wide open space of the Racecourse. Companies have been shortlisted to exhibit their proposlas at a series of consultation events over the next few days. These are:-
Tuesday 20th October 7.30pm-9.30pm
Lime Trees Hotel Barrack Rd.
Wednesday 21st October 4pm-7.45pm
The Picturedrome Kettering Rd.
There are also plans for a couple of exhibitions on the Racecourse itself on 26th and 27th October.
