Richard Church

The masterplan prepared for the Friends of the Racecourse Healthy living Hub group has been launched. It will now go to Northampton Borough Council for further discussion. If fully implemented, over £5 million would be spent on the park. The plans include new footpaths, a cafe, better parking, better play facilities, and excersise circuit and more.

Full details of the plan can be seen at www.healthylivinghub.org.uk

Funding for the proposals will need to be found, and there will be an opportunity for more comments and changes.

A planning application has been submitted for 6 more flats at Poets Court, Brookfield Rd. They will be behind the existing flats, in gardens at the rear of Junction Rd with extra parking. The plans can be viewed at www.northampton.gov.uk or at the council offices at Cliftonville House or the Guildhall. The reference is N/2008/0316. The case officer for the planning application is Geoff Wyatt. Let us know your views

A planning application has been submitted for a two bedroom bungalow on Randall Rd, at the rear of 4, 6 & 8 Brookfield Rd. To view the plans go to www.northampton.gov.uk or visit the council offices at The Guildhall or Cliftonville House. The reference for the application is N/2008/367.

Despite residents objections, it has been announed that Queens Park Post Office will close.

Originally the Post Office were not due to announce the decision on closures till March – they have taken less than a month since the consultation closed on 10th January to decide. This suggests to me that the whole process was a sham. It became clear to me during the consultation process that actually the Government’s plans for 2,500 closures across the country was being stuck to and regardless of local opinion, local circumstances and opposition offices would close.

The Post Office has failed to recognise Northampton’s position as growth area and the opportunity has been missed to secure a valuable community facility for the future.
Other post office closures announced include:

Boothville, Both Lane North
Broadmead Avenue, Eastfield
Brookside Centre, Billing Brook Road, Lumbertubs
Campbell Square, the Mounts
High Street, Weston Favell

I would like to thank all of you who signed the petition or sent in comments to try and stop the closures. These were all handed into the Post Office – it is a pity they didn’t listen.

The County Council are reconstructing the kerbs and footways in Milton St, in a similar way to the work done in Oliver St. last year.

Work is due to start in April and is likely to take eight weeks. The council have requested that drivers move their cars when requested to allow access, and there is bound to be some temporary inconvenience. Any queries before work begins, contact Stephen Goss on 01604 883449. One work has started contact Tony Gale on 01604 654644.

There are also plans to resurface the road after work on the footpaths are complete, but more information will follow.

Despite public opposition it has been confirmed that Queens Park Post Office will close.

Clearly by announcing these closures earlier than originally planned the Post Office has ignored the case put by local people to keep these offices open. The whole consultation process appears to have been a sham – less than a month has been taken to look at people’s responses and decide which looks suspiciously like a decision that had already been made.

It seems that the Post Office was simply running a ‘numbers game’ where people don’t matter. How hollow their current advertising slogan now sounds.

The Labour Government clearly wanted to close 2,500 across the Country and that means closing offices in Northampton despite the strong cases made to keep them open. Labour MP Sally Keeble has supported her Governments plans for the Post Office in Parliament yet campaigned against the closures in Northampton. Clearly she has misled people by making them think there was a chance to change her Government’s plans – when there was not. She needs to explain her position.

Local Lib Dem Councillors will continue to do all we can to fight these closure plans.

At the request of local residents the Council are looking to put a recycling facility in Arthur St for people who live in the flats. This is good news, and I hope it will be used by people who live in the Webbs factory too. When the site has been agreed, the council will inform residents by leaflet.

Happy New Year

This seems like a suitable point to review 2007 - a successful year for Northampton Liberal Democrats - and look forward to some of the challenges that face us.

The 2007 local elections saw us achieve control of Northampton Borough Council for the first time – making gains from both Labour and Conservatives with 26 Councillors. A truly magnificent result.

But now we have to prove ourselves running the Council. A council that has many long-standing problems – that under both Labour and Conservatives had been rated one of the worst in the Country. It is a heavy responsibility for us Liberal Democrats to take this on – in many respects we hold the hopes of Northampton people in our hands – and a challenge to restore their faith in politics by proving that we are able to make a difference.

It will take time and involve us making unpopular but necessary decisions but in the longer term our town will be a better place to live in and Northampton should take its place rightfully as one of the Britain’s leading locations.

What we have done since May:

· Appointed a new Chief Executive

· Strengthened the Council’s Democracy with enhanced Scrutiny and increased accountability of the Cabinet

· Put the Finances onto a sounder footing whilst working within a restricted budget inherited from the Conservatives

· Kept open some public toilets previously planned for closure by the Conservatives

· Restored funding to provide some Christmas lights

· Cut Sunday car parking charges, introduced pay on foot in two car parks and free Sunday parking in two others

· Signed Heads of Agreement on the Grosvenor Centre/Greyfriars development

· Commenced work on plans for the Market Square and Abington Street.

2008 sees further challenges to improve the Council

· Agreeing the first Liberal Democrat Budget in February in a situation where Government funding has only increased by 1.2%

· Putting the Balloon Festival onto a sounder footing and agreeing long-term strategy

· Getting a further report from the Audit Commission in March 2008, which we expect, will show how things have improved.

· Improve the Council’s services across the board, making them more ‘customer focused’ and responsive to the needs of residents.

Turning round a poorly performing council will take time. We have made a start. However, it will take two or three years to put in place all of the changes and improvements that are necessary.

We have an excellent team in place to deliver the changes required and above all we will make sure the residents of Northampton are fully involved in that progress.

Have a happy 2008.

Cllr Tony Woods

Liberal Democrat Leader

Northampton Borough Council

The County Council are funding repairs to footpaths across the Racecourse. Work will start in the new year to improve the main footpaths used to cross the park. This follows on from the upgrade of lighting in the park 2 years ago. This is good news, and is another step towards making the park a safer and more inviting place for people of all ages.

The Healthy Living Hub project is a plan to create a future for the Racecourse as a community base for helthy living, including walking, cycling, sport a community cafe and green gym. Visit their website .

Andrew Simpson and Richard Church are invloved in the Friends of Northampton Racecourse community group which brings together local resdients and users of the Racecourse as well as the Racecourse Partnership, which brings together public bodies and voluntary groups with an interest in the future of the park.

The County Council has decided to market the site of Raeburn Special School after the school has moved to its new site at Tiffield. Local residents are campaigning to keep the site for community use. There are no childrens play areas or community facilities in the area. The Focus team are supporting the campaign and Richard Church has spoken up at a recent County Council meeting in support of a petition presented by local community activist Karen Lennon.