When the Lib Dems were elected to run Northampton Borough Council in 2007, we made the future of our town centre one of our top priorities.

For too long, Labour and Conservative Councillors, backed by their colleagues in Westminster, have neglected our town centre by allowing ever more out-of-town retail development, raising car parking charges and failing to invest in our town to attract the businesses, jobs and growth we need.

Since the Lib Dems’ Guildhall election win in 2007, we have frozen shoppers’ parking charges, reduced prices on Sundays, invested in the Market Square and signed an agreement for a massive expansion of the Grosvenor Centre.

Now our policies are coming under fire, with Conservative Councillors, supported by local MP, Brian Binley, opposing our firm stand against yet more out-of-town retail.

Conservatives say we should encourage supermarket developments outside our town centre that would destroy the town’s remaining small and medium-sized businesses and allow a handful of multi-nationals to take control of our shopping. In doing so, they are questioning our plans to redevelop the Grosvenor Centre and nearby Greyfriars Bus Station to provide a shopping centre fit for the 21st Century.

Lib Dems at the Guildhall have decided that it is time for a full and frank debate about the future of our town centre. We have invited Brian Binley MP to an open debate. He has accepted our invitation and I will go head-to-head with him as the Lib Dem Planning Spokesperson.

The debate will be completely free flowing. Anyone is welcome to attend and ask a question. With big differences between Liberal Democrat and Conservative plans for Northampton, this is sure to be a lively debate.

Places are limited so if you would like to attend, please email towncentredebate@northampton.gov.uk to reserve up to two tickets.

This is a vitally important moment for the future of our town. I hope you will be able to come along and join the debate.

There are signs of spring at last, but perhaps not too late for more grit bins that residents have requested. In the cold weather, a number of requests were made by residents for grit bins. One is being provided, in Rennishaw way, but in Masefield way, Arthur St. and Ainsdale close residents requests were rejected by the Tory County Council. I have offered to fund them with my ‘councillors empowerment’ budget, but this too was turned down as the County said they could not keep them filled up with grit and salt.

By next winter, the Conservative County Council plan to cut the standard of winter gritting. We can only hope it won’t be so cold!

Consultation Meetings on new Dragon Mounds

Work is progressing well with new play facilities. The Planning Committee unanimously backed the planning application, which will allow for one particularly tall piece of play equipment, which will be set in the dip and close to the trees. It is expected that the play ground will be open in April to allow time for the grass to grow.

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 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’.

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.