FOCUS on Kingsthorpe

7 Julian way 2pm.

Refreshments
Plants
Tombola
Books
Raffle
Games
Bric a brac etc.

Yes it is that time again when you come along to catch up with friends old and new, buy your plants, your holiday reading and enjoy some of Sally Beadsworth’s very special Bread and Butter pudding! So please come and relax with us for what looks like being a very dry, warm and sunny afternoon in Kingsthorpe.

There will be a selection of bedding plants available (hopefully some geraniums too) along with many other plants for your summer garden pleasure. There are some new books in the book stock for you to buy to read as you relax in your garden amongst the flowers.

For those who like a gentle flutter with no chance of losing your shirt, there are the Tombola, the Raffle and a game or two to tempt you, so come along and have some fun whilst helping to raise a little for the funds and have a good time among friends.

All in aid of Focus community newsletters.

The Council have given planning permission for flats on the garage site at the corner of Kingsathorpe Grove, Balfour Rd and Stanhope Rd.

Following comments from residents, the height of the proposed flats has been lowered. Parking will still be at the back of the Romany pub, accessed from Balfour Rd. Parking associated with the garage has been a problem for residents of Stanhope Rd for many years. Flats here will certainly mean no an end to the commercial operation on the site and all the problems that has caused. Concern over the height of the flats remains fully justified.

The planning application for new flats at 42-46 Kingsthorpe Grove (previously reported on this site) has been unanimously refused by the planning committee. Richard Church supported local residents in opposing the plan, which included 4 new flats at the back of the property with no parking provision. With on street parking already a problem, a busy junction with Osborne Rd and Kingsthorpe Grove Primary School nearby, the lack of parking on the site was unacceptable to the committee.

Richard has also called on the owner to keep the property in good condition. Residents have a right to expect that the building is not left as a local eyesore. It should refurbished and put to good use.

There is an existing consent for conversion of the building to flats, with one new flat at the back and parking which could still be implemented. The applicant does have the right of appeal which his agent has threatened to use.

Community groups and sports clubs in Kingsthorpe, Boughton Green and St David’s are being given the opportunity to promote their services to local residents for free at an open day event on Saturday 10 May.

Groups from the area can apply to have a free stall at the ‘Get active, Get healthy, Get involved’ event which is being held at Kingsthorpe Community College from 11.00am until 3.00pm.

Last year approximately 300 residents attended the event which aims to get more people involved in sports clubs, physical activity and health initiatives in the local community. This year the event is also promoting the work of local community groups.

Northampton Borough Councillor Brendan Glynane, cabinet member for community engagement said: “This was such a popular event last year and we are expecting even more visitors to come along this year. It’s a great opportunity for local clubs and groups to promote their work and get more people involved in the activities they provide. We want as many stalls as possible so I would urge anyone who is interested in taking part in the event to get in touch as soon as they can.”

Sports clubs and local groups will be showcasing activities available to residents in the area including rugby, hockey, wrestling, ceroc, tennis and much more.

Other attractions at the event will include a bouncy castle, football, jugglers, skate park, circus skills, soccer shoot out, climbing wall demonstrations, freebies and competitions, stalls, Wii Sports plus free health checks and makeovers.

For more information about booking a free stall please contact Debbie Groom on 01604 716106 x 1219 or Jeanette Pidgen at Northampton Borough Council on 01604 837717.

A planning application has been submitted for the demolition of buildings at the United Trades Club in Balmoral Rd and the building of 22 new flats. Details of the application follow.

APPLICATION NO: N/2008/261 Date Valid 05/03/2008
Proposal Demolition of existing buildings and erection of 22No flats with associated access and parking.
Location Land at Balmoral Road Northampton.
Applicant Babington Properties Ltd The Huntersfield Flore Northants NN7 4LZ
Agent B M Waine Shoosmiths The Lakes Bedford Road Northampton NN4 7SH.
NBC Case Officer Amy Mottram

Kingsthorpe College Saturday May 10th. 11am-3pm.

Sports clubs and healthy initiatives will be showcasing what is available in the area from rugby to hockey, ceroc to wrestling and netball to tennis.

Tethered hot air balloon flights, bouncy castles, football jugglers, skate park, circus skills, soccer shoot out, climbing wall, demonstrations and freebies, free health ckecks, makeovers and more!

Free entry and parking, healthy catering on site all day. For more information contact Debbie Groom on 716106 x1219.

Traffic in Kingsthorpe is polluting the air above acceptable levels set by the government.

The Borough Council have declared the Harborough Rd, from the Cock Hotel to past the Frog & Fiddler, and Kingsthorpe Grove on the Primary School to the Cock Hotel as an ‘air quality management area’.

The Council have been measuring levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in this area, and they have been higher then the recommended levels. The Council will now have to prepare within 18 months an Air Qulaity Action plan and any decisions, such as new developments, will have to take into account their impact upon the air quality in the area.

This is not the first Air Quality Management Area in Northamnpton, there are others on the M1, Victoria Promenade and St. James, but traffic levels are growing fast in Northampton, and we all have to do something to reduce traffic congestion if the air in the middle of Kingsthorpe is going to be safe to breathe. It isn’t just about new developments, it’s about all our lifestyles. Do you need the car for your next journey?

There are two new planning appplications for single houses in the Queens Park Area.

Balfour Rd-corner of Trinity Avenue
APPLICATION NO: N/2008/160 Date Valid 12/02/2008
Proposal Erection of split level dwelling - amendment to previously approved N/2003/0363.
Location Building Plot rear of 166 Balfour Road Northampton.
Applicant Mr A Symons 21 Pentalek Road Camborne Cornwall TR14 7AZ.
Agent WCA Chartered Surveyors Albany House 16 Chapel Street Camborne Cornwall TR14 8ED.
Case Officer Amy Mottram

Balmoral Road
APPLICATION NO: N/2008/212 Date Valid 21/02/2008
Proposal Erection of end-of-terrace dwelling
Location 90 Balmoral Road Northampton.
Applicant Mr. A. Dennis 31 Ridgeway Weston Favell Northampton NN3 3AP

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.

These properties on the corner of Kingsthorpe Grove and Osborne Rd are empty and have been boarded up for ages. A planning application has now been submitted for conversion into 6 flats with another 4 flats to be built at the back. More details can be viewed on the Borough Council’s website. Let us know your views and send your comments to the council. The case officer dealing with the application at the Borough Council is Andrew Holden.