FOCUS on Kingsthorpe

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.

Whitehills and Spring Park Residents Association are holding an open event at the Pastures Community Centre on Saturday 28th January from 1.40-5.30pm. The open day will include a letter writing advice centre to help people put on paper their concerns about plans to build 1,250 homes at Buckton Fields. There will also be refreshments, a supervised play area and some fun activities.

The address to send views on the planning application is Ken Thursfield, Development Control Manager, Planning Services, Daventry District Council, Lodge Rd, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 4FP. Quote reference no. DA/2007/1400.

Feeling a little bit heavier after the Christmas break?

Want a new start in 2008? Then read on…….

Recommencing w/c 7th Jan Kingsthorpe College Fit Club presents:

TUESDAYS HEALTH WALK 9.30am for 30-45 mins
Turn up at main reception to walk in a sociable group over Bradlaugh Fields. Refreshments available

TUESDAYS YOGA 4.20 – 5.30pm DRAMA STUDIO
WEDNESDAYS TAI CHI 4.20 – 5.30pm DANCE STUDIO
THURSDAYS TONE ‘N’ FIT 4.20 – 5.05pm DRAMA STUDIO

BOOK NOW! Call Debbie Groom on 716106 x1219
£2.50 per session or term memberships available. Term 4 membership per class = £26.00 till 4th April

COOKING FOR HEALTH ADULT LEARNING COURSE
Commencing Wednesday 27th Feb 7-9pm for 6 weeks at Kingsthorpe College there is a Cooking for Health Course beginning.

Feel tired, run down, lacking in energy, want to lose weight or have some new ideas for cooking for you or your family? This course aims to provide information on key ingredients, preparation & cooking methods, easy to make recipes, meal plans and lifestyle tips

£40 with subsidised rates available.
For more information or to book call Adult Learning now on 01604 237418

Residents in Boughton Green, St Davids and Kingsthorpe are being asked for their ideas and suggestions to help shape the future of where they live.

The first ever open public meeting of the area’s new Neighbourhood Partnership will give local people the chance to come along and discuss issues affecting their local communities and have their say on how to make change.

This is a chance to find out more about Neighbourhood Management and meet Northampton Borough Council’s new Neighbourhood Coordinator for the area Jeanette Pidgen. Ward councillors, Northamptonshire Police, neighbourhood wardens, representatives from local schools and members of the residents associations will also be at the meeting.

Neighbourhood Coordinator, Jeanette Pidgeon added: “This is our first public meeting where residents can come along and have a real input into what issues we will be tackling in the first year. We need residents there so we can look at the issues that can have a long-term benefit to the area. We don’t have a magic wand and we don’t have all the answers, however, usually it’s something very simple that needs to be addressed which can make all the difference.”

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 9 January at Kingsthorpe Community Centre, Mill Lane from 7.00pm till 9.00pm. Light refreshments will be available.

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 have announced that they will resurface the footpaths in Thornby Drive and Welford Rd Service Rd. The Focus team have been pressing for this work to be done for several years, particularly since work was done in Kingsway and neighbouring roads last year.

Footways, kerbs and vehicle crossings will be reconstructed, and work is due to start early in the new year, depending on the weather. Any queries before work starts should be made to Mr Stephen Cross on 01604 883449. Detailed information when work has started on phasing, access and progress on site should be made to Mr. Tony Gale on 01604 654644.

APPLICATION NO: N/2007/1507 Date Valid 30/11/2007
Proposal Erection of dwelliing
Location Adjacent to 63 Gillsway Northampton.
Applicant Mr. & Mrs. L. Northover 2 Fernie Fields Moulton Northampton