Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg has sent a message of congratulations to Liberal Democrats in Northampton celebrating a year of success in turning round Northampton Borough Council.

“It has been a fantastic year and I am very proud of the achievements of our councillors” writes Nick Clegg “The Council has made enormous progress in the last 12 months.”

A year since the Liberal Democrats took control of Northampton has been described as a year of solid achievement by Leader Cllr. Tony Woods “We inherited a council in a mess. A year ago Government inspectors had rated the council as one of the worst in the country, with weak political leadership and failure to deliver services people have a right to expect.”

“Three things stand out from our first year” said Tony Woods.

(1) The Council’s finances are under firmer control, with no cuts in this year’s budget.

(2) Day to day services such as planning, revenues and benefits, and housing management are at last showing real signs of improvement.

(3) We are setting in place firm foundations for the long term with progress on the Grosvenor centre and other key town centre projects.”

“We still have a long way to go” said Tony Woods. “We have more to do to persuade the people of Northampton that the council is improving. That will be our task in the year ahead.”

‘Putting the Pride back in Northampton -A year of Achievement’ A full briefing on the first year of Lib Dem run Northampton Borough Council can be downloaded from www.northamptonlibdems.org.uk

Residents of Clarence Avenue and Queens Park Parade have collected funds to build electronic gates on the rear service road. They have had continual problems with flytipping and nuisance at the rear of their properties. Sally Beardsworth has contributed £3,000 from the County Council to get the work done.

Residents have complained to me about children causing a nuisance at night around the garage and bus shelter on Welford Rd. I have reported these problems to the Police, who have responded promptly and said they will be talking to residents and businnesses on Welford Rd between the Recreation Ground and the library in the next few days. Meanwhile, do contact the Kingsthorpe Safer community Team at SCTKingsthorpeBoughtonGreen@northants.police.uk or phone 08453 700700 to report particular problems.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.