NENE Herald
RushdenCharity ReceivesKing’sAward ForVoluntaryService
OnFriday14March2025,Rush2TheDenformallyreceivedthehighly prestigiousKing’sAwardforVoluntaryService.TheAwardrecognisesthe amazingcommitmentanddedicationofthe39volunteersatRush2The Den.Itisthehighestawardavolunteer-ledorganisationcanreceiveand isequivalenttoanMBE.
Manyspecialguestsattendedtheceremonytowitnessthepresentation bytheLordLieutenantforNorthamptonshire.Theteamreceiveda CrystalawardandframedcertificatesignedbyHisRoyalHighnessKingCharlesIII.
Rush2TheDenruntwocharities,onethatsupportsbabies,totsandadultsandtheotherwhichisan award-winningyouthclubforyoungpeopleaged5to17yrs.Rush2TheDenbelievein'Inspiringyoung peopletoachieve',helpingthemtogainanddevelopskills,knowledge,self-awarenessandconfidence.
NeneHeraldcongratulatesthevolunteersatRush2TheDenonthisremarkableachievementand thanksthemfortheircommitmenttothecommunity.
DitchfordBridge Update
NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)hasdisclosedthat repairstotheDitchfordBridgehavenowstarted. Theyareexpectedtolastfiveweeks.
TheclosureofthebridgeovertheNeneoccurred becauseanagriculturalvehiclehadanaccidentand smashedpartofthebridge’swallintotheriver.It hascausedserioustrafficproblemsintheareaand shutthemainroutefromRushdenandHigham throughtoIrthlingboroughandFinedon.
Navigatingroundtheroadclosureresultedinextra trafficbeingforcedontotheA6goingnorthfromthe ChownsMillroundabout.Theproblemofextratraffic wasfurtherexacerbatedbyaseriesoffailuresofthe trafficlightsattheChownsMilljunctionoftheA6 andtheA45.
TherepairworkontheBridgeisexpectedtorun fromthe10thofMarchtothe11thofApril.
There-openingoftheBridgewillbeverywelcome. ItwillcuttheloadontheChownsMillroundabout, especiallyatpeakperiods.Waitingtimesfordrivers willfallsignificantly.
PigeonPanels
Inrecentyears,Rushden’spigeonshavebeen nestingunderneathrooftopsolarpanels.
Thisyear,theyarealreadyeyeingupnewnichesfor nests.
NeneHeraldisnotsurewhythepigeonslovesolar panelssomuch,butit’sprobablybecausethey provideasafeplaceforchickstobeborn.
Ormaybebecausethey’reclimatechangeactivists!
NewCemeteryfor Rushden
RushdenTownCouncil(RTC)hasbeenfacingthe problemofthetown’scemeteryreachingits capacity.Theexistingcemeteryislandlockedand cannotbeextendedinanydirection.RTCtherefore neededtoprioritisefindingsuitablelandtocreatea newcemetery.
RTChasspentseveralyearslookingforasuitable site.Atonepoint,itwasthoughtlandonthe RushdenEastSustainableUrbanExtension(SUE) couldbeavailable.However,buildingtheSUEhas beendelayedtosuchanextentthatitisnolonger anoption.
ThegoodnewsisthatRTChasnowsourcedanew siteforacemetery.TheCouncilrecentlypurchased atwenty-acresitebehindtheJohnWhiteDriving Range,partofwhichcanbeusedforthenew cemetery.
Thenextstepwillbetogetworkunderwaytocreate anaccessroadandgetutilitieslaidon.
BloodTests
ThelocalNHShaschangedthesystemforgetting appointmentsforbloodtests.Fromnowonwards, theymustbebookedinadvance.Thiscanbedone byphoning01536494411(linesopenbetween8am and4pm)oronlineatanytime:
https://kgh.cxmflow.com/OABS/Appointment/Index/ 97731a73-32e6-46eb-84ef-8bfa56b36ad2
Thisappliesto
·CorbyOutpatients
·IsebrookOutpatientsWellingborough ·NorthNorthantsCouncilOffice,Ketteringand ·NeneParkOutpatients,Irthlingborough Ineachcase,yourNHSnumberwillberequired.
PersimmonGrants
PersimmonCharitableFoundationhasannounceda newfundingschemethatcouldbenefitcharitiesand communitygroups.
TheFoundationwassetupin2015tohelpsupport thecommunitiesacrosstheUnitedKingdomby fundingprojectsthataddressdeprivationor disadvantage,especiallyamongyoungpeople.
Thisyear,theFoundationhaslaunchedanewround offundingfororganisationsthatarefocusedon improvingsocialmobility.
Atotalof£200,000isavailable,withapplications nowopenfortwo£50,000donations,whichwillbe awardedinMay2025.Asecondroundoffundingwill openinJune,withtwofurther£50,000donations awardedinSeptember.
AMicro-Forest
AmicroforesthasbeenplantedatCastlefieldsPark inthelastmonthbyNorthNorthamptonshire Council,inpartnershipwithTomorrow’sForestsand volunteersfromtheWellingboroughEcoGroup.
ItwaspartlyfundedbytheCoronationLiving HeritageFundwhichwasestablishedtomarkthe CoronationofKingCharlesIII.
AMicroForestisadense,fast-growingnative woodland,aboutthesizeofatenniscourt,usingthe methodspioneeredbyJapanesebotanistAkira Miyawaki.Denseplantingspeedsupgrowth, increasesresilienceandimprovessurvivalratesof thewoodland,producingafullyefficientwoodlandin 20years,comparedtotheusual100years.
FewerEmptyShops?
VacantretailpremiseshaveblightedourHigh Streetsformanyyears.Tohelpbringvitalitybackto HighStreets,NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil (NNC)hasformallyjoinedtheGovernment’sHigh StreetRentalAuctionEarlyAdoptersprogramme.It isaschemethatwasintroducedundertheLevelling UpandRegenerationAct2023,passedbythe previousgovernment.
TheSchemeallowslocalauthoritiestoundertakean auctionofferingaleaseofuptofiveyearsupon privately-ownedcommercialpropertiesthathave remainedunoccupiedforfiveyearsormore.
ItishopedthatthisnewpowerwillenableNNCto forcelandlordsontheHighStreettorentout commercialpremisesthathavebeenvacantforlong periodsatmoreeconomicallyviablerates.
ffsuccessful,there-occupyingofvacantproperties willhelpregenerateourHighStreets.
AnNNCspokesmansaid:
“Beingofficiallyacceptedontothisprogramme isanimportantandinnovativestepforwardin ourworktosupportregenerationintown centresacrossNorthNorthants.”
“Thisisarealopportunitytobepartofsuchan excitingprojectandtospearheadtheuseofnew legislativepowersaswellasbeingabletoinput onhowtheprogrammecanbeputinto practice.”
BellwaytoCreate NewEstate
BellwayStrategicLandisplanningtobuildupto450 newhomesonthesouthernedgeofRushden.
Outlineplanningpermissionforthe58-acresitehas beengrantedbyNorthNorthamptonshireCouncil andBellwayarenowpreparingReservedMatters applicationsforsubmissioninSpring2025.Thiswill finalisedetailsofthelayoutofthenewproperties.
Subjecttofinalapprovalofthescheme,agreement hasbeenreachedwithBellwayforthemtocommit over£4milliontowardslocalservicesincluding schools,sportsprovision,libraries,healthcareand busservices,aswellasproviding30%ofthehomes asaffordablehousingforlocalpeople.
Out-of-HoursHotline ForUnauthorised Encampments
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)istriallingan out-of-hoursserviceforhandlingreportsof unauthorisedencampments.
ThetrialisbeingmanagedbytheNorthamptonshire TravellerUnit(NTU).NTUwillprovidetheservice andarrangeacontractor.
Avisitwillbemadetoanyunauthorised encampmentsreportedtotheUnit.Thecontractor willmakeanyassessment,includingstatutoryhealth andwelfarechecksonbehalfofNNC.TheNTUwill thendecidehowtomanagetheencampmentthe nextworkingday.
AspokesmanforNNCsaid:
“TheNTUworkextremelyhardduringnormal workinghours,alongsidepartners,toprovidea one-stoppointofaccessforthepublic, businessesandagenciesandoccupantsof encampmentsacrossNorthNorthants.”
“Thistrialwill,hopefully,allowtheteamtowork quickertoresolveanyissuesthatmightcome throughoutofhoursandreducetheproblems typicallyassociatedwithencampments.”
Supporting OurVeterans
OnThursday27thFebruary,morethan160 fundraisersandveteranvolunteersattendedthe CombatStressAnnual‘ExtraMile’Awardsatthe CavalryandGuardsClubinLondon.
ThiswasfollowingaCombatStressD-Day44 Challenge22-milecharitywalkalongtheNormandy Beacheson6thofJunelastyeartomarkD-Day's 80thAnniversary,where'Rushdenites'teammates, SteveMillerandJakeBaker,hadamost memorabletime.
Thiswasnotjustdoingthewalkinthecompanyof fellowveteransandfundraisers,butalsomeeting numerousD-DayVeterans,attendingsomemoving andspecialceremonies,makingnewfriendsand beingtakenonaplannedguidedtourthedayafter, whichincludedtheBritishNormandyMemorial.
SteveMillerwrote:"...we'veonlyjustgoneandwon theFundraisingTeamoftheYearAwardwith anotherteam–theBandofBrothers!"Well,whata pleasantsurprisethatwas!
Thiswasonlypossiblethankstothegenerous donationsmanyofyoumade,notforgettingthe fantasticsupportofmywifeLynne,Steve'swife RuthandhisSisterBrenandBrother-in-lawKev. Theyraisedatotalsumof£6,645.
CombatStressdeliversspecialisttreatmentand supporttoformerservicepersonnelacrosstheUK withmilitary-relatedtraumasuchaspost-traumatic stressdisorder,butcannotdosowithoutsupport.
TeamRushdenites(SteveandJakeBaker)were recognisedfortheirinnovativefundraisingfor havinggoneaboveandbeyondallexpectationsof raisingaminimumof£1,250each.
Higham’sChristmas Sparkle
TheChristmasfestiveseasonseemstostart earliereveryyear.
Thisyear,applicationsforastallatHigham’s ChristmasSparkle2025,arealreadyopenand willcloseonthe4thofApril.
Detailsofhowtoapplyforstallsareontheflyer shown.
ItcomestosomethingwhenChristmasstarts beforeEaster!
Outandabout INWellingborough&rushden
TheCircusComes ToTown
AcircusiscomingtoRushden!
Pinder’sCircuswillbeinRushden’sSpencerPark on27thMarch2025,at18:00–19:30
Theticketsare£15foradultsand£13forchildren. (Thereisa£3discountforticketspurchasedonthe night.)
Ticketscanbeboughtinadvancevia: https://www.pinderscircus.com/event-details/ rushden-2025-03-27-18-00-2
ArtisanMarket
InRushdenHighStreet
Rushden’s3rd ArtisanMarkettakesplaceon Saturday26Aprilfrom10amto3pm.
MakinganappearancewillbeStGeorgeandhis trustysteed,aswellasavarietyoflocal independentstallsdisplayinghandcraftedgoods, unusualgiftsanddeliciousartisanfood.
Rushden’sNewB& M Store
B&M,anationalretailer,hasopenedanewstorein Rushden.ItislocatedinEatonWalkonthe significantsiteformerlyoccupiedbyWilko.
Thenewstore“offersahugeselectionofhighqualitygroceries,electrical,homeware,cleaning andmore!”
They“featuretopbrandssuchasProlex, Goodmans,LenorandFabulosa”,availableat favourableprices.
B&McanbeaccessedfromCollegeStreetorvia theDuckStreetcarpark(parkingisFREE).The storeisopen8amto9pmMondaytoSaturday,and 11amto5pmonSundays.
‘’AirAda‘’
“BitufastrugglegalinB&Mwhenitopened! Coosamilelung!Still,goodtahavanewshop intowngal,ennit!”
NorthNorthants YouthAdvisoryService
ThelastgovernmentpassedaLawrequiringtoplevelcouncilstosetupYouthAdvisoryCouncils.
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)hassetup theNorthNorthamptonshireYouthAdvisory Council.Itismadeupof14youngpeople(aged13 to19,orupto25yearswithSpecialNeeds)from acrossNorthNorthamptonshire:
Ithasthefollowingmembership:
·3fromCorbyandsurroundingarea
·3Ketteringandsurroundingareas
·3Wellingboroughandsurroundingareas
·3EastNorthamptonshireandsurroundingareas
·2UKYouthMembersofParliament
TheroleoftheYouthAdvisoryCouncilistospeak upfor,andonbehalfofyoungpeopleinNorth Northamptonshireby:
· identifyingandtacklingissuesconsidered importantbyyoungpeople
·helpingtomakesurethatyoungpeople’svoices shapeservicesandfacilitiesinNorth Northamptonshire,toreflectwhatyoungpeople wantandneed
·seekingtheviewsofyoungpeopleandpromoting opportunitiestogetinvolvedinthedemocratic processandhavetheirsay
·supportingandpromotingtheworkofUKYouth MembersofParliamentthroughlocalandnational initiatives
TheCouncilmeetingsareheldonthesecond Tuesdayofeachmonth:TheMinutesandAgendas ofthemeetingscanbeaccessedviathislink:
https://northnorthants.moderngov.co.uk/ mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=435
Smoking! KickingtheHabit
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncilhasadopteda HealthandWellbeingStrategy.Itaimstoimprove thehealthoftheresidentsofNorth Northamptonshire.
Oneofitsprioritiesistoreducetheprevalenceof smokingintheNorthNorthamptonshire.Itstates:
“Althoughrealprogresshasbeenmadein reducingsmokingprevalence,14.6%ofNorth Northamptonshireresidentsstillsmokeandthis risesto25-30%insomeareas(e.g.,29.8%of adultsaged18-64yearswhoworkinroutineand manualjobs),meaningthattoomanypeoplestill smoke.”
“Havingoneormoresmokerslivinginthe householdmorethandoublestheriskofsudden unexpecteddeathininfancy.Itisalsoahuge financialburdenwithspendsimilartothe averageannualenergyspend.Thiscanincrease theriskofchildrengrowingupinpoverty.”
ThepressreleasefromNNCfurtherstates:
“Stoppingsmokingisalsooneofthebestthings peoplecandotosavemoneytospendonother things.Theaveragesmokerannuallyspends around£2,338(Theeconomicimpactofsmoking -ASH).Thisworksouttobe£45perweek.”
NeneHeraldfullysupportstheefforttocutsmoking andwillreturntothesubjectregularly
StampDutyRush
CharlesOrlebar,localestateagents,havereported arushtobuyhousesbeforetheStampDuty increase1/April/2025.StampDutyisataxonhouse sales.On1stApril2025,itwentupto2%(ofthe sellingpriceofthehouse)E.g.ifthehousesellsfor £200,000,thenthestampdutypaidtothe governmentis£4,000.
AccordingtoCharlesOrlebar,buyersrushedto completetheirsalesbeforetheStampDutyrate wentupto2%.
ApparentlyStampDutyhasvariousthresholds, meaningitsriseby2%from0%onpropertiesis fromtheportionpricedbetween£125,001and £250,000.
Ifyouwishtocommentonanyofthesubjectsinthispublicationorwouldliketo contributetothecontent,pleasegetintouchviaemailto:nene_herald@yahoo.com,