August 2024 issue of Nene Herald

ISSUE 1 - AUGUST 2024

NENE Herald Covering Rushden & Wellingborough News

Rushden Lakes Celebrates its 7th Anniversary Seven years ago, Rushden Lakes opened on a sunny day in July 2017. It has since become a popular destination for shoppers as well as those who enjoy the leisure activities available.

The economic benefits in the form of much needed employment opportunities were overwhelming, but it took several years of campaigning driven via the Yes2RushdenLakes Facebook page to secure the investment for the area.

The campaign was led by local Conservative councillors and members of the local community, in particular Helen Danzig. At its peak, the website reached over 200,000 visitors, some as far away as New Zealand.

The campaign had to overcome strong resistance from elsewhere. Over 100 articles were written in support of Rushden Lakes, which was (and still is) subject to significant opposition..

Rushden Lakes was built on the former Skew Bridge site, a “grey field” site. It brought in retailers that are rarely see outside London. It has been a stunning success

The opening was spectacular with an open air fashion show and around 70,000 visitors. It has since regularly attracted around 5m visitors a year.

By contrast, H & M marked the opening with a floor show.

Primark marked it with balloons.

Pothole Fixing While the weather stays good, North Northants Council (NNC) is filling potholes incessantly. In a few extreme cases, the road is being completely resurfaced. The whole length of Ditchford Lane has been resurfaced this Summer, as has a section of the Rushden (A6) bypass. NNC has committed to spend £4,804,000m on pothole repairs this year across the area. The Conservative-controlled council has also allocated a further £3,735,000m for pothole repairs for each of the following three years. The outgoing Conservative Government did allocate £14,900.000m to NNC for transport funding for the period 2025 to 2032. This funding came from dropping part of the HS2 scheme. At this point in time, it is not clear if the new Labour government will honour this pledge.

Cineworld in Trouble

The photograph shows the resurfaced Ditchford Lane complete with its new road markings.

Swivel Club Charity Shop The Swivel Club, a local charity in Rushden, has opened a shop in Rushden’s Grangeway shopping centre.

The Swivel Club was founded in the early 2000’s and has been raising money to support local people in need. They have as their motto “Turning Lives Round”.

Their main fundraising comes from holding events, but they also welcome donations to their shop. The shop is open 10.30am to 4pm.

Monday to Saturday. They can be contacted on 07554 063150.

Rushden Lakes has a 14-screen multiplex cinema. Whilst the original plans for the Lakes did not include a cinema, this was an aspiration for many local people.

Conservative councillors, especially Gill Mercer along with Andy Mercer and Barbara Jenney, did not lose sight of this and campaigned strongly until eventually the goal was achieved. However, the cinema complex is currently at risk, Cineworld has entered administration and has closed six complexes, including their Bedford one.

At the moment Rushden Lakes is not listed as one of those listed for closure.

The upcoming events include: Rod Stewart Tribute by Greg Dorrell supported

by The Fantastic Bill Burton on Saturday 17th August and The Legends Show with Marshall King on Saturday 21st September. Both are at the Higham Ferrers Working Mens Club.

Warm Rooms The Warm Rooms were set up during the energy crisis in November 2022. Due to the outbreak of war between Russia and the Ukraine and the fact that most of our energy supplies came from Russia, the government allotted funding to local councils to fund Warm Rooms in their district, so that people could have a warm space where they could go and meet up and socialise with others. Rushden Hall was an ideal venue, and three Councillors Janet Pinnock, David Coleman and Barbara Jenney took on the task of organising it. Originally it was to be for 5 months but it has been so successful it still continues to this day on Friday afternoons between 1.30 and 3.30 pm.

Cllr Pinnock said “They are a super group of people, with many still attending from the first day we started. We have all become firm friends over the years and enjoy our time together every Friday, mostly playing board games. Ladies have brought knitting in the past and I have even taught crochet to those who have always wanted to have a go. It is such good fun and everyone is welcome”.

Cllrs David Coleman & Barbara Jenney

Recently, a service was held in St Paul’s Cathedral in London especially for those volunteers who ran Warm Rooms, and the three councillors took their places inside the cathedral for a very special service, celebrating all the good that had come from these welcoming places all over the country. It was a moment in time that they will never forget, and all felt honoured and proud to have had an invitation to attend.

St Paul’s Cathedral

Higham Ferrers Twinning Association Higham Ferrers Twinning Association celebrated the 34th year of its partnership with its German twin town of Hachenburg, during July this year. Many old friendships were renewed during the visit by the Germans.

Gill Mercer, the Secretary of the Association said “Every other year our German friends visit us and the alternate year, we visit Hachenburg. Hachenburg is a lovely small town in the region called the Westerwald. It’s about an hour from the Rhine and typically we visit the Rhine during our trip.“If anyone would like to join us next year, we plan to go to Germany from 14th to 18th August 2025. We travel by luxury coach supplied by local company, RB Travel.”

If you are interested to hear more, please email nene_herald@yahoo.com.

t Association members and their German visitors.

News in Brief NNC Release Funds for Local Projects

Conservative controlled North Northants Council has allocated £30,036 to Alfred Street School for improvements to their facilities and £303,500 to The Splash Pool and Corby’s East Midlands International Pool to be split equally. Corby Pool will be for swimming pool upgrades and the Splash Pool will get new boilers and solar panels which will increase the ef�ciency of the pool and cut its running costs.

Winter Fuel Payments

Who Are We?

Labour’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, is halting Winter Fuel Allowances to some 10m pensioners not in receipt of pension credit just as letters from energy suppliers arrive through doors warning of energy bill hikes. She claims that this is to fill a “£22 billion black hole in Britain’s public finances”.

Opposition Conservatives claimed that the black hole is only there because Labour are planning to spend a huge amount of money on new projects and above-inflation wage rises.

Rushden Lad Elected to Parliament Peter Bedford grew up in Rushden and was one of the founder members of Rushden Town Council. He has now been elected to Parliament as the Conservative MP for Mid-Leicestershire. His family still live in the town. He was also elected to East Northamptonshire Council until moving to Leicestershire, successfully being elected to the County Council. Peter was a passionate and hardworking councillor and will make an excellent Member of Parliament. Well done Peter!

Cllr Melanie Coleman leading the group

Did you see them performing on the stage at Rushden’s Party in the Park?

What a fabulous day for everyone. Crowds flocked there enjoying all that was on offer and the organisers felt it was the best year ever.

A joyous photo which sums up this inspirational group of adults with learning disabilities based in Rushden using all forms of performance to build confidence in helping with everyday life.

Who are they? “It’s My Life”.

If you wish to comment on any of the subjects within this publication or would like to contribute to the content, please get in touch via email to : nene_herald@yahoo.com