NENE Herald
Mowermanchristmasrun
ThethirdannualChristmastractorrunwilltakeplaceon15thDecemberthisyear.Aconvoyof decoratedtractorswillassembleatChesterHouseandthentravelaroundthearea.
Thescheduleis:
ChesterHouseEstate16:00
ChownsMillRoundabout,HighamFerrers16:15CentreofHighamFerrers16:20 HighamHillShop,Rushden16:25Asda,Rushden16:30
Sarah’sHairdressers,RectoryRoad16:40Skinner’sHill,Rushden16.45 WashbrookRoad,Rushden17:00KnustonHill.Irchester17:10 Co-opFood,Irchester17:20IrchesterCountryPark17:35
LittleIrchester17:40WellingboroughEmbankment17:45
WellingboroughSchool17:55HindHotel18:05
Matalan18:25WellingboroughTrainStation18:37
StantonCrossPark(south)18:47FinedonAllotments18:03
Finedontowncentre18:07IrthlingboroughRoundabout18:21
AldiRoundabout18:30ChownsMill,HighamFerrers18:40 RushdenLakesRoundabout18:42LaparoundRushdenLakes18:50
ParadewillthenparkatDecathlonParktohand overfoodparcelstoafoodbank.
Alltimingsareapproximate. AlsoavailablewillbeaChristmasmenuincluding pulledporkbaps,burgersandveganoptions,stalls, raffleandgamesfromvariouscharities.
Ahighlycolourfulspectacleandwellworth watching.
TheBattleforRushdenLakes-Part3
ThisisthethirdinstalmentofthestoryofhowtheRushdenLakesschemecametobeapprovedand thenbuilt.
HearingthePublic
ThePublicHearingfortheRushdenLakesplanningapplicationlastedthreeweeks.ItwasaHearing INpublic,notOFthepublic.
OnedayoftheHearingwassetasideforthepublictobeheard.ItwasonTuesday9thJuly2013. Strongargumentswereputforwardbykeymembersofthecommunityinfavourofthescheme.
Cllr.SarahPeacockspokeasLeaderofRushdenTownCouncil.Sheexplainedthatthescheme wouldenhancethetownandthearea,asthesiteandthetowncouldbelinkedviatheEastNorthants Greenway.ShelatercampaignedsuccessfullytosecuretheiconicwhitebridgeacrosstheA45.
TheReverendPhilipEvans,vicarofWhitefriarsChurchinRushden,pointedoutthat46.6%of16-19 year-oldswereunemployedinEastNorthants,comparedto29.4%forNorthamptonand21.4%for theCountyasawhole.ThesestarkfiguresshowedthecriticalneedforjobsintheRushdenarea.
Cllr.DerekLawson,theLeaderofHighamTownCouncil,alsospokeaboutthedesperateneedto stimulatethelocaleconomy.
Cllr.GillMercerspokeonbehalfofthelocalTwinningAssociations.Sheexplainedthatthescheme wouldencourageleisureactivitieslikewalking,cycling,andbirdwatching,drawingintouristsand keepingtheminthearealonger.
TomCollinstalkedabouthowdangeroustheSkewBridgeroundaboutontheA45wasandthe opportunitytorebuildittomakeitsafer.Heaskedforthefootbridge(thatwasprovided).
Cllr.DavidJenney,representingWellingboroughConservativeAssociation,spokeinfavourofthe scheme,explainingthattherewasahugeimbalancebetweenjobsandhousinglocally.
AndrewLangleysaidthatRushdenLakeswasa“perfectexampleofhowyoucanmanagegrowth andyetimprovewildlifemaintenance”.Hesaidthatitwouldbeamajorboosttolocaltourism.
Cllr.AndyMercersaidthatRushdenLakeswouldboostthetourismpotentialoftheNeneValley. AlthoughStanwickLakesisagreatsite,itislimited.BuildingRushdenLakeswouldhelplifttheNene Valleytowards“criticalmass”andpersuadevisitorstostaylongerandspendmore.
HealsoexplainedthattheSchemewouldprovideprotectionfortheRamsarandSSSI(Siteof SpecialScientificInterest)wildlifesites.
HelenDanzig(nowBathurst)spokewithpassionasChairwomanoftheYes2RushdenLakes campaignhighlightingthestronglocalsupportfortheschemetobeapproved.
ThenextinstalmentwilldescribehowtheUKCabinetwasconvincedtoapprovetheScheme.
HowcheapisHousingin
Wellingborough?
PropertiesinBedfordhavebeenmore expensivethanWellingboroughorRushdenfor manyyears.Inthelastyear,housingin Wellingboroughhasbeennoticeablycheaper thaninnearbyBedford.
Theaveragepriceofasemi-detachedhousein Wellingboroughis£241,380.Theaverageprice foraterracedhouseis£218,528,whilethe averagefordetachedpropertiesis£330,755.
Theaveragepriceofasemi-detachedhousein Rushdenis£253,726.Terracedpropertieshave soldforanaverageof£209,572,withdetached propertiesfetching£386,864onaverage.
Bycontrast,theaveragepriceforsemidetachedpropertiesinBedfordis£345,340. Theaveragepriceforaterracedhousein Bedfordis£288,346,whiledetachedproperties averaged£496,903.(Source:https:// www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/ wellingborough.html)
Inthepast,ithasbeensuggestedthatthe reasoncouldbeputdowntoCouncilTaxrates betweenthetwoareas.However,thedifference isnotgreat.
TheCouncilTaxforaBandDpropertyin WellingboroughandRushdenis£1740.22, whereastheequivalentfigureforBedfordis £1824.64
(Source:https://www.gov.uk/government/ statistics/council-tax-levels-set-by-localauthorities-in-england-024-to-202
Therearemanythousandsofsocialhomesin WellingboroughandRushden.
Currently,thereisalawnicknamedthe“Right-toBuy”.Underthislaw,tenantswhohavelivedina councilhouseforsomeyears,havetherightto buytheirhome.Itisthentheirstodowithasthey wish.
IninterviewwiththeBBC,AngelaRayner, Labour’sDeputyPrimeMinister,hasnowstated thatshewantstoremovethisrightfornew councilhouses.
ShesuggestedthattheSchemehasledtoarise inhomelessness.Infact,councilsusethe moneyraisedfromthesaleofcouncilhousesto fundthebuildingofmorenewcouncilproperties, therebyactuallyincreasingtheoverallnumberof homesinthecountry.
Logicwouldsuggestthatwithmorehomes, thereshouldbelesshomelessness.Abolishing theRight-to-Buycouldleadtofewerhouses beingbuiltandhence more,notless, homelessness.
AChristmasWish
Toeveryhearthalittlefire, Toeveryboardalittlefeast, Toeveryheartajoy, Toeverychildatoy Shelterforbirdandbeast.
RoseFyleman
TheCaseforaRushdenStation-Part3
NeneHeraldisrunningacampaignfora mainlinestationforRushden.
Asmentionedpreviously,Rushdenisbyfarthe largesttowninEnglandthatdoesnothaveits ownworkingrailwaystation.Therearevillages atenththesizeofRushdenthathaveastation. SomelikeBrundallinNorfolk(population4,019) havetwo!
WhyDoesRushdenNeedaStation?
Rushdengrewextensivelyduringthe20th Century,thankstotheBootandShoeIndustry. Unfortunately,likethe‘Yorkshiremining villages’,Rushdenwasasingle-industrytown.
Atitsheight,Rushdenandthesurroundingarea hadaround120factoriesmakingfootwearas wellasancillaryfactoriesproducingleather,the machinerytomakefootwear,cartonsandmore. Rushdenrailwaystationplayedamajorpartinthegrowthoftheindustry.
Unfortunately,thebranchlineintoRushdentowncentrewaslostintheBeechingreviewandmuchof thelocalshoetradewaslostwhenproductionmovedEast,ultimatelytoChina.Oneofthefew remainingshoefactoriesisnowduetoclose.
Withthelossofaround6,000jobs,comparablenumbertothelossfromthesteel-makingindustryin Corby,localworkerswereforcedtolookforjobsoutsidethearea.
Today,theA45,A6andA509carrycommutertrafficto/fromRushden.Thisroadtraffic,concentrated intothemorningandeveningrushhours,overloadsthoseroadsandcausesthemtodeteriorate fasterthantheyshould.ThattrafficandunnecessarypollutionandCO2couldbereducedifRushden hadarailwaystation.
ItalsocausescongestionatWellingboroughandBedfordstations.
Inthenextissue,wewilldiscusshowthiscanbefixed.
FluttersSold
TheformerRitzcinemainCollegeStreet, Rushden,whichlaterbecameFluttersBingo,is nowundernewownership.Itwassoldat auctionon29Octoberfor£400,000.
Itwaspurchasedby“InvestmentStreet”.Their websitesays:
“HereatInvestmentStreet,wefocusonhighyieldingHMOs(HousesinMultipleOccupancy), aspecialisednicheinthehousingmarket. Usingthe‘BRRRR’strategy(Buy,Refurbish, Refinance,Rent,Repeat),combinedwith purchasingbelowmarketvalue,luxury renovations,andourfocusonhigh-yieldrentals,we’veachievedsignificantgrowthovertheyears.”
Fluttersclosedsometimeago,andtherehadbeenspeculationabouttheownerssellingthebuilding andtheworkneededtorevivethebuilding.
RattyReturns
Watervoleswereonceaniconicfeatureofthe Britishlandscape.Onlakesandslow-moving rivers,theycouldbeseenswimmingbackand forth.
Althoughnicknamedwaterrats,thevolesare vegetarianandnotcloselyrelatedtorats. Unlikerats,thevolesdonottransmit diseases.
TheyweretheinspirationforRattyin Windin theWillows,oneofthemostpopularchildren’s bookseverwritten.
Andthenanenvironmentaldisaster happened.
AnimalactivistsattackedseveralfactoryfarmsthatkeptNorthAmericanminkfortheirfur.Theactivists releasedthemink,thinkingthattheyweredoingsomething‘good’.
Injustafewyears,theminkbredandspread.Theykilledandatethewatervoles,drivingthemextinct inmuchofthecountry.
Today,fewyoungpeopleevenknowwhatawatervolelookslike.
Theminkalsoattackedandatearangeofwaterfowl.Luckily,sincewaterfowlcanflytoescape,the devastationwasnotasmassiveasitwaswiththewatervoles.
Theminkareslowlybeingbroughtundercontrol,atleastpartlybecauseottersarereturningtoour riversandlakes.Whentheottersmovein,theminkdisappear.Itispossiblethatottershuntdownthe mink,seeingthemascompetitors.Ormaybe,theyjustout-competethem.
InSeptember,116captive-bredwatervoleswerereleasedlocallyintotheNeneWetlands.
MattJohnson,WildlifeTrustBCNConservationManager,said:“It’sfantastictoseewatervolesreturn totheNeneWetlands–wehopethatthisisthestartoftheircomebackinthecounty.”
“Whenwetookonthisreserveovertenyearsagowatervoleswereoneofthekeyspeciesthatwe wantedtoseebackheresoit'sreallyexcitingtoseethemcomingoutoftheirPringlestubesand makingtheirwaybackintothewildwheretheyshouldbe.”
“Re-introductionsarevitalifwearetorestorethenaturalenvironmentintheUK,buttheymustbe plannedandmanagedproperlytoensurethereisahealthyhabitatforthenewarrivals.”
GrantsforCommunityGroups
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncilhasinvitedapplicationsforgrantsfromcommunitygroups.Grantsof up£5,000willbeawarded.
NNChas£120,000ofgrantfundingavailableforvoluntaryandcommunitygroupstoapply,tohelp improvethequalityoflifeforlocalresidentsandincreasecommunityinvolvement.
Theschemeisopentocommunityandvoluntarysectororganisations,registeredcharities,townand parishcouncilsandnotforprofitorganisationsincludingclubs,SchoolPTA’sand‘Friendsof’groups.
Toapplyforagrantgoto:
https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/grants-and-support/community-grant-funding
ANewSkateboard
ParkforWellingborough
Thisyear,SkateboardingbecameanOlympicsport.Theskillsrequiredforskateboardinghavebeen recognised.It’snolongerjustasportforkids.
WeallwantthecountrytowinOlympicmedals,butchampionscanonlybeproducedifyougivethem decenttrainingfacilities.
Rushdenhasanexcellentskateboardpark,(fundedbyRushdenTownCouncil)whichiswellused. However,theWellingboroughoneisoutdatedandsemi-derelict.
Conservative-controlledNorthNorthantsCouncildecidedtobuildabrand-newoneforWellingborough. ItwillbeinBassettsParkonWestVillaRoad.
TheprojectneededplanningconsentandplanswerepresentedtotheNNCSouthAreaPlanning CommitteemeetingatSwanspoolHouseon16September2024.Atthemeeting,CllrJonathanEkins saiditwassuchagoodschemethatcouncillorsdidn’tevenneedtodebateit.
TheChairmaninsistedthatothercouncillorsdeservedachancetohavetheirsay,andtheyallstrongly supportedtheplan.Theplanwasthenvotedthroughunanimously. Therewerecheersandloudapplausefromthepublicgallery.
Outsidethecouncilchamber,acrowdformedtothankandcongratulatethecouncillors.It’snotoften thatcouncillorsareheroes!
Thenewfacilitywillprovidemuchimprovedfacilitiesforskateboardersand,oneday,mayhelpproduce moreOlympicgoldmedalwinnersforthisarea.
WellingboroughPostOffices
Aplanningapplicationhasbeensubmittedto convertWellingborough’spostofficeinMidland Roadinto74apartments.
Itisaniconicbuilding.In2023,Cllr.Jon-Paul Carrdescribedit:
“TheWellingboroughPostOffice…hasn'tbeen usedasthepostofficecountersincethe 1970s.Thebuildingtotheleftwasthepost officecounteruntilmovingtoSheepStreeta coupleofyearsago.”
“Theolderbuildingwaslastusedforsomekind ofofficesintheearly1990sifIrecall.”
“AspartoftheLocalPlanfortheBoroughCouncilofWellingboroughthelandbehinditwasincluded fordevelopment.TheCouncilalsotriedtoacquireit,buttheywantedfartoomuchmoneyforthesite overallandinsteadhasbeenlefttorot.”
“Theolderbuildingwastheoriginaltownpostofficebuiltin1908whichreplacedtheonebuiltin1880 nexttoWarwicksMens’Outfitters.”
YourCreativityCanGrowInRushden
Beginningin2021localartistSallyHuntbegan aseriesofartclassesforallages,frominfantto adultandallabilities.Theyarebuiltaroundher philosophy,thatartisalearnedskillratherthan aninnatetalent.Shehascertainlyconvinced herstudentsofthis,totheextentthatshehas alreadyopenedherownstudio,ScribbleStudio, justoffChurchStreet.Withplanstoextendthe spacefurtherintoanall-accessdownstairs studionextyear.
Sally’sadultclassesbeginwithanintroductorycoursethatcoversthebasicsofart,butunlikeother classes,includesrelevantelementsofscience,sostudentsunderstandthewhybehindcertain principles.Studentshaveprogressedfromstickfigurestofulldrawingsinamatterofweeks.From then,semesterstackledifferentmaterialsandtopics,allowingstudentstofocusandexplore,building awiderangeofskills.
Withhernewavailablespace,shehasattractednewclassesintothearea,includingarttherapist, HonorataofArtlysing.comandGelliprintingandcraftsbyNicofNixiemade.com.Shealsoruns regularlifedrawingclasses,weeklyoutdoorsessionsandseasonalfamilyworkshops.
Inadditiontoalltheseregularclasses,Sallyhasaseriesofone-offsandisstillexpandingtherange sheoffers,sokeepcheckingherwebsite.HerstudiohasbeenrecognisedbyCordellGarfield, PresidentoftheNorthantsTownandCountyArtSocietywhohaschosenScribbleStudioasoneof thelocationsforhistutorials.ShehasbecomeavitalnexusforthevisualartsinRushden,providing amuch-neededsolutiontotheholeintheculturalsideofourcommunity.It’sgreattobeableto highlightthatmoreopportunitieshavecometoRushden.
“TheaimistobringmorepeopleintoRushdenbycreatinganarthubforall,becauseeveryonecan, andshoulddraw!”–SallyHunt
YoungPeopleRemembertheFallen
Onadullandovercastmorning,childrenfromRushdenschools,onceagain,cameoutinforceon Wednesday6November2024fortheirownspecialservicetocommemorateRemembranceDay.
AttheGardenofRemembranceRe-dedicationServiceforSchools,organisedbyRushdenBranchof theRoyalBritishLegion,childrenwerewelcomedbyMrsLynneBaker,theBranchSchoolsLiaison,for aserviceconductedbyTheReverendPhilHearson.TheBranchPresident,MrDavidHawker,readthe exhortation.
ChildrenheardaccountsoftheactiononD-Dayandaminute’ssilence washeldinmemoryofallthosemembersofthearmedforceswholost theirlives.
MayorofRushden,CllrDavidColeman,readapoignantpoementitled ‘Normandy’byJunoVeteranCyrilCrain.TheMayorcommented:“it wasaverymovingoccasionattendedbyover200youngstersandso encouragingthatthemessageandstoriesbehindallthesacrifices madeonourbehalfarenotforgotten”
Thechildrenweretheninvitedtolayacrossinmemoryofthosefrom RushdenwhowerecasualtiesofWorldWarIIandtolaywreathsifthey wished.Greatimaginationandskillswereusedinproducingthese home-madewreaths.
Itwasexcellenttoseesomanyschoolstakingpart,somewhohadtowalkquiteadistancetobethere. Theywerejoinedbylocalcouncillors,thepublicandmembersoftheBritishLegion.
Photo“bykindpermissionofLoveRushden”
Outandabout
CollegeStreetVenue
TheformerpostofficeinCollegeStreet, Rushden,wasconvertedintoadrinking establishmentsomeyearsago.
ThreeHillsBreweryre-openediton25th October,asataproombar,servingcraftbeers andfreecrispsforlife.
Itisalwaysgoodtoseenewbusinesses openinginRushden’stowncentreandeveryone atNeneHeraldwishthenewoperatorsthevery bestofluckwiththeirnewventure.
SwanspoolClub
WomeninRock
TheCastleTheatreinWellingboroughis preparingforaNighttoRememberonFriday 17thJanuary.
WomeninRockwillfeatureanevening celebratinghitafterhitofrockanthemsas performedbyleadingfemaleartists,suchas Blondie,SuziQ,JanisJoplin,Heart,JoanJett, Pink,KikiDee,BonnieTyler,Cherandmore!
Top-classmusiciansandvocalistswilldeliver amazingperformancesthatwillgeteveryone singingalong.Itwilltrulybeanightto remember!
Ticketscanbeorderedonlineat castletheatre.co.ukorphone01933-270007.
TheKingswayCentreinWellingboroughisrunningaclub forseniorcitizens.TheSwanspoolClubrunsfrom1:30pm onMondays,andbringstogetherpeopleforfriendship, refreshments,bingoandraffle.
Formoreinformation,calleitherIreneon01933381440 or07870517603orLorraineon07541106149.
TheKingswayCentreislocatedat130Kingsway, Wellingborough,NN82EN
ImprovedBusServicesforRuralAreas
Inamovetoimprovetransportlinks,severalnewbusserviceshavebeeninauguratedtoservelocal ruralareas,supportedbyfundingfromConservative-controlledNorthNorthamptonshireCouncil.The linksnotonlyprovidemorefreedomofmovementforresidentslivinginruralareasbutwillalsogive morepeopleaccesstothepopularleisure/retaildestinationatRushdenLakes.
ServiceCB1
ThisbusrunsfromOundletoRushdenLakes,viaLowerBenefield,UpperBenefield,Weldon,Little Stanion,Stanion,Brigstock,Islip,Woodford,GreatAddington,andIrthlingborough.
Theservicerunseachweekday,leavingOundleat09:20,reachingRushdenLakesat10:24.
Intheafternoon,thereversejourneyleavesRushdenLakesat12:08reachingOundleat13:20.
ServiceCB2
Mondaysonly,thisservicerunsfromCorbyVillageto
RushdenLakesandStanwickLakesviaCorby, Pytchley,Orlingbury,LittleHarrowdenGreat Harrowden,Wellingborough,andChesterHouse.
ServiceCB5
Thursdaysonly,thisservicerunsfromCorbyVillageto RushdenLakesandStanwickLakesviaCorby,Great Oakley,Geddington,GraftonUnderwoodand Cranford.
Service94
ThisisadailyservicefromRushdenLakestoOundle viaRaunds.ItrunseachdayfromMondaythroughto Saturday.
RushdenLakesisanoptimumdestinationformanypeoplewhoarekeentoenjoytheleisureandretail opportunitiesthatareavailable.
CaringforChildreninCare
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)workswiththeNorthamptonshireChildren’sTrusttolookafter childrenwhoaretakenintocare.Unfortunately,manyofthosechildrenhavetobehousedindistantor inappropriatelocations,atconsiderablecost.NNCisplanningtodevelopadditionalfacilitiestoallow theChildren’sServicestobedeliveredmorelocallyandatlesscost.
£20,373,780hasbeenallocatedinthe2025/2026draftNNCBudgettopayforit.
Ofthemoneythathasbeenallocated,£15,131,419willgotowardsaprogrammeofchildren'shomes, supportedaccommodationandgeneralunits.
Cllr.ScottEdwards,thePortfolioholderforChildrensaid:
“Excellentchildren’ssocialcarehasneverbeenmorevital.Wecannot,andwillnot,acceptpoorquality orunsafeaccommodationforchildreninourcare,whoareoftenamongthemostvulnerableinour country.Byprovidingmoreyoungpeoplewithsafe,secureplacestolive,throughthisphaseofcapital investment,wewilllaythefoundationsforgivingthemthetoolstheyneedtomoveconfidentlyintoadult life.”
TheextrafundingwillhelplookafterthechildrenthatNNCisresponsiblefor,byprovidingmore suitableaccommodation.
60’sPop&Rock
Rushden’sConservativeClubwelcomesaonemanBeatlesshow!On14thDecember,the60’s hitswillcomealiveagain.SongsfromtheBeatles, RoyOrbison,theKinks,theSearchers,theHollies andmore.
ForOld-Timers,it’sachancetobringbackhappy memories.Foryoungerfolk,it’sachancetohear themusicthatconqueredtheworld.
LiveMusicon
BoxingDay
SomethingtoenlivenBoxingDaythisyear!
CaraHowardwillbeon-stageatRushden ConservativeClubat2pm.
Carahasbeenaprofessionalperformerforover10 yearsperforminginlotsofdifferentvenuesincluding HardRockHotelinTenerife,cruiseships,clubsand pubs
AbsolutelyEltonin Rushden
EltonJohn’smusicwillberecreated9pmonFriday 27thDecemberatRushdenConservative Club..AbsolutelyEltonisatributetotheiconicSir EltonJohn,performedbyMartinCox,asingerand entertainerwhohasperformedallovertheworld.
Martin’stributetoEltonisamongthebestonthe circuit.Hisvoicehasallthepowerneededforthe RocksongsandtendernessfortheBallads. Howeveritisnotjustthevoicethatisremarkable buttheattentiontodetailinextravagantcostumes, mannerisms&humourmeaningthatAbsolutely EltonisasfaithfulatributetothesuperstarElton Johnasyoucanget.
Allconcertsareopentomembersandtheirguests.
TheNeneHeraldisacommunity-basednewspaperforWellingborough,Rushden,HighamFerrers,Irthlingboroughandthe surroundingvillages.
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