NENE Herald
KetteringGeneralRebuildPostponed
NewLabourwerethefirsttousethephrase, “Good DaytoBuryBadNews”.ItmeanssavingtheBad NewsstoriesuntilthereissomethingBiginthenews,so thatthepublicdon’tnoticetheBadNews.
20thJanuary2025wasa GoodDay.DonaldTrumpwas beinginauguratedasthePresidentoftheUSA.
WhileallthemediawerefocussedonWashington,the Labourgovernmentadmittedwhatwassuspectedall along.
LabourhavepostponedtherebuildofKettering GeneralHospital.
BeforetheGeneralElection,theoutgoingConservative governmenthadpromisedtofundtherebuildofour ageinghospital.Kettering’sformerMP,PhilipHollobone, hadsaidhehopedtheworkwouldstartin2024.
InaBBCRadioNorthamptondebate,on2ndJuly2024,Labour’scandidateforCorby,LeeBarronsaid:
“Tobeclear,andIwanttobeclear,becausewe havegottobefactual,andwe’vegottoberight withpeople,thatmoneyforthoseprojectswas partofaspendingreviewbackin2021.The moneyisthere,thecommitmentistheretodoit. Labourwilldeliverit.Makenobonesaboutit,so stoptellingpeoplethatit’llpotentiallybe scrappedandthere’sgoingtobedelays.There isn’t.”
However,afterLabourwontheGeneralElection,they announcedthattherebuildofKGHwas“paused”. Then,on20thJanuary2025,LabourplacedKGHinto “Wave2”oftheprogramme.Thisdefersanyworkand specifiesarebuilddate“by2034”.
Labour HAVE delayedtheKGHrebuildby upto10 years,despitepromisingthattherewouldbe NO delay.
WinterFuelAllowanceCuts GroundworkGrant
Despitetheprotestsandopposition,theLabour governmenthasrefusedtoreverseitsperverse decisiontocuttheWinterFuelAllowanceformost pensioners.
Mostrecently,WesStreeting,theHealthSecretary, saidthat“Weareheadingintoacoldsnap…wrap upandkeepwarm.”
It’sinterestingthatthetopcivilservantinthe DepartmentofWorkandPensionswasawardeda performance-relatedbonusofmorethan£10,000 lastyear,inadditiontohissalaryofover£195,000.
TheadviceofNeneHeraldistokeepyourheating switchedon.Itisbettertohaveanargumentabout aheatingbillthanafuneralbill.
Ifyouarereallyworriedaboutyourfuelbill,talkto NorthNorthamptonshireCounciltogethelp.The contactnumberis0300-126300.
RushdenTownCouncil
HelpsRugbyClub
RushdenTownCouncilisgivingagranttoRushden &HighamRugbyFootballClubtoprovidenewgoal postsandline-markingkit.
OnTuesday,7thJanuary,thePolicyandResources CommitteeoftheConservative-controlledCouncil votedtoawardRushden&HighamRugbyCluba grantof£3,000.Thiswasinsupportoftheir outstandingworkinrunningatotalof20teams (maleandfemale)rangingfromadultstoUnder6s andprovidinganopportunityforsomany(oldand young)toenjoythesport.
GroundworkNorthamptonshireismakingagrantof £2,700totheindependentchildren’sdaynursery, Playmates,inWellingborough.
ThegrantispartofNorthNorthantsCouncilPublic HealthGrowCookEatinitiativewhichismanaged byGroundworkNorthamptonshire.
PlaymatesDirector,LisaBowyer,said:
“AtPlaymatesChildren’sDayNursery,welookafter around50children,frombabiestopre-schoolers, andwestrivetocreateafamily,home-from-home environment.“
“Weareproudtowelcomechildrenfromall backgroundswithinthelocalareaaround Wellingborough,andweunderstandthatsomeof ourchildrendon’thaveaccesstogardensand greenspacesathome.”
“Whenweheardaboutthepossibilityofgrant fundingfromGroundworkNorthamptonshire’sGrow CookEatinitiative,weimmediatelythoughtthis mightbeanexcitingopportunityforus.Wehada pieceofun-usedlandatthefrontofthenursery, andwethoughtthiscouldbetheperfectplaceto createagardenforthechildren.“
“Applyingforthegrantfundingwassimple.The teamatGroundworkwereapleasuretoworkwith andcouldnothavebeenmorehelpful.Theyareso passionateaboutwhattheydoandarealwaysfull ofamazingideasandinspiration.Usingour£2,700 funding,wepurchasedagreenhouseandseveral raisedbeds,installedhedges,trellis,someseating andsomemulti-texturedsteppingstonesforthe childrentoexplore.Weplantedtomatoes,herbs, beansandedibleflowers.Inthegreenhouse,we grewlotsofflowersandplantsthatweusedto greenuptheplaygroundareaofthenursery,aswell asthechildrentakingplantshometolookafter. Booksongrowingplantsandvegetables,insects, birdsandwildlifewerealsopurchasedwhichthe childrenlovetodiscover.”
TheBattleForRushdenLakes-Part5
ThisisthefifthinstalmentofthestoryofhowtheRushdenLakesschemecametobeapprovedandthenbuilt.
MakingitHappen
AfteranepiccampaigntogettheplansforRushdenLakesapprovedandthetraditional‘groundbreaking’ ceremony,workwasduetogetunderway.However,theworkscheduleimmediatelyranintoproblemsanda seriesofunexpectedobstacleshadtobeovercome.
Severalwreckedcarswerefoundinthemainlake.Nobodyowneduptodumpingthem(BigSurprise!)There wereseveraltheoriesastohowtheygotintothelake.Themostentertainingonewasthatsomeonehaddriven themupthedryski-slopeandlaunchedthemintothelake.
Obviously,thediscardedcarshadtoberemoved.Intheprocess,theirsumpoilcontaminatedthelake.Asa result,aplannedchannellinkingthelaketotheRiverNenehadtobecancelledinordertoprotectthewildlife intheNene.
Thedryski-slopewasscheduledtoberemoved.Therewererumoursthatcriminalelementsmighthave hiddensomebodiesunderneathitsstructure,soitwasdismantledverycarefullyandthespoilmadeintoa seriesofheaps.Thesewereindividuallyexaminedforhumanremains.Nonewerefound.
Theapprovedplanincludedremodellingthesouthernoutlineofthemainlake,togiveitagracefulcurve.(See photo.)
Thiswasfollowedbypiledrivingforthefoundationsoftheshoppingareawhichproveddifficult,asthepiles eventuallyhadtobebiggeranddeeper.Thethump-thump-thumpofthepilesbeingforcedintothegroundwas audibleformilesaround.
Asthedevelopmentofthesiteprogressed,theplanswererevisedmanytimes.
AhotelhadbeenproposedattheEasternendofthesite.Campaignersfortheschemehadlobbiedhardfor this,asitwasseenasavitalassetmissingfromtheRushden/Highamarea.However,ithadtobeabandoned becausenooperatorcouldbefound.Withhindsight,thiswasamistakebythehoteltrade,asRushdenLakes hasprovedfabulouslypopular.
M&Sbecameananchorstoreforthesouthernretailparade.Therewererumoursthatthiscontributedtothe decisionofM&Stocloseotherlocalstores.Thiswasnotthecase.
TheCEOofthechaintoldaNeneHeraldreporterthatthedecisionswerenotlinkedandthattheclosureswere plannedbeforeRushdenLakeswasproposed.
Primarkwasalsorecruitedforthesouthernparade,andHouseofFraserforthenorthernone.
Inthenextinstalment,we’lldescribethelead-uptotheopeningofthefirstphaseofRushdenLakes.
TheCaseForARushdenStation-Part5
NeneHeraldisrunningacampaigntoestablishamainlinestationtoserveRushdenandHighamFerrers.As mentionedpreviously,RushdenisbyfarthelargesttowninEnglandwithoutitsownworkingrailwaystation.
TherearevillagesthatareatenththesizeofRushdenthathaveastation.
SomelikeBrundallinNorfolk(population4,019)havetwo!ThisisdespiteBrundallbeingroughlythesame distancefromNorwichstation,asRushdenisfromWellingboroughstation.
RelievingthePressureontheA45
Duringtherushhour,theA45anditsjunctionsareseriouslyoverloadedintheRushdenarea.Congestionand trafficaccidentsoccurregularlyandarehavinganeconomicimpact.
However,majorpubliclyfundedupgradestotheroadnetworkareunlikelytohappen,becausetheoverloading isrestrictedtotherushhours.
TheexcessivevolumesoftrafficduringtherushhourarebecauseRushdenhasoneofthehighestoutcommutingratesinthecountry.
ThisinturnderivesfromtheslowdeathoftheBootandShoeIndustryandthelackoftimelyinvestmentto provideanalternative.
Sincethetrunkroadisunlikelytobeupgraded,theonlyotheroptionistoreducethepeaktrafficusingit,and theeasiestwaytodothatistoprovidearailwaystationforRushden.
ThepictureshowstheMidlandMainline,photographedfromthebridgeatKnuston.Thisiswherethedisused stationcanbeseen,partlyhiddenbytrees.ItislessthanaquarterofamilefromRushden.
Nonewtrackwouldbeneeded,justextrasignallingandarefurbishedstation.
FreeLibrary
Conservative-controlledNorthNorthamptonshireCouncilhassetupafreelibraryatRushdenLakes.
ThelibraryislocatedattheDiscoverNorthamptonshirehub,nextdoortoStarbucks.Itoffersarangeof booksfrom“rousingromancetoheart-racingthrillers”.
ItissomewherethatyoucangowhiletherestofthefamilyisinPrimarkorM&S.
Theywelcomedonationsofbooksfortheircollection.So,ifyou’redeclutteringandyouhavesomebooks thatyou’llneverreadagain,takethemalongtoRushdenLakes.Afterall,re-useisalwaysbetterthan recycle!
“AirAda”
R.W.N
MrReginaldWilliamNormanwasbornin MoorRoad,Rushdenin1901,hismother Edithbeingateacherattheschoolinthe road.Shewasakindladyandknittedwhips withlittlebellsontoselltothelocalchildren.
Regwalkedwithastiffleg(itisnotknown why)andcarriedasticktosteadyhim.
Hewentintothebootandshoetradeasa leatherworkerandfoundedhisowncompany “TheReliableTapWasherManufacturingCo.” HewasmarriedtoLily(Campion)in1929and theyhadoneson,Patrick.
RegbecameknownasR.W.N.whenhe createdthecartooncharacter“AirAda”who wasfeaturedintheEveningTelegraphfor manyyears.Thecartoonswereofalady called“AirAda”talkingtoherfriendinlocal Rushdendialect.Shewasalwaysavery downtoearthcharacterandoftenincluded somethingherhusbandhadsaid;“Nyesez”.
“Ennitcol’gal!Mean‘imwurrauddlin uvverthefiyya,nyesez,‘Man!omgooing bedtagitundathecuvversan’gitmeself wawwum!”
ChesterHouseonTelevision
TheChesterHouseEstateisanexcitingleisure facilitylocatedbetweenWellingboroughand Rushden.Itisanationallysignificantheritagesite andoneofthefewplacesinthecountrythatcan demonstrateover10,000yearsofhumanactivity.
TheEstatewasrecentlybroughttotheattentionof anationalaudiencewhentheBBC's‘Diggingfor Britain’programmefeaturedtheEstate.Atthetime ofwriting,therecordingwasstillavailableon iPlayer.
Duringthesummerof2024,theteamfrom‘Digging forBritain’visitedtheIrchesterFieldSchool,ajoint partnershipbetweenTheChesterHouseEstate(CHE)andtheNorthamptonshireArchaeologicalResource Centre(ARC)andUniversityofLeicester'sSchoolofAncientHistoryandArchaeology.
TheprogrammerecordedhowtheIrchesterFieldSchoolprovidesauniqueopportunityforchildrento engagewithhighlyexperiencedarchaeologicalresearchersandChesterHousestaffandvolunteers passionateaboutmakingarchaeologicalresearchaccessible,providinganexceptionalrangeanddepthof knowledgeandexpertise.
OnatouroftheARC,youcanseesomeofNorthamptonshire'samazingarchaeologyandlearnhowthe objectsarestoredandcaredfor.Youwillalsomeetvolunteersandcuratorsandcanaskthemany questions.
IfyouwouldliketovisittheARCforyourselfthereareFREEARCtourseveryweekthatareavailableto bookbyemailingarc@northnorthants.gov.uk.Moreinformationcanbefoundat https://chesterhouseestate.org/the-arc/tours-events/
RepairstotheSewer
WorkiscurrentlybeingundertakenbyAnglian WatertorepairaseweronSkewBridgeLanewalk atRushdenLakes(adjacenttoWaitrose).Itisnota simplejob,asthedamageis7metres underground.
Whilsttherepairworkisbeingcarriedout,itwillbe necessaryforwastewatertobetankeredfromthe AnglianWatersewernetworkintheareatokeep thesewerflowingandtoprotecthomesandthe environment.
Currentlyaround53tankersareonrotationtaking wastewatertoGreatBillingWaterRecycling Centre.Thesewillcontinuetooperateuntilthe sewerisworkingproperlyagain.
Thefootpathhashadtobeclosedbecauseitwas gettingdangerous.
Regularupdatesontheprogressoftherepairscan befoundontheAnglianWaterwebsitehttps://www.anglianwater.co.uk/your-local-area/ report-an-issue/.
KeepingPeople Healthy
NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)hasjustawardeda contracttoNorthamptonshireHealthcareNHS FoundationTrust(NHFT)toprovidepublichealth services.Thiswasforchildren0-11,youngpeople 11-19andsexualhealthservices.
Thiscontractcoversavastrangeofservices includinghealthvisitorandschoolnurseservices, counsellingformentalhealthproblemsand provisionofsomecontraception.
PublicHealthisn’tasglamorousastheNHS,and rarelymakestheheadlines.NobodymakestopratedTVshowsaboutpublichealthofficers advisingpeopletogetvaccinationsorhelpingwith drugandalcoholproblems.
However,thebiggestadvancesinhealthhave alwayscomefrom“publichealth”,e.g.chlorinating drinkingwater,orsterilisingfoodutensils.
Today,thetwothingsthatdothemosttoimprove healthareprobablystoppingpeoplesmokingor vapingandstoppingthemovereating,bothofwhich arealsoprovidedbyNNC’sPublicHealth department.
CouncillorGillMercer,ExecutiveMemberfor Adults,HealthandWellbeing,said:
"I'mpleasedthatthenewandinnovativeservices willfocusontheneedsofthepeopleinNorth Northamptonshire,tosupportthemtomake informedchoicesabouttheirlives,thatwillhelpto improvetheirhealthandwell-beingandthusenable themtolivehealthyandproductivelives."
Sometimesitisthequietservicesinthe backgroundthatmakethebiggestimpact.
DitchfordBridge
InAugustoflastyear,acombineharvesterwhilst crossingthebridgeinDitchfordLane,hitthewall, causinga6metrelonggapinghole.Asthebridge isa‘scheduledmonument’,itcouldnotberepaired withouttheconsentfromHistoricEngland.
OnWednesday22January2025,atameetingof NorthNothamptonshireCouncil’sProsperous CommunitiesExecutiveAdvisoryPanel.MrRobert CarrolloftheKierGroupreportedthatconsenthad nowbeengivenandrepairscannowbescheduled.
However,therepairswillnotbesimple,asthe stonesfromthewallwillhavetoberecoveredfrom theriverbedbeforeworkcancommence.
Onanumberofoccasionsoverthelastmonthor so,driversandcommuterswillhavearrivedatthe trafficlightsatChownsMilltodiscoverthatthe lightshavebeen“out”.
Theeffectofthelightsbeing“out”meansthe roundaboutbecomesextremelydangerousand completelydependentupondriversexercising extremecareandvigilance.
NationalHighwaysundertookinvestigationsand believeditcouldbeanissuewiththelights’power supply.
NeneHeraldhasnowheardsuggestionsthatthe problemmaybeduetoratsnibblingthecableson atleastsomeoccasions.Thisisprobablynot surprising,asratshavebeenontheincrease recently.
NationalHighwayshavebeenworkingwith specialistengineerstoeffectapermanentrepair.
Dial-a-Ride
“SHIRECONNECT”isafullyaccessibledoorto doorminibusservice,enablingpeopleinNorth Northamptonshire,includingsurroundingvillagesto gettotowncentres,majorsupermarketsandthe amenitiesaswellasanyothergroup,club,orsocial appointmenttheymayhave.Theyalsotakelong termregularbookings.E.g.ifsomeoneattendsa daycentre,classorsocialgroupeveryweek.
ShireCommunityServicesarelookingformore membersfortheirDial-a-Ridebusservice.The servicecanbebookedviatheirApp.Thereisno timelimittopre-bookinadvance.
Pleasenote-tousetheserviceyouwillneedtobe amemberofthescheme.Membershipis£40per annum,payableinadvance.Inreturn,theDial-aRidebusservicewilltakeyouwhereyouwantto go.TheDial-a-Ride,door-to-doorminibusserviceis wheelchairfriendlyandfullyaccessibleforthose withmobilityneeds.Paymentcanbemadeincash, chequeorbycardoverthephone.Theper-journey costis45pencepermileplusasmallbookingfee.
Shirecanbecontactedon01933223636.
Outandabout
INWellingborough&rushden
RhymingAndMusic
Musicandrhythmsarekeytosocialdevelopmentin children.
Childrenasyoungas12months,whocannotwalk, canstillstandanddanceholdingontofurniture.A senseofrhythmhelpsthemlearnlanguageand aidssociability.
RushdenLibraryruns RhymeTimeforchildren from6monthsto5years onMondaysfrom10amto 10:30am.
RushdenLibraryalso runsBounce-and-Rhyme forchildrenunder12 monthsonTuesdaysfrom 10amto11am.
IrthlingboroughLibrary runsBounce-and-Rhymeforchildrenunder12 monthsonThursdays,from10amto10:30am.
Contactinformation:
RushdenLibraryrushden.libraryplus@northnorthants.gov.uk.
IrthlingboroughLibraryirthlingborough.libraryplus@northnorthants.gov.uk
CallingAnimeand ComicFans
Goodnewsforthose withaninterestin animeandcomics. Wellingborough Libraryishostingan AnimeandComic Club.Itmeetsevery otherTuesdayfrom 4pmto5pmduring termtimeonly.Youwill beabletoenjoy Cosplay,MarvelDC, sharevideoclipsand AnimeArt.
SupportForThose WhoServed
EveryWednesdayand Saturdaymorning,the NorthantsMilitary VeteransBreakfast Clubmeetsatthe Needle&Awlpubfrom 9amto11am.
It’sachanceforcurrent andretiredservicemen andwomentomeet andtalktoothermilitary servicemenand women.
TheNeedle&Awlis locatedjustofftheA45,oppositetheentranceto RushdenLakes.Ithasampleparkingandavery welcomingstaff.
Themeals(includingbreakfast)arereasonably priced,andtheserviceisexcellent.
StoryTime
Februarystartsnotwithabang,butwithatale.
From1-9February2025,itisNationalStorytelling Week,andthelocallibrarieswillbejoiningin.The websitesays:
“Thisfantasticannualeventisajoyful celebrationofthepowerofsharingstories.Stories teachusabouttheworld;theyallowustostepinto someoneelse’sshoesandfeelempathy;theyhelp ustorelaxandescapeandtheycanhelpdevelop essentialliteracyskills.”
“OurthemeforNationalStorytellingWeek2025 is‘Reimagineyourworld’.Whetherit’ssomething unexpectedonyourwaytoschool,oddsoundsyou hearatnight,orapathyou’veneverfollowed,the worldaroundusisfullofsecretlives,placesand possibilities.Themostextraordinarystorycancome fromthemostordinaryplace:itjustneedssomeone tofindit.”
CommunityGrantsfrom ASDA
TheAsdaFoundationhavesetuptheirOutdoor CommunitySpacesFund.
Theysayitisafundingopportunity,withgrants rangingfrom£500to£3,000,tobeusedtoimprove ortransformoutdoorcommunityspaceswhere peoplecanmeetandbetogether,andbuildpridein theirlocalareas.
Thegrantsareforprojectsthatmeetatleastoneof thefollowingaims:
·Transformanoutdoorarea,creatinggreenerand moreengagingcommunityspaces.
·Createorenhancecommunitygrowingprojects.
·Enablecommunitycleanups(maximum£500)
Applicationsshouldbemadeto Community_Rushden@asda.ukorvia01933 417100(ext.222)
TheLaugh-Out-LoudTheatreCompanywillbe stagingtheaboveonthefollowingdatesandtimes:
•QueenVictoriaHall,Oundle-18Feb11.00
•AldwinkleVillageHall-18Feb14.30
•RingsteadVillageHall-19Feb11.00
•IrthlingboroughComm.Centre-19Feb14.30
•SaxonHall,Raunds-20Feb11.00
•StanwickVillageHall-20Feb14.30
•IslipVillageHall-22Feb14.30
TheDiscoverNorthamptonshireHubatRushden Lakeswillbeholding“FindsDays”,whenamateur detectoristscanturnupandgettheir“finds” described.
ThesesessionswillhaveNorthamptonshire'sFinds LiaisonOfficer,EleanoreCox,hostingaspace whereanyonecancomeandgetartefacts assessed.Frommetal-detectingtreasurestoold heirloomsintheattic,Eleanorewilldocumentand explaintheitem'shistory.
The“FindsDays”arehostedataFREEdrop-in sessionon28February2025at10:30am-justpop inandhaveachat!
Ticketscanbebookedon ticketsource.co.uk/loltheatre
TheNeneHeraldisacommunity-basednewspaperforWellingborough,Rushden,HighamFerrers,Irthlingboroughandthe surroundingvillages.
TheHeraldisfreeandcanbefoundontheInternetat:https://issuu.com/nene_herald Alternatively,youcanhaveitemailedtoyou.IfyouwishtoreceivefreecopiesofthelatestissueofNeneHerald,sendanemail requestingafreecopyto:Nene_Herald@yahoo.com Ifyounolongerwishtoreceivefreecopiesofthenewspaper,simplyemailusandaskto‘unsubscribe’. Ifyouwishtocommentonanyofthesubjectswithinthispublicationorwouldliketocontributeto thecontent,pleasegetintouchviaemailto:nene_herald@yahoo.com
TheTaleofPeterRabbit