NENE Herald
Mowerman’sChristmasSpectacle
FarmershavebeendrivingthroughCentralLondontoprotestatthetaxchangesthatriskdamagingthefood industry.
However,on15thDecemberthisyear,theytooktimeofffromtheirLondonproteststodoalittlefundraising forcharity.Tocontribute,goto: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mowermantractorrun
Over70highlydecoratedtractorscollectedatChesterHousethendrovethroughHighamFerrers,Rushden, Irchester,LittleIrchester,Wellingborough,Finedon,andthenfinallytoRushdenLakes. Itwasdazzling,loudandagenuinespectacle.Thephotosdon’tdojusticetotheflashinglightsandmusic thatflowedthroughourtowns.
ASingleTaxiZone
Atpresent,taxisregisteredinEastNorthants(e.g.Rushden)canonlyplyforfaresinEastNorthants. Similarly,taxisregisteredinWellingboroughmayonlyplyforfaresinWellingborough.
NorthNorthantsCouncilisproposingtoremovethisrestriction.
TheyplantohaveasingletaxizoneacrossthewholeofNorthNorthamptonshire.Thiswillmeanthattaxis from(say)CorbycanplyforhireinRushden,while taxisfrom(say)Wellingboroughwillbeabletoply forhireinKettering.
Theextraflexibilitywilllettaxidriverswork whereverinNorthNorthantsthereisdemand.
Thiswillonlyapplyto“HackneyCarriages”,thetype oftaxithatyoucanhailinthestreet.Pre-booked,or “privatehire”taxis,arenotaffected.
On11thJuly,NorthNorthantsCouncil’sExecutive agreedtoreplacethecurrentfourhackneycarriage zoneswithasingleNNCwidezonefrom1stApril 2025.
TheNagsHead
LiverpoolhadtheCavernClub. Hamburghadthe StarClub.
InWollaston,wehadtheNagsHeadwithitsownDJ, “BigBobKnight”.
Duringthelate1960’sandearly1970’s,TheNags Headhostedsomeofthemostfamousrockbandsof theera,including:
LegendaryDJJohnPeelhadaregularevening sessionatthevenue.
Manymembersofthesefamousbandslefttheir markwithsignaturesonanupstairswall.
Sadly,afewyearsagobeforethecurrentlandlord tookoverthevenue,thewallwaspaintedoverwith allitslegendarysignatures.Itwasagreatlossto ourlocalheritage,andperhapsshouldhavebeen Listedtoprotectit.
In2022,TheNagsHeadwaspurchasedbyalocalshoemakingfamilywhoaimeventuallytorestoreit.
TheBattleforRushdenLakes-Part4
ThisisthefourthinstalmentofthestoryofhowtheRushden Lakesschemecametobeapprovedandthenbuilt.
ConvincingtheCabinet
AfterthePublicHearing,thelawyers,conservationexpertsand retailconsultantswentaway.However,thatwasfarfromthe endofthebattletogetRushdenLakesapproved.
Localsupportersoftheschemesetupawebsitecalled Yes2RushdenLakes.Overonehundredarticleswerewrittenin supportofRushdenLakesandpostedontothewebsite.Local activistsworkedhardtopublicisethewebsiteanditeventually reachedover200,000peopleperstory.
Behindthescenes,CllrSteveNorth,theLeaderofEast NorthamptonshireCouncil,andtheMPforWellingborough, PeterBone,werealsolobbyinghardinsupportofthescheme.
ThePlanningInspectorchargedwithmakingadecisiononthe applicationhadaboutofillnessandtookmanymonthstowrite hisReport.Duringthatperiod,theactivistswrotetheirown reportaboutthescheme.Theyprintedoffandboundmultiple copiesoftheirreport.
Eventually,theInspector’sReportappeared.Itwashugely supportiveoftheschemeandsaidthatthecaseforbuilding RushdenLakeswas“overwhelming”.However,theformaldecisionstillhadtobemade,anditwasescalated totheSecretaryofState.WebelievethatitwasevendiscussedbythefullUKCabinet.
InordertonudgethevariousCabinetMinistersinfavourofgrantingtheapplication,localsupportersofthe schemedeliveredacopyoftheirownreporttoeveryCabinetMinister.
Finally,thedecisionwastaken,andtheSecretaryofStateapprovedthescheme.
ThenextphasewasgettingRushdenLakesbuilt.
NewHousingScheme
AtaPlanningCommitteemeetingon11thDecember,NorthNorthamptonshireCouncilgaveoutlineplanning permissionforanew72-homedevelopmentinRushden.
Thesite,inthenorthofRushden,isclosetoRushdenAcademyandsitsatthejunctionofNorthamptonRoad andtheHayway.
Theoutlinepermissionagreedtheprincipleofdevelopmentwiththedetailedlayouttobeapprovedatalater meeting.Theschemewilloccupythenorthernpartofthesiteandwillinclude30%affordablehousing.The southernpartofthesitewillbesetasideforagreenpark.Thiswillprovideamenityuseandwillgivesome protectiontothewildlife.
Atthemeeting,themainissuethatconcernedcouncillorswastheimpactofthenewhousingestateontraffic usingthenearbyroads.However,theCouncil’shighwaysengineershadexaminedtheschemeandhadraised noobjectiontoit.
RushdenTownCouncilhadoriginallyobjectedtothescheme,inanearlierversion,whichproposed84homes. Thiswasfarinexcessofthe“minimum65houses”setoutintheNeighbourhoodPlan.However,RTCremoved theirobjectionwhenthedevelopersreducedthenumberofhomesto72.
TheCaseforaRushdenStation-Part4
NeneHeraldisrunningacampaigntoestablishamainlinestationtoserveRushdenandHighamFerrers.As mentionedpreviously,RushdenisbyfarthelargesttowninEnglandwithoutitsownworkingrailwaystation.
TherearevillagesthatareatenththesizeofRushdenthathaveastation.SomelikeBrundallinNorfolk (population4,019)havetwo!ThisisdespiteBrundallbeingroughlythesamedistancefromNorwichstation, asRushdenisfromWellingboroughstation.
HowtheRushdenStationCanHelptheEnvironment
Rushdengrewextensivelyduringthe20thCenturyandhascontinueditsexpansion.Thetownissettogrow evenfurtherinthenextfewyearswith2,700houses plannedfortheRushdenEastSUE(Sustainable UrbanExtension).
Afurther400housesareduetobebuiltonthe southernsideofRushden.300housesarecurrently beingbuiltontheRushden/Highamboundary.
Butthegrowthdoesnotendthere.“Small”infillsites arealsocomingforward.Forinstance,asiteatthe junctionofHaywayandNorthamptonRoadhasjust beengrantedoutlineplanningpermissionfor72new homes.
Thegovernment’stargetofNetZeroby2030isalmost certainlyunachievable,evenwiththelikelyeconomic disruption.However,thatdoesnotmeanthat communitiesshouldnotstrivetoreducetheircarbon footprint.ProvidingRushdencommuterswitharailwaystationontheedgeoftheTownwouldhelpreducethe Town’scarbonfootprintbygivingcommutersanalternativetodriving.Itwouldalsoreducethelocalair pollutionlevels.TheMidlandMainlinealreadyrunsalongsideRushdenandthereisadisusedstationjusta fewhundredyardsfromtheTown’swesternboundary.
RefurbishingtheKnustonHaltrailwaystationandhavingtrainsstopthereisa“no-brainer”.
FundingForRoadRepairs
Manyofourroadsarelongpasttheirexpectedlifespanandneedresurfacing.Potholeskeepappearing.As muchworkaspossibleisdonetorepairthem,butrepeatedlyfillingthemisnotalong-termsolution.
Resurfacingworn-outroadsisanexpensiveoption.However,NorthNorthantsCouncilhaveresurfacedmore roadsthisyearthaninthelastdecadeandinvestedarecordamountofcapital,butitstillisn’tenough.
Fundingtocouncilsforroadmaintenancehasbeencutoverthelast30yearsanditisnotviableforNNCto fundtheresurfacingprogrammethatisneeded.Everycouncilinthecountryfacesthesameissue,tovarying degrees.
TheConservativegovernmenthadpromisedtoincreasetheroadfunding,sothatcouncilscouldcarryoutan essentialresurfacingprogramme.
Hopefully,thenewGovernmentwillseetheneedforincreasedfundingforroadresurfacingandcomeforward withthepromisedfunding.
“AirAda”
Itmaysurprisemostofyoutoknow,thatRushden haditsowndistinctivedialectyearsago.Itwascalled “Rushdenese”or“Ruzdin”.Youcanoccasionally heartheliltof“Ruzdin”inthevoicesofpeoplewho havelivedinthetownalltheirlivesparticularlythose whoworkedintheshoefactories.Becausethe factorieswerenoisyplacesduetotheworkingsof theheavymachinery,wordsweregroupedtogether andmouthedtothosewhoworkednearby.
Soforinstance “shladdagoo” meant“Ishallhaveto go”or “d’wansummatet’ means“doyouwant somethingtoeat?”
OnesuchpersonwasReginaldNormanorR.W.N. ashewasknown.Hewas‘Ruzdin’throughand throughandbroughtthedialecttolifewithaseriesof cartoonsaboutacharactercalled“AirAda” (OurAda) publishedintheEveningTelegraphduringthe1950’s and1960’s.Itissaidthathewouldstandinshop queuesintheHighStreetandlistentothe conversationsforhisinspiration.
ThecartoonswereofAdawhoalwaysdidthetalking andhersilentfriendMaud(orMawwudasshewas known)andtheywouldhavethisconversationin Rushdeneseeveryweeknight.
TherewillbemorefromAdaandMaudinthenext editionandforthcomingones.
“Eergal.Whaddayaknor?Werunlygonun goairselvesinthaNenErald.”
“Oowagal!Furyuknowit,wi’llbe slebrities,yamarkmewurds!”
80
June6,2024,wasthe80th AnniversaryoftheD-Day landingswhichwascommemoratedthroughoutthe country.
Theyarn-bombersinRushdencompletedaknitted tableauofthelandingswhichwasviewedbymany atvariouslocationswithinthetown.
Thisyear,2025,willseetheanniversariesofthe endofWWllinEuropeandJapan,andoncemore, needleswillbeatthereadytocommemoratethe occasions.
RushdenTownCouncilwillagainbecoordinating theproject,andlookingforextrapairsofhandsto help.
IntheNewYear,apleawillbemadeforknittersto getinvolved,sopleasechecktheRTCwebsiteor lookoutforsocialmediapostsfordetailsandhow togetintouch.
“AppyNewYe-ertayaall”!
NNCToFundRamponGreenway
RushdenoncehadarailwaystationthatwasconnectedtotheMidlandMainlinebyabranchline.
Whenthebranchlinewasclosed,thetrack-bedwastakenoverforalternativeuses.Astretchofitin RushdenwasturnedintotheGreenway,allowingwalkersandcycliststouseit.
AparticularsectiontothewestofRushden’soldstationrunsthroughanancientcutting,bridgedby WashbrookRoad.UseoftheGreenwayhasthepotentialtobeverypopular,butforsomepeoplethelong stretchofpathwayandthesteepsidesofthecuttingmakethemfeelunsafe.
OthersareprecludedfromusingthepathwayastheGreenwaycanonlybeaccessedeitherfromtheAsda endorattheWaitroseendofthepath.However,theseproblemswillsoonberesolved.
NorthNorthantsCouncil’sExecutiveCommitteehasvotedtoallocatefundingtocreatearampatthe midwaypointatWashbrookRoad.
Rushden’sConservativecouncillorsaredelightedwiththis,astheyhavefoughtlongandhardovermany yearstogetagreementforarampwhichwillprovideasafeexitpointatthislocation.Itwillbewheelchair accessibleandwillallowuserstoenterandleavetheGreenwayatWashbrookRoad.
TheconstructionoftherampisduetostartinSpring2025.
HaydenCentral By-Election
Thursday19thDecemberwaspollingdayforabyelectionforRushdenTownCouncil.Itwasforthe HaydenCentralward,andwascausedbythe resignationofaLibDemcouncillorwhowasonly electedin2022.
HaydenCentralisasmallwardthatwillbe abolishedinjustsixmonths’timeduetoboundary changes.
Onlytwocandidatesstoodforelection.The campaignwascloseandtense,buttheby-election wasultimatelywonbyaConservative,Philip Bettles.Thevoteswere-
51ChrisAshton(Labour) 54PhilipBettles(Conservative)Elected Itwasacoldandwindyday,andtheturnoutwas only12%.
Philiphaspledgedtoworkhardforthecommunity alongwithfellowcouncillors.
Commemorating130Years OfLearning
Rushden’sNewtonRoadSchool,whichispartoftheNeneEducationTrust,recentlycelebrated130yearsof educatingthetown’schildren.
TheSchoolvisionis:
ToensureourchildrenaregiventheopportunitiestoDREAMofabrightfuture,BELIEVEinthemselves,and ACHIEVEtheirhighestpotentialinschoolandthroughouttheirlifesothattheycantrulymakeadifference wherevertheygo.
TheSchool’smostrecentNewsletterwasveryupbeat: “Whatafantastichalftermsofar!
Thechildrenhavelovedtheswimmingpoolandfeedbackfromallstaffandthecommunityhasbeen reallypositive.ThechildrenfromEarlyYearsthroughtoYear6loveditandithasbeengreattosee allthesmilesandtofeeltheexcitedbuzzintheair.Thankyoutoeveryonewhomadethispossible. Weaimtocontinuethiseveryyearandtogetasmanychildrenaswecanswimmingbythetimethey leaveusinYear6.
AbigthankyoutoournewPTFAforsupportingtheorganisationforourbig130thcelebration.”
WeextendcongratulationstothechildrenandstaffofNewtonRoadSchoolonreachingthislandmark anniversaryandtrustthattheschoolwillcontinueeducatingRushden’syoungpeopleformanyyearsto come.
RUSH2TheDEN havebeenawarded
TheKingsAward For Voluntary Service
"CongratulationsonbeingnominatedfortheKing’s AwardforVoluntaryService!”“Itspeaksveryhighlyof yourworkthatmembersofyourlocalcommunityfeel youshouldbenominatedforthisAward,whichisthe highestawardgiventovoluntaryorganisationsinthe UnitedKingdom."
RUSH2TheDEN,basedinFitzwilliamStreetRushden,havebeen successfulinbeingawardedtheKing’sAwardforVoluntaryService.
TheKing’sAwardforVoluntaryServiceistheequivalentofanMBEforthe voluntarysector.Itrecognisesthephenomenallevelofworkthat volunteersdowithintheircommunity.
RUSH2TheDENisanot-for-profitventuresupportingtwocharities.
RUSH2TheDENTots&Adultsoffersawelcomingplacetoallbabies,tots &adults,aswellasmonthlyDads’StayNPlaysessions.
Theaward-winninguniqueRUSH2TheDENYouthClubforyoungpeople aged5to17yearsoldprovidesavarietyofactivitiestomeettheneedsofallwhowishtoattend.Weekly themesincludecooking,crafts,teamgames,music,canoeing,camping,lifeskills.
Rush2TheDenbelievein'Inspiringyoungpeopletoachieve',helpingthemtogainanddevelopskills, knowledge,self-awarenessandconfidence.Theyarerichlydeservingofthishighlyprestigiousaward.
TwootherorganisationsinNorthamptonshirereceivingtheawardwereNorthamptonshireSearch&Rescue andStAndrew’sHealthcareVoluntaryServicesbasedinNorthampton.
Outandabout
RushdenWarmRooms
WiththeWinterFuelAllowancenowstoppedfor manypensioners,Conservative-controlledRushden TownCouncilcontinuestoofferafriendlyplaceto keepwarm.
TheFriendsofRushdenHallformspartoftheWarm Spaceinitiative.
ThefreeGroupmeetsonFridayafternoonsat RushdenHallfrom1.30pmto3.30pm.Itprovidesa comfortablewelcomingspaceforvisitorstosocialise whilstenjoyingactivitiessuchasbingo,andtabletopboardgames,alongwithcomplimentarytea, coffeeandbiscuits.
Thereisalsoanopportunitytopickupuseful information.Arecentsessionsawavisitfrom representativesofTradingStandardswhoshared vitaladviceonhowtorecognisescamsand, crucially,howtodealwiththem.
TheFriendsGrouphasnowclosedfortheholiday seasonandwillre-openagainonFriday10January 2025.
LibrariesToday
Librariesarequietplaceswhereyoucanfindbooksto borrow-atleastthatisthetraditionalideaofalibrary. Today’slibrariesarequitedifferentandofferarange ofservices.
Thereareotherformsofbooks,likeaudiobooks. Thereareactivitiessuchasrhymetime,Legoclubs, knittinggroupsandboardgamesessions.
AtRushdenlibrary,thereisafriendshipcafeanda Mangaclub.Theyevensellunusual3Dgreetings cardsandotherusefulitems.That’squiteapartfrom thespecialeventsliketherecentComic-conevent, junkmodelling,scrapdrumminganddominotoppling.
Inadditiontoaccesstocomputers,internet,wifiand printing,supportisavailabletoassistwithonlineBlue Badgeapplications(byappointmentonly).Librarystaffcanassistwithonline DisabledBusPassapplications,aswellasapplicationsforOlderPersonBus Passes.
Librariesareopenfrom9amto6pm(MondaytoFriday)and9amto5pmon Saturday.Aquietertimeisavailablefrom5pmto6pmonMondaysand Wednesdays.
VisittheirwebsiteorfollowyourlocallibraryonFacebooktoseewhatthey haveonoffer.
StreetPastorsSetto ReturntoRushden
OnTuesday12thNovember,RushdenTown Council’sCommunityServicesCommitteevotedto supportthereturnofStreetPastorstotheTown.
TheConservative-controlledCouncilvotedtogrant £800offundingtohelpgettheschemeoffthe ground.
AscensionTrustarethegoverningbodybehindthe schemeandtheirwebsitesays: “StreetPastorsengagewithpeopleonthe streetstocareforthem,listentothemandhelp them.Theyworktogetherwithotherpartners inthenight-timeeconomytomake communitiessafer.”
StreetPastorshavepatrolledinRushdeninthe past.Wenowwelcometheirreturn.
Eachschemeisrunbyalocalcoordinatorwith supportfromlocalchurchesandcommunity groups,inpartnershipwiththepolice,localcouncil andotherstatutoryagencies.
Volunteersfromlocalchurchesofall denominationsandfromallwalksoflifecansign uptobecomeStreetPastorsandreceive appropriatetraining.
B&MisComingto Rushden
Goodnews!B&MaretakingovertheformerWilko store.
SituatedatthejunctionofCollegeStreetandDuck Street,theformerWilkostorewasaprominent locallandmark.B&Mhavenowtakenaleaseon thesiteandarerefurbishingit.
ThesiteisownedbyConservative-controlledNorth NorthantsCouncil,havingbeeninheritedfromthe formerEastNorthantsCouncil.
Hopefully,thestorewillopenshortlyandbring morelifebacktoEatonPlace.WewelcomeB&Mto Rushdenandlookforwardtoalongandhappy association.
NNCToHelp
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncildistributesthe HouseholdSupportFund(HSF)tothosestruggling withthecost-of-livingcrisis.Thisfundwasstarted bythepreviousConservativeGovernmentin2019 afterCovid.
Intheyears2021-2014thisenabledNNCto providefreeschoolmealvouchersto27,361 children.
Inaddition,financialsupportwasprovidedto5,394 vulnerablefamiliestohelpwithenergycostsand otherfinancialaid.
Fundingisstillbeingprovidedandisalsobeing distributedtofoodbanksandotherorganisations whoprovideresidentswithahamperofstore cupboarditems.
HSFisalsousedtofundWarmSpacesandother groupsofferingfoodormealsduringthewinter period,includingChristmasmeals.
Formoreinformationonwarmspacesunderthis schemeseehttps://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/ supporting-residents/warm-spaces
TheNeneHeraldisacommunity-basednewspaperforWellingborough,Rushden,HighamFerrers,Irthlingboroughandthe surroundingvillages.
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