NENE Herald
‘Monoworld’Smokes
OnFriday23rdMay,ataround6am,onthe SandersLodgeIndustrialEstateinRushden, Monoworldcaughtfire.Thesmokeroseand spreadacrossRushden,HighamFerrers, RingsteadandevenRaunds.
WelaterheardthatitwasvisiblefromBedford intheSouth,andHuntingdonintheEast.
Residentscomplainedaboutthepungentsmell fromthethickblacksmoke.Theywereadvised tokeepwindowsanddoorsshut.Twodays later,thestenchwasstillstronghalfamile away.
NorthantsFireandRescueServiceattended veryrapidly,butthefirewasalreadyfierce.
Somuchwaterwasusedbythefire-fighters thatAnglianWaterwarnedthatthewater pressureinRushdenwouldbedropped.
Atitspeak,thereweretenfiretendersatthe blaze,somefromBedfordshireFireandRescue Service.Together,theyfoughtsuccessfullyto preventthefirespreadingtootherbusinesses ontheindustrialestate.
Thefire-fightershadtocloseseveralnearby roads,whichdisruptedlocalbusinesses,butit wasasmallpricetopayforconfiningand eventuallybeatingtheblaze.
Abigthank-youisdueforthededicatedfirefighters,whoworkedfordaystobringthefire undercontrolandtopreventitflaringupagain.
Localshavebeencomplainingabout Monoworldforyears.Itstoredtensof thousandsoftonsofwasteandhasbeenthe subjectofseveralcampaignstohaveitclosed.
CouncillorsandMPshavewonderedifthe annualsummerflyprobleminnorthRushden waslinkedtoMonoworld.
Onotheroccasions,activistssuggestedthat thehugewastepileswereafirehazard.Their fearsweredismissedasunrealistic,butthey havebeenproventoberight.
Intheaftermath,therewillbequestionsabout whysuchafacilitywasplacedsocloseto residentialproperties.
Rushden’sIconicBeechTreeKilledbyFungus
Theiconic300-year-oldbeechinRushden’sHallParkhassuccumbedtofungus.
OnThursday,22ndMay2025,therewasa“crack”followedbyanenormousthud,asmostofthe treesnappedoffandcrashedtotheground.
Severalweeksearlier,CouncillorsandofficersfromRushdenTownCouncilhadexpressedconcern aboutthetreeandaskedforareportonitscondition.
OnThursday20th,anemergencymeetingoftheTownCouncil’sAssetManagementWorkingParty (AMWP)wascalledtodiscussthereport.
Thereportsaidthatthetrunkwasverydiseasedandalmosthollow.
TheAMWPfeltthatthetreehadbecomeahazardtopublicsafetyanddecidedtoputanexclusion zonearoundthetree.ThefearwasthatafterthedriestSpringonrecord,andwithheavyrain forecastattheendoftheweek,thetreewouldsuckuptonsofwater.Theextraweightinthetrunks andbrancheswaslikelytooverloadthetrunkandsnapoffsomelaterallimbs.
TheAMWPalsodecidedtoinstructatreesurgeontoremovethemostdangerouslimbsasquickly aspossible.
OnelimbwasremovedonWednesday21st,butitwasalreadytoolate.
At7amon22nd,thetreeshattered.
Nobodywasinjuredbecausetheexclusionzoneensuredthatnobodywasinthedangerarea.
TheforesightofRTC’scouncillorsandofficershadsavedtheday.
Unfortunately,oninspection,thetreeappearstohavebeenevenmorediseasedthanhadbeen suspected.Itthereforehadtobecutdowncompletely.
Formorethanadecade,councillorshavebeenexpectingthetreetoreachtheendofitslife.Itdidn’t helpthatvandalssetitonfireandithadburntforseveraldays.Itwasamiraclethatthetreesurvived thatindignity.
Ultimately,itwasjustaquestionofwhethervandalsorthefungusfinallykilledthetree.
Everyoneisverysadtolosesuchawonderfultree.Oneofficialsaidthatitwaslikelosingafriend. Everylivingthingwilldieeventually,andRTC’sConservativecouncillorshadbeenexpectingthetree todiesoon.Fouryearsago,anticipatingthatsadday,theyplantedanewbeechtreenearby.Itcan beseeninsomeofthephotographs.
Hopefully,theTownwillhaveanothericonicbeechtreeinfiftyyearstime.
FateofTheFeathers Rushden
OnSunday27thMay2018,firedestroyedthe formerFeatherspub(alsocalled‘Fate’)inthe centreofRushdenandoneofthetown’s heritagebuildingswaslost.Therewerereports thatthefirewasstarteddeliberately,butnobody waseverchargedwitharson.
In2022,theownerofthewreckedbuilding, Briggs&HullandLtd,appliedforplanning permissiontobuildathree-storyblockofflats onthesite.
Conservative-controlledRushdenTownCouncil objectedtotheproposedscheme,sayingthat theplanswouldhavean "overbearingimpact" Vehicleaccesstoandfromthesitewasalsoan issue.
Aftercarefulconsideration,theplanning applicationwassubsequentlyturneddownby Conservative-controlledNorth NorthamptonshireCouncil(nowReformcontrolled).
InJuly2024,thesiteownersappealedagainst thedecisionbyNNC.
Thegovernment-appointedplanninginspector hasnowdismissedtheAppeal,statingthatthe schemewouldnotprovide“adequateliving conditionsforfutureoccupiers,”anddidnot make“adequateprovisionforaffordable housingprovision".
Thesiteremainsinitscurrentderelictcondition.
Travellerson SpencerPark
Ontheeveningof13thMay,anumberof travellersandtheirvehiclesenteredRushden’s SpencerPark.TheirencampmentonthePark wasunauthorised.
ThetravellersenteredtheParkwhiletheowner, RushdenTownCouncil,washoldingitsAnnual GeneralMeeting.
WhiletheMayorwasbeingelected,the travellersweretakingadvantageofthe distractiontosetupinSpencerPark.
AfterRTC’sAGM,theCounciltookprompt action,andtheencampmentwasremovedby Thursday,the15th.
AMusicalAdventure
OnTuesday1stJulyandWednesday2ndJuly, theCastleTheatreatWellingboroughisstaging afamily-friendlyretellingoftheBiblicalstoryof NoahandhisArk.
TheCompassTheatreCompany,anamateur castoflocaladultsandchildren,bringthestory tolifewithpassionandenthusiasm.Theshow featuresupbeatsongs,energeticdance,and loadsoffun.Itcelebratesfaith,hopeandlove forallages.
Ticketsare£10foradultsand£5forchildren.
TheBattleforRushdenLakesPart8
ThisistheeighthinstalmentofthestoryofhowtheRushdenLakesschemecametobeapproved andbuilt.
TheOpeningofRushdenLakes
TheopeningofRushdenLakeswason20thJuly2017anditwasspectacular.Theweatherwas perfect.
Over60,000carsvisitedonthefirstday.Therewassomuchtraffic,thatitbackedupalongtheA45, blockingtheroad.
Notallthestoreswerereadyforthegrandopening,butthosethatwereputonafantasticdisplay.
TeamsofperformersandartistsgaveshowsoutsidemanyofthestoresandTVcameracrewsturned uptovideotheevent.
RushdenLakeswassomethingunprecedented–afashioncentrethatwasn’tinacitycentre.Ithad prestigiousFrenchperfumeries,high-endclothesstoresandaboardwalk.
Ontheopeningday,afashionshowwasheldintheopenairinthecentreofthecomplex.Fashion modelsstrodeacrosstheboardwalk,asthoughit wasacatwalkinaParisiancouturestore.
Celebritiesandseniorexecutivesfrommajorretail chainscametobepartoftheevent.
Thebuildqualityforthestoreswasexquisite. Primarkhadsofasforclientstoloungein.Ithad USBchargingpointsformobilephonesand cameras.
HouseofFraserhadalivinggreenwallalongside theescalators.
Theonedownsidewasthatthesitewassopacked thatdrivershadtoqueueforuptotwohourstoget intothecomplex.
Sogreatwerethecrowdsthatneighbouringstores(likeWaitrose)foundtheircarparksbeingfilledup bytheoverflow.
Theinitialestimatesofthefootfallhadbeenaround3millionperyear.Itwasobviousalmostfromthe OpeningDaythatthiswasawildunderestimate.
RushdenLakeswasamassivesuccess,andthatsuccesswouldonlygrow.
Inthenextinstalment,we’lldescribehowitgrew.
NNCResults
OnThursday1stofMay,votingtookplacein thelocalelectionsforNorthNorthamptonshire Council,theUnitarycouncilthatprovidespublic servicestoNorthNorthamptonshire.
TheCountfortheelectionwasheldonFriday 2ndMay.Reform-UKdidexceptionallywell.
Sixty-sixcouncillorswereelected(twoseatsin HighamFerrerswerenotelectedbecauseof thesaddeathoftheLibDemcandidate).
ReformUKwon39ofthe66seatsthatwere contested.Theywonthefollowingwards outright-
AvondaleGrange
BartonSeagraveandBurtonLatimer
BrickhillandQueensway(Wellingborough)
CroylandandSwanspool(Wellingborough)
Finedon
GrettonandWeldon
HattonPark(Wellingborough)
Irthlingborough
Kingswood
Oakley
Pemberton(Rushden)
PipersHill(Kettering)
RushdenLakes
Insomewards,Reformsharedseatswithother parties:
CorbyWest
GeddingtonandStanion
Irchester
LloydsandCorby Raunds
RushdenSouth
RothwellandMawsley
Thrapston
Reformwonnoseatsinthesewards:
Desborough
EarlsBarton
Ise(Kettering)
KetteringCentral
KetteringNorth
Oundle
StMichael(Kettering)
StPeter(Kettering)
Victoria(Wellingborough)
Therearepatternsintheseresults:
1)Allthewardsthatwerewonoutrightby Reformwereurban.
2)ReformwonorsharedeverywardinCorby.
3)TheGreenscreatedastrongpresencein KetteringwinningthewardsofIse,Kettering Central,KetteringNorth,StMichaelandSt Peter,butfailedtowinanythingoutsideof Kettering.
4)12outof13seatswonbytheConservatives wererural.(Desborough,EarlsBarton, Irchester,OundleandThrapston).One ConservativeseatwaswoninRushden. Overall,thedifferencebetweentheurbanand ruralseatswasstriking.
ReformwillnowbethemajorityPartyatNorth NorthamptonshireCouncil.
Wellingborough TownCouncil
Followingtherecentlocalelections, WellingboroughTownCouncilhasnopartywith overallcontrol.ThemixofPartiesis
·Conservatives11
·Labour6
·Reform3
·Independent2
·Green1
Cllr.PaulBellwaselectedLeaderofthe Council,withCllr.JonathanEkinsashis Deputy.
Cllr.RajMishrawasappointedMayorof Wellingboroughforthecivicyear2025-2026. Cllr.SylviaErskineistheDeputyMayor.
MisleadingSignsatLocalElections
Whenpeoplegotovote,manyrelyuponthe informationdisplayedonthewallattheirpolling station.Otherpeoplewillaskforadvicefromthe pollingstationstaff.
Ineithercase,votersexpecttheinformationtobe accurate.However,NeneHeraldhasevidence thatthisisnotalwaysthecase.
Insomelocations,duringtheelectionstoNorth NorthamptonshireCouncilon1stMay2025,both sourcesofinformationwerewrong.Manyvoters wereledtobelievethattheycouldcastonlyONE voteforNNC,wheninfacttheyhadTWOor,in somecases,THREEvotes.
Theadjacentphotosfrompollingstationsin Croyland&Swanspool(Wellingborough)andfrom Pemberton(Rushden)showthatincorrectsigns weredisplayed.
Thesignsclearlystatethatelectorsmayonlyvote forONEcandidateinbothNNCwards.Thisis wrong.
Bothofthesewardsaretwo-memberwards,wherevoterscouldvoteforTWOcandidates.
Theproblemwasfirstreportedshortlyafterthepolls openedat07:00on1stMay.(ThePembertonphoto wastakenat08:21,andtheCroyland&Swanspool oneat08:51.)
Therearereportsthattheincorrectsignagewas replicatedinmanypollingstationsacrossNorth Northamptonshire.
Itwasclaimedthatthesignswerecorrectedby 10:00,buttherewerereportsthatthesignswerestill wronginsomepollingstationsaslateas15:30.
Atthisstage,itisnotclearhowmanyvotersreceived thewrongadviceandwerethereforedeprivedofthe righttovoteforthecorrectnumberofcandidates.
On2ndMay,attendeesattheCountreportedthat thereweremanyNNCballotpapersthatonlyhad ONEcandidateselected,insteadofTWOorTHREE.
Whateverthenumber,itunderminesthemandateof candidatesthatwereelected,anditcould conceivablyhaveaffectedwhowaselected.
ThePostponedHighamFerrersElection
Theelectionoftwocouncillorstorepresent HighamFerrersonNorthNorthantsCouncil was“countermanded”(i.e.postponed)whenthe LibDemcandidate,Mr.JohnRatcliffe,sadly diedjustbeforepollingday.
Thursday12June2025hasnowbeen announcedasthenewdatefortheelection.
RegisteredvotersfortheHighamFerrersward shouldgetanewpollingcard.Thosewhohave chosentohaveapostalvoteshouldgetafresh votingpack.Theoriginalpostalvoteswillbe shredded.
Allthenominatedcandidateswillappearonthe reprintedballotpapers,alongwithanynewly nominatedpersons.
UPDATE
Whenthelistofnominatedpersonswas publishedon16thMay,therewasasurprise. Reformhadnominated4personsfora2memberward.Theyhadthenwithdrawnoneof thenominations.
Thisleaves3Reformcandidatescompetingfor thesame2seats.ReformversusReform?
WasitamistakebyReform,orwhat?
SoapBoxDerby2025
Can’tgetticketsfortheBritishGrandPrix?Well comealongtothenextbestthing.
AttheGrandPrix,yougetfumes,ferocious enginenoiseandcarsflashingpastsofastthat youcan’ttellwhichiswhich.
AttheannualSoapBoxDerbyinRushden, therearenofumes,noenginenoiseandyou canactuallyrecognisethedriversastheyflash past.
Conservative-controlledRushdenTownCouncil isonceagainrunningRushden’sannual SoapboxDerby.It’lltakeplaceonSundayJune 8ththisyear.
ItwillbeheldinHallParkandwillbeagreat familyevent.Therewillbeanopportunityto viewallthesoapboxentriesbeforetheracing getsunderwayat2pm.Refreshments,ice creamandmorewillalsobeavailable.
Freeeventforall.
“AirAda“
Ada:“Didyaearbouttha‘Ighamlection? Reformave3candidutsfightin’eachuther for2seats!”
Mawwd:“WerthaTwerps!”
VEDayCommemorations
TheBeaconofPeacelitatRushden’sHallPark
OnThursday,8thMay2025,peopleacrossthecountrycommemoratedthe80thanniversaryof Victory-in-EuropebringingWorldWarIItoanend.
Locally,ceremonieswereheldinRushden,HighamFerrers,FinedonandWellingborough. Inthemorning,flagswereraisedatthewar memorialsinourTowns.
Intheevening,therewasasecondceremony withspeechesandprayersforthosewho servedthecountry.InRushden,theMission Bandplayedmusicamidastreetpartytheme.
Justafter9.30pm(21:30tothoseinthe ArmedForces!)BeaconsofPeacewerelit. Manypeopleattendedtheceremoniesthat concludedwiththenationalanthem.
WaendelWalk
The44thInternationalWaendelWalktookplaceovertheweekendfromFriday9thtoSunday11th May2025.CastleTheatrewasthestartandfinishpointofallthewalks.
Asthenamesuggestspeoplecomefromallovertheworldtotakepartinit.
Infact,theInternationalWaendelWalkispartofaworldwidenetworkofwalkingeventsthatspans 30countriesfromCanberratoBeijingandOttawatoTaipei.However,WellingboroughistheonlyIML (InternationalMarchingLeague)WalkingAssociationeventintheUK.
TheeventconsistedofaFriendshipwalkof5or10KontheFridayplusSaturdayandSundaywalks rangingfrom5to42K.ThewalkscovermanyofthevillagesaroundWellingboroughtakinginthe naturalbeautyofNorthNorthamptonshireandtheNeneValley
PreviouslyrunbyWellingboroughBoroughCouncil,thiseventisnowrunbyWellingboroughTown CouncilandsupportedbytheWaendelWalkWorkingGroup.
Thisyeartheeventwasgracedwithperfectweather,andwaswellattended.Atthesametimethe TownCouncilhadarrangedacontinentalmarketinthetowncentre.
TaylorManiacomesToWellingborough
OnJune19th,at7:30pm,aTaylorSwiftextravaganza,“TaylorMania”,iscomingtotheCastle TheatreinWellingborough.
ItpaystributetoTaylorSwift,aglobalphenomenon.
KatyEllis,aself-professedTaylor-Swiftfan,deliverstheclosestthingtoanactualSwiftconcert,that mostofthefanswilleversee.
TheShowhasalreadytaken“Swiftie”fansacrosstheworldbystorm.Itfeaturesalltheartist’sbest hits,including“ShakeitOff,”“BlankSpace”,“LoveStory”,“YouBelongwithMe”,“LookWhatYou MadeMeDo”,“IKnowYouWereTrouble”,andmore.
Ticketsare£27.50each,andtheshowlastsfor2hours.
OUTANDABOUT
INWELLINGBOROUGH&RUSHDEN
TheBubClub
EveryTuesdaymorningfrom10:00to11:30,the HemmingwellCentreinWellingboroughhosts theBubClub.
BubClubisamusicalstoryshowforpre-school children.Theirweb-sitesays:
“JoinCubby,Chimpy,Puppy,Kittyand Mouseforfunsinging,dancingand adventures.BubClubisasafe,cosy, inclusiveandwholesomeplaceforpreschoolchildrentolearnneworiginalsongs andnewversionsofpopularclassicnursery rhymes.”
“TheBubClubpromoteskindness, friendliness,caringfornatureandfitswithin theEYFS(EarlyyearsFoundationStage framework).BubClubeducatespreschoolerswithfun,interactivesing-a-longs helpingpre-schoolerstodevelopspeech andlanguageskills,understandtheworld aroundthemandinspiretheirimaginations.”
ArmedForcesDay
Thisyear,ArmedForcesDaywilltakeplaceon 28thJune2025.
InRushden,ArmedForcesDaywillagainbe celebratedwithanextensiveparadethrough thetown.TheparadestartsinJohnStreetat 1pmandismadeupofveterans,current membersofthearmedforcesandcadetforces. ItculminatesattheformerRushdenstationin JohnClarkWaywhereaformalsalutewilltake place.
Theafternoonwillcontinuewith
·Athanksgivingservice
·StallsanddisplaysintheGoodsShed(in JohnClarkWay)
·Trainrides(ontheheritagerailway)
·FlypastbytheBattleofBritainMemorial Flight.
TheeventisorganisedbyRushden&District VeteransGroup,incollaborationwithRushden HistoricalTransportSociety,andConservativecontrolledRushdenTownCouncil,andis expectedtoattracttheusuallargecrowds.
AppointmentofRushdenMayorandLeader
TheAnnualMeetingofRushdenTownCouncil washeldonTuesday13thMay.Atthemeeting, Cllr.GillMercerwaselectedTownMayorfor Rushdenforthecivicyear2025-2026.She namedherhusband,Cllr.AndyMercer,asher Consort.
Inoneofthephotos,Gillisaccompaniedby hercadet,ordinarycadetAmelieoftheSea Cadets.
Cllr.JanetPinnockwasappointedDeputy Mayorforthesamecivicyear.Herconsortwill beCllr.BarbaraJenney.
Atthesamemeeting,Cllr.MelanieColeman wasre-electedasLeaderofRushdenTown Council.SheappointedCllr.GillMercerasher Deputy.
OtherseniorappointmentsincludedCllr.David ColemanasChairmanofthePlanning ConsultativeCommittee,withCllr.AndyMercer ashisDeputy.
Cllr.SteveNorthwasappointedChairmanof thePolicyandResourcesCommittee,withCllr. PhilipHumphreyashisDeputy.
Cllr.MelanieColemanwasappointedChairman oftheCommunityServicesCommittee,with Cllr.JanetPinnockasherDeputy.
CllrBarbaraJenneywasappointedChairman ofthePersonnelCommittee,withCllrCarol ChildsasherDeputy.
Avoteofthankswasgiventotworetiring Councillorswhostooddownatthelocal elections.BothRichardLewisandMarian Hollomonhadgivenlonganddedicatedservice totheCouncil.Theywould,however,continue tosupporttheCouncilasmembersofthe community.
“TheGoodLife”
LivesAgain
Backinthe1970s,“TheGoodLife”wasa highlypopularcomedyTVshowaboutacouple whohadfledtheratrace.
Longbeforethe“Green”movementofthe21st Century,TomandBarbaraGoodturnedtoselfsufficiencyandagrow-your-ownlifestyle.
AplayattheCastleTheatre,Wellingborough, brings“TheGoodLife”backtolifeforthe enjoymentofanewgeneration.
TheplayrunsfromTuesday10thofJuneto Saturday14thofJune.
Ticketsare£12onTuesday,and£14forthe restoftheweek.
CllrsGillMercerandAndyMercer MayorandConsortofRushdenTownCouncil.
StreetPartyDisplay
AteamofladiesinRushdenhavebeenbusy makingtheirownVE-Daycommemorationwith knittingandcrochetneedles.
Theyhaveworkedformonthstoproducea highlydetailedsceneofastreetparty,in keepingwiththeVEDaycelebrationsthattook place80yearsago.Itevenincludesdetailsuch asjamtartsandplatesofmeatpaste sandwiches.
Thisfollowsthescenesthattheladiescreated lastyeartocommemorateD-Dayandthe Normandylandings.
ThedisplayshavebeenonviewatRushden Hall,whichisratherappropriate.Inthemonths leadinguptoD-Dayandtheinvasionof Europe,Rushden’sHallParkwashometo tanksandotherarmouredvehiclesthatwere waitingtobeshippedtothecontinent.Infuture, thedisplayswillbeshownatavarietyofevents withinthetownleadinguptoRemembrance Day.
HighamFerrersFarmers’Market
Onceamonth,HighamFerrersTownCouncil organisesaFarmers’Marketforthebenefitof localpeople.Itisheldinthetowncentre between9amand1pmonthelastSaturdayof everymonth.
Theirwebsitestates:
“Awonderfulrangeofproduceisavailable including;pies,organiceggsandfreerange poultry,organicporkandlamb,crayfish fishcakes,pickles,chillisauces,bread, cheese,fruitandvegetables,dogtreats, coffee,honey,preserves,soap,handmade accessories,plants,andagreatvarietyof sweettreatssuchaschocolate,fudge,cakes, brownies,cookiesandtraybakes.”
TheNeneHeraldisacommunity-basednewspaperforWellingborough,Rushden,HighamFerrers,Irthlingboroughandthe surroundingvillages.
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