NENE Herald
NewsfromAroundtheWellingborough&RushdenArea
NorthantsFireandRescueServiceRecruitment
On28thJanuary2025,inSouthKorea,afirebrokeoutonanairliner. Luckily,nobodywasseriouslyinjured,buttheplanewasdestroyed. Afterwards,anexpertwrote,
“Ihaveseenfirefightingvehicleattachmentsdesignedtopierce throughwallsandtoinjectwater.Perhapsahydraulicarm equippedwithsuchadevicecouldbeusedtoinjectadiffuse sprayofwaterintotheinteriorofanaircraft.” (https:// www.pprune.org/accidents-close-calls/663868-air-busan-fire-gimhaeinternational-airport-south-korea-3.html)
Suchadevicedoesexist,andit’scalledCOBRA.
COBRAisarevolutionaryfire-fightingsystemthatNorthantsFireandRescueServicehavepioneered.It lookslikearifle,butfireswater,notbullets.Itusestinyamountsofwatersquirtedatultra-high-speedwith ultra-high-pressure,sothatitformsamistoverthefire.Itextinguishesfiresatamazingspeed.Thefirefighter doesn’tevenneedtoenterthebuildingthatisonfire.HesimplypressesthebarreloftheCOBRAagainst thewallandpullsthetrigger.TheCOBRAinstantlycutsthroughthewallandattacksthefire.During demonstrations,COBRAwasusedtoputoutfiresin40-footcontainersthatwereroaringandhadreached temperaturesofover1000degrees.Thefirewaskilledsoquicklythatthecontainerwasbackdowntoroom temperatureinaround44SECONDS,notminutes,SECONDS.
ThefireinSouthKoreamaywellhavebeencausedbyaLithiumbatterypackthatsufferedafault.Normally, suchfireswouldbealmostimpossibletoputout,butnotforCOBRA.ThemakersofCOBRAdescribehow COBRAevenextinguisheslithiumbatteryfires.
WecanbegratefulthatallthefiretendersinNorthamptonshireareequippedwithCOBRAdevicesandour firefightersaretrainedtousethem.Inthis,NFRSleadstheworld.
FireFightersNeeded
NorthamptonshireFire&RescueService(NFRS)isrecruitingnewfirefightersto jointheminachallenging,buthighlyrewardingcareer.NFRSisaprestigious servicewithsomegreatalumni.
DawnWhittaker,afirefighterfromNFRS,wentontobecometheChiefFireOfficer forEastSussexandMartinEmberson,aformerNFRSFireChief,wentonto becometheChiefInspectoroftheScottishFireandRescueService.
NorthamptonshireFire&RescueServiceisnowrecruitingandlookingfornewfire fighterstofollowinthefootstepsofDawnandMartinToapply,goto https://northantsfire.gov.uk/
NorthNorthantsCouncil IsRecruiting
NNCprovidesahugerangeofservicesforthe peopleofNorthNorthants.eg
·Publichealth
·Adultsocialcare
·Children’ssocialcare
·Schools
·Tradingstandards
·Planninganddevelopmentcontrol
·Highwaysmaintenance
·Streetlighting
·Leisurefacilities(suchasSplashPoolandNene Centre)
·Environmentalhealth
·Licensing(alcohol,taxi,streettradingetc)
·ChesterHouseestateandmanyothers.
Tosupportalltheseservices,NNCemploys thousandsofstaff.Itisnowseekingtoexpandthat workforce.
TheCouncilaimstomakeNorthNorthamptonshire aplacewhereeveryonehasthebestopportunities andqualityoflifeworkingwithstafftohelpthem achievetheirbestpotentialandrealisetheircareer aspirations.
IfyouareinterestedinworkingforNNC,goto: http://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/jobs
DevolutionRejection
Shortlyafteritwaselected,thenewgovernment issuedaWhitePaperabout“Devolution”.
Inpractice,thismeantbringingfour-fivelocal authoritiesinanareatogetherunderalargerlarge group(liketheMayorofLondon).Insomecases, thisinvolvesabolishingtheexistingcouncils.
InitiallyitwassuggestedthatNorth Northamptonshireshouldbeamongtheareas involved.However,theMinisterhasnowwrittento NorthNorthamptonshireCouncilannouncingthatit willnotbepartofthiswaveofLocalGovernment Re-organisation(LGR).
Thisisnotsurprising,asourareahasnotyet digestedthepreviousLGRwhichabolished NorthamptonshireCountyCouncil,East NorthamptonshireCouncil,KetteringBorough Council,CorbyBoroughCouncilandtheBorough CouncilofWellingborough
Lastyear,RushdenTownCouncilwasinvolvedina knittingprojectdepictingtheD-Daylandingsin 1944.Thisyear,commemoratingtheendofWWIIin Europe,thethemewillbea‘StreetParty’honouring the80th anniversaryofitsendandtheCouncilis againaskingallknitterstogetintouchtohelpmake thedisplayassuccessfulasthepreviousone.
Togetinvolved,aknittingpatternofchildrenis availabletodownloadontheRushdenTownCouncil websiteorcanbecollectedfromRushdenHall,Hall Park,RushdenNN109NG.Woolremnantsarealso availableshouldyouneedsome.
Thedollsare4-6inchesinheight,butthepatterns canbeadaptedbyknittingmorerowsorchanging sizeneedles,tovarythesizefromsmallchildrento teenagers,evenMumsandDadsifyouarealoose knitter.Justletyourcreationsrunwildanddress themallin40’sstyleclothing.
Completeddollscanbetaken toRushdenHallbyThursday 17th April,2025orbefore.The Counciltakesthisopportunity insayingabigthankyouto everyonewhotakespart.
TheBattleForRushdenLakes-Part6
ThisisthesixthinstalmentofthestoryofhowtheRushdenLakesschemecametobeapprovedandthen built.
LocalInput
Atallstages,before,duringandaftertheplanningapproval,the developers,LxB,consultedwiththelocalcouncillors.Those councillorsplayedalargeroleinthefinallayoutofthesite.
Initially,therehadbeenconcernthatRushdenLakeswould competewiththenearbyhighstreetshoppingcentres.Toprevent thishappening,councillorsimposedstrictconditionsonthe planningconsents,whichbarredtheLakesfromhosting conveniencestores.
TheLakesconceptwastofocusonhigh-endretail(fashionstoresandthelike)alongwithbeingaleisure facility.
Theideaofbuildingafashioncentreonahugegarbagedump,onalevelthatwouldthencompetewith London’sOxfordStreetorParisseemedbizarre,butthatwasthegoal.
Severallocalcouncillorspushedtheideaofintegratingtheretail/leisuresitewiththeSiteofSpecialScientific Interest(SSSI).Cllr.AndyMercerwasespeciallyactiveinpromotingthisidea. ASSSIisaspecialplacethathasstronglegalprotection.Often,thepublicisbarredfromSSSIsinorderto protectthewildlife.TheideaofintegratingaSSSIwiththatmostcapitalistconcept,aretailpark,seemed extraordinary.
Andyet,ithappened,andithasbeenastunningsuccess.It showsthatthewaytoprotecttheenvironmentistomakeit profitabletodoso.Withhindsight,itseemsobvious,butten yearsago,itseemedfanciful.
TheSSSIgeneratesextrafootfall,aspeoplecometowatchthe wildlifeandenjoytheleisureaspect.Theythenshopinthe stores.Aslongasthewildlifeisprotected,thestoresgetextra sales,soitbecomesanincentivetothestorestoprotectthe wildlife.
Traditionally,retailcentreswereseenasbadfortheenvironment.Itwasassumedthatwildlifeandshopping don’tmix.RushdenLakeshasturnedthisroundandshownthattheyarenaturalpartnersprovidinganideal mixforthoseseekingtoenjoynatureatitsbestwiththosewantingtotakeadvantageoftheretailaspect.
NNCLeaderStepsDown
TheLeaderofConservative-controlledNorthNorthamptonshireCouncil,CouncillorJasonSmithers,is steppingdowninMay.Hehasannouncedthathewillnotseekre-electiontoNNC.
Jasonhasownedseveralbusinessesinthearea,includingafish-andchipshop,acaféandacarleasing company.HewaspreviouslyonNorthamptonshireCountyCouncil,wherehewastheCabinetMemberfor HighwaysandTransport.ItwasduringhistenureonNCCthattheelectricscootersappearedonthestreetsof theCounty.
In2023,amanwassentencedto30monthsinjailforattackingawomanandherbabyinRushden.The nakedmanwasarrestedafterCllr.Smitherstackledanddisarmedhim.Jason,akarateBlackBelt,pinnedthe mandownuntilthepolicearrived."I’mabitofalumpandhewasn’tgoinganywhereespeciallywhenIhadmy kneeinhisback,"saidCllrJasonSmithers.
JasonhasbeenLeaderofNNCsinceitwascreatedin2021.
B&MStoretoOpeninRushden
TheclosureoftheWilkostorewasasaddayforRushden.However,thereisgoodnewsahead.
TheWilkositeatEatonWalkisownedbyNorthNorthamptonshireCouncil.Theyhavenowleaseditto B&Mandworkisunderwayforthestoretoopenon1March2025.Thefirststagewastoupgradethecar park.Theyarealsoworkingonmakingchangestothestoreitself.
TheopeningoftheB&MstorewillbreathenewlifeintoRushdentowncentreaswellasoffering employmentopportunitiesforlocalpeople.
B&MhasbecomealeadingvarietyretailerintheUKsinceopeningitsfirststorein1978.Ithasnowgrown toover700storesemploying35,000+staff.Theirofferincludestheworld’sbiggestbrandsalongsidetheir popularownbrandrange.
NeneHeraldextendsitsbestwishestoB&MforalongandproductiverelationshipwithRushden.
HelptoStopSmoking
Smokinglooks“cool”,butitkills.
Manysmokersknowthisandwanttoquit,buttheyfindithard.NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)is helpingsmokerstoquit.NNC’sStopSmokingServiceprovidesupportandadviceonwaystoquit.Usingan alternativenicotineproductsuchaspatches,lozengesoravapewillreducecravings.Thatthenhelps smokersstaycomfortable,whilegettingusedtonotsmokingtobacco.
Conservative-controlledNNCprovidesthisservicetohelpimprovethelife-chancesoftheresidentsofNorth Northamptonshire.WiththesupportofthisService,smokersareuptothreetimesmorelikelytoquitfor good,thanbygoingitalone.
StoppingsmokingandvapingisoneofthemainprioritiesforNNC’sHealth&WellbeingStrategyandextra staffhavebeentakenon,sothereisnowmuchmorecapacityintheStopSmokingserviceandasaresult shortwaits.
Ifyouwanttostopsmoking,contacttheServiceontheirwebsiteat: https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/health-and-wellbeing/stop-smoking, orcall03001265700(option2)orcompletetheirself-referralform: https://northamptonshire-self.achieveservice.com/service/ Contact_the_North_Northamptonshire_Stop_Smoking_Service(allononeline)
WellingboroughTreesReprieved
TheremainingtreesintheWellingboroughWalkshavebeengivenareprieve.
ThecompanybehindWellingborough’sStantonCrosshousingschemehaswithdrawnthreeplanning applications.Thiswouldhaveseenthetreesremovedinordertomakewayforimprovementstotheroad systemaroundWellingboroughEmbankment,asagreedintheplanningapprovalthatwasgrantedin2016.
TheStantonCrossschemewasoriginallynicknamedWEAST,shortforWellingboroughEastSustainable UrbanExtension.
StantonCrossDevelopments(SCD)havenownotifiedNorthNorthantsCouncilthattheywishtowithdraw thethreeapplicationsthatwouldhaveresultedinthe16protectedtreesfromTheWalksinWellingborough beingcutdown.
Atthispoint,itisnotclearifSCDwillsubmitrevisedplans.
TheCaseforaRushdenStation-Part6
NeneHeraldisrunningacampaigntoestablishamainlinestationtoserveRushdenandHighamFerrers.As mentionedpreviously,RushdenisbyfarthelargesttowninEnglandwithoutitsownworkingrailwaystation. TherearevillagesatenththesizeofRushdenthathaveastation;e.g.BrundallinNorfolk(population4,019) hastwo!ThisisdespiteBrundallbeingroughlythesamedistancefromNorwichstation,asRushdenisfrom Wellingboroughstation.
HowaRushdenStationCanHelptheLocalEconomy
ArailwaystationatKnuston,servingRushden,HighamFerrersandothervillages,canhelpgrowthelocal economyinmultipleways:
1)ExtraJobstoRuntheStation
There-openedstationwouldneedstafftooperateit.Thiswouldincludestationmasters,officestaff,cleaners, etc.
2)EasierAccesstoRushdenLakesreducingtrafficcongestion
ThestationwouldbeclosetoRushdenLakes,andashuttlebusservicewouldsoonbeprovided.Visitorsto RushdenLakesfromoutsidethearea,wouldthenbeabletotravelbytrain,insteadofbycar. ThiswouldwidentheappealofRushdenLakesandincreasefootfall.Itwouldalsocutthepressureforcar parkingandontheoverloadedroundaboutnexttoRushdenLakes.
TheextrabusinessatRushdenLakeswouldgeneratedemandforextrajobs.Thewagesofthoseextra workerswould,inturn,pumpmoregrowthandmoneyintothelocaleconomy.Itwouldbecomeaselfsustainingvirtuouscircle-morejobs-moremoneycomingintothearea-morespending-morejobs.
3)ANewJobsHub
Therailwaystationwouldspurdeveloperstosubmitplanstobuildnewbusinessestoservicethestationand itsusers.
4)ReducingtheLoadontheA45
ThecapacityoftheA45isasignificantconstraintonthelocaleconomy.Atpeakperiods,theroadnetwork (especiallytheA45)isseriouslyoverloaded.Driverscanwaste20-30minuteseachdayintrafficjams. ReducingthepressureontheA45wouldbeamajorbenefitfromaRushdenstation.Itwouldalsoreduce carbonemissionsandairpollution. Itwouldmeanlesstimebeingneedlesslywastedinjamscuttingcostsandmakingmoretimeavailablefor productivework,whichagainwouldgrowtheeconomy.
Overall,astationforRushdenwouldbringmoreprosperityforalltothearea.
TheBeaversArrive
Lastyear,wereportedthataschemewasunder waytore-introducebeaverstothearea,specifically toanareaofRushdenLakes.Now,ithas happened!Afteranabsenceof400years,beavers areback!
Afamilyofeightbeavershavebeentransported fromScotlandandreleasedinRushdenLakes.
Theyhavebeengivena17-hectare(42acres)area closetotheshoppingarea.Thefamilyincludesan adultfemale,Boudica,andanadultmale,Alan.
Boudicaisanamazinganimal.Despitehavinglost aleg(probablywhenveryyoung),shehas producedahealthyfamilyofyoungsters.
DrRoisinCampbell-Palmer,HeadofRestorationat BeaverTrust:said:“Beaversareafantasticnatural solutionformanaginglargeanddynamicsiteslike thisone.”
MattJohnson,WildlifeTrustConservationManager, commented:“Ican’twaittoseehowtheywill respondtotheirnewhome,butalsohowthe environmentwillrespondtothem.Beaversare ecosystemengineers.Theywillgnawtreesand plantsandhelptransformthesiteintoamore diversehabitatwhereotherspeciescanthrive.”
ChrisGerrard,HeadofLandscapeTransformation, AnglianWater,remarked:“Thesenaturalengineers createwetlandsthatboostbiodiversityandprotect communitiesfromflooding.Theproject…offers visitorsachancetoobservebeaversintheirhabitat andlearnabouttheirenvironmentalimpact.”
TheRushdenLakesdevelopmentissomething completelyunique.Againstallprecedent,itmerges retail,leisureandwildlife.
Thearrivalofthebeaversisyetmoreproofthatthis uniqueenvironmentalexperimentworks!
NoMoreEmptyShops?
Thelastgovernmentpassedanewlawthataimed toforcelandlordstobringshutteredshopsbackinto use.
TheLawallowslocalauthoritiestoundertakean auctionofferingaleaseofuptofiveyearsupon privately-ownedcommercialpropertiesthathave beenunoccupiedforfiveyearsormore.
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncilisproposingto becomeanEarlyAdopterofthisnewpower
Theplanistousethenewpowertoforcelandlords ontheHighStreettorentoutcommercialproperties thathavebeenvacantforlongperiods.Itishoped thatthiswillhelpregenerateourHighStreets.
CllrDavidBrackenbury,thecouncil’sExecutive MemberforGrowthandRegeneration,said:
“Highstreetsupanddownthecountryare strugglingasresidents’shoppinghabitschange andvacantpropertiesarebecomingacommon sight,whichissosadtosee.
Schemeslikethiswillmassivelyhelpwith regeneratingareasandbringinglifebackinto ourhighstreets-somethingweknowis extremelyimportanttoresidentsandbusiness owners.”
Itisgreatthatwehavebeenselectedtobean EarlyAdopterand,ifthisreportisapproved,can startworkonthenextstepsandregenerating highstreetsinNorthNorthants.”
‘’AirAda!‘’
“Wellgal!Than’goodnissthawether‘aschairnged anwawrmedup.Thasnowdropsar’owtantha bluebellsentfurbe’ind!ThebootyofSpring,ayegal? “
MangaClub Outandabout INWellingborough&rushden
RushdenLibraryrunsaMangaClubforyoung people.It’sforkidsfromYear7toYear13.
Drawing!Reading!Watching!
It’sachancemeetotherpeoplewholikethesame thingsasyou.
Comealongandmakesomenewfriends.
TheClubmeetsat2pmeveryotherSaturdayat RushdenLibrary.
IrthlingboroughLibrary’sExtraServices
Conservative-controlledNorthNorthantsCouncilrunslibrariesinmostofourtowns.IrthlingboroughLibrary isonethatwehavenothighlightedbefore.
Aswithmanyotherlibraries,theservicesavailableintheLibraryextendtomorethanjustthelendingof books.Itisaplacewhereyoucanalsoseekhelpandadvice.
DuringMarchandbeyond,IrthlingboroughLibraryisoffering:
·HousingandBenefitAdvice
·HealthandSocialcareAdvice
·HighwaysIssuesAdvice
TheseareinadditiontotheirusualservicesatIrthlingboroughLibrary suchas:
BlueBadge-applicationhelp
·Computers,internet,Wifiandprinting
·Disabledperson'sbuspass–helpwithapplications
·Musicandplaysetshire
·Roomhire
Forfurtherinformationonanyofthese,headoverto
CallingABBAFans
SallywillbeappearingatRushdenConservative Clubon30thMarch2025andwillperformhitsfrom the1970suntilrecently,fromABBAtoZZTop. EntranceisfreeformembersoftheClub.
CelebrateSt.Patrick’sDay
ReelThymewillhelpyoucelebratewithanevening ofCelticfolkmusic,withjigs,reelsandmore.
They’reappearingatRushdenConservativeClub on15thMarch20225.
DeanCourtney
DeanCourtneyisamusicalcomedian.Hiswebsitesays:
Dean’scomedyisaninteractiveperformancewitha bigscreenslideshowasabackdropwhichaudiences simplylove,heusesthistohisadvantageanddraws peoplecloserwitheverypassingsecondofstage time.Deanhaseffortlesscharmandconfidencewhen performingandtheabilitytoleaveyoufeelingsafein hishands,youwillbemorethanhappytoridealong onthecomedyroller-coasterthatisDean’sshow
Themusicalcomedythroughouttheperformanceis clever,wittyandlaughoutloudfunny.Putitall togetherandyougetafantasticshowandarare chancetoseeaperformeratthetopofhisgame.With overtwentyyearsofentertainingaudiencesDeanisa uniqueact.
DeanwassupposedtobeappearingatRushden ConservativeClubon1st March2025.NeneHeraldnow understandsthattheconcerthasbeencancelled.
TheNeneHeraldisacommunity-basednewspaperforWellingborough,Rushden,HighamFerrers,Irthlingboroughandthe surroundingvillages.
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