March 2026 by Nene_Herald

NENE Herald

NNC’sAssetSale

NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)hasvotedtosellanumberofassetsinRushden,Wellingboroughand Kettering.

TheonesthatareintheNeneHeraldareaare:

·LandattheCornerofRectoryRd,Rushden

ThispieceoflandiscurrentlyusedbyRushdenHistoricalTransportSocietyforstoringvintage vehicles.Itisnotclearwherethevehicleswillberelocatedto.

·Phase2GlenvalePark,Wellingborough

ThisispartoftheWellingboroughNorthSustainableUrbanExtension(SUE).Itisanoddarea,inthat althoughdependinguponWellingborough’sinfrastructure,ithasbeenputintotheDaventry parliamentaryconstituency.

·JacksonsLaneCarPark,Wellingborough

Anumberofyearsago,therewasaproposaltoselloffpartoftheJacksonsLanecarpark.Thesale didn’toccur,atleastpartly,becauseitwassuggestedthatthelossofparkingspaceswoulddamage Wellingborough’sHighStreet.

Therearecurrently419parkingspaceshere,with65%usageaccordingtothereport.NNChad checkedtheusageovera6dayperiodinJanuary2026.

CONTINUED:

Continued:

Anothersurveywascarriedoutrecently(viaFacebook)intothelevelofsupportforsellingJacksons Lanecarpark.Theresultswere:

Opposeselling90%

Supportselling3%

Don’tcare7%

Asat19:00onSunday15thFebruary2026,528hadvotedagainstthesale(90%).

Inaddition,asurveyandseveralpetitionshavebeenstarted.Severalpeoplespokeagainstthisatthe NNCExecutivemeeting.

Thecommitteereportstatedthatthiswas“surplustorequirement”,howeverspeakerscommented thatthiswasawell-usedfacilityandthemaincarparkforcommunitiesandchurches.Theyexplained thatifthiswerenotavailableforparking,thiswouldhaveamajorimpactonWellingborough.They werealsosurprisedthattherehadbeennopublicconsultationaboutthispriortothisdecision.

Reform-ledNNCarguedthatthiswasjustthe�rststageandthatplanningpermissionwouldneedto besoughtandthatatthatstagetherewouldbeconsultationwiththepublic.Howeverthefeelingwas thatoncesoldandoutofpublicownership,therewouldbelesscontroloverthishugeareainthe centreofWellingborough.

NeneHeraldsuspectsthatthiswillnotbetheendofthismatter.

BirchesGaragehasbeenaRushdenlandmarksince1937.Thedistinctive“WidowsWatch”toweris oneofthefeaturesthatmakeRushden’sHighStreetsomethingspecial.

Locatedneartheformerrailwaystation,BirchesGaragewasanidealbaseforBirchesBuses,a familybusinessthatcouldtraceitsrootsbackto1810.Thecompanyusedtorunbusesdownto London(theroute203andlaterthe203M).

In1969,theroutes(andbuses)weresoldtoUnitedCounties.Thebuildinglater becameafurniturestoreandalsohousedafish-and-chip shop.

Inthelastfewyears,theArtDecobuildingfelloutofuseand variousplansweremadetorepurposethesite.

Severalplanningapplicationsweresubmittedtotheformer EastNorthamptonshireCouncilandlatertoNorth NorthamptonshireCouncil.Oneoftheapplicationssetalocal record,byinitiallyhaving11(eleven!)reasonsforrefusal!

Itbecameatug-of-warbetweenthePlanningAuthorityand thedevelopersovertheirplantoturnthebuildingintoflats. ThelocalcommunityandthePlanningAuthoritywantedto preservetheiconicfrontagethatwasimportanttoRushden’shistory,whilstthedeveloperswantedto demolishthewholebuildingandmakeafreshstart.

Intheend,therewasacompromise.Thefrontagewaspreserved,butmostoftherestofthebuilding wasflattenedandisbeingreplacedbyamoremodernconstruct.

Theredevelopedbuildingisamixtureofflatsandtownhouses.Thedevelopersareseekingbidsfor thenewdwellingsandhadanopendayon31stJanuary.

JennieBoneDefects

Cllr.JennieBonehasdefectedtoReformUK fromtheConservatives.

Cllr.BonewaselectedtoNorthNorthants Council(NNC)inadelayedelectioninJune 2025.TheelectionwasfortwoNNCcouncillors torepresenttheHighamFerrersward.Cllr. Bone’smarginofvictorywasjust3votes!

Cllr.BonewasalsoelectedtoHighamTown Council(HTC)intheMay2025all-outelections. SheresignedfromHTCtowardstheendof 2025.Noby-electionwascalled,soHTCis replacingherbyco-optinganewcouncillor.

Latelastyear,Cllr.BobTillyerdiedfromcancer. Itwasespeciallysad,becauseithadbeen Bob’sambitiontogetelectedtoRushdenTown Council(RTC).Hefeltthathehadalottogive tothecommunity.

Regrettably,Bobdidnotgetachance.Very shortlyafterhewaselectedinMay2025,he wasdiagnosedwithcancer.

Aby-electionwillnowbeheldtofillBob’s vacantseatonRTCfortheRushdenSouth ward.

Thevotewillbeon19thMarch2026.

LittleHarrowdenGatingPSPO

NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)hasproposedaPublicSpaceProtectionOrder(PSPO)foranareaof HillsideRoad,LittleHarrowden.Initially,thePSPOwillbeforaperiodofthreeyears.

ThePSPOwillapplytotheroadwhichrunsparallelwithKetteringRoad(A509) ThereasonforthePSPOisthehighlevelsofanti-socialbehaviouratthesite,especiallyfly-tipping andlittering.TohelpenforcethePSPO,gatingisproposed

IfimposedthePSPOwouldincludethefollowingprohibitions

*Consumptionofalcoholonstreet

*UseofintoxicatingSubstances

*EngaginginsexualactivitywithintheareaofthePSPO

*Usingthepublicspaceasatoilet

*Depositinganylitterorunlawfullydepositinganywasteorfly-tippingwithinthecon�nesofthe PSPO.

NNCisnowconsultingontheproposalandinvitessubmissionsusinganyof:

•Thissurvey: https://northnorthants.citizenspace.com/pspo/gating-pspo-hillside/

*Emailing: SaferCommunitiesTeam@northnorthants.gov.uk

*Writingto:SaferCommunitiesTeam

NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil

1st Floor

DeeneHouse

NewPostOf�ceSquare

Corby,NorthantsNN171GD

Of�ciallytheconsultationclosesatmidnighton1st March2026.However,submissionsthatarrivea fewdayslaterareunlikelytobeignored.

CommunityGovernance ReviewforNorthNorthants

In2023,theLocalGovernmentBoundary CommissionforEngland(LGBCE)carriedout aboundaryreviewforNorthNorthamptonshire withtheaimtocreateequalnumbersofvoters percouncillorineachward.Theychanged mostofthewardboundariesforNorth NorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC).

Unfortunately,NNC’sboundaryreviewalso changedsomeTownandParishboundaries, andLGBCEmadenoattempttoachieve electoralequalityfortherevisedTownand Parishboundaries.Asaresult,thisleftDonne CloseWardinRushdenwith141votersper councillor,whereastheRushdenSouthward has1297voterspercouncillor.Italsoput areaswithinRushdenintoHighamFerrers ward.

WhencomplaintsweremadetotheLGBCE, theirresponsewastorecommenda “CommunityGovernanceReview”,i.e.aTown/ Parishlevelboundaryreview.Ineffect,the LGBCErefusedtofixtheelectoralinequality thattheyhadcaused,andaskedNNCtofixit.

Afterseveralyearsofdelay,NNChasnow startedaCommunityGovernanceReview.As partofthefirststageoftheReview,residents andinterestedpartiesareinvitedtosubmit suggestionsforchangesofparish/Town/ward boundaries.

FulldetailsoftheCommunityGovernance ReviewcanbefoundontheNorthNorthants Councilwebsitewherecommentscanbe submitted.Theclosingdateforcommentsis 12thMarch2026.

‘’AirAda‘’

“If‘eentmoanin’aboutsummut,‘e’s fastasleeupinthecheir.Idunno,dayu gal!“

Higham’sLostCastle

HighamFerrersisatownwitharichhistory,but muchofthephysicalevidencehasbeenlost, e.g.,ChicheleCollegeisrepresentedbyjust someofitsfoundations.

TheHighamCastleisevenlessvisible.Indeed, formostHighamresidents,theonlyevidenceof itsexistenceisthe“CastleFields”.Now,we havesomethingmoresubstantial.

Severalmoderntoolshavebeendeployedbya teamwhohavebeenworkingtolocatethe hiddenremainsofthecastle.Thesearetools thatwerenotavailabletopreviousgenerations ofarchaeologists.

Groundpenetratingradar(GPR),a magnetometerandanearthresistivitysurvey, weredeployedtodetectunderground anomalies.

Thisworkproducedevidenceofanumberof structures.StephenParryintheCastleStudies TrustBlog,wrote:

“TheGPRsurveyproducedthemost informativeresults,showingthatthe foundationsofacurtainwallandother buildingsoftheinnerbaileysurviveunder thegardenoftheGreenDragonHotel.”

“Otherbuildingremainssurvivetothenorth, withinthelikelyextentoftheouterbailey.”

“Thefoundationsofasquaregatehouse, measuring6mby5m,wererevealedacross thelineofthecurtainwallandwouldhave providedaccessfromtheouterbailey.”

“Insidethecurtainwall,thefoundationsofa largerectangularbuildingmeasuring12mby 7mmayhavebeenthegreathall,which documentarysourcesindicatewasrebuilt afterafirein1409-1410.”

"Otherfoundationswithinthecurtainwall suggestthepresenceofotherbuildingsthat mayhavepredatedthefire.”

Thisreportwillwhettheappetitesofamateur historians,anddefinitelyleadtomore investigations,untilwehaveadetailed descriptionofthisfascinatingperiodof Higham’shistory.

HighamFarmer’sMarket

Streetmarketsofallsortsareunderpressure.

Supermarketsarescoopingupmostofthe conveniencesales(food,cleaningsupplies, toiletries,etc).Attheotherend,theonline retailersaretakingalargechunkofthe comparisongoodsales(clothing,DIYsupplies, whitegoods,televisions,videogear,etc).

Itisthereforepleasingtoseetraditionaloutlets stillsurviving.

TheHighamFarmers’Marketisstillkeeping oldtraditionsalivethatcreateacommunity event.ItisheldonthelastSaturdayofeach monththroughouttheyear(exceptfor Christmasweek,whenitisthelast-but-one Saturday).

RoadsideMemorials ToBeBanned

NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)has decidedtobanroadsidememorialsand plaques.

NNC’sExecutiveCommitteemetonthe20thof January2026,andvotedtobansuch memorials,aspartoftheauthority'supdated highwaysnetworkmanagementplan.

ThereportreceivedbytheCommitteestated:

"Suchmemorialscanbeadistractionfor motoristsandarepotentiallyanobstruction tothepublichighway.”

"Theirlong-termpresenceraisesconcerns overthemaintenance,repairandinsurance issueswhichintimearelikelytorestwith thehighwayauthority.”

"Thememorialscouldbecomeanattraction forvandalism,causingdistressto relatives.”

"Giventheaboveandthatthereare alternativemeansofleavingamemorialto thevictimofacollision,plaquesand monumentswillnotbepermittedby[NNC] forthispurpose."

ReviewofFREECarParking

OnTuesday17thMarch2026,NorthNorthants Council’sExecutiveCommitteewillmeetto discuss“theCouncil’sapproachtoparking arrangementsacrossNorthNorthamptonshire”.

Thissuggeststhatadecisionwillbetakenabout chargingforparkingintheCouncil’scarparks.

Currently,theNNCcarparksinWellingborough andRushdenarefree-to-use.Therehasbeen pressureforsometimetochargeforparkingin thesecarparks.

IfyouhaveviewsonwhetherparkingintheNNC carparksshouldbefreeornot,wesuggestthat youcontactyourNNCcouncillortoexpressyour opinion.

LocalHistorian

Localhistorian,RogerPowell,haslivedin Rushdenfor32years.AnativeofLutonin Bedfordshire,hedevelopedapassionfor historyfromaveryearlyage.

Attheageof17,hewasemployedasa researchassistantbytwoofQueenElizabeth II’sHeralds:SirConradMarshallFisherSwan, theRougeDragonPursuivantofArms,later, theGarterKingofArms,andRodneyOnslow Dennys,theRougeCroixPursuivantofArms.

Aftera6-yearapprenticeship,hethenbecame aresearchassistanttoPeterGwynneJones, theGarterKingofArms,beforemovingonto becometheDirectorofDebrettsAncestry Research.

RogerthenbecameSub-Editorofthe107th editionofBurkesPeerage,Baronetageand Knightage,whichwaspublishedin2003, alongsidehisDirectorshipofBurkesAncestry ResearchandhisDirectorshipofWorldwide AncestryResearch.

Hispassionforhistoryresultedinthe publicationof2booksonthesubject,thefirst,

NHSRSVvaccine

Everywinter,coughsandcoldsproliferate.They aremostlycausedbyvirusesandcanmakeyou seriouslyill.

OnesuchvirusisRespiratorySyncytialVirus (RSV)andwenowhaveavaccineagainstit. ThevaccineisofferedbytheNHSifyou're pregnant,aged75to79,orturned80after1 September2024.

MostpeoplerecoverfromRSV,butnotall.

RSVcancausepneumonia(alunginfection) andbronchiolitis(achestinfectionthataffects babies)

LocalGPsareofferingthevaccineforthose whoareeligible,anditwellworthtakingupthe offerifyouareeligible.

co-authoredwithPeterBeauclerkDewar,in 2008,titled“RoyalBastards”andthesecondin 2011on“RoyalMistresses”.

“RoyalBastards”wentinto4editionsandisstill sellingwelltoday.

Thesuccessofthefirstbookwasduetothe discoveryoftheRoyalStuartDNAbyFamily TreeDNA,basedinHouston,Texas.Itrevealed thattheDukesofBuccleuch,Grafton,StAlbans andRichmondwerealldescendedfromCharles II.ItalsoexploredthepossibilityofaRoyal BastardbecomingKingofEngland.

Thesecondbookexploredtheroleofthe EnglishRoyalMistressoverthecenturies.

DuringthisperiodofhiscareerRogeralso touredtheHomeCountiesfor8yearsgiving talksonbothbooksandobtainedaBachelors degreeinHistoryandaMasterofArtsdegreein ComparativeEnglishandFrenchHistory.

Heiscurrentlyreviewingalistofpossiblefuture books.

RushdenMayor’sAwards

RushdenTownCouncilhasinvitednominations fortheannualMayor’sAwardsfor2025/2026. TheawardsaimtoacknowledgeServicestothe Community.

AMayor’sAwardisgiventoanindividualwho hasdeliveredoutstandingworkand commitmentwithinthecommunityofRushden overseveralyears.Awardwinnersmustbe residentsofRushden.

Nominationsshouldbesubmittedto

TheTownClerk,RushdenTownCouncil, RushdenHall,HallPark,Rushden,NN109NG

Alternatively,theycanbeemailedtotheTown Clerkat:Info@rushdentowncouncil.gov.uk

Submissionsshouldincludethenameand addressofthenominee,plusthereasonfor nominatingthem.Theclosingdatefor nominationsisFriday20thMarch2026

WellingboroughTownCentreRegeneration

Lastyear,NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)commissionedareviewofitsfourmajorgrowth towns(Corby,Kettering,RushdenandWellingborough).Theobjectivewastodecidewhichtown offeredthemostpotentialforregeneration.

TheconclusionofthereviewwasthatWellingboroughoffered“thebiggestscaleandopportunityfor developingalong-termMasterplan".ProducingthatPlanisexpectedtocost£65,000.

ReformUKcouncillor,KenHarrington,saidthatitcouldhelpturnthetown "intoaplacethatthepeopleofWellingboroughwillonceagainwanttoinvitepeopleintovisit".

ReformUK'sPaulBrookesaid:

"Weneedtomakeitaplacewherepeoplecanwork,restandplay.Alltownsgettheir nicknames,butWellingboroughisindeedgoingtobecalledthe'closed-downtown'ifwecarry onthewaywe'regoing.It'sgottochange-allofourtowncentreshavegottochange."

NNCmadeitclearthataMasterplanforothertowns,suchasRushdenandCorby,willbeconsidered laterthisyear,iffundingcanbefound.

LeaderoftheReformUK-ledcouncil,Cllr.MartinGrif�ths,said: "Wehavetostartsomewhere.”

"ThelearningthatwegetfromWellingboroughcanberolledoutnotonlyacrossRushden, KetteringandCorby,butlet'stakeitfurthera�eld-bebrave,beambitious."

WellingboroughPancakeRace

OnSaturday14thFebruary,theWellingboroughTownMayor,Cllr.RajMishra,pickedupafryingpan, andjoinedthecrowdsofenthusiasticresidentsforanannualfree-to-entercelebrationofShrove Tuesdaytraditions—afewdaysearlytomakeitperfectforfamiliesduringhalf-term.

TherealthrillcamewhenRajtookonthechallengeofcompetingwhileridingaPennyFarthingcycle! Hepedalledatoweringvintagebike,flippingapancakemid-race,whiletryingnottowobbleoffcourseordropthepancake.(Hecamesecondoverall!)

Amassivewelldoneandhugecongratulationstotheworthywinner—averyyoungcompetitorwho absolutelysmasheditandtookthegoldwithsomeimpressiveflippingskills.

Thecheersechoingdownthestreetwereincredible.Itwasheart-warmingtoseesomanyfamilies, friends,andfellowlocalsgettingstuckin—whetherracingflatout,cheeringfromthesidelines, dressingupinfancycostumes,ortuckingintothefreepancakesafterwards.

ThePennyFarthingracewasundoubtedlyastandouthighlight,withthosetallwheelsturningand pancakesflying,addingaspectacular,laugh-out-loudtwistthathadthewholestreetinstitchesand applause.

Addinthespecialguestcharacterappearance(bringingextramagicforthekids),medalsforthetop flippers,andtheinfectiousbuzzofcommunityspirit,anditmadeforatrulyflippingfantasticmorning.

Continued:

CllrMishragaveheartfeltthankstoeveryonewhocameout,cheered,volunteered,ortookpart.

“Thesearepreciselytheeventsthatmake Wellingboroughsuchaspecialplacetoliveandwork. Andaspecialshout-outtotheWellingboroughTown Councilteamfororganisingeverythingsobrilliantlyand smoothlyonceagain.”

“Ifyou'rereadingthisandwishingyou'djoinedthefun— don'tworry,there'salwaysnextyear!Whoknows,maybe I'llbebackonthePennyFarthingtodefendmysecond placeorevenaimforthattopspot.”

“Wishingyouallanexcellentrestoftheweekend—and perhapssqueezeinafewmorepancakesbeforeLent getsunderwayonTuesday!”

ReformCouncillors Defect

OnWednesday18thFebruary2026,itwas disclosedthattwocouncillorsonNorth NorthantsCouncilhaddefectedfromReform UKtoanewlyformedpoliticalparty,Restore Britain.

Cllr.JackGoncalvez,whorepresentsthe RushdenLakeswardatNNC,andCllrDarren Rance,whorepresentsWellingborough’s BrickhillandQueenswayward,chosetocross thefloortojoinRestoreBritain.

RestoreBritain,ledbyRupertLowe,was launchedinJune2025,asapressuregroup.It wasregisteredasapoliticalpartyon13th February2026,justdaysbeforethisdefection.

TwodaysafterjoiningRestoreBritain,Cllr. Ranceannouncedthathewasleavingtheparty becauseitis“moresinisterthanhe�rst thought”.Heappearstohaveaskedtoreturnto theReformUKgroup.

OUTANDABOUT

Rushden’sownComicComeventisalmost here!

OnSaturday7th March2026,DrWho-fanscan putontheircapes,chargeuptheirsonic screwdriversandpileintoRushdenLibrary.

TheConventionwillincludeacosplay competitionwiththreecategories: 8-17yrs18yearsGroupentry

ThesecondRushComisalreadyaguaranteed success.

EntryisfreeandNeneHeraldwillbethereto recordthesvent.

CrazyHatsCometoTown

GlennisHooper,authorof'She'sOneCrazyLady'and founderoftheformerCrazyHatscharity,willbe visitingoneofWellingborough’snewbookstores, VoltaBooks,onTuesday10thMarch.

Glenniswillbegivingatalkaboutherbookandher charitywork.Entrancewillbe£5,butthatwillinclude acopyofherbookandadrink.

Thetalkwillstartat7pm,andallthepro�tswillgoto thefundsetupwiththeNorthamptonCommunity FoundationbytheCrazyHatscharity.Thegoalofthe chairtyistosupportnewlydiagnosedbreastcancer patients.

Youcangetmoredetailsandbuyticketsviathis website:

https://volta-books.sumupstore.com/product/she-sone-crazy-lady-talk-with-glennis-hooper

TheBellInnHasClosed

TheBellInninFinedonisnoordinarypubandpossiblytheoldestpubinthecountry.Itisbelieved thatthepub�rstreceiveditslicencefromKingEdwardtheConfessorinthe11thCentury.Thatis evenbeforetheNormanInvasion!

Themostrecentlandlordwasprobablythelongest-servinginthecountry,havingbeenpullingpints foraround56years.

ThatmakesitespeciallysadthattheBellInndelivereditslastpintonSunday25thJanuary2026.

TheBellwasthelastpubinFinedonandthereforeleavesthetownwithoutapub.(Nevertheless, FinedonConservativeClubisstillopentonewMembers!)

NewsinBrief

MuddyVerges

AnewhousingschemeiscurrentlybeingbuiltoutadjacenttoShirleyRoadinRushden.Forcomplex reasons,thebuildingsiteisaccessedthroughProspectAvenue,ratherthanShirleyRoadorJohn ClarkWay(bothofwhichwouldhavebeenmoresensible.)

Thegrassyareanearthesiteentrancehasbeenchurnedupquitebadly. Atthesametime,thepathfromProspectAvenuetotheEastNorthantsGreenwayhasbeenclosed off.

PhoenixTrusteePassesAway

JohnRichardson,alocalTrusteeofthePhoenixResourceCentre,hassadlypassedaway.

ThePhoenixResourceCentre,originallybasedin Wellingborough,isalongstandingfamily-run organisationsetupin2009.Alongwithhiswifeandson, Johnformedacharityaimingtoutilisespareor unwantedconsumergoodsandpassthemontowhere theyareneeded.

Johnwasthemotivatingforcedrivingsomeamazing projectsthatPhoenixarestillrunningtoday.Theyhave establishedlinkswithlocalsupplierstohelpthem managetheirunwantedgoodssavingthemhundredsof thousandsofpoundsperweekandaidingthemto reachtheirenvironmentaltargets.

ThelocalbranchofthePhoenixResourceCentrebased inPortlandRoad,Rushdenwaslaunchedin2024.

Rightuptotheend,JohnwouldbeawelcomingfaceatthedooroftheCentreinRushdentogreetall whocamein,oroutcollectingfromsuppliers.Hewillbegreatlymissed.

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