May 2026 by Nene_Herald

NENE Herald

JubileeSpecial

Rushden’sJubileeParkiscelebratingitscentenary.

TheParkislocatedonthesouthernedgeofRushden,adjacenttoBedfordRoadandKingsmead Park.100yearsago,itwasdonatedtotheTownbytheRushdenIndustrialCo-operativeSocietyand wasnamedtomarkthe50thanniversaryoftheSociety,i.e.itsJubilee!

TheParkbecame thepropertyof East Northamptonshire DistrictCouncilin 1974,whenthe formerRushden UrbanDistrict Councilwas abolished.Itlater returnedto Rushden ownershipin2001 shortlyafter RushdenTown Councilwas created.

Underthe ownershipof RushdenTown Council,thePark hasseen significant investment. ThePark encompassestwo rugbypitchesand asoccerpitch,as wellasalarge upgradedand verypopular skateboardpark. (SeePage3)

ChangingRooms

JubileePark’schangingroomsareaworkofart.Theoutsidewallsareariotofcolour,depicting skateboarders.

Themuralsarepaintedasthoughtheskateboardershavesmashedtheirwaythroughthewalls,with thebricksthrownoutwards.

Theopticalillusionissoconvincingthatyouneedtolookseveraltimestorealisethattheyare murals,notwindowsthroughthewalls.

Thewestwallisthesimplest,showingballoonsdriftingoverthelandscape.

Thesouthwallhas“JubileePark”paintedasaseriesofimaginarywindowsthroughthewalls.Atits easternend,thesouthwallhasastandalonedepictionofaskateboarderkickinghiswaythroughthe wall.

Theeasternwallofthebuildingisanotheractionimage.Itshowstwoskateboarderscrashingthrough thewall,andagirlonabicycleridingintothesunset.

ThepaintingsweredonebyourownlocalBanksy,MarkPacan,fromIrthlingborough.

JubileePark’sSkateboardPark

JubileePark’sskateboardparkinRushdenisasubstantialone,withmultiplepaths.

Theoriginalwell-usedrampswerewooden,butunfortunately,by2014,ithadbecomeapparentthat thewholestructurewasunsafeandindangerofcollapsing.

RushdenTownCouncilwereforcedtotakethedifficultdecisiontodemolishtheramp.Theythen beganinvestigatingsourcesoffundingandsetupaworkingparty,involvingusersoftheskateboard park,todesignnewrampsthatwouldmeettheneedsofthecommunity.

Aftercarefulconsideration,theoldrampswerereplacedwithconcreteonesdesignedwithvarious trackstosuitalllevelsofusers.Thenewrampsofficiallyopenedon16thJuly2016.

Theconcreterampswerewellreceivedandhavesincebeengrafitied,bysomeone.

Thegraffitidesignsontherampsaremoretraditionalthanthosedecoratingthechangingrooms,but equallystriking.

NNCLeadership

OnTuesday14thApril,theReformUK councillorsonNorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC) metfortheirGroup’sAnnualGeneralMeeting (AGM).AsthemainGrouponNNC,theLeader ofReformisalsotheLeaderoftheCouncil.

Atthemeeting,ithasbeenreportedthatavote washeldontheLeadershipoftheirGroup,and thatCllr.EddieMcDonaldchallengedCllr.Martin GriffithsfortheLeadershipoftheGroup.

Cllr.MartinGriffithswonthevoteandhe thereforeremainsLeaderoftheReformUK groupofcouncillorsandofNNCforthecoming municipalyear.

Cllr.GrahamCheatleyhasbecomeNNC’snew DeputyLeader.HeiscurrentlytheExecutive memberforFinance,EfficiencyandChange.He willretainthisimportantresponsibilityalongside hisnewroleasDeputyLeaderoftheCouncil.

Cllr.ChrisKellettisthenewExecutiveMember forAdultsandHealthPartnerships.

“AirAda”

“Ennitbinluvvlygal!Meksya wannastripufansunbathe dunnit.”He!He!He!

MonoworldAllowedtoRebuild

OnWednesday8thApril2026,ReformcontrolledNorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC) grantedplanningconsenttoMonoworld RecyclingLimitedforarebuildofpartoftheir facilityinRushden.

TheMonoworldfacilityislocatedatSanders LodgeIndustrialEstate,Rushden.Therebuild followedafireatthefacilityon23rd May2025, whenbalesofwastecaughtfire.

Thefirecausedchaos.Thesmokeroseand spreadacrossRushden,HighamFerrers, RingsteadandevenRaunds.Theplumeof smokewasvisibleasfarsouthasBedford, andasfareastasHuntingdon.

Residentscomplainedaboutthepungentsmellfromthethickblackplumeofsmoke.Theywere advisedtokeepalltheirwindowsanddoorsshut.Twodayslater,thestenchwasstillpungenthalfa mileaway.

Twoweekslater,on7thJune,localresidentGillMercerwrotetoNNC’sPublicHealthofficer

“AsIliveclosetothissite,IcantellyouthatIcanstillsmellthesmokeanditisstillirritatingmyeyes whenIsitinmyofficeatthefrontofmyhouse.”

Localresidentswereadvised,twoweeksafterthefire,towashthoroughlyanyproducefromtheir gardens,towipedownanyoutsidetablesandtowashtheirgardeningshoesbeforetakingthem indoors.Itisnotclearwhattoxinsweresuspected.

Inthepast,residentshavecampaignedstrongly,claimingthatthefliesemanatingfromthesitehave plaguedthem.Activistshavealsosuggestedthatthehugewastepileswereafirehazard.Theirfears weredismissedasunrealistic,buttheyhavebeenprovedright.

Theincidenthighlightedthatthewatersupplyontheindustrialestatewasinsufficientforfightingthe fire.

Inordertoaccessadditionalwatersources,NorthantsFire&RescueService(NFRS)hadtolay temporarywaterpipesacrossWellingboroughRoad,forcingtheclosureofthismainarterialroadinto Rushden.

Theroadremainedclosedfortwoweeks.Therearenoestimatesoftheeconomicdamagethatthis caused.

TheapplicationwasopposedbyConservative-controlledRushdenTownCouncilandbylocal objectors.

AtthemeetingofNNC’sPlanningCommittee,Cllr.MelanieColeman,theLeaderofRushdenTown Council,spokeopposingtheapplication,alongwithWardCouncillor,Cllr.AshHall.

ResidentGillMerceralsospoketoopposetheapplication.

CCTVFace Recognition

NorthamptonshirePoliceareusingLiveFacial Recognition(LFR)cameras.Theyhave currentlydeployedtheminNorthampton, KetteringandCorby.Theyplantousethemin WellingboroughonWednesday13thMay2026.

ItispartofOperationRelentless-anoperation aimedathigh-riskindividuals.

OnbehalfoftheForce,DCSSteveWatkins said: "Weknowitgetsbusierinthesummer andthattherearemorepeopleout.Wewant tomaximiseouropportunitytoidentify peoplewhoarewanted,high-riskor outstanding."

ANorthantsPolicespokespersonsaid: "Membersofthepublicwillseesignagein placearoundanyoperationalareas,and uniformedofficerswillbeavailableto answerquestionsandprovidereassurance."

HometoSchoolFee Risesby21.4%

Reform-controlledNorthNorthamptonshire Councilhasannouncedthatthefeesfornonstatutoryhometoschooltravelwillincrease fromSeptember.

Forthe2026-2027schoolyear,theannualcost forthosewhohavetopayforschooltransport willrisefrom£795ayearto£965,anincrease of21.4%.

CllrChrisMcGiffen,NNC’sexecutivemember forHighwaysandTravel,said:

“Thisisatoughdecisionthatwe’vehadto make.”

“Foryearstheamountthatwascharged wasnotincreasedsufficientlyandthe amountithasbeensubsidisedhasjust goneupanduptoapointwheretheissue mustbeaddressed.”

“WearealisteningcouncilandIknowthat theremaybesomewhofindthisincrease hard.That’swhywehaveseveralmeasures inplacetohelpmitigatethisandI’d encouragepeopletohavealookonour websiteandseewhatsupportisonhand.”

WaendelWelcomes Walkers

The45thInternationalWaendelWalkwilltake placeovertheweekendfromFriday8thto Sunday10thMay2026.CastleTheatrewillbe thestartandfinishpointofallthewalks.

ThiseventisorganisedbyWellingborough TownCouncil(WTC)andsupportedbythe WaendelWalkWorkingGroup.

Forthosewishingtotakepart,onlineticketsare availableuntilmidnightonWednesday6thMay 2026.

Formoreinformation,pleasecontactWTCvia email: waendelwalk@wellingboroughtowncouncil.gov. uk.

TheJuneissueofNeneHeraldwillhavea detailedreportoftheWalk.

TreeStump’s SecondLife

Lastyear,themagnificentbeechtreein Rushden’sHallPark,collapsed.Attentionwas alertedwhentherewasaloudcrack,asthe trunksseparated.Therethenfolloweda resoundingthudastheyhittheground.

Itcouldhavekilledpeople,butRushdenTown Council(RTC)hadsensiblyputupabarrierand anexclusionzonearoundthetreebeforeit crashedtotheground.

Sincethen,RTChasworkedhardtocleanup themessandmakegooduseoftheresidue.

Contractorswerecalledintocutupthefallen treetrunks.Theywereturnedintobenchesand placedaroundthePark.

Thestumpitselfwasconvertedintoaraised flowerbed.Arangeofflowerswereplantedinit. Unfortunately,vandalshavenowpulledupthe biggerones,leavingjusttheflowersthatare showninthephotograph.

TheTownCouncilwillundoubtedlyreplacethe lostplants,butit’sdisappointingthatthishasto bedone.

TwilightWalk

March28thsawRushden’s3rdannualTwilight Walk.

TheWalkwasstartedbyDianeDevereux, whosehusbandDeandiedfromabraintumour in2022.Thewalkandstallsraisedmoneyfor theBrainTumourCharity.

Theweatherwasperfect,asthewalkerssetoff fromRushdenHallonthewalk Ithadbeenrainingearlier,buttherainceased andthesunshoneonthewalkers.

ThewalkersstrodedownhilloutofHallPark, intothecentreofRushdenandthenturned southalongHighStreetSouth.Theythen walkedupWymingtonRoadandcircledround beforere-enteringHallParkfromthenorth.

Stallsweresetupatthestart/finishline,along withBeatRouteRadioStation’soutside broadcastvan.

Rushden’sTownMayor,Cllr.GillMercer,was theretowishthewalkerswellandwavethem off.

Theeventwasn’tarivaltoWellingborough’s WaendelWalk,butitwasawonderfulafternoon, withweathertomatch.

EmpoweringFunds tobe Cut

Councillorsaretheelectedrepresentativeswhoareclosesttotheircommunities.Ifthereisalocal problem,theelectedWardMemberswillprobablybefirsttolearnaboutit.

Forthisreason,NorthantsCountyCouncil(NCC)introduced“EmpowermentFunds”.Theywere smallbudgetsthatcouncillorscouldusetohelpsupportthelocalcommunitywithintheirWard, withouttheredtapeofaformalcouncilgrant,oralltheaccompanyingpaperworkandofficertimeto supportit.

Agoodexamplewas“TheHedgesRadioShadow”.

Asteel-sidedwarehousewasbuiltontheeasternedgeofRushden.Thesteelsidesofthe warehouseblockedradiosignalsfromtheSandyHeathtransmitter.Asaresult,over100homesin andaroundTheHedgeslosttheirTVreception.

Apparently,theproblemwascausedbyanoversightinplanning.Theplannershadnotconsidered theimpactofthesteelsideswhentheygrantedplanningconsentforthewarehouse.

TheproblemwasfixedbyCllr.AndyMercer,thelocalNCCcouncillor,usinganEmpoweringFund grant.Thegrantpaidforeachhomeintheradioshadowtohaveasatellitedishinstalled,which reinstatedTVreceptionforthosehouses.

Onanotheroccasion,ahousingdeveloperwentbustbeforelayingthefinalsurfaceonanewestate road.AvulnerableindividualfellandwastakentoA&Ebecauseoftheunfinishedroadsurface.An EmpoweringFundgrantallowedthisroadtobefixed..Afinallayeroftarmacwasprovided,sothat theroadsurfacebecamesafetocross.

GiventhehistoryofthegoodworkprovidedbytheFunding,whenNorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC) wasformedin2021,itdecidedtoretaintheEmpowermentscheme.

Thisyear,thenewReform-ledadministrationatNNChavemadechangestotheschemeandare nowconsideringreducingthefundingbyhalf.

Iftheproposalwasagreed,itwouldsavearound£68,000outofabudgetofapproximately£405.5m, i.e.roughly0.00017%.

Inaddition,Empowermentgrantswouldonlybeavailablefor3monthsoftheyear.Inthecaseofthe unfinishedroadsurface,itwouldhavemeantthattheroadwouldhaveremaineddangerousuntilthe nextyear.

Duetoconcernsaboutthis,thetopicwasreviewedbyNNC’sCorporateScrutinyCommitteeon27th AprilandwillbebroughtbacktotheNNCExecutiveforadecisionon12thMay2026.

GiantballoonsinvadedWellingborough’stowncentreon Saturday21stMarch.

TheyweretheworkofMadeWithMany,whocanbecontactedat: https://madewithmany.org/

TheballoonsmadeaspectacularsceneoutsidetheHalifaxbank.

Itmusthavemadeaninterestingbackdropforcoffeedrinkersat theCastelloLounge.

BalloonBonanza

HighwaysRepairs

JustbeforethelocalelectionsinMay2025,Cllr.MartinGriffithsofReformUKwasaskedhow Reformwouldremedythepoorconditionoftheroads.

ThereplybyCllr.MartinGriffithswas:

·RenegotiatetheKiercontract

·Fullyauditthecouncilsspendonhighways

·Scrutinisethecontractor’sperformance.

It’sayearlater,andReformnowrunNorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)andCllr.GriffithsistheLeader ofNNC.OnThursday2ndofApril2026,NNC’sPlaceandEnvironmentScrutinyCommitteewastold thatthecontractforhighwaysmaintenancewouldbeextendedforoneyear.TheCommitteewasalso toldthatserviceonhighwayswas"passable".Thissurprisedsomeobservers,giventhenumberof potholesacrossthedistrict.Perhapsitmeansthatitispossibleto‘pass’thepotholes,providedyou driveslowlyenough.

FluttersBackonthe Market

TheformerRitztheatre/cinemainCollege Street,Rushden,whichlaterbecameFlutters Bingo,wassoldatauctionon29October2024 for£400,000.Itisnowbackonthemarketwith anaskingpriceofnearly£800,000.

Theownersaidtheyhadreached"abitofa stalemate",butthatthebuildinghad"alotof potential".

Whenthepropertyfirstcameupforsale, severallocalcommunitygroupshadtriedto buyitwithplanstorenovatethebuilding.They especiallywantedtopreservetheartdeco frontage,whichisadistinctivefeatureof Rushden’stowncentre,andturnitbackintoa theatre.

However,theywereputoffbythecost.In particular,thebuildinghasalotofasbestosin itsstructure,whichwouldbeexpensiveto remove.

Thelatestnewsonthisisthattheowneris askingforcommentsonwhetherthepublic wouldliketohavethisbackasaBingoHall,as hehasabingocompanyinterestedinit.

Loosey-GooseySnackBar

DuringtheCovidLockdown,thenightlifeofour Townswasseverelydamaged.Evennow,halfa decadelater,ithasnotrecovered.Drivethroughthe Towncentresintheeveninganditiseerilyquiet, comparedwithtenyearsago.

Thishashurtourlocaleconomies,butthedamage goesmuchdeeper.Pubs,clubs,restaurantsand theatresarewherepeoplesocialise.

Withfewerpeoplegoingoutintheevening,society asawholeisdamaged.Peoplemeetlessoften,they getfewerchancestomakenewfriends,andthey becomemoreisolated.

Further,thenight-timedestinationsarewheremanyyoungpeoplegettheirfirstjobs,andan opportunitytoentertheworkforce.Therearefewerjobs,andespeciallyfewerentry-leveljobs.

TheWelcomeInninRushden’sIrchesterRoadwasoneofthosedestinationsthatsufferedunderthe lockdown.Therewerecelebrationswhenitmanagedtore-open.

Withthathistory,itispleasingtoseethatnotonlyisitopen-for-business,butthatithasspawned anothernewbusiness.

TheLoosey-GooseybarissatintheWelcomeInn’scarparkandofferingsnacksandmore.

COVIDisStillAround

Covidisstillinfectingandkillingpeople.Itkillssomedirectlyandsomeindirectly.

SomehavediedbecausetheearlierwavesofCovidmonopolisedtheNHS,andstoppednon-Covid patientsfrombeingtreated.Bythetimethattherewerebedsavailable,theirillnesses,(suchas cancer),hadbecomeuntreatable.

OtherindirectdeathsarehappeningbecauseCoviddamagestheimmunesystemandgivesother, unrelateddiseasesa“freepass”.(Thiscontinueslongaftertheinitialinfection.)

Now,anewCovidvariant,“Cicada”,isspreading.Inseverity,itisnoworsethantheOmicronstrain, butithasmanynewmutations.Thesewillgiveittheabilitytoevadeearlyvaccines.Itistherefore importantforvulnerablepeopletogetthelatestCovidbooster.

CicadawasfirstdetectedinSouthAfricainNovember2024.Thisisnotsurprising,asseveralCovid variantshaveoriginatedinthatcountry.

Inthe1990s,thegovernmentofSouthAfricahadanunfortunatepolicyfordealingwiththeearlier HIVpandemic.Itopposedtheuseof“expensive”anti-retroviraldrugs.ThisledtoHIVspreading widelyamongthepopulation.

SouthAfrica’snationalstatisticalauthority,“StatisticsSouthAfrica”estimatedthatby2018,19.0%of SouthAfricanadultshadHIV.SouthAfricathereforehasahugebodyofpeoplewithcompromised immunesystems,(becauseHIVdestroystheimmunecells.)Thosepoorpeoplecanbeinfectedby SARS-Cov-2andthenhavedifficultypurgingitfromtheirbodies.Itthereforehasanextended chancetomutate.Asaconsequence,newstrainsofCovidarelikelytoevolveinSouthAfrica.

Formoreinformation,seetheBritishMedicalJournalpaper"HIVandcovid-19inSouthAfrica",by JosephFreerandVanessaMudaly,publishedon27January2022..BMJ.376e069807.doi:10.1136/ bmj-2021-069807.ISSN1756-1833.PMID35086921.

St.GeorgeandtheDragon

England’spatronsaintisSt.George,andhisdeathiscommemoratedon23rdAprileachyear. Bycoincidence23rdAprilisalsotheanniversaryofShakespeare’sdeath It’sadaywhentheEnglishcelebratebeingEnglish.

RushdenTownCouncil(RTC)celebrateditsEnglishheritagewithaflag-raisingeventinthecentreof theTown.Meanwhile,attheTownentrance,St.George’sDragoncrouchedalongsidethe“Bikers”.

TheTownMayormadeaspeechandthenourownmoviestar,DavidHawker,readapatrioticpoem.

Thiswasfollowedbyaquotefromtheworld’sgreatestplaywright,themanwhoputEnglishonthe mapasalanguagetostandalongsideLatinandGreek.

ShakespeareturnedEnglishfromaminorGermanicdialect,intoaworldlanguage,withaheritageto matchanyclassicaltongue.

Andthen,onthis,themostEnglishofDays,thecrowdshouted:

‘CryGodforHarry,England,andSaintGeorge!”

A6BridgetoCloseAgain

Reform-controlledNorthNorthantsCouncil (NNC)areplanningtoclosetheA6bridgeover theRiverNeneatIrthlingborough.

Theroadwillbeclosedonthefollowingdates:

·Friday8thMay2026from8pm,untilMonday 11thMay2026,6am

·Monday11thMay2026from8pm,until Tuesday12thMay2026,6am

·Friday29thMay2026from8pm,until Monday1stJune2026,6am

·Monday1stJunefrom8pm,untilTuesday 2ndJune,6am

NNCstatethattheworkisthestartofphasedrewaterproofingandexpansionjointreplacement ofthereinforcedconcreteviaduct.

Cllr.ChrisMcGiffen,NNC’sExecutiveMember forHighwaysandTravelsaid:

“Weunderstandthatfullweekendroad closurescanbeinconvenient,butthese worksareessentialtoprotectthelong-term safetyandintegrityoftheIrthlingborough Viaduct.Bycarryingoutthemajorityof worksoveraweekend,wearesignificantly reducingdisruptiontoweekdaytraffic, commuters,andlocalbusinesses.”

“Iwouldliketothankresidentsandroad usersfortheirpatiencewhilethese importantimprovementsarecompleted.”

Theclosurewillforcemotoriststouse diversions.Themostaccessiblewillbevia DitchfordLane.

Therehavebeenaseriesofdangerous potholesonthebridge.Onseveraloccasions, thosepotholeshaveburstthetyresofcars crossingthebridge.

AtonepointinJanuarythisyear,itwassobad thatthepoliceclosedtheroad.

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