NENE Herald
ComicConSpecialIssue
Comic-ConisheldannuallyinSanDiego,withclonesaroundtheworld.TicketsforComic-Conareas rareasthoseforGlastonbury-ExceptinRushden!
Rushden’sLibraryhadtheirownComic-Con,crammedintotheCarnegieLibrarybuilding.Heldon Saturday5thofOctober,theresultwasstunning–AnditwasFREE.
DoctorWhoexhibitsandcos-playerswereonetheme.(SeearticleonPage4.)
StarWarsfigures,animecostumesandNetFlix’s“Wednesday”wereallpresent.On-stageinthe morning,weregroupsofsingersanddancers.Intheafternoon,therewasastageshow,witha Cosplayercontest.
TheBattleforRushdenLakes-Part2
ThisisthesecondinstalmentofNeneHerald’sstoryabouthowRushdenLakescameintobeing.
ThePublicHearing
EastNorthamptonshireCouncilhadapprovedtheRushdenLakesscheme,butneighbouringcouncils hadblockeditby“callingitin”.Thismeantthatpermissiontobuildtheschemewouldbedetermined ‘nationally’bytheSecretaryofState(amemberoftheUKCabinetinLondon).ThePlanning InspectoratewasinstructedtoappointaPlanningInspector,whowouldholdaPublicInquiryintothe schemeproposedbythedevelopers,LxB.Hewouldthenwriteareportontheplanningapplication.
ThePublicHearingwasheldintheCouncilChamberofENC.Itwasoneofthebiggestevertobeheld inthearea.Multipleplanningbarristers,solicitors,consultantsandotherexpertsattended.Therewere fourPlanningQC’s(thehighestrankofbarrister),includingthehighestratedinthecountry.TheHearing lastedthreeweeksandthepileofevidencewasseveralfeetthick.OneoftheQC’stoldthescheme’s supportersthathehadneverbeenataHearinglikeit.Normally,herepresentedmajordeveloperswho weretryingtoforcethroughschemesthatlocalpeopleopposed.HewasmoreusedtobeingtheBad Guy.AttheRushdenLakesHearing,thelocalpeople“wanted” thescheme,andhefoundhimselfalocal hero.Atonepoint,therewaseventhehintofatearinhiseyes.Thelocalsupportersofthescheme, determinedtogettheschemethrough,wereamazinglywellorganised.
OnedayoftheHearingwassetasideforatouroftheareabythelegalteams.Therouteandtimings werekeptsecret.However,thesupportersoftheschemehadaplan.Observerswerestationedatmajor roadjunctions,andtheyphonedthroughwithreportsoftheroutetheminibuswastaking.Alarge-scale mapoftheareawasmarkedwiththeprogressofthetour.Ateachstage,thepossiblenextstagesof thetourwereplotted.Ateamofsupporterswithplacardsandsignssupportingtheschemeweresentto greettheminibusatitsnextstoppingpoint.Wheretwopossiblerouteswereplotted,twoteamswere dispatched.TheresultwasthatthetourbusfoundcrowdsofRushdenLakessupporterseverywhere thattheywent.Itbecameimpossibleforanybodytoclaimthattheschemewasunpopular.
TowardstheendoftheHearing,adaywasallocatedforPublicSpeakers.Thesupportersofthescheme assembledagroupofactivistswhowerepreparedtospeakinpublic.Thisrequiredgreatdealofnerve, becausetheywerequestionedabouttheirspeechesbyhighlyqualifiedQCs.Thepublicspeakerswere veryorganised.Eachpresentedadifferenttopicandtheirspeecheswerewellrehearsed.
TheopponentsoftheschemestartedthePublicInquiryassumingthattheywouldwineasily,because theyclaimedtheschemeconflictedwithmultipleplanningpolicies.Theywereconvincedthatitwould beeasytoforceaRefusalofthescheme.
Theteamsassemblereadyfortheoff!
TheQC’sopposingtheschemehaddecadesofexperienceofPlanningAppealsandcopiouslegal qualifications.Despitetheseadvantages,theywerecompletelyout-thoughtandout-manoeuvredbya teamoflocalactivistswhohadneverattendedaPublicInquirybeforeintheirlives.
EastNorthamptonshireHouse,Thrapston LookoutforthenextinstalmentintheDecemberIssuewherewedescribethepublicday.
ChesterHouseFullyOpen
NorthNorthantsCouncil(NNC)hasnearlycompletedworkontheChesterHouseEstate,anationally significantheritagesitecelebratingover10,000yearsofhumanactivity.Itissituatedbetween WellingboroughandRushdenLakesandcanbereachedbycarfromtheeastboundcarriagewayof theA45.
TheEstateincludesahistoricRomansitecurrentlyunderexcavationbyteamsofvolunteers.In additiontothehistoricsignificance,itisalsoagreatplacetospendanafternoonoranevening.
Inthelastfewmonths,ChesterHouseEstates hashosted:
•Manytributebandconcerts
•Outdoorcinemashowing
•PrincessPartyandSummerFestival forkids
•SilentDisco
•BeautyandtheBeastTheatreShow
•EmergencyServiceDay(meetingthe (Emergencyservices)
Onthe30th November,theyarestaging“The ElvesandtheShoemakerShow”.Ticketscan bebookedvia www.chesterhouseestate.org.
Furtherdetailsonthesiteandfutureevents canalsobefoundonthewebsiteorbyvisiting theDiscoverNorthamptonshireCentreat RushdenLakes(nearthecinema).
TheDoctorWhoExperience
DoctorWhocosplaywasabigpartofthisyear’s RushdenComic-ConheldatRushdenLibrary. ThreeTimeLordsteleportedinfortheevent.
“RoguesGallifrey”,aDoctorWhocostuming group,alsobroughtalongaTardisandaK9.
ThesecondDoctorintheseries,(Patrick Troughton),broughtalongtheK9.Itwasashell whenheobtainedit.Hehassinceupgradedit sothatitnowspeaksandmoves!
ThethirdDoctor(JonPertwee),wasperfect eventhoughhewasfourinchestallerthanthe original!
ThefourthDoctor,(TomBaker),wasascharmingastheoriginal,andhisscarfwasasjolly.Likethe original,hehandedoutjellybabies.
TheirTardiswas(fortunately)notworking,butstillveryimpressive.Itwasanamazingexperience
HowManyWinter FuelDeaths?
Eatingorheating,isadecisionthatnearly 17,000localpensionerscouldhavetoface thiswinter.
In2017,LabourclaimedthatcuttingtheWinter FuelAllowancewouldcausethedeathsof 3,850pensionersinthewinter.SirKeir StarmerwasamemberoftheShadow Cabinetthatmadethisclaim.Despitethis,the newLabourGovernmentledbySirKeir StarmerhasstoppedtheWinterFuel Allowances(WFA)forpensionerswhodonot receivebenefits.
TheLabourMPforWellingboroughand Rushden,votedinfavourofthiscut.
AnotherLabourMP,RosieDuffield,however, stoodbyherprinciplesandresignedfromthe LabourPartyinprotestatthecuts.Ifthecut isn’treversed,around16,975pensionersin WellingboroughandRushdenwilllosetheir WFAandbeatrisk.Havingcomethroughone energycrisisbroughtaboutbytheinvasionof Ukraine,vulnerablepensionersareagain beingforcedtodecidebetweenheatingand eating.
LocalLabourCouncillorsSupportedthe Cut
On17October2024atameetingofNorth NorthantsCouncil,amotionwascalledforthe CouncilLeadertowritetothePrimeMinister requestinghereconsiderthiscut.
TheLabourcouncillorspresentatthemeeting spokeinsupportofthecut.Theythenvoted againstthemotionandtriedtoblockthe CouncilLeaderfromwritingtheletter.
‘Bluetongue’ HitsLocalFarmers
Bluetongueisadiseaseoflivestockandithas beensweepingacrossEurope.Itnowappears tohavereachedourarea.
DEFRAhasimposedmovementrestrictionson ourarea,whichwillpreventfarmersmoving livestockandsellingittopaytheirbills.
CllrDavidBrackenbury,NNCCouncil’s ExecutiveMemberforGrowthand Regeneration,said:
“Restrictionslikethisareintroducedto hopefullypreventfurthercasesofBluetongue andwemustdoallwecantotryandstopthis veryinfectiousdiseasefromspreadingfurther acrossthecountry.”
Thisisbadnewsforourlocalfarmers.
VATonUniversity Fees
TheLabourGovernmentplanstolevyVATon privateeducation.Everyoneassumedthatthis meantprivateschools.However,thereisa problem.
TheGovernmentdefinesaprivateschoolasa fee-paying“institutionatwhichfull-time educationisprovidedforpersonsover compulsoryschoolagebutunder19andwhich isprincipallyconcernedwithproviding educationsuitabletotherequirementsofsuch persons(forexample,asixthformcollege)”. Thiscovers“publicschools”,butitalsocovers universities!
Attendinguniversityisanaspirationformany, butuniversityfeesarealreadysohighthat manypooreryoungstersand/ortheirparents cannotaffordthem.
With20%addedontop,weriskpricingthe less-affluantoutofuniversityeducation altogether.
Inthe19thCentury,universitieswerejustfor therich.Surely,wecan’tbegoingbacktothat, canwe?
Water,Watereverywhere…
WellingboroughLakes
ThereareIrthlingboroughLakesandMeadows,StanwickLakes,thenwehaveRushdenLakes.With theexceptionalrainfallthisSeptember,youcouldnowsay wehaveWellingboroughLakes. TheRiverNeneatWellingboroughEmbankmenthasahistoryoffloodinginsevereweatherandthe fieldsoneithersideoftheriverarepronetosubmergeunderwater.
ThisSeptembersawatleastthreetimestheaveragerainfallforthemonth.ThisresultedintheNene seriouslyburstingitsbanksandnearbyfieldsbecomingfloodedtoaconsiderabledepth.
FloodedCarParksbecameSwanLakes
Peoplesometimestalkabouttheirbudgetbeing“under-water”.Well,thecarparksonthe Embankmentwerewellunderwater.DisabledParkingbaysweregenuinely“disabled”.
Swanswerepaddling,wherekidsshouldhavebeenplaying.
TheB573alongsidetheEmbankmentwasblockedanumberoftimesbyswanscommutingback andforthbetweentheswollenriverandthefieldsnowturnedintolakes.
High-FlyingAdventureAttheCastle
PeterPanwillbeflyingacrossthestageattheCastleTheatrein Wellingborough.ThejourneyintoNeverlandoffersfunforallthe familywithplentyofaudienceparticipation.
JackTrinder,amulti-talentedsingerandactor,starsasPeterPan, whileDanielTaylorplaystheevilvillain,CaptainHook.
AlsostarringareHollyToppingasWendy,GaryL.JohnsonasMrs Smee,andElizabethBrightasMiatheMermaid.AidanDunlop playsStinkythePirateandLaura-JayneWoodsisStarleythe Pirate.
Theshowrunsfrom1st to31st Decemberandticketscanbe bookedvia01933270007orviacastletheatre.co.uk.
CineworldSafe (forthetimebeing)
TheCineworldatRushdenLakesseemsto havebeensaved(forthemoment).The CineworldinBedfordisclosing!
AcinemaforRushdenwastheNo.1 aspirationofresidentswhentheRushden Lakesdevelopmentwasfirstcontemplated. Thiswasmadequitecleartothedevelopers, LxB,whotwoyearslatermanagedtosecure Cineworld.
TheopeningofthecinemaatRushdenLakes notonlymettheaspirationoflocalpeople,it alsorepresentedalandmarkforCineworld.It wastheir100thcinema.
TheRushdenLakesCineworldisafacility rarelyseenoutsidecapitalcities.Itisa stunningcomplex,with14state-of-the-art screens.TwoofthesehaveiMAXwithlasers, representingaquantumleapforwardin cinematechnology.
Theyalsohave4DX,arevolutionary cinematicconcept,whichstimulatesallfive senses.The4DXscreenhashigh-tech movingseatswithexhilaratingspecialeffects includingwind,fog,waterandscentsthat synchroniseperfectlywiththeactionon screen,tofullyimmerseyouinthemovie.
TheRushdenLakesCineworldalsohas ScreenXwith270-degreepanoramicviewing thatpullsyouintotheworldofthefilm.There areonlyfourteenotherscreensofthistypein thecountry.
ThecomplexalsohasStarbucksandBaskin Robbins.
Thenightsarenowdrawinginandtheweatheris deterioratingsowhynotenjoytimeatthecinema havingafully-immersiveexperience.Weneed “bums-on-seats”toensurethatthisfantasticasset staysopenforthepeopleofWellingboroughand Rushdentoenjoy.
TheTwo-ChildBenefitCap
Thecurrentbenefitssystemlimitsclaimantstoclaimingfortwochildren.Thisautomatically generateschildpoverty.Mostcharitiesagreethatthisiswrong.
Untilrecently,Labouragreedthatthiswaswrong.In2020,AngelaRayner,theDeputyPrimeMinister tweeted“Theobsceneandinhumanetwochildcapmustgo.”
However,wheninoffice,theLabourGovernmentdidaU-turn.InJulythisyear,thegovernment voteddownanamendmentthatwouldhaveremovedthecap.
TheythenwentevenfurtherandsuspendedsevenLabourMPsforvotinginfavourofabolishingthe Two-ChildCap.
ItwasoneofthereasonswhyLabour’sRosieDuffieldMPhasquittheLabourParty.
TheCaseforaRushdenStation
Lastmonth,NeneHeraldsaidthatitwouldbeacampaigningnewspaperanditscurrentcampaignis foramainlinestationtoserveRushdenandHighamFerrers.
Withapopulationofaround35,000,RushdenisbyfarthelargesttowninEnglandthatdoesnothave aworkingrailwaystation.TherearevillagesatenththesizeofRushdenthathaveastation.Some, likeBrundallinNorfolk(population4,019),havetwo!
WhyDoesn’tRushdenHaveaStation?
Atonepoint,Rushdendidhaveaworkingrailwaystation,albeitonabranchline,butthestationand thebranchlinewerebothshutdownaspartoftheDrBeechingReview.Theperiodfromthe mid-1950suntilthelate1970swasabadtimeforBritishrailways.Theywerelosingmoneyandfew peoplewantedtotravelontheovercrowded,dirty,rollingstock.Therehadbeenlittleinvestmentfor decadesandrailwayswereunfashionable.ThenationalisedrailwaynetworkwascostingtheTreasury largesums,andotherareas(e.g.theNHS)wantedthemoney.
Intheearly1960s,thegovernmentinstructedDr.Beechingtotakecontroloftherailwaynetworkand ‘prune’ittoaviablesize,Hechoppedawaymostoftheunprofitablebranchlinenetwork.Although unprofitable,branchlinesfeedcommuterstothemainlinenetwork.Bycuttingawaythebranches,the trunknetworkthenbecameunprofitableaswell.Themorethatwascut,thelessprofitablethe remainderbecame.
Rushden’sbranchlinewasoneoftheprunedbranches.MuchofthetrackbedlinkingRushdenand HighamFerrerstoWellingborough’smainlinestationwasthensoldoffandbuilton(Waitrosenowsits onpartoftheroute).TherailwaybridgenexttoRushden’sAsdawasalsoremoved.Closingthe stationandthebranchlinewasillogicalandshort-sighted.Itdamagedthelocaleconomybyhelping tomakethedominantlocalindustry(theBootandShoeTrade)non-viable.
InthenextissueofNeneHerald,we’llexplainwhythepeopleofRushdenandHighamFerrersshould haveeasyaccesstotheirownmainlinerailwaystation.
TheviewfromthebridgeatIrchester
CrisisCafesinWellingborough&Rushden
TheCrisisCaféprovidessupportandsafetytoanyoneinneedbyofferingcopingmechanismsand managementtechniquestohelpreducetheriskofcrisis.Anyonewhois18oroverandwhofinds themselvesinacrisisorinofneedsupportwiththeirmentalhealthcanattendaCrisisCafé.
Thereisnoneedtocallandbookanappointment,youcansimplydropinatthecentre.Oneisat RushdenMind,PhoenixHouse,Skinner'sHill,Rushden,NN109YE.
Theopeninghoursare:
MondayTuesdayWednesdaySunday
12-10PM12-10PM12-10PM2-8PM
TheCrisisCaféforWellingboroughisat WellingboroughMind,14HavelockStreet, Wellingborough,NN84QA
Theopeninghoursare:
ThursdayFridaySaturday
12-10PM12-10PM2-8PM
GlamisHallV.I.P.Club
TheQueenswayareaofWellingboroughisblessedwithGlamisHall,anexcellentcommunitycentre.
GlamisrunsaVIPClub,whichprovides:helpwithbenefitsandsocialcareassessments,daytrips, hairdresserandpodiatrist,shoppingandlaundryserviceandassistedbathing.
ItrunsMonday-to-Friday,9:30amto3pm.
Youcancallthemon01933-677326orvisittheirwebsiteat:www.glamishall.org.uk.
SpencerPark LiveMusicin Rushden
Rushden’sSpencerParkisthelocationofthe annualRushdenFeastandwhereseveral footballteamsholdmatchesregularly.
TheParkisnamedafterJohnSpencer.Born inNorthampton,hemovedtoRushdentowork inthebootandshoeindustry.Hewasoneof thefoundermembersoftheRushdenUrban DistrictCouncilwhenitwascreatedin1894.
ItwasthePark’s110thanniversarylastyear. Tocommemoratetheevent,RushdenTown Councilcommissionedalocalartisttopainta muralonthesideofthepavilioninthepark.
ThemuralisatributetoJohnSpencerand depictstheWorldWar1tankthatkidsusedto playoninthePark.
Livemusicisaliveandwell!
Mostweeks,therearelivebandsplayingatthe RushdenConservativeClub.Thefull programmeoverthecomingweeksincludes somethingforeveryone.FreeforClub members.
·26Oct2024BigPhatJukebox(8pieceband)
·2Nov20244PlayQuo (StatusQuoTributeband)
·9Nov2024Wind
·10Nov2024Sally (RemembranceSundayTribute)
·16Nov2024MidnighttoSixMen
·23Nov2024Empire
·30Nov2024Kickstart
·14Dec2024AllFABBeatle(bySteveMaidla)
·15Dec2024Bullett’sMotownandSoul
·24Dec2024RustySpoons
·26Dec2024CaraHoward (BoxingDayEntertainment)
·27Dec2024AbsolutelyElton
·31Dec2024DiscoDave’sNewYearsEve
OneoftherecentbandswasTroubadour.They entertainedthepatronsoftheClubwitha mixtureofBluesandRock.
TheLegoClub
RushdenandLEGOBrickshavebeenlinked fordecades.Osborne’sSports&Toysin RushdenHighStreetisfamousasthefirst shopinthecountrytostockLEGO.Thiswas recognisedbyLEGOBricksin2018when Osborne’swaschosenastheonlyvenueinthe UKtobeusedtomarkits60thanniversary.
Now,itgoesastagefurther.
SomeadultsbuildelaborateLEGOstructures, butmoststartedwhentheywereyoung.
OrganisedbyNorthNorthantsCouncil,a LEGOClubnowmeetstwiceamonthat RushdenLibrary.It’sachanceforkids,aswell astheirparents,tomeetotherLEGO enthusiasts.
You’renevertoooldtoplaywithLEGO!
PhoenixRising
PhoenixhascometoRushden!
Phoenixisalongstandingfamily-run organisationthatutilisesspareorunwanted consumergoodsandpassesthemontowhere theyareneeded.
Everyweek,Phoenixrescueover500tonnesof goodsandresourcesthatwouldotherwisebe dumpedintoUKlandfillsites.
Theythenusefoodstuffstoprovidefree breakfastsandsubsidiseddinnersforthose thatneedthem.Theyalsoprovidegoodsto supportschools,othercharitiesand organisations.
Inaddition,Phoenixexportloadsofgoodsto theneedyinAfrica,particularlyinDjibouti,and Somalia.
Theyworkinmanycountriesandhelpovera millionpeopleintheUKalone.
Phoenixdoamazingwork.Itisrunby volunteersonanot-forprofitbasis.ThenewlyopenedResourceCentreinRushdenisbased inPortlandRoad.
KingEdwardVII PubSaved
Rushden’sKingEdwardVIIpublichousein QueenStreethasbeenSaved.Itwasexpected tocloseandprobablyconvertedintoablockof flats(forwhichtherewouldhavebeenno parking).
InsteadthefolkfromtheHareandHoundsin GreatAddingtonhavetakeniton,andkeepita livingpartoftheRushdenEastcommunity.
NeneHeraldwishthenewoperatorsgoodluck forthefuture.
Doyouenjoydominoruns?Wantsomething differenttodooverHalfTerm?
HaveyouheardoftheToppleAcademy?
Halloweenthemeddominotopplingpublic workshopsrunbyToppleAcademyarebeing heldatRushdenLakesintheDiscover Northamptonshirehubasfollows:
Tuesday29thOctoberSessions1pmand 2.30pm–Ages6+
·Wednesday30thOctoberSessions10am and11.30am–Ages6+
Formoreinformationvisittoppleacademy.com
BookingsviaEventbritehttps://eventbrite.co.uk/ o/topple-academy-91191431703