NENE Herald
RushdenParkingSurvey
ReformledNorthNorthamptonshireCouncilare investigatingchargingforparkinginRushden& Wellingborough.
Lastmonth,NeneHeraldinitiatedasurveyin Wellingboroughtogaugepeople’sattitudesand 96%supportedfreeparking.
NeneHeraldhasnowcarriedoutasurveyin Rushdenandgotasimilarresult.
410peopleresponded,resultingin97.5% supportingfreeparkinginRushden.
Therewere111comments.Nonesupported removingfreeparking.Hereisarepresentative sample
·“YoumeantheTownwilldiequicker.”
·“It’sadeadTownanyway.”
·“WithLakeshaving5hoursfree,itwouldfinishbothRushdenandWellingboroughtowncentre.”
·“Nah,theywilljustparkinmystreetmore!Imeanthatparkinthestreetanywaydespiteparkingbeing free.Andyes,Iknowit’snotillegalandpeoplecanparkinunrestrictedareas.Justsayingit’swhat happens.”
·“Soithappensalreadysowhatyoumeanitwillmakeitworseapartfromtheconstraintsthatthereare onlysomanycarsthatcanparkonanystreet.Butthisisnotaneitherorsituation.Ifthereisachoiceof parkingfornothingorparkingforfreemanywilltakethefreeoptionwhetherthatbeonthestreetorthecar parks.”
·“Thereareplacesyouareallowedupto2hoursshoppingtimeandthepenaltyfineifyougooverit.This isinRushdenIamraltingto,nottheothertowns.”
·“Correct,likeASDAandWaitrose.Parkingisfree,butconditionedtofairuse.Youareparkedthereto shopinthosesupermarketsandyourlengthofstayinthereisreasonable.However,thisiscompletely relatedtoLocalAuthoritylong-staycarparkingthathasbeenfreeofchargebeingreviewedwithaviewto startingtochargeforparking.”
·“ParkingchargesarearipoffintheUK,Councilswantpeopletovisittheirareaforshoppingandother eventstohelpthelocaleconomy,yetvisitorshavetopayexorbitantparkingchargesfortheprivalidge, we’vebeenonholidayinNorfolkrecentlytheparkingchargeswereatrocious,butitisn’tcalledripoff Britainfornothing.”
·“Answerisi.dcardsforcars!Electronictaxdisc’sandwhynottaxoxygen,peopleheavilyshouldpay more!!!Labourareprobablyworkingonitaswespeak!
·“IhavenoideawhatanyofthathasgottodowithourReformledlocalauthorityproposingtochargefor parkinginlocalauthorityownedcarparks.Ontaxation,I’mratherwithAbFabsPatsyStone,wearelong overdueastupiditytax.”
·“TheTownisalreadydeadwithextremelylimitedaccess.”
·“TheTownisdeadalready.”
·“IthoughtinRushdenwasfreeanyway?”
·“Shouldn’tpayforparkinganywhereinthecountry…wepayenoughdifferenttaxesoncaruseasitis.”
·“Itsaboutamileandhalffromthefurthestpointtothetowncentre.IusedtowalkthattoschoolwhenI wasfive.Justwalk,you’llbeMUCHbetterforit.”
Theabovecommentisfactuallyincorrect.ThefurthestpointsintheTownCentrecatchmentare considerablymorethan1.5miles.
·Somepeoplecantwalkandhavedisabilities. Theyrelyonthisjusttoaccessthesmallesttrip tothehighstreetforessentials”
·“WhatisthereinRushdentopayParkingfor”
·“Harmonisingtheparkingchargesacrossthe townsinNNCcouldbeOkiftheyharmonised whateachtownhastooffer.Thecouncilhas alreadystatedthatCorbyandKetteringarethe preferredretaildestinationssowhyshould Rushden,WellingboroughandThrapstonhave topaythesameforparking.”
·“Thereisfreeparkingbutit’sashamepeoplestillhavetoparkonthepavementoutsidetheshops.”
·“AgreedWellingboroughisalsostartingparkingchargesitwillalsokillwhat’sleftofWellingboughstrade”
·“It’sNNCthatissuggestingparkingchargesacrossNorthNorthamptonshire.Don’tthinkWellingborough wantsiteither”
·“Introduceandpeoplewilljustparkinsidestreetsfurtherouttherebyannoyingresidentswhoarethen unabletoparkoutsidetheirhouses.”
·“Nochancepeoplewillpay.You’reavin’alaff”
RushdenRemembers
Friday3rdOctober2025wasthe85thanniversaryof oneofthemostdefiningmomentsinRushden’s history.
Onthatday,aGermanbomberdroppedeighteen highexplosivebombsandtwelveincendiariesina lineacrossthetown.
Thebombshitthelocalelementaryschool,afactory, ahotelandotherbuildingskillingfouradultsandsix childrenandinjuringothers,someseverely.
Althoughtheattackwas85yearsago,itisstill remembered.Theschool(nowknownasAlfredLord TennysonSchool)wasrebuiltandstilleducatesthe youngoftheTown.
Ablueplaquehangingonthewalloftheschoollists thechildrenwhowerelostinthebombing.
FallenBeechTree
Earlierthisyear,a300-yearoldbeechtree collapsedinRushden’sHallPark.
Manyresidentswereveryupsetatthelossofthis tree.Itwasamuch-lovedfeatureofHallPark.
RushdenTownCouncilhasdoneitsbestto salvagesomethingfromthedebrisofthetree.
Muchofthewoodwascompletelyrottenandnotfit foranypurpose.However,thestumphasbeen turnedintoaplantersoplantsandflowerscanbe growninit.
Thebestpiecesoftimberhavebeenturnedinto “green”benchesinthePark.So,inonewayorthe other,thetreewillliveon!
RemembranceDayiswhenwerememberthe sacrificesmadebysoldiers,sailorsandairmen overtheyearswithwreathlayingandaServiceof Commemoration.
OnSunday9thofNovember,paradeswilltake placeinWellingboroughandinRushden.Thiswill necessitateroadclosuresinbothtowns.
TheseServicesaretypicallyverywellsupported bythepublic,whichcometopaytheirrespectsto thefallenheroes.
Inthesurroundingvillages,therewillbematching Services.
Atprecisely11am,therewillbe2minutessilence.
CovidHasNotGoneAway
Autumniscomingon,andthecold-weatherbugs areback.
Flukillsthousandseveryyear,butthefluvaccine isveryeffective.Manypeopleareeligibletogetit forfree,butifyouaren’t,manypharmacistsofferit for£10.Itiswellworththecost.
TheCovidpandemicisslowlywindingdown,but it’snotover.PeopleinRushden,Wellingborough andourvillagesarestillcatchingthebug.
Thecurrentrecordholderisapoormanin Daventrywhohasnowhadit6times!
IfyouareofferedaCovidboosterjab,acceptthe offer.Thevaccinationisn’tguaranteedtostopyou gettingCovid,butitwillcuttheseverityand possiblysaveyourlife.Itcanalsohelpreducethe spreadoftheinfection.
RotaryClubWinsAward
TheRotaryClubofRushdenhasachievedthe 2024/2025ClubExcellenceAward.
TheAwardconsidersRotaryClubsacrossthe country.Itrecognisesthepro-activeethoswithin theClubthatbringspeopletogethertosupport theirlocalcommunityaswellasprovidingaid overseas.
ClubPresident,AntonRudgalvis,commented:
"’ ThisawardrecognisesthoseClubsthathave achievedspecificgoalsalignedwithRotary’s ActionPlanpromotingengagement,growth andcommunityimpact."
GreenwayRe-opens
TheNorthNorthamptonshireGreenwayisa strategicruralnetworkofsafer,largelytraffic-free routessuitableforwalkers,wheelers,cyclistsand equestrianusers.Whereappropriate,italso connectssettlements,employment,leisureand tourismdestinationsacrossNorth Northamptonshireandbeyond.
OriginatinginRushden,anearlyphaseofthe Greenwayranalongtheformertrack-bedofthe disusedrailwayfromWellingboroughtoRushden.
Partofthatphaseranthroughacuttingunder Rushden’sWashbrookRoad.Unfortunately,some usersexperienceduneaseinthisparticularsection oftheGreenwaybecausetheyfelttrappedbythe highsidesofthecuttingandthedistancebetween accesspoints.
Theproblemhasbeenresolvedbybuildinga slopingexitfromthecuttinguptoWashbrook Road.Thisworkhasnowbeencompletedand providesasafeaccesspointforeveryone (includingwheelchairusers).
FlyingtheFlagwithPride
Rushden’s16thannualPromsintheParkwas heldintheWalledGardenatHallPark,on Saturday6thSeptember2025.Thispopular charityeventwashostedbytheMayorof Rushden,Cllr.GillMercer,andfeaturedtheaward winningRushdenTownBand.
Around300peoplecamealongwiththeirpicnics toenjoytheeveningthatstartedwith“GodSave theKing”.
Thefirsthalfincludedamedleyofbrassband musiccelebratingallthingsBritish..Beforethe interval,thecrowdheardarenderingofQueen’s songs,plusthethemesoftheJamesBond movies.Therewasmuchaudienceparticipation andflagwavinginthesecondhalfwiththe traditionalRuleBritanniaandJerusalem.
Songsheetsandflagswereprovided.
AlsopresentintheaudiencewerecivicMayors andChairsfromothertownswithinthe surroundingareaandasfarafieldas PeterboroughandSandy.
CllrGillMercersaid,“WhenIwasMayorin2009,I decidedtoholdaPromsinthePark,andIam delightedthatithascontinuedasanannual traditionandthatIhavebeengiventhechanceto presideoverasecondone.”
“Iamparticularlydelightedtohavethisopportunity toraisefundsformychosencharitiesRush2theDenandtheRushdenandDistrict CommunityCharity.AhugeThankYoutothose whosupportedmeinorganisingtheevent.”
Therousingandupliftingeveningconcludedwith anencoreof “LandofHopeandGlory”.
Notlongago,Rushden’sHighStreethada multiplicityofretailbanks:
·Co-operative
·Lloyds
·Barclays
·TSB
·NatWest
·HSBC
Onebyonetheyhaveclosed,withHSBCbeing themostrecent.
Thebanks,housedmostlyinbuildingsof significantarchitecturalmerit,contributedpositively tothevitalityoftheHighStreet.
Sadly,severalofthebuildingshavebeen repurposedandarenolongerofretail/banking use.Thecommontrendnowisconversioninto blocksofflatsorhomes-of-multiple-occupation.
HSBCsaidthattheirclosurewasonlytemporary, whilesomestructuralmaintenancetookplace. However,manyresidentsfearedthatitwould neverre-open.
Forachange,wehaveGoodNews!
Afterafour-monthclosure,HSBChasre-opened whichmeansthatabankingfacilityhasbeen retainedinRushdenHighStreet.
Yelden’sNameSettled- Fornow
ThenameofavillagejustsouthofRushdenhasconfusedgenerationsofvisitors.
Whenyouenterthevillagefromtheeast,theroadsignsdisplayonename.Whenyouenteritfromthe west,theyhaveadifferentname.
AspokesmanforBedfordBoroughCouncilsaid:
“Weareawareofthedifferenceinspellinginthesignsaroundthisvillage.”
“Someyearsago,wecontactedtheparishcounciltoaskforclarificationastohowtheirvillage nameshouldbespelt.”
“Theresponsefromtheparishcouncilwasthattheyhavenopreferenceastothespellingof theirnameasthedifferenceinspellinghasbeenusedovermanyyears.”
“ThelocalroadsignsinBedfordboroughusethespellingas‘Yelden’,theroadsin Northamptonshireuseboth‘Yelden’and‘Yielden’,andthespellingbyHighwaysEnglandontheAroad[trunkroad]was‘Yieldon’.”
“Wheresignsarereplaced,wewillbeusing‘Yelden’asthespellingforthisvillage.”
NeneHeraldarenotconvincedthatthenamewon’tchangeagaininthefuture.
TheEntertainerOpens
AnewtoystorehasopenedatRushdenLakes.
“TheEntertainer”areachainthatspanstheworld. Cllr.GillMercer,theTownMayorofRushden,was invitedtocuttheribbonforthestoreopeningon 10thOctober.
Therewasa“trolley-dash”tokickthingsoff. Afterwards,acrowdrushedin.
Thestorerefusestostock‘unethical’toys,suchas realisticguns,butthatstillleavesahugerangeof toystosample.
NeneHeraldwishesthenewstoreeverysuccess.
AnnualFireworkDisplay
OnSaturday8thNovember,theNeneValley Scoutswillholdtheirannualfireworkextravaganza inRushden’sHallPark.
TheDisplayalwaysattractsmanythousandsof visitorsandisoneofthemostspectacularinthe area.
Tickets,ifboughtearly,are£7foradults,£5for children(3-14yearsold),or£8.50foradults,£6.50 forchildren(3-14yearsold)ifboughtonthenight.
Ticketscanbepurchasedat
·MarkBirdFlooring,GroveStreetStore,Higham ·ThePostOfficeinRaunds
·HappyMondaysCoffeeShop,HighStreet, Rushden
·TheMiniMarket,HighStreet,Rushden
·PWHouseJewellers,HighStreet,Rushden ·RushdenLibrary
·PremierStores,ChurchillRoad,Rushden They canalsobeboughtonlineat:https:// www.tickettailor.com/events/ nenevalleydistrictscouts/1825009
TheFunstartsat6:30pm.
ThefootfallinRushden’sHighStreetischanging, andasaconsequence,thecharacteroftheStreet ischangingtoo.
Shopssellinggoodsareslowlybeingreplacedby storesdeliveringservices.
LatteLaunderetteisthelatestservicestoreto open.ItwillbeofficiallyopenedbytheTown MayorofRushdenonthe1stofNovember.
TheLatteLaunderettewhichblendslaundrywith coffee-comfortwillbeopen7-daysaweekfrom 8amto8pm.Itwillhelptorestoresomevitalityto theTownCentre.
Sadly,thestorenextdoor(CancerResearch)is closingshortly.
PizzaHuttoClosein Wellingborough LatteLaunderette
ThePizzaHutinWellingborough’sCastleFields RetailPark,istoclose.
Thestaffwerenotifiedabouttheclosurejust minutesbeforethedoorswereclsoed.
AcrosstheUK,PizzaHutwillclose68restaurants and11deliverysites,afterthefirmrunningthem fellintoadministration.
ZoeAdjay,aseniorlecturerinhospitalityatthe UniversityofEastLondon,saidthatPizzaHut hadbeen"attheforefrontofbringingfastfood intotheUK"inthe1970s,buthadlaterstruggled withincreasedcompetition.
Sheaddedthat"Thepizzamarkethasbecomea lotmoreupmarket…There'salotmorehigh-end pizzaandthey'vetakenahugemarketshare."
Withwinterapproachingandthecoldmonths ahead,theWarmRoomsschemeoffersa welcomingspaceforpeopletosocialiseandstay warm.TheSchemeoperatesinbothRushdenand Wellingborough.
InRushden
Conservative-controlledRushdenTownCouncil launchedtheFriendsofRushdenHallCommunity group.
TheGroupisfreetoattendandrunsonFriday afternoonsatRushdenHall.Itprovidesan opportunityforvisitorstosocialisewhilstenjoying activitiessuchasbingo,andtabletopboard games,alongwithcomplimentarytea,coffeeand biscuits.
TheGroupmeetsatRushdenHallonFriday afternoonsfrom1.30pmto3.30pm.Allare welcome.
InWellingborough
Therearearangeofmatchingservicesin Wellingborough,
·CharlesRobinsonCourtCommunityRoom, GillittsRoad,WellingboroughNN82BBonFridays fortnightly10:30am–12:30pm
·WellingboroughLibrarysixdaysaweek,9-6 Monday-Fridayand9-5Saturdays.
·VictoriaCentreonSaturdays.
·St.MarksChurchonWednesdays10am–3pm.
· WellingboroughEcoGroup,GlamisHall, GoldsmithRoad,onTuesdaysandThursdays 10am–2am.
Outandabout
BingoinIrchester
ThePublicLibrariesandMuseumsAct(1964) requirestoplevelcouncilstoprovidealibrary service.Inthisarea,itisNorthNorthamptonshire Councilthathasthisduty.
Inthelargertowns,NNCprovidesalibrarydirectly (.e.gRushdenLibrary).
Insmallercommunities(e.g.Irchester,Finedon), theserviceisprovidedbyacommunitylibrary.
Irchester’scommunitylibraryprovidesservices beyondjustbook-lending.Forexample,for£5, youcangototheVillageHallandplaybingo.
Therearesessionsonceeachmonth.The sessionsprovideasmalldollopofgluethathelps bindthecommunitytogether.
RusticDreamingin Rushden
“RusticDream”arealocalIndiepoprockduo, withatouchoffolkandCountry&Western.
TheyareappearingatRushden’s“TheGeneral”,a ThreeHillsBarandtaproominCollegeStreeton Saturday8thofNovember.Entryisfree.
JennahComestoRushden
Singer-songwriter, Jennah,iscomingto Rushden.
Shewillbeappearingat Rushden’sConservative ClubonSaturday1stof November.
Jennahsingsamixtureof‘covers’offamous singers(likeCelineDion)andoriginalsongsthat shewritesherself.
DungeonsandDragons
RushdenLibraryhostsagroupofD&Dplayers everysecondSaturdayfrom1pmto4pm. TheGroupisopenfornewmembers. Ifyouareintorole-playinggamesandarefreeon Saturdayafternoons,contacttheLibraryat:
Rushden.LibraryPlus@northnorthants.gov.uk
“AirAda”
“Soonbefarworknitegal!Idohairt em.Dusme‘eadin,duntthey yourws?”
RetroGaming
Forbetterorforworse,onlinecomputergames havebecomeamajorpartofourculture.Many youngpeople(andolderones!)spendmoretime sittingatacomputerscreenandclickingamouse thantheydowatchingTV.
Formanypeople,“Minecraft”,“Fortnite”andtheir brethrenaremoreimportantthanCoronation StreetorEastenders.
Onlinegamingisalsochangingmodernwarfare. ThebattlesinUkrainearedominatedbygamers controllingdronesthroughcomputergames headsetsandconsoles.Wheretheculturestarted withgamersblowingupimaginarytanksona computerscreen,theyarenowblowingupreal ones.
However,notallgamersare obsessedwiththemodern BigNamegames.Earlier generationsofcomputer gamesstillhaveafollowing.
AtRushdenLibrary,on Tuesdays,at3:30,during termtime,theNeoRetro Gaminggroupmeettoplay theoldergames.
It’sfreetoattendandeveryoneiswelcome(under 11’smustbeaccompaniedbyanadult).
PokemonClub
Pokemonhasbecometrulymainstreamandis playedbymany.Thereareregulartournaments, andcontests.Pokemon‘cards’aretradedand highlyprized.
WildphireCollectiblesinRushdencatersforthis trade.Theyarebasedat91HighStreet,Rushden. TheynowhaveaKidsClubthatmeetsevery Saturday.
Rushden’sGotRhythm
RhythmJunctionareafour-piecebandwho perform60’stocurrentpopcoversbyartists includingTheJacksons,StevieWonder,Womack &Womack,WildCherry,TinaTurner,Sister Sledge,BryanAdams,ShaniaTwain,Abba, Queen,MadonnaandAmyWinehouse.
TheyareappearingatRushden’sConservative ClubonSaturday8thofNovember.
Entryisfree,butyoumustbeamemberofthe Club(orattendingwithamember).
AmateurDramatics Adventure
Earlierthisyear,thetheatricalgroup“Standingin theWings”performed“TheWindintheWillows”in theWalledGardeninRushden’sHallPark.Itwas verysuccessful.
Theywouldlikemorepeopletogetinvolvedin amateurdramatics,withtheaimtospreadtheir experienceandskills.Theyareplanningasixweekdramaworkshop,withalikelystartdateof January2026.Itwillcost£80forthewhole programme.
Theworkshopisdesignedtobuildconfidence, developperformanceskills,andconnectyouwith like-mindedcreativesinafunandsupportive environment.
Theirpressreleasestates WhatYou’llGain: Learnfundamentaldramatechniques, includingvoiceprojection,movement,and improvisation. Developyourstagecraftandrefineyouracting skills.
NewsinBrief
CancerResearchShopToCloseinRushden
CancerResearchhasannouncedplanstoclose88storesacrosstheUKbyMay2026.
Theystate:
“…likemanyhighstreetretailers,we’refacedwithrisingcosts,inflationarypressures,and changingconsumerhabits—includingreducedfootfall,highernationalinsurancecontributions, andgrowingcompetitionfromonlineresaleplatforms.”
Unfortunately,theirshopinRushdenwillbeoneofthosetoclose.
CannabisFactoryFoundinRushden
PoliceattendedapropertyinBlincoRoad,Rushden,executingasearchwarranton16thOctober.
Insidetheproperty,therewere256cannabisplantsinvariousstagesofgrowth,spreadacrossfiverooms includinginsidetheloft.Theplantswereseizedandthefactorydismantled.
Sofar,nobodyhasbeenarrestedinconnectionwiththisgrow,andthepolicewouldliketohearfrom anyonewhomaybeabletoidentifythoseresponsibleforsettingupthecannabisfactory.
AnyonewithinformationisaskedtocontactNorthamptonshirePoliceon101oralternativelycall Crimestoppersanonymouslyon0800555111quotingincidentnumber25000607441.
FormerChiefConstableCharged
NickAdderley,theformerChiefConstableofNorthamptonshire,hasbeenchargedwithseveraloffences. HewillappearatWestminsterMagistrates'Courton10November.
MrAdderleyfacesonecountofMisconductInaPublicOfficeandonecountoffraud,contrarytosection2 oftheFraudAct2006.
Mr.AdderleyhadoriginallybeensuspendedfromofficebytheformerNorthamptonshirePolice,Fireand CrimeCommissioner,StephenMold.ThisfollowedseveralallegationsagainstMrAdderley.
Specifically,MrAdderleywasaccusedofwearingmedalstowhichhewasnotentitledandofmakingfalse claimsabouthismilitaryserviceandachievements.
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