NENE Herald
FreeParkinginWellingborough
ResidentsandvisitorstothetowncentresofWellingboroughandRushdenhavelongenjoyedfree parking.
Campaignersbelievethatitisamajorattractiontodrawpeopletothetowncentres.Withoutfree parking,bothhighstreetswilllosefootfall,resultinginlossofbusinessandincreaseddecay.
Itisindisputablethatfreeparkingdoesattractshoppers,butitisnotclearhowimportantitisforthe survivalofthetwotown’sretailcentres.
NeneHeraldorganisedasurveytoinvestigatetheissueinWellingborough.Thesurveywasopento anyone,buttheresultsfromthoserespondingwerestartling.
96%ofrespondentssupportedfreeparking
Just3%ofthosesurveyedopposedfreeparking.Thismakesitveryhardtoarguethatfreeparkingis unpopularinWellingborough.
Formanyyears,theConservativesinWellingboroughhavecampaignedinfavouroffreeparking.It’s easytoseewhy.
SelectionofComments
Thesurveyallowed“comments”anddozensofrespondentsdidso.Intheselectionbelow,wehave notcorrectedthemanytypingerrors,butwehaveremovedanyfoullanguage!
·“There’snoreasontogointotownalready,wouldbeevenlessiftheychargedforit.”
·“Wasgoingtosayverysimilar!Iftheybegintochargemightaswellclosetowncentreandturninto housing….whichIthinkthat’sthelongtermplananyway!”
·“Iftheparkingwasn’tfree,thenIwouldprobablyneversomeintothetowncentreasnothingthere worthpayingaparkingfeefor.”
·“Iagreepayparkingfeeforwhatexactly?WhenWellingboroughhasnothingtoofferisgonedown hillforsure.”
·“OMGwhorunsthisbloomingtown?Leaveitasitis.”
·“Ifthemoneygoesdirectlytothetown,Iwouldpaytopark”
FreeParkinginWellingboroughcontd
·“Youcan’tguarantee&asothershavesaid,itwouldkillthetowncentresasRushdenLakeshas5 hoursfreeparking.Alsoasalotofoldhousingestatesbusroutes(likeMedway)don’texist,that routeinhasbeenlosttoo.Don’tchrgeforparking.”
·“WhywouldanyonepaytoparktogointoWellingboroughtowncentre.Iftheincentiveisbypaying toparkthetownwouldbeimproved,let’sseethatfirstandpaytoparkdecisioncanbemade.”
·“Imagineifyouhadtopayforparking,imagineallthe****swhowouldbeparkingonthe pavements,ohwait,thedoanyways…plusthere’snowtintown,chargingwouldeffecttheworkers whoparkupallday,plusnobodywouldpopinforafewbitsoraquicklook.Ifitwasapropertown withpropershops,properthriving,yehmaybchargealittle…butnotwhentownisdead”.
·“Iwouldstopgoingiftheparkingwasn’tfree.IcangeteverythingIneedelsewherewithfree parkingsoI’dgothereinstead.Alsowhycan’ttheoldmarketsquarebeusedforparking?” ·“betterstill,bringthemarketback.Iftheystartchargingtopark,thatwillbethedeathof Wellingborough.Absolutelynothinghereanymore.”
·“WithRushdenLakessocloseandnoparkingfeetopaythere,whoisgoingtopaytoparkin Wellingboroughtogoshopping?”
·“dependswhatyou’reshoppingfor.”
·“Ifyouwantpeopletoshoplocalyouneedfreeparking.YoucannotcomparetheLakeswithtown centres,mostofthoseshopsarenotforeverydayshopping.Towncentresarewherewegetour basicshoppingfrom.”
·“Whyonearthwouldyougottotowncentreletalonepaytoparkthere?”
·“Definitelyneedstostayfree.Chargingwouldkillwhat’sleftofthetowncentrecompletely.”
·“You’llkilloffthetowncentrewithparkingfees,anothernumptywhohavenoclueaboutthistown.”
·“There’snothingtherethatpeoplewouldpaytoparkforwhenyouhaverushdenlakesnotfarupthe road.Thetowncentreisdyingout.”
·“LookwhathappenedtoNorthamptontowncentrewhentheyscrapedthe2hourfreeparking.”
·“Wellingboroughhasnothinglefttooffer.Whynowchargeforitandmakeevenmorepeopleavoid iit.”
·“Nootherreasontovisit.”
·“Wouldn’tvisitthecenterifitwasn’tfreeparking.Soyesdefinitelyfree.”
DetailedResults
ThesurveywashostedonFacebookandhad 931 respondents.Inanunbiased,properlycontrolled surveyofthissize,thestandarderrorwouldbearound3%.
Thenumberofrespondentsvoted “Yes” was903.Just 28 respondentsopposedfreeparking.
ThisisalivetopicasthesubjectofParkingchargesistobediscussedbyNorthNorthantsCouncilat theirExecutivemeetinginNovember.
TheCaseforaRushdenStation-Part8
Sinceitwasinitiated,NeneHeraldhaschampionedacampaigntoestablishamuch-neededmainline stationtoserveRushdenandHighamFerrers.Asmentionedpreviously,Rushdenisbyfarthelargest towninEnglandwithoutitsownworkingrailwaystation.
TherearevillagesatenththesizeofRushdenthathaveastation,e.g.BrundallinNorfolk(population 4,019)hastwo!ThisisdespiteBrundallbeingroughlythesamedistancefromNorwichstationas RushdenisfromWellingboroughstation.
IIftheformerrailwaystationatKnustonwasreinstated,thiswouldbeofgreatbenefit.
ContributingtoNetZero
NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil,andtheformer NorthantsCountyCouncil,havebothdeclareda “ClimateEmergency”.Meanwhile,thegovernmentis committedtoachievingNetZero.
Renovatingandre-openingthestationatKnuston HaltcanhelpachieveNetZero:
ManyworkersinourareacommutetoLondonto work.AsignificantproportionofthosecommutersdrivedowntheA6toBedfordtocatchatrainto London.
SomeorevenmostofthosecommuterswouldswitchtocatchingatrainfromthereinstatedRushden StationatKnustonHalt.Theywouldreducetheirdrivebyroughly20mileseachday.Thatequatesto around4.4kgofCO2emittedpertraveller.
(TheCO2emissionsfromagallonofgasoline:is8,887grams)(Source: https://www.epa.gov/ greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle#burning)
TheBattleForRushdenLakes-Part11
ThisistheeleventhinstalmentofthestoryofhowtheRushdenLakesschemecametobeapproved, thenbuiltandhowithasdevelopedfurther.
RushdenLakes–theNextPhases
ThebasicconceptofRushdenLakeswastoprovideamixofleisureandretailoffers.Thefirstphase wastheinfrastructureandthetwostripmalls.
Thenextphasewastheconstructionofthe14-screencinema.Itwasbuiltonthesitethatwas originallyreservedforagardencentre.
Anewmini-mallwasbuiltalongsidetheentrancetothecinemacomplex,withfamousnameslike Five-Guys,PizzaExpressandmore.
Theconceptwasbrilliant.Restaurantsonthegroundfloor,withtheatresontheupperfloor.
Atastroke,itcreatedasensationallygoodleisurecomplex,withviewsacrossthelakesandample eveningparkingforfamiliestohaveamealandthenwatchamovie.
Toexpandtheoffering,awall-climbingfacilityrunsalongsidetheescalator,whileanindoormini-golf coursewasopenedunderthecinemas.
PlanningProcessinNorthNorthamptonshire
WhenNorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)wasfirstcreated,ithadfourplanningcommitteesto considerapplicationsthatweresubmitted.Eachcommitteemetroughlyeverythreeweeksata venueinthelocalitiesthattheyoversaw,i.e.Corby,Kettering,WellingboroughandThrapston(East Northantsarea).
TheLocalGovernmentAssociation,despitehaving“local”initsname,stronglyrecommendedcutting thenumberofcommitteesandcentralisingthem.NNCnowhasjustoneplanningcommitteethat meetsinCorby.ForsomeNorthNorthantsresidentswhomaywishtobepresentfor,orspeakat,the debate,thismeansatleastanhour’sdrive.
The75%reductioninplanningcommitteeshasbeenmatchedbyareductioninthenumbersof planningapplicationscomingtocommittee.Atthesametime,thereareconsiderabledelaysin determiningwhethertoapproveplanningapplications.
Incaseswhereanapplicationhasbeenexcessivelydelayed,theapplicantcan“AppealAgainstNonDetermination”.ThismeansthattheapplicationistakenoverbytheBristol-basedPlanning Inspectoratefordetermination.NNCwillinsomecases,thenbeliableforthecosts(andlosses)of theapplicant.Thiscanruntohundredsofthousandsofpoundsandispaidoutoftherevenuesof NNC.
Recently,severallargeapplicationsintheNNCdistricthavegonetoAppealbecauseofNonDetermination.TheCastleManorwarehouseapplicationnearTitchmarshvillageisoneexample,as isWeekleyHallWoodnearKettering,buttherearelikelytobeothers.
Everytimethishappens,itisadefeatforlocalpeople.
·Thecostsincurredwillultimatelycomefromthesamebudgetthatfundslocalservices.
·TheCouncillosescontrolofthe“conditions”ofanyconsentgranted.ThismeansthatNNCandthe peoplehavelittlesayinthedetailsofthedesignofthedevelopment.
·Localpeoplewilllosetrustandconfidenceintheplanningsystem.
Obviously,NNCwillwishtoreversethistrend.Itwillbeinterestingtoseehowthisisachieved.
ReformedFlags
Soonafterthelocalelectionresults,ReformUKchairman,ZiaYusuf,said: "Reform-controlled Englishcouncilswillmoveatspeedtoresolvethattheonlyflagspermittedtobeflownonor initsbuildingswillbetheUnionJackandStGeorge'sflag".
Thiswaslateramendedto: “ReformUKwillproudlyflytheUnionJack,StGeorge’sflagand Countyflags.”
Reform-controlledNorthNorthantsCouncil (NNC)andWestNorthantsCouncil(WNC) havebothadoptedthispolicy.
Itwillhavetheeffectofbanningfromcouncil buildings,anyflagsrecognisingtheRoyal BritishLegionandotherorganisations.
TheattachedphotoshowsNNC’sThrapstonsiteearlierthisyear.ItshowstheCouncilflyingtheflag ofUkraine,insupportofthatcountry’sstruggleagainsttheRussianinvasion.
Underthenewruling,theUkrainianflagcanpresumablynolongerbeflown.
HighamFerrersHonoursHometownHero
ByBarbaraCole
AHighamFerrers-bornwartimenightfighterpilotwhodowned15enemyaircraftmakinghimatriple ace,waspermanentlyhonouredinthetown.
EdwardDixonCrew,CommanderoftheOrderoftheBath,DistinguishedServiceOrder(DSO)and Bar,andDistinguishedFlyingCross(DFC)andBar,whofirstsawactionintheBattleofBritainand rosetogreatheightstobecomeanRAFAirViceMarshal,hasbeenimmortalisedwithaTown CouncilBluePlaquebearinghisname.
Withflagsflying,HighamFerrerssalutedtheirhometownheropilotataspecialunveilingceremony onSeptember14,duringaweekendofBattleofBritainservicesacrossthecountrymarkingthe85th anniversaryoftheRAF’shistoricseriesofvictoriesagainsttheGermanLuftwaffe.
Crew’sBluePlaquewillrecognisehimas“oneofthefewwhodefendedourislandhomeinits darkesthour.”
Therewaspossibilityofafly-pastbyanaircraftoftheRAFBattleofBritainMemorialFlightfromRAF ConingsbyinLincolnshire,weatherpermitting.
TheBluePlaque,sponsoredbyMayorGarySalmonandRAFfriends,willgoupatCrew’sbirthplace, 12MarketSquare,intheheartofthetown.
TheunveilingceremonylfollowedaBattleofBritainserviceatStMary’sChurchattendedbylocal RAFCadets,membersoftheRAFAssociationandotherdignitaries.
Crew’sbirthplaceisnowthehomeofWilsonBrowneSolicitors,whoaswellaswelcomingCrew’s BluePlaqueontheirproperty,havesponsoredthecostofaninformationboarddetailingtheAirVice Marshal’simpressivemilitarycareer.AWilsonBrownepartner,attendedontheday.
AlthoughthetownalreadyhasaseriesofBluePlaques,nooneknewaboutCrew’sbirthplaceuntila localRAFfriendofMayorGarySalmon,whohadbeenresearchingtheBattleofBritain,readabout Crew’sbirthplaceandmentioneditalongwithasuggestionabouthonouringCrewwithaBlue Plaque.
TheTownCounciloverwhelminglyagreedthattheirownHighamFerrersnight-timefighterpilothero shouldbehonouredwithaBluePlaque,”theMayorrecalled.
Crew’sson,NigelwholivesinKent,hadbeentrackeddownandinvitedtounveilhisfather’sBlue Plaque.
Afterwards,refreshmentswereservedinthenearbyBedeHouse,whereTheCandyBarsentertained guestswith1940swartimesongs.
Wartimememorabiliawasalsoondisplay.
VarioussourcestellthatCrew(1917-2002)wasraisedinHighamFerrersbyhisstepfather,Sir KennethMurchison,aConservativeMemberofParliament.HewaseducatedatFelstedSchooland DowningCollege,Cambridge,earningaMasterofArtsinAnthropologyandEnglishLiterature.
WhileatCambridge,hejoinedtheUniversityAirSquadronwhichmarkedthebeginningofhis aviationcareer.
Continued:
WellingboroughLeylandIndustrialEstate
TheLeylandindustrialestateinWellingboroughisbeingexpanded.10newunitsarebeingbuiltto addtotheexisting96units.
MikeGrindrod,DirectoratNorthernTrustCompanyLtd,commented,
"WearedelightedtoseeworkcommenceonthisnextphaseofdevelopmentatLeyland TradingEstate.Thestronguptakefromour2018schemeconfirmedthedemandformodern, flexibleindustrialspaceinthisarea.Thisnextphasereflectsourongoingcommitmentto investinginourestatesandthecommunitiesaroundthem,creatingspacewherebusinesses canthriveandgrow."
Itistobehopedthatthesenewunitswillprovidemorejobsforlocalpeople.
AROARingSuccess
Afewyearsago,theLeylandIndustrialEstate facedamajorthreattoitssuccess.NetworkRail decidedtopermanentlyclosethenearbybridge overtherailwayline.
ThiseffectivelycutLeylandofffrom WellingboroughandlefttheEstatewithitsonly roadlinkbeingviatheIrthlingboroughRoad.It wouldhavebeenveryhardtoattractnew businessestolocatetoanEstatethathadnolink tothenearestTown.
However,Cllr.GillMercerwasthelocalCounty Councilloratthetime.ShesetupROAR(Seethe poster.)ThecampaignwasaROARingsuccess, andinApril2019,NetworkRailcavedinand agreedtoreinstatethebridge.
WestNorthantsCouncil(WNC)AbandonsNetZero
OnWednesday16thJuly,WNCdecidedtorefocusitssustainabilityworkto “ensureitsefforts deliverthegreatestvaluetolocalresidentsandbusinesses”.
Aspartofthismove,theReform-controlledcouncilbecamethefirstinthecountrytoscrapnetzero targets.Italsoabandonedplanstoreplaceitsfleetofcarswithelectricvehicles.
HighamTwinnersVisitGermany
HighamFerrersHachenburgAssociationhadaverysuccessfulvisittoHachenburginAugust.
Twenty-fourpeopletravelledtoGermanyonaluxurycoachtomeetupwiththeirGermanfriends. MoststayedwithhostsinHachenburgandthesurroundingvillages.Theyenjoyedatourof Hachenburg,plusitsfamousbrewery,avisittoa castlewithabutterflyfarmandabarbecueatthe oldestinnintheregion.
AtthebarbecuetheRiseupchoirsangsongs fromtheBeatles,LeonardCohenandothersin Englishtoentertainthegroup.
Amongthehighlightsofthetripwasthe presentationofagifttotheMayorofHachenburg fromHighamFerrersTownCounciltomarkthe 35thanniversaryofthistwinningpartnership.
Manytravelledforthefirsttimeandtheywere overwhelmedwiththefriendlyreceptionandwarm welcome.Grouptripsoccurevery2yearsandthe Germansvisitinthealternateyears.
IfanyonewouldliketofindoutmoretheycancontactGillMerceroncompiforce@yahoo.co.uk.
“AirAda’’
Ada:“Eergal!Ennitcold.Cent wairttogittha farlittakeepmeself warrum.”
FreedomFliersinRushden
Award-winningRush2theDenrunanumberof sessionstohelpyoungpeoplewithdifferent emotionalneeds.
FreedomFliersisaYouthClubforSENDSenior school/collegeagedyoungpeople.Itmeets everyFridayat5.30pm-7.00pm
FreedomFliersisstructuredtohelpthosewho strugglewithlargegroupsandneedalittlebit moresupportandencouragement.
Thereisachargeof£1foryoungpeoplethat coverstheirchoiceofactivitiesandgames.
Atuckshopisavailable.
Rush2theDenisbasedinFitzwilliamStreet, Rushden,NN109YW.Theycanbecontactedon 01933770450or07733232821.
QuizNight
RushdenConservativeClubholdsaQuizNight onthelastTuesdayofeverymonth.
Entryis£2perpersonwithamaximumof4per team.Theconteststartsat7:30pm.
TheClubcanbecontactedon01933-312445.
OpenMikeNight
RushdenConservativeClubhas“OpenMike” nights,whenanymembercangoon-stageand showwhattheycando.
TheyareonThursdaysduringterm-time.Itisa Members-Onlyclub,butmembershipischeap andtheClubwelcomesnewmembers.
ABBA’sArrivalin Wellingborough
“Arrival”,anABBAtributeband,areperforming atWellingborough’sCastleTheatreonFriday 24thOctober2025.Theshowstartsat7:30pm.
Theywerevotedthe'BestABBAShow'and 'MostAuthenticABBAShow'2024bytheUK ABBAFanClub.
Ticketscanbeorderedonlinefrom castletheatre.co.uk,orbyphoning 01933-270007.
Monoworld’sProblems
TheMonoworldsitewasstillsmokingaweekafterthehugefire.Asaresult,nearbyresidentswere stillbeingadvisedtokeepwindowsanddoorsclosed.
Sincethen,someearlierissuesassociatedwiththebusinesshavecometolight.
Prosecutionin2015
On16March2015,NorthamptonMagistrates’CourtfinedMonoworld,awasterecyclingcompany, £10,000afteritpleadedguiltytotwooffencesofattemptingtoillegallyexportwastetoGermanyand China.Monoworldalsohadtopayprosecutioncostsof£13,745inrelationtotheproceedings broughtundertheTransfrontierShipmentofWasteRegulations2007.
Theoffencesoccurredin2013.Thefirstconsignment,destinedforGermany,wasdiscoveredby Dutchauthorities.Althoughtheshipmentwaslabelledascontainingrecycledplasticwaste,itinfact containedplasticwastecontaminatedwithvariousotherwastematerialsincludingmetals,foodand wood.
Thewastehadadistinctlyunpleasantodourandwasattractingalargenumberofflies.
Thesecondshipment,destinedforChina,wasdiscoveredbyAgencyofficersduringroutine inspectioncheckscarriedoutattheportofFelixstowe.Thisconsignmentalsocontained contaminatedwastematerialsincludinggardenwaste,metals,plasticandwood.
TheAgencyofficersobservedthatthewastehadbeeninfestedwithrodentsandtherewerepoolsof brownliquidthroughoutthecontainer.
(Source: https://app.croneri.co.uk/feature-articles/case-report-double-prosecutions-illegal-wasteexports)
EnforcementActionin2017
In2017,MonoworldRecyclingandtwodirectorswereprosecutedaftertheHealthandSafety Executive(HSE)found“multiplesafetyfailings”attheirIrchesterRoadsiteinRushden.
Thiscameafterthecompanypleadedguilty.
MonoworldRecyclingwasorderedtopayaround£90,000andoneofitsdirectorswashandeda26 weeksuspendedprisonsentence,afterasentencinghearingatNorthamptonCrownCourton28 September2017.
(Source: https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/monoworld-recycling-fined-safety-failings/)
HybridWorking AtNNC
Manyemployersareadoptingawork arrangementwhereemployeesworkathome andspendonlysomeoftheirtimeatanoffice desk.NorthNorthamptonshireCouncil(NNC)is intheprocessofreviewingitsassetsandhas alreadysoldoffsomeproperties.
ArecentpressreleasefromNNCshowsthe impactofthispolicy:
“Duetospaceconstraints,itwillnotbe possibleforallstafftobeintheofficeatthe sametime.“
Meanwhile,IncomesDataResearch(IDR)have reportedthat:
“…63percentofemployerscurrently requireaminimumnumberofin-person workingdaysforrolesthatcouldotherwise becompletedremotely.Afurther6percent plantointroducesimilarpolicies.
Thisisclearlyanareathatisinflux.
RushdenParochial Charity
RushdenParochialCharityisasmallcharity thatdatesbacktothe19thCentury.Itwasset uptohelpthoseinneedandprovidesasafety netforRushden’sfolk.
TheCharitymakessmallgrants.Anyonewithin thetowncanapplyandiftheyareingenuine need,theCharitywillendeavourtohelpthem out.
ExampleswheretheCharityhashelpedout are:
·Depositsonrentedflatsfornewtenants. ·anewovenforsomeonewhocouldn’t otherwisecookmeals
·Busticketsforpupilswhocouldn’totherwise attendschool.
AsitisasmallCharitywithlimitedfunds, grantsaretypicallylimitedtoaround£500.For thoseinneed,ahelpinghandevenofthissize canbealifesaver.
TheCharitycanbecontactedviatheTown Councilon01933-316216.
CrazyParkingRules
ThemainphotoshowsasceneinRushden’sCollegeStreet.Thetwootherphotosshowthedetail. Onesignsaysnoparkingatanytime,whiletheotherallowsfreeovernightparking.
Thereseemstobealackofco-ordinationbetweentheLocalHighwayAuthorityandthetelecoms supplier
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
