NENE Herald
NewsfromAroundtheWellingborough&RushdenArea
SpinneyfieldsRe-opened
Rushdenresidentsarecelebratingthere-opening onthe19thofAugust,ofSpinneyfields,a51-bed SpecialistCareCentre,whichwasclosedin29th January2023.
Now,KetteringGeneralHospitalisworkingwith NorthNorthantsCounciltoregeneratethismuch lovedfacility.Itbridgesthegapbetweenhospital andgoinghome.
KGHarerunningthesiteandarefindingthat patientswhoarenotyetfitfordischargearemuch happierinthelightandairysurroundings.Research hasshownthatpatientsrecoverfasteriftheyhave aviewofgreenspacesorgardens.
Ithasalsobeenwelcomedbythosethatliveclose tothisfacility,astheynolongerhavetotravelmany milestovisittheirlovedones.
Heartfeltstoriesemergedwithinafewdaysofitsreopening.Forinstance,aladywasabletoseeand holdhernewgreat-grandchildforthefirsttime, somethingthatwasimpossiblewhileshewasin hospital.
CllrGillMercer,NNC’sExecutiveMemberfor Adults,Health&Wellbeing,said“Thisiswonderful newsforRushdenandtheSouthoftheNNCarea.
Iwasoneofthelocalcouncillors,whoalongwiththe ex-MPMrPeterBone,havebeenlobbyinghardto re-openthisfacility.”
“Peoplearealreadybeingplacedheretogivetheir familyabreakanditmeansthattheycanvisitthem withouthavingtotravellongdistances.”
“Staffandpatientsalikelovethesettinganditisa welcomeadditiontoourmedicalfacilitiesin Rushden.”
“Ivisiteditshortlyafteritre-opened.Itwasuplifting toseehowthissettingwashelpingpeopletoget betterandgohomequickerthantheywouldifthey remainedinhospital.Itisareturntotheoldcottage hospitalconceptthatthiscountryhaslonghoped mightbere-established.”
BigSisterProject
Couldyoubeabigsistertosomeonelookingto getinto sports?
PlacesLeisureruntheWaendelLeisureCentre inWellingborough.Theyareseekinggirlstoact asbigsisters(peerleadersandsupporters)to help9-15yearoldstogetbackintosport.
PlacesLeisurelaunchedthisprojectin2022in partnershipwithWomeninSport,andarenow rollingthisoutnationally.
Forgirlswhoagreetobea“bigsister”andwho meettheireligibilitycriteria,PlacesLeisureare offeringhalf-priceandinsomecases,free membership.Thisincludesamongstother things,unlimitedgymuseduringJuniorGym hours,unlimitedswimmingandageappropriate workoutsessions.
Formoredetailsgoto:
https//www.placesleisure.or/news/places-leisureintroduces-big-sister-mentors-and-freememberships-to-support-girls-into-sport/
PFCCOFFTOA ROCKYSTART
Labour’sDanielleStoneisthenewPolice, FireandCrimeCommissioner(PFCC)for Northamptonshire.Herfirstfewweekshave beenrockyones.
Duringherelectioncampaign,shedecriedher Conservativepredecessorfornotproperly checkingtheCVofChiefConstableNick Adderley.
Ms.StonehasnowappointedMarianne KimaniasherDeputy,onasalaryof£55,000. HoweversherefusedtoreleaseMs.Kimani’s CVtobechecked.
TheNorthamptonshirePoliceFireandCrime Panel(PFCP)hasastatutorydutyto scrutiniseseniorappointmentsbythe Commissioner.AConfirmationHearingforthe candidateisheldtochecktheirsuitabilityfor therole.WithnoaccesstoMs.Kimani’sCV, thePCFPfounditverydifficult.
TheVice-ChairmanofthePFCP,CllrGill Mercer,said,"Itwasveryfrustrating.The CommissionerpromisedthattheCVsofall seniorappointmentswouldbethoroughly checked,topreventarepeatoftheNick Adderleyaffair.Thiswasherfirstmajor appointmentandshestoppeduscheckingthe CV.”
ThePanelwerealsonotconvincedthata deputywasnecessary.Cllr.Mercersaid“We preferredthemoneytobespentonmore police,notmoremanagers.”
ThePanelweretoldthatthePFCCcouldnot managetodothejobwithoutaDeputy.None ofMs.Stone’spredecessorsneededa Deputy.TheprevioustwoConservative PFCCshadfeltthatitwasawasteofmoney.
Thepanelvotedagainsttheappointmentof theDeputyPFCC.
Ms.Kimanihassincebeenappointedtobe Ms.Stone’sDeputy.
GreenFlagAwarded Forthe11th Year
Conservative-controlledRushdenTown CounciltookoverthemanagementofHall Parkjustover20yearsago.Theparkalways hadpotential,butRTCbroughtitout.
IthasjustbeenawardedtheGreenFlagfor the11thyearrunning,anamazing achievement.
KeepBritainTidy'sGreenFlagAward SchemeManagerPaulToddMBEsaid:"I wouldliketocongratulateeveryoneinvolved atHallParkinachievingaGreenFlag Award.HallParkisavitalgreenspacefor thecommunityofRushden,bringingpeople togetherandprovidingopportunitiestolead healthylifestyles.Thestaffdosomuchto ensurethatitmaintainsthehighstandardsof theGreenFlagAwardandeveryoneinvolved shouldfeelextremelyproudoftheir achievement."
Cllr.AndyMercersaid:“HallParkisa wonderfulplace,andRushdenTownCouncil haslookedafteritfornearlyaquarterof century.ItisastunningexampleofwhatTLC candoforaplace.”
“I’mproudthatIwasoneofthesmallteamof councillorswhonegotiatedthetransferof RushdenHallandHallParktoRushden TownCouncil.Sincethen,theParkhas grownmoreenchantingeveryyear.”
HallParkisopeneveryday,andRTC organisesfree-to-entereventsinthePark, rightthroughtheSummermonths.
BusServiceFinally ForStanwickLakes
Conservative-runNorthNorthantsCouncil, workingwithCogenhoeandWhistonParish,are supportingareplacementfortheW8bus,which wasunderthreatofcancellations.Thebus servicewillletpeopletraveldirectlyfrom Wollaston,Bozeat,EastonMauditandGrendon toWellingborough,StanwickLakesandRushden Lakes.
BuseswillrunseveraltimesadayfromMonday toSaturday,withamaximumfareof£2untilthe endofDecember2024.Thisisunderascheme setupbythepreviousConservative Government.
Ruralbusservicesprovidealifelineforlocal peopleespeciallythosewithaccesstotheirown transportandnowithasalsoallowedaccessto thewonderfulfacilitiesatStanwickLakesand RushdenLakes
Thebusoperatortimetablescanbefoundonthe followinglink:
https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/buses-andtransport-bus-timetables
Policeareseekingtwoe-bikeriderswhowere involvedinanincidentinRushden’sWymington Road.Duringtheincident,apedestrianwas allegedlypunchedandkicked,leadingtofacial injuries.
Theincidenttookplacebetween5.30pmand 5.45pmon31stJulythisyear.
Apolicespokesmansaid:“Followingtheassault, thetwomaleriders,whowerewearingallblack clothing,blackcrashhelmetsandblackface coverings,rodeofftowardsHighStreetSouth.”
Anyonewhosawtheincident,orhasCCTV, doorbellordash-camfootageofit,isaskedto contactNorthamptonshirePoliceon101ortocall Crimestoppersanonymouslyon0800555111.
Pleasequoteincidentnumber24000456160 whenprovidinganyinformationtomakesureit getstotherightperson.
ClosureOrderforPropertyinHighamFerrers
ApropertyinHighamFerrershasbeenissuedwithaclosureorderfollowingconcernsaroundanti-social behaviour.Thethree-monthorderfollowsnumerouscomplaintsfromlocalresidentsaboutdisruptive activitieslinkedtoanaddressinElizabethWay.Reportsincludedrepeatedcriminaldamagetotheproperty, amobilityscooterbeingriddenirresponsiblyinthearea,disturbances,andfrequentvisitorstotheproperty throughoutthedayandnight,whoareoftenvulnerable.
Residentsdescribedfeeling“onedge”,“notbeingabletorelaxinourownhome”andconstantlyfeelingasif theyneededtobe“onthewatch”forissues.
Duringtheweekof31July,NorthamptonshirePoliceandLonghurstGroupobtainedaclosureordertoshut downthepropertyunderPart4oftheAnti-SocialBehaviour,CrimeandPolicingAct2014.Thepropertyhas nowbeenboardeduptoprevententry.Anyunauthorisedpersonenteringthepropertywillbecommittinga criminaloffence.
SergeantLeighFrançoiseGoodwin,oftheEastNorthamptonshireNeighbourhoodPolicingTeam,said:“This addresshasbeencausingthelocalcommunityalotofissuesandsoI’mreallypleasedthatwehave managedtoobtainthisorder.Everyoneshouldfeelsafeandbeabletorelaxintheirownhomes,and anythingthatthreatensthisbasicrightisunacceptableandwewilldoeverythingwecantotakeaction. Caseslikethisdemonstratethatthepoliceandourpartnerswillnottoleratesuchbehaviourandillustrate howimportantitisforresidentstoletusknowaboutissuesintheirarea.”
CraigTaylor,DirectorofHousingandCustomerServicesatLonghurstGroup,said:“We’recommittedto ensuringallourcustomerscanliveinasafeandwelcomingcommunity.Wherewehaveclearevidenceof anti-socialbehaviour,we’llworkwithourpartneragencies,includingthepolice,totakeallrelevanttenancy andlegalactionagainsttheperpetratorstoensureourcustomersdon’thavetoliveinfear”.
“I’mpleasedwiththeoutcomeinthiscaseandhopethat those livingclosetothepropertyinquestionfeel reassuredthankstoourjointapproachwithNorthamptonshirePolice.”
DitchfordLaneCloses
On14thAugust2024,avehiclehitandremoved around6metersofthemasonryparapetonthe bridgeacrosstheNeneatDitchfordLane.
KierTransportationsaid:“Duetothisincident,the bridgeisnotsafeforhighwayusersbecauseofthe nowexposeddroptotheembankmentandriver below.”
ThebridgeisaScheduledMonument.Anyrepairs requirepriorapprovalfromHistoricEngland.This increasesthetimeittakestogetagreementtothe designandtoeffectarepair.
Asaresult,Kierhavenowconfirmedthatthebridge willbeclosedforuptoayear.
Thisclosesapopularandwell-usedroutetoget fromRushdentoWellingborough,Finedonor Irthlingborough.Unfortunatelyalternativeroutes mustbeuseduntilthisroadre-opens.
IshamBypass
AbypassforIshamwillrelievethemiseryof peoplewholiveinthecentreofthevillageand willeasejourneysbetweenWellingborough andKettering.Abypassisalsonecessaryfor developmentschemestothesouthof Kettering.Withthenewgovernment’splansfor increasedhousebuilding,thiswillbeessential.
Thebypasshasbeenproposedandthen passedbymanytimes.Aplanwasapproved bytheoldNorthamptonshireCountyCouncil around2016,buthassincelapsedas developmentsatthenorthernendhavemade itobsolete.
On4October2023,theGovernment announcedthattheA509IshamBypassisone ofnumberofroadschemesthatwillbefunded infull.
Anewplanforthebypasshasnowbeen submittedtoNorthNorthantsCouncilinits guiseofLocalPlanningAuthority.Hopefully,it willcometocommitteeinthenextfewmonths.
BringingaBeachto The‘Borough
OnSaturday17thAugust,theseasidecameto thecentreofWellingborough.ConservativecontrolledWellingboroughTownCouncilarranged forasandyplayareatobesetupforkidsinthe centreoftheTown.
Thishasbecomeanannualeventandgiveskids achancetoexperienceplayingwithsandwithout havingtotraveltothecoast.
GazaProtest
TheMiddle-Easternconflictcameto WellingboroughonSaturday,17thofAugust, whentherewasapro-Palestiniandemonstration intheTownCentre.
Anumberofpeoplemet,towaveflagsandmake speeches.
Theprotestersweredemandinganimmediate cease-fireinthewarbetweenIsraelandHamas.
DeathFall
Amanhasdiedafterfallingfromathirdfloor windowintheHindHotelinSheepStreet, Wellingborough.
OliverMarmon,alsoknownasOlly,was pronounceddeadatthescene.
HewasthepartnerofJaymiHensley,amember ofboyband,UnionJ, HensleyappearedinTV’sX-Factorin2012.
NorthamptonshirePoliceissuedastatement: "Thishasbeenacomplexandfast-moving investigation,andourthoughtsremainwithOlly's familyandlovedonesatthisverydifficulttime.”
"Itisonlyrightthatanincidentsuchasthisis treatedwiththeutmostseriousness,tomake surewehavedoneallwecantounderstand whathashappened,andtogettheanswers thoseleftbehindneedandwant.”
"InOlly'scaseIcanconfirmtheevidencewe haveexamineddidnotsupporthisdeathasa homicide,whichhasnowbeenfurtherconfirmed bytheresultsofthepreliminaryforensicpostmortemreport.”
"Ourinitialfindingsanddecisionhavebeen explainedtoOlly'sfamily,whowillcontinuetobe supportedbyNorthamptonshirePoliceasthey mournthelossoftheirlovedone."
BumpertoBumper
TheClassicCarShowinRushdenhasbecome anothergreatannualevent.TheShow,organised byRushdenHistoricalTransportSociety,attracts classiccarenthusiastsfromaverywideareaandis becomingalandmarkevent.Onevisitorremarked, “Itwasafantasticeventandseemsbiggerevery year.It’swonderfultoseesomanypeopleworking topreserveourheritage.”
Over400classiccarsfilledHallPark,Rushden,on Sunday4thAugust,alllovinglyrestoredand maintainedbytheirowners.TheWalledGarden wassetasideformotorbikes.Atruefamilyevent, otherattractionsincludedanumberofcharitystalls aswellasfairgroundridesforthekidsandcatering stallstosuiteverytaste.
Inevitablyittakesagoodnumberofvolunteersto ensurethataneventofthissizerunssmoothly,both beforehandandonthebigdayitself.These includedmembersoftheRushdenHistorical TransportSocietyaswellasmanyoutside volunteerswhogavetheirtime.
Ifyouhaveaninterestinhistoricvehicles,thenwhy notcontactRushdenHistoricalTransportSocietyto hearmoreabouthowyoucangetinvolved.
GriffinPubClosesDown
ResidentsofHighamFerrersandRushdenhave beensaddenedtohearthattheGriffinpubinthe centreofHighamFerrershascloseddown.
Thepub,basedinabeautifulgradeIIlisted17th centurybuilding,servedsuperbmealsespeciallya welllovedcarveryonaSunday.Howeverthey announcedthattheyweresellingofftheirkitchen equipmentandeventheirfamousbarstools.
HighamHighStreetwillnotbethesamewithout them.
On8thSeptember,Rushdenwillholdits10th AnnualDogShow.
OrganisedbyRushdenTownCouncil,itwillbe heldintheWalledGardeninHallPark.The eventisawonderfuldayofcaninefun.Therewill beprizesfor:·thecutestpup-handsomestdogwaggiesttail-prettiestbitch-Mayor’schoice-Best inShowandseveralothercategories.
Don’tbedisheartenedifyouthinkyoucan’t compete,becausethere’llalsobeaprizeforthe scruffiestmutt.
TheTownMayor,Cllr.DavidColeman,willbeon duty,topickhischoice.Gatesopenat10amand theshowstartsat11am.
On7thSeptember,RushdenTownCouncilwill holditsannualPromsintheParkconcert featuringtheawardwinningRushdenTown Band.Entranceis£5,whichincludesafreeflag foreveryone.
RushdenPromswasstartedbyCllr.GillMercer in2009,whenshewasTownMayor.Theevent survivedtheCovidPandemicandisnowin 2024,awellestablishedtradition.
Ifyouwishtocommentonanyofthesubjectswithinthispublicationorwouldliketocontributeto