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08 July 2022
![Office workers sitting at a table viewed from above](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/144/81/0/2022-04/pexels-pixabay-416405%20Planning.jpg)
Residents are being asked to help shape extra guidance for land allocated for commercial development in the south Northamptonshire area.
Members of West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Planning Policy Committee recently approved plans to seek people’s views on a new draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for employment land allocations in the area, which would sit alongside the South Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 to help inform decision-making on planning applications.
The draft SPD aims to provide greater detail and certainty to the public and developers by setting out overarching design principles for the future development of the employment sites identified in the Local Plan, including guidance relating to size, scale and density of buildings.
A six-week public consultation on the SPD opened on Thursday, 7 July, with residents encouraged to attend drop-in sessions taking place in Towcester and Old Stratford next week.
People have until midnight on Thursday, 18 August to give their views – to take part, visit the consultation hub on the Council’s website or view the draft documents at the WNC offices and library in Towcester, as well as libraries in Brackley, Deanshanger and Roade.
Cllr Rebecca Breese, WNC’s Cabinet Member for strategic planning, built environment and rural affairs, said: “It’s important that we have effective planning policies in place which support our goals to boost our local economy by bringing new employment opportunities into the area.
“Our policies must be underpinned by clear and robust guidance for both local residents and developers to ensure future development of these sites is appropriate in size, scale and density, and this Supplementary Planning Document aims to do just that.
“I would urge everyone with knowledge of this area to get involved in this consultation to help shape guidance that will inform our future decision-making on these issues."
As well as being able to view the SPD documents online, residents can view them at the WNC offices and the library at The Forum, Moat Lane in Towcester NN12 6AD, and libraries in Brackley, Deanshanger and Roade.
Drop-in events, which include opportunities to view information boards and talk to planning officers, take place between 2pm and 6pm at The Forum in Towcester on Wednesday, 13 July and at The Memorial Hall, Deanshanger Road in Old Stratford on Thursday, 14 July.
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05 July 2022
![Memorial stone at Srebrenica (image taken by Rooful Ali)](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/144/81/0/2022-07/Srebrenica%20Stone%20-Rooful%20Ali%20photos.jpg)
A ceremony of remembrance to honour the victims of the Srebrenica genocide will take place on Monday, 11 July, at 10.55am in the Northampton Guildhall’s courtyard on St Giles’ Square.
The public are invited to join the Vice-Chairman of West Northamptonshire Council and the Mayor of Northampton, along with representatives from Northamptonshire Inter Faith Forum, Northamptonshire Police and others, to hear speeches and observe a one-minute silence at 11am, in honour of the 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys who were massacred in Srebrenica, Bosnia, in July 1995.
The Srebrenica flag will also be raised at each of West Northamptonshire Council’s main offices in Daventry, Northampton and Towcester and candles of remembrance lit to mark the occasion.
Councillor André González De Savage, Chairman of West Northamptonshire Council, said: “This is an important day of international commemoration, so it is right that we come together to remember the victims of this atrocity and demonstrate that there is no place for hate in our society.”
The day of remembrance is part of the Srebrenica Memorial Week, which began on 4 July, with ‘Combatting Denial: Confronting Hatred’ as this year’s theme – highlighting the fact that denial of the Srebrenica genocide, as well as the crimes against humanity committed across Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 to 1995, remains prevalent.
More information about this year’s theme and the memorial week can be found on the Remembering Srebrenica website.
Cllr Dennis Meredith, the Mayor of Northampton, said: “The message for this year’s Remembering Srebrenica event is ‘Combatting Denial, Challenging Hatred’ and we must educate ourselves and others so that ignorance and hatred do not enable horrific events like Srebrenica to ever happen again.
“With the war in Ukraine very much on our minds, it is so incredibly important to come together to remember the atrocities of Srebrenica and understand our part in fighting hatred and intolerance.”
Northamptonshire Police is committed to challenging all forms of hatred, prejudice and intolerance within communities. Anyone who has experienced a hate crime or incident is encouraged to report it to the police by calling 101.
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04 July 2022
![Neat stacks of one pound coins](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/144/81/0/2022-05/Website%20News%20Image%20-%20%20Money.jpg)
West Northamptonshire Council wants to hear your views on their proposed policy statement designed to prevent the use of gambling and betting premises for crime and disorder.
They also want to know if you are satisfied that the draft statement is robust in protecting children and younger people from harm in this environment.
Under the Gambling Act 2005, local councils regulate the provision of premises for gambling. These premises include betting shops, bingo halls and amusement arcades, the provision of gaming machines in clubs and alcohol licensed premises and small society lottery registration.
The Gambling Act 2005 makes it a duty for a local authority to review and adopt a Statement of Licensing policy every three years, this statement details how the Council will undertake its licensing functions with a view to promoting the three licensing objectives:
- Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime
- Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way
- Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling
A draft statement for the period 2022 - 2025 has been prepared. A copy of the draft is available Have your say on the Gambling Act 2005 - Statement of Licensing Policy 2022-2025 - West Northamptonshire Council - Citizen Space We are seeking comments on the draft and would be pleased to hear your views either via the Online Survey. Alternatively you can email or send your comments in by post using the contact details below.
Email Address: [email protected]
Postal Address:
Health and Licensing Manager
West Northamptonshire Council
The Guildhall
St Giles Square
Northampton
NN1 1DE
Telephone: 0300 126 7000
If you have any queries, comments or would like a copy of this survey in another format, you can contact us by email, post or telephone. Our contact details are as above.
This consultation will run until midnight on Sunday 21 August 2022.
For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.
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04 July 2022
![Image of people joining hands](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/144/81/0/2021-12/Community%20spirit.jpg)
Are you heavily involved in your community and keen to make a difference? If so, we need you to join a new group which will help shape the future development of Northampton.
The Northampton Forward Board is seeking to create a new sub-group consisting of those who represent local communities and organisations.
Northampton Forward is an informal partnership, with the primary role of coordinating and driving forward the integrated regeneration and growth within Northampton town centre.
Since its formation in 2018, its work has led to £32m in Government grants for a number of schemes including the improvements to the town centre, new and improved cultural venues, and several large scale developments.
Martin Mason, Managing Director of footwear firm Tricker’s and Northampton Forward Chair, said: “It’s incredibly important that as we work towards improving our town, we take people on that journey with us.
“We have always been keen to hear everyone’s views, and we’ve engaged with communities a number of times over a variety of projects, but we want to take that to the next level.
“We’re looking for people who feel they represent the views of their communities, who have a positive outlook and want to see the town improve, and who can throw some good ideas in to the mix.
“Of course, we welcome challenge, but it must be constructive rather than obstructive, as doing nothing is simply not an option.”
Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Community Champions Sub-group is asked to fill in an expression of interest form offering a little information about:
- Themselves and why they would like to be part of the group
- The community they represent
- Their ability to commit to at least one meeting every two months and some engagement work in between.
The process will be open for five weeks, from 27 June to 1 August and anyone is welcome to put themselves forward.
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01 July 2022
Nearly 21,000 businesses in West Northamptonshire employing under 50 people will be the focus this weekend as shoppers are encouraged to celebrate their Independents Day.
Independents Day is part of the ongoing campaign by Local Rewards, a partnership between businesses and local authorities to support and promote independent retail businesses.
Cllr Daniel Lister, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) Cabinet Member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth, hopes that shoppers spend more time in their local high streets.
He said: “West Northants is a place where businesses thrive, with our area ranking in the top ten in the country to start-up. As a community, we need to work together to support the local independents, as the benefits help everyone within the community.
"Our new app, ‘Explore West Northants’ will launch later this year, showcasing our fantastic local businesses, attractions and reasons to visit the high streets and surrounding areas. We won’t stop raising awareness of all of our great businesses and the many reasons everyone should explore each and every one of them.
"As we strive to recover from the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to support our independent businesses, who provide jobs to local people and unmatched services to residents."
Independents account for around 65 per cent of the 290,000 retail outlets in the UK and are firmly at the heart of local communities throughout the country.
West Northamptonshire contributed £12.5bn to the UK economy in 2019, rising by 126 per cent since 1998 compared to a 123 per cent increase nationally during the same period. In 2019, the largest sector by output was the wholesale and retail trade.
In December 2021 Northampton was ranked number one in a table of the best towns in the UK to start a business.
The Independents Day campaign ties in locally with WNC’s ongoing Think Local initiative in Brackley, Daventry, Northampton and Towcester, and builds towards the celebration of Small Business Saturday in December.
As well as advice for shoppers on how to support local retailers in West Northamptonshire, the WNC website can also signpost retailers themselves to a range of free Business Support services including advice on funding.