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16 July 2024
![Three cars parked on the road.](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/1440/810/0/2024-07/car%20parked%20web.jpg)
Motorists are being advised of closures to two car parks in Northampton this month, as work on two exciting town centre regeneration projects take a step forward.
The town’s Chalk Lane Car Park will be closed from the evening of Tuesday 16 July through to Thursday 25 July to allow for preparatory work on the new Marefair Heritage Park.
The nearby Doddridge Street Car Park is closed for four weeks from 15 July while the Museum of London Archaeology carry out investigation as part of the delivery of the Four Waterside and Marefair development.
Signage will be in place to notify motorists of the temporary closures, with people directed to use the nearby Marefair or Commercial Street Car Parks instead. Click here to view the council-owned car parks across Northampton.
West Northamptonshire Council secured £1.6 million from the Government’s Towns Fund towards delivering the Heritage Park, which will provide new green space, trees, play areas, community gardens, pathways and lighting.
Marefair and the surrounding area has a fascinating and important history as the site of the once famous Northampton Castle as well as other historic local buildings such as the Old Black Lion Pub, Hazelrigg House, Castle Hill United Reformed Church, St Peters Church and a former Saxon Palace.
The park will tell this fascinating story on a heritage timeline of Corteen Steel poles which will be installed throughout the park.
The project to improve a major gateway to Northampton will be complemented by the Four Waterside and Marefair development, which will see the vacant brownfield site along the River Nene transformed into high-quality office space, new homes, business space and a new hotel.
This ambitious project is being delivered thanks to £1.7 million of funding from the Towns Fund, £7 million of investment from Northampton Enterprise Zone and investment from developers CityHeart. Wider construction works are expected to start in 2025.
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16 July 2024
![Image of someone receiving a vaccination](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/1440/810/0/2024-07/Vaccination.jpg)
West Northamptonshire Public Health are encouraging primary, secondary and further education students and their parents and guardians, to check their vaccination status, to ensure they are up to date.
Increased mixing during the holidays means the risk of viruses spreading amongst children and young people is heightened. Some of the most common infections to circulate within our school aged population includes measles, mumps, and meningitis, which can cause severe complications, and in some cases require hospitalisation.
Some children and young people may have missed out on getting their routine vaccinations or are newly eligible, and are therefore being reminded to get this protection. Vaccinations help to boost the immune system and protects against complications an infection can cause.
Children and young people who attend school should have been offered vaccinations through their GP or the school immunisation programme. If your child has missed any doses of these vaccines or does not attend a school setting, please, contact your GP to arrange an appointment.
“Across Northamptonshire we have seen a decline in the uptake of childhood and adolescent vaccinations. I am asking for parents and guardians to support in protecting their children and young people this summer by checking their child’s vaccination status, to ensure they have had all their recommended doses. Don’t let an avoidable infection spoil their summer break.Dr Annapurna Sen, Health Protection Consultant for West Northamptonshire Public Health“If your child has missed any vaccinations, please contact your child’s GP as soon as possible to discuss and arrange an appointment.”
For further detail regarding any of these vaccinations, please check out the West Northamptonshire Council Immunisation page.
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17 July 2024
![Police man closing property](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/1440/810/0/2024-07/Closure%20Order.jpg)
A property in Northampton has been issued with a full closure order following concerns around drug dealing and anti-social behaviour from members of the public.
The 3-month order follows numerous complaints from local residents about a range of disruptive activities linked to the flat, located in Park Avenue in Abington, over the past six months.
Since January 2024, there have been persistent reports of disturbances including frequent visitors to the flat throughout the night and early morning; noise from shouting, arguing, fighting, and swearing in communal areas; other residents' flat buzzers being rung in the early hours; and suspicious packages being exchanged, believed to be drugs, causing the community a high level of alarm and distress.
Last week (10 July), West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Anti-Social Behaviour team and Northamptonshire Police successfully obtained a closure order to shut down the property under Part 4 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
The Council and the police worked together to gather the evidence needed to obtain the closure order at Northampton Magistrates Court.
The property will be secured and boarded to prevent entry. Any unauthorised person who enters the property will be committing a criminal offence.
"We are pleased this full closure order has been obtained thanks to a strong partnership effort with Northamptonshire Police.Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Planning and Communities at WNC“This Northampton property has been a source of persistent anti-social behaviour and criminal activity for months, making the lives of other residents miserable.
“This decisive action reflects our commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our communities. By addressing this issue head-on, we are not only improving the quality of life for local residents but also sending a clear message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in our neighbourhoods."
Closure orders last for a period of 3 months and can be extended further if necessary. They are used when other approaches to tackling anti-social behaviour have been unsuccessful and aim to protect residents living in the neighbourhood by preventing criminal behaviour taking place in or around a property.
“Northamptonshire Police is extremely pleased with the result of this full closure order, which is the culmination of excellent partnership work between the Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team, the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit and West Northamptonshire Council.Inspector Lee Flavell, of Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team“I would like to give special mention to PCSO Dan Freeman who was diligent and determined, working with and supporting the residents impacted by the ASB and criminality from this problem address. Between all our partners we obtained all of the information and evidence required to take this matter to court and secure a successful outcome.
“We fully recognise the detrimental effects behaviour like this has on people’s quality of life, and how communities can suffer as a result of those who fail to consider the impact of their actions. I’d like to pay tribute to this community, to those who have stood up and refused to be plagued by this behaviour; it is their evidence which has been instrumental to this outcome.
“No-one should feel frightened in their own home. Cases like this demonstrate that police and local authorities will not tolerate such behaviour and illustrate how important it is for residents to let us know about issues in their area.”
If you are experiencing issues with anti-social behaviour or suspected criminality where you live, please report it to police on 101 or report online at www.northants.police.uk/RO. In an emergency, where a crime is in progress or life is at risk, always call 999.
Non-emergency reports can also be made in confidence to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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17 July 2024
![Animated cat and dog](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/1440/810/0/2024-07/A%20home%20for%20harmony.png)
Musical play A Home for Harmony will visit libraries in West Northamptonshire this August as part of its Summer 2024 Tour.
Written by Renata Allen and produced by the People's Theatre Collective, the play is created specifically for young children and uses engaging music to inspire emotional resilience and confidence, ensuring families can enjoy the performance while recognising its valuable messages.
The play follows the touching story of Sam, a disabled person, and their loyal assistance dog, Bouncer, whose home is disrupted when a stray cat named Harmony appears on their doorstep and is welcomed into their family.
The play is designed with inclusivity in mind, featuring accessible elements for audiences with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including sensory and musical components, Makaton sign language, and non-verbal storytelling to ensure that every child can enjoy and engage with the performance.
"We are delighted to welcome this educational play which celebrates inclusion and people of different abilities to our libraries.Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure“This free production is a wonderful opportunity for children and families to engage with stories that discuss disability and showcase diverse voices and perspectives.
“As a Council we aim to foster a sense of understanding and community among our young audiences and invite everyone to join us for this enriching and entertaining experience."
"I couldn't be more excited to work on this amazing project. This play is not only a fun and heartwarming experience for families, it also highlights the incredible impact assistance dogs have on people's lives.”Emma, People's Theatre Collective Project Manager
For more information and to see the full list of tour dates and venues, visit the People's Theatre Collective's website. To find your local library and see a list of events, visit the WNC Libraries webpage.
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15 July 2024
![An image looking across the lake at Daventry Country Park](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/1440/810/0/2024-07/Daventry%20Country%20Park%20Res%20and%20Tree%20cropped.png)
People are being asked to help shape a strategy setting out how West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) manages and develops its parks and green spaces.
The Council manages around 150 parks and green open spaces across West Northants, including war memorials, and town and country parks.
The new Parks Development Strategy will set out how the Council can protect, develop, and improve these areas in ways that not only enrich residents’ and visitors’ lives, but also the natural environment.
The current version is very much in draft form as we are keen to engage with and hear the thoughts of park users, local businesses, community groups and other stakeholders in order to shape the final document.
“We understand the importance that our parks and green spaces play in people’s lives. We are keen to hear the views of local residents, cyclists, dog walkers, volunteers and community organisations to help us to ensure that we set a suitably ambitious but achievable strategy; one which meets the needs and expectations of our residents and visitors.Cllr Rebecca Breese, Cabinet Member for Environment, Recycling and Waste“We have identified a range of initiatives we believe would further improve and enhance our parks and green spaces for everyone in our communities to enjoy and it's really important that people tell us what they think of our proposals and let us know if we are focusing on the right things.”
The Council would like to hear from anyone who has an interest in our parks and the development of this strategy. The consultation will be live until midnight on 8 September. Click here to view the draft strategy and have your say.
All responses will be analysed and considered by the Council in developing the draft strategy further. The feedback provided will help WNC to develop an updated version of the Parks Development Strategy and accompanying action plan. Once finalised, these will be presented to the Council’s Cabinet in November 2024, with the final strategy to be published in 2025.
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