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15 November 2023

West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Cabinet has approved plans to temporarily close Emporium Way in Northampton at their meeting last night (14 November).
The walkway, which is located off Northampton Market square and provides shortcuts to Sheep Street and the nearby Mayorhold and Newlands carparks, has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and crime including loitering, urination, muggings, fighting, drug dealing and other illicit activities.
Over the past six months Northamptonshire Police has noted a significant rise in crime and anti-social behaviour in the walkway, including 3 recent serious sexual offences, and additional police presence has been introduced.
Crime Data shows 20 recorded crimes from September 2021 to August 2023 in Emporium Way, increasing from 4 crimes between September 2021 to August 2022, to 16 crimes in the same period the following year. In addition, during the same two-year period 19 incidents were also recorded consisting of 6 incidents between September 2021 and August 2022, to 13 incidents for the same period the following year.
The results of a recent public consultation with residents and businesses showed that 58 percent of respondents voted in favour of gating Emporium Way, 60 percent felt that anti-social behaviour and crime are an issue in the walkway, and 36 percent have witnessed or experienced either one or more issues of anti-social behaviour or crime there.
The Council will now make a Public Spaces Protection Order to close the public highway 24 hours a day, seven days a week until the market square redevelopment is complete, using its powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. Access to all adjoining areas will be available via alternative routes and fire exits and access to bin storage will still be available for businesses adjoining the walkway.
For many years, Emporium Way has been used as a place to conduct illicit activities, away from the eyes of passing pedestrians and other capable guardians such as the Police and wardens.Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory ServicesDue to the low ceiling height in the underpass and layout of the alleyway, CCTV coverage is very limited and often vandalised, at great cost to the taxpayer.
I am confident that temporarily closing Emporium Way will have a positive impact on crime and anti-social behaviour in Northampton town centre and will help create a better environment for residents, shoppers and local businesses who invest here.
This will be Northampton’s sixth Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), following the implementation of orders across the Town Centre, Dunster Street, Marble Arch, Jeyes Jetty and Francis Jetty.
The cost of the hoarding and installation will be funded by West Northamptonshire Council with support from the Office of Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC).
We have heard about the issues in this alleyway from the people who are affected by it, and so I was pleased to support the temporary closure to prevent further crime and anti-social behaviour. “I want people to feel safe and confident as they use the town and am pleased to be able to work together with the local authority to tackle crime.Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold
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16 November 2023

Proposals for the future of waste and recycling services in West Northamptonshire have taken a step forward as West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet agree to adopt the strategy which sets out the approach for improving local waste and street cleansing services.
WNC collects and empties more than 21 million wheelie bins, sacks and caddies every year and provides essential street cleansing services to keep our areas clean and green. WNC’s recycling centres receive more than 500,000 visits from West Northamptonshire resident’s each year.
The Council wants to continue improving these services and ensure they align with Government proposals to change waste policies nationally, so it has developed a Resources and Waste Strategy that sets out its long-term vision.
Following a public consultation held over the summer, which saw over 3000 responses, the strategy has been tailored to further improve the alignment with our communities’ priorities and values. This feedback and the updated strategy were presented to cabinet this week.
The strategy consists of a set of 10 principles, these principles will guide the development of the Council’s waste services over the next 15 years – informing decision making enabling WNC to create sustainable waste and street cleaning services.
I would like to thank all residents who provided feedback on our waste strategy. We are grateful for the response to our public consultation and for resident’s input on the waste strategy, this has helped inform the strategy so that it can best suit the needs of people living in West Northants.Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste at WNCAs current waste arrangements expire, we have an exciting opportunity to develop a fair, consistent, harmonised and sustainable waste service for the future that delivers value-for-money and meets the needs of all our residents and businesses.
As the existing current waste arrangements come to an end, the Council will create a harmonised and sustainable service covering all of West Northamptonshire. This service will see a prioritisation of waste reduction, reuse and recycling to minimise the environmental impact of waste. In order for WNC to achieve its recycling targets, and also reduce the cost of waste services, West Northamptonshire residents will be empowered to be ‘responsible consumers’ through an increased emphasis on education and awareness of sustainability.
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Nikki Watson QPM has been announced as preferred Chief Fire Officer for Northamptonshire.
Following a two-day interview process, Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold has said that Nikki Watson, who has recently retired as Deputy Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police, is the preferred candidate for the role.
Following a 36-year career in policing, Nikki Watson is an experienced senior leader in the emergency services and in public safety. Nikki is a skilled civil contingencies gold commander and is a qualified leader in events; counter terrorism; public order; CBRN; roads policing and strategic firearms command. She has also been lead officer for Prevention and Protection.
Nikki was the Chair of the Avon and Somerset Local Resilience Forum for five years, where she led on multi-agency collaboration and emergency preparedness.
Nikki was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for her work during the Covid-19 pandemic, when she led Avon and Somerset Police’s local response and was also part of the national team responsible for liaising with the Home Office on the development of Covid legislation and then preparing guidance for police forces across the country in enforcing changing regulations.
The appointment is now subject to the outcome of a Police, Fire and Crime Panel confirmation hearing that will take place in December 2023.
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said: “Nikki’s commitment to public service shone out, and the interviewers were extremely impressed by her enthusiasm for leading Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and making a difference to the people of this county.
“I am confident that Nikki has the skills and qualities to take our Service into the future and that her passion for public safety matches the dedication shown by our own firefighters and staff.
“Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service has achieved so much over the last few years, and I am genuinely excited by the fact that Nikki will be a great fit with the existing chief officer team and together, they will consolidate and build on the improvements that have already been made.”
Nikki Watson said: “Throughout my career I have worked hard to make a difference to people and communities, and I am committed to doing my best for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and for the county as a whole.
“I am looking forward to working alongside the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, my colleagues and our local communities, and supporting the firefighters and staff, who are so passionate about the work they do, for the people of Northamptonshire.”
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14 November 2023

The Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards, in association with All Things Business and hosted by top comedian Rob Becket, proved to be a fantastic night – not just for the county, but for 78 Derngate – The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House! Held at Northampton’s County Cricket Ground, it was a dazzling evening celebrating many achievements across Northamptonshire’s wonderful business community.
78 Derngate proudly accepted an award in the Land & Development category, sponsored by Moore Chartered Accountants, which serves to fully recognise the significance of the major project undertaken. So many people were behind the success of the award-winning extension, from local architects MWK Ltd and building contractors, Cornerhouse of Earls Barton, family-run firm Haddonstone, which supplied some of the steps and copings, all our fantastic volunteers who remained resilient throughout the extensive build and kept us open to the public, to the huge injection of money from The Towns Fund via West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and the Regeneration team in particular, without which it could not have been achieved.
I was both surprised and extremely pleased to receive this significant award on behalf of the whole team behind this huge project and recognise that it is important not only for The Charles Rennie Mackintosh House @ 78 Derngate, but for the town and wider county as a whole.Mick Young, Chairman of the 78 Derngate Trust
We’re delighted to see 78 Derngate pick up this well-deserved award. This is an internationally significant venue which attracts visitors from all over the world. A huge congratulations to all those who helped bring the impressive redevelopment works to life and enhance the museum for visitors to enjoy for years to come.Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth at WNC
Congratulations to all involved!
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15 November 2023

People with real housing needs including members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families, care leavers, and victims of domestic abuse will benefit from a new housing allocations scheme approved by Councillors at West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Cabinet meeting last night (14 November).
The scheme, which will be adopted from April 2024, has been developed following a 10-week public consultation and will provide an aligned and harmonised approach to ensuring that the area’s valuable housing resources go to those most in need.
The scheme will operate through a choice-based lettings system which enables residents to make choices about which properties they are interested in, making the provision of social housing fairer, clearer and more consistent across the West Northamptonshire area.
The proposed Scheme sets out who is eligible to apply for social rented housing, how the Council will prioritise applicants, and the basis on which accommodation will be allocated. It will replace the existing schemes operating in Daventry, South Northants, and Northampton and recognise people with a local connection to West Northants by residence, employment or close family in the eligibility criteria.
There are currently over 4000 applicants registered to and active on the existing three housing allocations scheme across West Northamptonshire. The new scheme has the potential to have a positive impact on existing and future applicants’ prospects of securing accommodation by providing a greater number of available properties across West Northamptonshire.
Existing housing register applicants will be contacted in the coming weeks with further information on what will be required to register for the new scheme.
We believe that having a decent home is a fundamental human right and as a council, we have a statutory duty to ensure that social and affordable housing is available to those who need it most.Cllr Adam Brown, Deputy Leader of West Northamptonshire Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and LeisureThis new scheme recognises people with the greatest need including those experiencing homelessness, those with complex health and welfare needs, victims of domestic abuse and those subject to exploitation, and also prioritises people who have a genuine connection to the area through employment or family.
By harmonising the existing policies we can ensure a fairer and more efficient service for people across the whole West Northants area and use our resources as effectively as possible to improve life chances for residents and continue to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive.
The Housing Allocations Scheme Cabinet Report can be viewed on the Council website.
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