05 December 2024

Residents across West Northamptonshire who burn solid fuels in an open fire, burner or stove are being asked to get involved in government-funded research which aims to understand more about their impact on air quality and any potential links to health conditions.

Solid fuel can include things such as coffee logs, wood, briquettes, coal and there is little information available locally on the types of burners people use, the kind of fuel they burn, and how often they’re used.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has been successful in receiving Government funding so it can work with residents to understand the impacts of solid fuel burners in the home. With the increased popularity of solid fuel burners alongside a potential link with exacerbating existing health issues such as asthma and other lung conditions, the Council wants to see if there are any links between what we burn and the impacts on our most vulnerable adults and children.

Whilst accepting that items such as wood burners are now part of a lifestyle choice for some, and can be an essential way of heating and cooking in the home for others, this funding will enable the Council to help people to make more informed decisions on how they heat their homes and cook. The work also forms part of a wider range of actions being progressed to reduce pollution across the area and raise public awareness in relation to the type of fuel and how and where burners are used.

Residents are being encouraged to complete an anonymous survey designed to provide insights into this. The Council is also looking for volunteers who use solid fuel burners to have an air quality monitor installed within their home to capture information on levels of Particulate Matter (PM) throughout the burning season. The Particulate Matter (PM) it is looking at is the small particles about the width of a human hair that are released when fuel is burnt.

People who complete the survey will have the option to enter a draw to win a bespoke Better Burning bundle by providing their contact details, which will be stored separately to ensure that responses remain anonymous. Items in the bundle could include a stove thermometer, stove fan or a supply of compliant fuel.

“We know that people use solid fuel burners for a range of reasons, including their location and access to sources of heat and for financial reasons. But we also know that locally there just isn’t enough information on this and more research is needed to help us understand their potential impacts on health and air quality.

“This survey isn’t about telling people what they should and shouldn’t be doing to heat their homes, it’s about finding out first-hand from residents about their current use of solid fuels and how this fits in with their wider lifestyles so we have a much greater insight on these issues locally which will in turn help residents to make more informed decisions around how they heat their homes.

“We would encourage anyone who burns solid fuels in an open fire, burner or stove, whether it’s coffee logs, wood, briquettes or coal, to get involved and give their feedback which will really help make a difference as we look into these issues for our communities.”

Cllr Matt Golby, WNC’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Adult Care, Public Health and Regulatory Services

The survey closes on Friday, 31 January. For more information and to share your experience of owning and using a solid fuel burner, please visit the survey website.
 

05 December 2024

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 has already smashed records as the fastest-selling edition of the tournament ever, with more than 220,000 tickets sold to date. In the ticket application window, 90,000 tickets were secured by fans, building on the 130,000 sold during the presale period.

With just over eight months to go until the opening match between England and the USA at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light on 22 August, the continued strong interest in Women’s RWC 2025 has led to ballots for high-demand fixtures, including England’s pool matches and the final at Twickenham Stadium. The surge in demand ensures that the largest sports event in the UK next year, hosted across eight cities in England, will also be the biggest and best Women’s Rugby World Cup in history.

Fans from across the globe are eager to join the excitement, with applications received from 72 countries. Notably, there has been an equal balance of men and women purchasing tickets, setting the stage for the most inclusive and widely celebrated Women’s Rugby World Cup in history.

“We are incredibly excited to see the record-breaking ticket sales for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. The strong demand highlights not only the growing global enthusiasm for women’s rugby but also the potential of major sporting events to unite communities and boost local economies.

“With Franklin’s Gardens hosting six matches, we’re proud to play a key role in this historic tournament. Events like this bring significant benefits to West Northamptonshire, attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and showcasing our area on an international stage. We’re committed to ensuring the whole community experiences a lasting legacy from this once-in-a-lifetime event."

Cllr Adam Brown, Leader of WNC

"The response to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 has been remarkable. England has a proud rugby heritage and a huge appetite for women’s sport, and this has been reflected in the demand for tickets so early on.

“Breaking records for ticket sales is just the beginning – we’re building towards a tournament that promises to be inclusive, entertaining, and unmissable for fans and players alike.

“We can’t wait to welcome the world to England next year to celebrate the pinnacle of women’s rugby in front of unprecedented crowds and create unforgettable memories together."

Sarah Massey, Managing Director of Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

There will be a further chance for fans to secure tickets when the next ticket phase opens from 11:00 GMT on Tuesday, 25 February. To be the first to hear the latest ticketing news, fans can register for updates at rugbyworldcup.com/2025/newsletter.

Fans can also now elevate their Women’s RWC 2025 tournament with a ticket-inclusive premium experience package. All experience packages include an official match ticket and are available now for every match via experiences.rugbyworldcup.com. Prices start from £240 (including VAT) per person.

With such exceptional demand for tickets and to avoid disappointment, fans are urged to secure their tickets through the official channels at tickets.rugbyworldcup.com or experiences.rugbyworldcup.com. Tickets bought via unofficial sources and reselling platforms will not guarantee access to the match venues.

England 2025 will be the first Rugby World Cup hosted under a new joint-venture model (Local Operating Company) between World Rugby and the RFU, with funding from the UK Government, which will aim to optimise efficiency and impact across the tournament.  

All the latest tournament news, including the full match schedule, can be found at rugbyworldcup.com/2025 

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 is supported by its Principal Partners Mastercard, Capgemini, Gallagher and Asahi.

05 December 2024

A day of Christmas activities planned for Northampton Market Square on Saturday, 7 December, will relocate to the Grosvenor shopping centre due to extreme weather conditions forecast for the day.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has partnered with Northampton BID and Northampton Town Council (NTC) to ensure that festive fun continues in the town centre, and all acts originally booked for the Market Square will now perform in the Grosvenor Centre as part of Northampton BID’s Grotto event from 11am to 3pm. Should the weather improve, performers will venture onto the Market Square, which will be open as usual, to bring Christmas cheer to visitors.

Acts will include playful elves performing stilt-walking, juggling, and face-painting, bringing smiles to all. A mischievous, Grinch-inspired character will also make an appearance, offering picture-perfect moments as they spread holiday cheer.

In addition, Northampton Town Council has cancelled their event at Becket’s Park, also scheduled for 7 December. The council is working closely with acts and vendors to explore the possibility of them joining the Market Square events on either 14 or 21 December, enhancing the festive offer for residents and visitors.

Discussions are also underway around relocating the ice rink originally planned for Becket’s Park to Northampton Market Square in January, with further details to be announced soon.

“The safety and wellbeing of our residents, visitors, and performers is our top priority which is why we’ve made the decision to move this Saturday’s festive activities indoors. This ensures everyone can still enjoy the holiday spirit in a warm, sheltered environment.

“We’re delighted to be working closely with the Grosvenor Centre, Northampton BID, and Northampton Town Council to keep the festivities alive. This collaboration not only ensures a fantastic experience for families but also supports our local businesses and traders, especially on Small Business Saturday, which highlights the importance of shopping locally and celebrating the contributions of small businesses in our community.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone this Saturday and invite residents to join us for our upcoming festive events on 14 and 21 December, and potentially for the ice rink in January.”

Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure

See more information about upcoming festive events in Northampton Market Square.

05 December 2024

West Northamptonshire Council has paid tribute to former councillor Stephen Legg, a highly respected and long-serving public servant, who sadly recently passed away. 

Mr Legg became a councillor for Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) in 2009, representing the Weston division for the Conservative Party before being re-elected four years later as a councillor for the Riverside Park division, where he served until the County Council was abolished in 2021. 

In 2019, he served as the County Council’s Chairman, during a year heavily impacted by the pandemic. Despite the challenges, he used his role to champion his chosen charities, Northamptonshire Young Carers and the Northants 50+ Network.  

During his time as a county councillor he also chaired the Personnel Committee, Council Consultation and Negotiation Forum, and Children’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee as well as being a dedicated member of the Pensions Committee and the Audit Committee. 

Born in Northampton, Mr Legg studied engineering at Nottingham University before embarking on a career in education as a teacher at Northampton College. He later joined the family event management business, contributing to major events at iconic venues such as Silverstone. 

This week West Northamptonshire Council flew its flag half-mast at its buildings in memory of Mr Legg and his service to local government in Northamptonshire. 

“Stephen was a kind and compassionate man who brought wisdom, dedication, and genuine care to everything he did. He was not just a colleague but a friend to many of us. His passion for improving the lives of others and his tireless work for the community will not be forgotten.

“Our thoughts are with his family, and his many friends during this difficult time. His loss will be felt deeply, not only by his loved ones but also by his colleagues and the community he served so selflessly.”

Cllr Adam Brown, Leader of WNC

06 December 2024

Toolstation, one of Britain's fastest-growing suppliers of tools and building supplies, has joined forces with Northampton Saints, Travis Perkins and social enterprise Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) for its latest project, helping transform the Northampton Old Scouts RFC clubhouse with changing room refurbishment and ground maintenance, thanks to funding allocated by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).

Predominantly used as a training and playing facility for Northampton Old Scouts rugby club, the grounds are also accessible to a wide array of sporting communities, including American football, touch rugby, cricket, fitness clubs and more, and has become a hotspot for school physical education classes and private events as a result.

Its high demand means the clubhouse is heavily reliant on volunteers to help maintain its facilities, which has become a challenge in recent years due to lack of availability. To ensure the local community is provided with a safe and enjoyable environment for all to enjoy, volunteers from Toolstation, Travis Perkins and Northampton Saints teamed up with VIY throughout November to help transform the club’s grounds.

The three-week renovation project has seen volunteers refurbish the clubhouse changing rooms, helping create a more attractive and welcoming environment for the users of the space. These improvements will enable the club to maintain and grow their player base of men’s and women’s teams, as well as growing the first ‘inclusive’ rugby team in the East Midlands they host at the club, Northampton Outlaws. This has given players from across all teams at Northampton Old Scouts a new sense of club pride, as well as hiring changing rooms out to other local clubs who have struggled to maintain their own grounds, including Northampton Heathens.

In addition to creating a high-quality sporting hub for the local community, the VIY initiative is also helping more young people learn DIY skills and consider a career in the construction and building industry, whilst renovating a space they may use and benefit from.

The project was also supported using a portion of the £46,000 funding awarded by the UK Government via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund through West Northamptonshire Council to VIY to deliver impactful ‘People and Place’ outcomes, whilst Travis Perkins and Dulux donated essential tools and accessories to help complete the job at hand.

“It’s fantastic to see this incredible collaboration breathe new life into Northampton Old Scouts RFC. This project demonstrates the power of community partnership, with the support of UKSPF funding helping to enhance local facilities and provide young people with life-changing opportunities. As we gear up to host the Women’s Rugby World Cup next year, it’s exciting to see our community spaces ready to support the growing enthusiasm for sport and inspire the next generation here in West Northants.”Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure at West Northamptonshire Council

Toolstation is funding and helping the volunteers gain City & Guilds qualifications as part of its partnership with VIY. The project saw more than 30 young volunteers between the ages of 14 to 24, all not in education, employment or training or at risk of becoming so, referred from local youth partners including those supported by Northampton Saints Foundation and young players from the club itself come together and spend a total of 15 days work on the project, with many participants being awarded a City & Guilds accreditation in Painting & Decorating.

Players, mascots and staff members from local professional rugby union club Northampton Saints provided their support throughout the project through volunteering, helping provide a space for local community members with a keen interest in the sport to follow in their footsteps and embrace their sporting passion.

"We have completed several successful projects in partnership with VIY, and the transformation of this fantastic clubhouse is another one to add to the list.

“At Toolstation, we believe that supporting communities involves creating positive change where it's needed most. Partnering with VIY means we can help improve community spaces and share valuable skills with the young volunteers from the local area. We believe that this project will encourage young people to develop confidence and learn practical trade and building skills and to consider a career in the trade.”

Rupert Nichols, Customer and Commercial Director at Toolstation

“We're proud of our long-term partnership with Toolstation and Travis Perkins, and renovating a rugby club right on their doorstep in Northampton is a brilliant way to celebrate this. Working with Northampton Saints and their Foundation again is a brilliant way for us to improve more clubs in their community and young people's lives too.”Ed Sellwood, COO and co-founder at VIY