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13 March 2024
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership’s (SEMLEP) Growth Hub and SEMLEP Careers Hub teamed up on Friday 8 March to showcase the vast amount of free support available for start-up and established businesses across West Northamptonshire during a major exhibition.
The Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce’s Business Exhibition took place at Wickstead Park, Kettering and provided exhibitors and visitors the opportunity to build new connections, increase brand profile and develop new business opportunities.
Members of the Council’s Economic Growth and Inward Investment Team as well as Northamptonshire Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC) were on hand to promote West Northants as the perfect place for business and investment, plus speak to attendees about the free support available, as well as funding.
Attendees who visited the stand not only learned of the extensive range of support which is tailored to the needs of each employer locally, but also about the regular business e-news updates available to subscribe to.
People were invited to enter a raffle to win 3 luxury prizes of locally-sourced produce kindly donated by businesses in West Northamptonshire, including Royal & Derngate, Towcester Racecourse and Mill Brewery.
"We were delighted to partner with the SEMLEP Growth Hub team for this year’s Chamber Business Exhibition where we spoke to hundreds of local businesses about the variety of tailored support and funding available.Cllr Daniel Lister, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth“As a council, we are dedicated to delivering economic prosperity in West Northants and want to work in collaboration with as many partners and stakeholders as possible to achieve our vision.
“West Northants is the ideal location for investment and business growth, and we will do everything possible to support businesses at all stages and of all sizes, ensuring they are aware of the broad range of advice available and support to access funding streams to help them continuously grow and thrive.”
The event follows the recent announcement that Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) functions will be hosted by West Northamptonshire Council from 1 April 2024. These include strategic economic planning, the Growth Hub, which supports and strengthens businesses, and the Careers Hub, which links schools and colleges with employers to create world-class careers opportunities.
“It’s been fantastic to partner with WNC again this year for the Chamber business expo showcasing how beneficial it is for us to work together in the delivery of business support across the region. The growth hub are committed to being the regional gateway for SMEs to access the right support to grow their business and overcome challenges.”Ruth Roan, SEMLEP Growth Hub Manager
Find out more about the expo event on the Northants Chamber website or access the range of free business support available; including help with sourcing funding, finding suitable commercial premises, filling vacancies, upskilling staff and more, on the WNC website.
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11 March 2024
This May, Everdon Outdoor Learning Centre near Daventry will be marking 50 years since opening its doors as an Outdoor Learning Centre with two open days during the May bank holiday weekend.
The centre offers residential overnight stays and day trips for schools, Forest School Level 3 training & CPD courses for adults and a space for community events. The surrounding countryside provides contrasting landscapes, making it the ideal spot for studying geography, science, and the environment.
To celebrate this significant milestone there will be two open days on 5 and 6 May from 1-5pm, providing people with an opportunity to look around the centre, see the new outdoor classroom and take a trip down memory lane for those who have previously visited. There will also be the chance to cook some marshmallows with the rangers onsite.
Having visited Everdon Outdoor Learning Centre several times over the past three years, it is great to see that we are celebrating this important milestone in the journey of this fantastic facility. The centre is a unique place that offers activities such as river studies, woodland survival, orienteering, and work with nurture groups.Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and WasteThe wonderful team at the centre pride themselves on creating a homely atmosphere and making everyone who visits feel welcome. I would encourage people to join us at one of the open days to find out more about the centre and mark this anniversary.
More information on the events will be published on the West Northamptonshire Council website and social media channels. Find out more about the centre.
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11 March 2024
Following consultation three Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) have been renewed for in Northampton, approving the continued closure of the following public pathways:
- Marble Arch, new order in force from 8 January 2024
- Jeyes Jetty, new order in force from 8 March 2024
- Dunster Street, new order in force on 25 March 2024
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) consulted on proposals to renew all three PSPOs under the powers granted by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime, and Policing Act 2014.
The PSPOs for Marble Arch, Jeyes Jetty, and Dunster Street have each been renewed for three years with each highway closed to pedestrians at all times. These renewed orders aim to address the persistent issues of anti-social behaviour and ensure the safety of the community in these areas.
Marble Arch, which connects Barrack Road and Ash Street, was first gated in 2018 due to persistent illegal activities and anti-social behaviour and has been renewed for a second time.
Jeyes Jetty is an alleyway between Drapery and College Street and has been a longstanding hotspot for crime. It was first closed in 2021 following the tragic death of a young man in the alley.
Dunster Street alley between Dunster Street and St Michael’s Road and was first closed in 2021. It had previously been a hotspot for drug dealing, fly tipping and anti-social behaviour and it was originally requested for closure by local residents being impacted by this activity.
A full version of the updated PSPOs can be viewed on the West Northamptonshire Council website.
“The Council is committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and creating safer communities.Cllr David Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory Services“In line with this commitment we have, following public consultation, extended the Public Spaces Protection Orders in these three locations.
“By having these alleyways remaining closed I am confident we will continue to see a reduction in anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in Northampton.”
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12 March 2024
West Northamptonshire Council is in the process of developing a new Tree Strategy that will provide a clear vision and action plan for maximising the benefits of trees across West Northamptonshire into the future. The strategy is the result of a recommendation made by the Tree Policy Task and Finish Group in autumn 2022.
The Council is working with consultants Woodland Dwelling Ltd. to develop the Tree Strategy. Following on from the public online engagement between November 2023 and January 2024 the Council is now holding public drop-in events:
- Monday 18 March, 10.30am - 4.30pm at The Guildhall, Northampton NN1 1DE
- Tuesday 19 March, 10.30am - 4.30pm at The Library, Daventry NN11 4XG
- Wednesday 20 March, 10.30am - 4.30pm at The Forum, Towcester NN12 6AD
Residents, businesses and community groups are invited to pop in and speak to colleagues to find out more about how they can help shape the development of the tree strategy, and the next steps.
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12 March 2024
Work to relocate residents of Ridgeway House care home to more comfortable accommodation has been successfully completed this week with the care home officially closing on 11 March 2024. The move to alternative accommodation means the residents can continue to receive quality care in an environment that will better meet their needs.
All the families of residents have been fully involved in the relocation process and were offered the opportunity to visit homes before final decisions were made. To help ensure a smooth transition for residents and support their families, the Council provided staff and transport for each resident making the journey as comfortable as possible. In addition, much of the equipment previously used at Ridgway House has been donated to a local charity that will support in taking the equipment to Ukraine hospitals.
The announcement regarding the closure of Ridgeway House following public consultation was heavily covered. The decision was made by Cabinet due to the care home being significantly under-occupied. The outdated design of the care home also meant it was no longer able to provide facilities to meet the needs of people who require residential care.
Regarding the future use of the building, the Council is in the process of considering the future use of this building and will provide an update when this decision has been made. To be clear, there is no agreed plan in place for the use of this building.
A thank you to all the staff at Ridgeway, as well as to the residents and their families.
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