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Fire, Police and Ambulance services in Northamptonshire and neighbouring counties joined forces last week to test their joint response to a terrorist and chemical attack during a multi-agency training exercise at Silverstone circuit.
Exercise Callicarpa, one of the largest training exercises of its kind in recent years, allowed the emergency services to test their strategic and tactical responses, as well as evaluating how well they communicate with each other at largescale major incidents.
The first phase of the exercise tested the response to a marauding terrorist attack. This saw Northamptonshire Police – supported by Counter Terrorist Policing East Midlands (CPTEM) – deliver a realistic scenario where firearms officers responded to an attack on foot with multiple casualties.
Once the area had been declared safe, Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service were able to start initial casualty management, with student volunteers from Moulton College playing injured members of the public requiring treatment.
The final phase of the exercise replicated a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) incident involving an unknown chemical substance. This tested how Fire, Police and EMAS were able to neutralise the threat safely and decontaminate both members of the public as well as their own staff on-site.
A number of fire engines from Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service were on scene, as well as appliances from neighbouring Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and the Detection, Identification and Monitoring unit from Leicestershire, the latter of which would help to detect what the chemical substance was.
The event also allowed Northamptonshire crews the opportunity to test the deployment of the Mass Decontamination Unit, which can process up to 300 casualties in an hour and contains a de-robe section, showers and a re-robe section for contaminated members of the public.
Group Commander Rob Green, of Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: “Thankfully the likelihood of such an event happening in real life is small, but training exercises such as this help us learn how we can support each other, share any risks or situational awareness and then deploy the right resources appropriately. I’d like to thank Silverstone circuit for allowing us to use their facilities in order to help us do that.
“This exercise has allowed us to have a better understanding of how we can work together to resolve incidents on this scale and keep people safe.”
Superintendent Jen Helm, of Northamptonshire Police, said: “Over the last few years policing has evolved in how we respond to these kinds of incidents, particularly after the findings of various inquests such as the Manchester Arena Inquiry.
“These events in real life are rare, but when they happen, they are complex and dynamic with lots of moving parts. No agency can resolve them alone. Exercises like Callicarpa help us learn how to maximise opportunities to tackle the threat and reduce harm to everyone.
“Replicating something on this scale probably hasn’t happened within the county for quite a long time, and it’s given us a real opportunity to identify how the respective emergency services work well together, what the gaps are, and where we can better improve things such as communications and understanding capabilities.”
Alex Lacey, Chief Operating Officer, Silverstone, added: “We’re very pleased to have been able to support the agencies for Exercise Callicarpa by providing an appropriate environment and infrastructure to deliver this large-scale training event.
“The exercise has not only been invaluable to the many services involved, but also important for our venue, which along with a calendar of sport, entertainment and business events, holds the largest sporting event in the UK, hosting the Formula 1 British Grand Prix.”
If you have any information about activity or behaviour that doesn’t feel right, please report it to Counter Terrorism Policing. You can either fill in a secure online form at www.gov.uk/ACT or call 0800 789 321.
In an emergency you should always dial 999.
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27 March 2024
The JCB Pothole Pro, an innovative machine which cuts time and costs for road repairs, has completed repairs at over 12,500 m2 worth of road since its roll out in August 2023.
West Northamptonshire Council’s long-term vision to improve the road network across the area has seen the Council invest into purchasing the machinery to enable high-quality works to be completed quickly and efficiently.
Over the 152 days that the JCB pothole pro has been out across the road network, it has carried out works in 33 locations across West Northamptonshire.
The JCB Pothole Pro machine is a new and exciting piece of technology acquired by West Northamptonshire Council, and is set to carry out road defect repairs four times faster than standard methods – while providing a quality solution. The Pothole Pro enables WNC’s highways partner Kier to carry out an improved repair service allowing them to cut the defect, crop the edges and clean the area with one machine before it is filled.
“The Council's investment into this innovative technology will help to achieve the Council’s strategy to deliver prompt and lasting pothole repairs. This offers us a new and innovative way to improve the speed with which we can address road surface issues and we look forward to seeing the further impact this makes across West Northamptonshire.”Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways & Waste at West Northamptonshire Council
“We welcome West Northamptonshire Council’s investment in the JCB Pothole Pro. This innovative pothole repair solution allows road network improvements to be carried out safely and efficiently - while creating less disruption for the general public and providing greater flexibility to best deploy our resources. We are continually assessing its capabilities, ensuring we achieve the most efficient output in each location. This is another positive step in our efforts to provide a quality, value for money service in the communities we work.”Peter Ingram, Contract Director at Kier Transportation
The pothole pro was initially planned to use up to nine tonnes of tarmac a day. Following use across the network it has been able to use up to 16 tonnes a day. The Council and Kier have also identified areas where it can have the biggest impact. In 2024, we are committed to using the machinery alongside new equipment to deliver sustainable long-term repairs across the area.
To find out more about Highway services across West Northamptonshire, including how to report road defects, visit: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport
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26 March 2024
On Thursday, 2 May voters across Northamptonshire will go to the polls to elect their Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
A Notice of Election for the Commissioner role has been published today (Tuesday, 26 March) and potential candidates will have until 4pm on Friday, 5 April to submit their nomination papers.
The Police Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) is elected to oversee local policing and fire and rescue services, manage the police & fire and rescue budget, set council tax rates for policing, and ensure transparent communication about police activities in the community. They will also make key appointments of the Chief Constable and the Chief Fire Officer for the Northamptonshire area.
Anyone who is not yet registered to vote must do so by Tuesday, 16 April in order to take part in this election. You can register to vote on the gov.uk website.
People can apply for postal votes by 5pm on Wednesday, 17 April and those wishing to vote by proxy (when someone votes on your behalf) can also do this in advance of the deadline of 5pm on Wednesday, 24 April.
Students have the option of registering at both their home and term-time addresses, and if they are in different local authority areas, they can vote in both locations during the election.
The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to produce accepted photographic identification when voting in person at a polling station. This new requirement will apply to this election.
Voters intending to vote in person are urged to ensure they have one of the acceptable forms of photo ID prior to attending their polling station. Residents without an acceptable form of ID have until 5pm on Wednesday, 24 April to apply for their Voter ID.
For more information and to view the timetable of the election visit our website
The Notice of Election for the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Election on Thursday, 2 May, also marks the start of the pre-election period (previously known as purdah) for West Northamptonshire Council.
This is the period of heightened sensitivity in the run-up to polling day when specific restrictions are in place for the Council’s publicity and use of resources.
Find out more about the pre-election period for local authorities.
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26 March 2024
An initiative set up by the National Theatre Live is being supported by local organisations and will see young people from the East of Northampton watch the nationally renowned play ‘Dear England’ starring global star Joseph Fiennes.
‘Dear England’ is a gripping examination of both the nation and the game of football and is a fictional account of the struggles and successes of the England Football team.
The National Theatre Live are developing community screenings of their Dear England Production with the key focus of bringing an immersive theatre experience to those who might not usually have an opportunity to experience it.
The initiative is a partnership effort which has stemmed from the Northampton East Local Area Partnership, serving the communities of Billing and Rectory Farm, Riverside Park and Talavera. Partners involved in this project include West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), Trilogy Active, Silhouette Youth Theatre, Free2Talk CIC and National Theatre Live with grant funding from Northampton Town Council.
“I am pleased we’ve been able to work with partners to bring the National Theatre Live to Northampton and enable our young people to enjoy the experience of theatre for free. I hope all those attending enjoy the show and that Dear England inspires our next generation of local sporting champions.”Councillor Adam Brown, Deputy Leader of WNC and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and Leisure
The event aims to encourage young people to share their aspirations, future ambitions and what they feel are the barriers to reaching their own full potential and will also bring together youth providers to promote their services and engage with the young people in attendance.
“We are delighted to be hosting this important event at the Forum Cinema. As an organisation we are committed to inspiring active lifestyles and themes of Dear England of mental health, creating a supportive environment and young people from challenging backgrounds reaching success if something we very much support.”Managing Director of Trilogy Active John Fletcher
While Trilogy Active’s Forum cinema will host the screening, Emmanuel Church will then welcome young people to a relaxed consultation event that will be facilitated by Silhouette Youth Theatre and Free2Talk CIC.
“We are thrilled that young audiences across Northampton will get to experience ‘Dear England’ – a play that has resonated with fans of theatre and football alike. We believe in the power of the arts to inspire and empower young people, and this initiative exemplifies our commitment to making theatre accessible to everyone.”Sari Blom, Director of Digital at the National Theatre.
The event will take place on Thursday 28th March 2024.
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22 March 2024
Northampton will soon see new electric buses thanks to £9.4m from the Government.
Northampton will soon benefit from around £9.4m Government investment into electric buses as part of a more sustainable public transport network.
The Department for Transport (DfT) today announced it was awarding £9,365,523 to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and Stagecoach as part of its Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas 2, (ZEBRA 2), initiative.
Introduction of electric buses onto the Stagecoach network will help reduce carbon emissions and pollution in Northampton, which currently has six Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs).
The 51 new buses will cover a variety of routes across Northampton including Ecton Brook, Kingsthorpe, Duston and Camp Hill.
This is fantastic news for our residents.Cllr Phil Larratt, WNC Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and WasteSecuring this funding is a brilliant achievement and I’m extremely grateful to the team, including Stagecoach, who put the bid together and to the Government for this vital funding.
Electric buses are not cheap, and the costs are such that Stagecoach would not have been able to invest to this level without support.
This will be a real game-changer in our work towards net zero and improving sustainability across West Northamptonshire.
The project is expected to save 76,708 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and reduce nitrogen oxides emissions by 27 tonnes over a 17-year period.
The new buses and charging infrastructure costing around £28m will now be commissioned and should join the Stagecoach fleet by late 2026.
We welcome the announcement of funding to West Northamptonshire for investment in new zero-emission buses.Mark Whitelock, Managing Director of Stagecoach MidlandsThis is a really positive step forward in helping to reduce carbon emissions and deliver cleaner air for those in our communities, building on the funding already made available to support bus services through the £2 fare cap.
We look forward to working with West Northamptonshire Council and partners to deliver our ambitions for a thriving bus service that supports local communities.
The buses will also meet the latest accessibility standards set out by the DfT, including additional wheelchair and pushchair space, and induction loops for those with hearing loss.
Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) 2 funding totalling £143m has been confirmed for 25 schemes across the country and the West Northamptonshire award was among the largest.
As part of our plan to improve local transport in the East Midlands, we’re providing over £25 million to roll out 177 brand new zero-emission buses across the region.Transport Secretary Mark HarperThis latest investment into our bus fleet comes on top of the £3.5 billion we have invested into our bus network since 2020, protecting and improving bus routes into 2025 as well as extending the £2 bus fare cap until the end of 2024, made possible by reallocated HS2 funding.
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