09 October 2023

Pregnant women, and their unborn babies, are at a higher risk of complications and more severe symptoms such as pneumonia, as the immune system naturally weakens during pregnancy. Pregnant women are also more likely to be admitted to hospital due to flu than the general population.

In 2022 – 2023 around 64% of those who were pregnant in Northamptonshire did not take up the Flu vaccination increasing the likeliness of them catching flu. This year, Public Health teams at West and North Northamptonshire Councils and the NHS in Northamptonshire are encouraging pregnant women to get vaccinated as soon as they can.

We are already starting to see an increase in respiratory infections within the community and with the cold weather coming in there will be more mixing and movement indoors which will lead to an increase in the spread of Flu. It is therefore important that those who are pregnant get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Getting the flu vaccination not only protects you, but also your unborn baby and can prevent serious health problems from occurring from catching the flu. Flu can have serious complications for pregnant people and there is good evidence that pregnant people have a higher chance of developing complications if they get flu, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. Please do speak to your midwife or GP practice about how you can get your flu vaccination.Mara Tonks, Director of Midwifery at Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust

The flu vaccination is safe during any stage of pregnancy from the first few weeks through to the woman’s due date and doesn’t carry any risks for baby or mother. The vaccine administered is not a live vaccine and contrary to popular belief, it does not give you flu. Having this vaccination during pregnancy can help protect your baby for several months after they are born, which is important as babies cannot be vaccinated before six months. The flu vaccine can also safely be given to pregnant women at the same time as the whooping cough vaccine.Clare Flower, Head of Midwifery at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

It is also encouraged that those who are pregnant have their COVID-19 vaccination which can be given at any point during pregnancy and can be safely administered at the same time as the flu vaccination without any vaccine interaction.

06 October 2023

Please see below statement from Cllr Fiona Baker, Cabinet Member for Children, Families, Education and Skills: 

West Northamptonshire Council was informed of the Department for Education’s (DfE) approval following the decision by the Trustees of Southfields Primary to close the school at the end of 2023/24 academic year due to a shortfall in the take up of places making the school financially unviable. 

We understand for parents, carers and the students at Southfields Primary Academy, that this news will cause uncertainty. We will work closely with the school to provide information to keep those affected informed throughout this process.

Our admissions team will be on hand as part of the in-person sessions being held by the school for parents, to answer any questions. We would like to provide assurance of the work underway to ensure all children have a school place for the start of 2024/25 school year within a reasonable distance of Southfields Primary School. To ensure some continuity for families, the Council is committed to working with other local schools to review available places in the Brackley area.

03 October 2023

Works to upgrade over 44,000 streetlights to the latest energy-efficient technology will start across Northamptonshire next week.

Both North and West Northamptonshire Councils have declared a climate emergency and the authorities are taking steps to reduce energy consumption.

Over the next two-and-a-half years, Balfour Beatty Living Places will upgrade the current lights to LED, a move that will reduce CO₂ emissions in the county by an estimated 1,091 tonnes of CO₂ a year.

The new LED lights will also bring a range of additional benefits, including white light, which is linked to improving community safety, a reduction in light pollution and greater energy efficiency.

The lights will be replaced as part of regular maintenance rounds carried out by Balfour Beatty, making the process more efficient.

I’m delighted to see the commencement of the LED lantern installation as part of the county-wide street lighting improvement contract. This is another step towards our Net Zero pledge.

We need to make the future of North Northants sustainable, not just environmentally but economically and socially too.

Cllr Matthew Binley, North Northamptonshire Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets

We are committed to investing to save in order to provide better value for money and an improved service for our residents. LED lighting is far more energy efficient and therefore more sustainable.  It is welcoming that the white light that LED lighting provides maintains and improves the lighting of our highways, ensuring our communities are safe. This is also a step forward in meeting our commitment becoming net zero by 2030.Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport, Highways and Waste at West Northamptonshire Council

Balfour Beatty took over responsibility for streetlights in Northamptonshire in 2011 under a 25-year PFI deal with the former county council. The streetlighting stock was initially replaced by standard lamps as LED was an emerging technology with relatively high unit prices and unproven life span.

At Balfour Beatty, we’re committed to supporting our customers to achieve their Net Zero ambitions by providing the latest innovative solutions. We are working closely with both North and West Northamptonshire Councils to deliver new LED streetlights that will improve energy efficiency and make local communities safer.Kym Seekings, Contract Manager for Balfour Beatty Living Places

03 October 2023

Recognise the men and boys who have made important contributions across West Northamptonshire as part of the West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) Male Role Model Awards 2023.

The awards aim to raise awareness around men’s wellbeing and celebrate those who inspire and have a positive impact on the lives of others in the community or the workplace.

WNC is looking for men who have been inspirational in the broadest sense and would like to know how they have inspired you or others, what they have achieved, or what they have done to help you or your community.

Nominations open on Monday 2 October and close on Sunday 29 October. The finalists will be announced at an awards ceremony which will take place at Northampton Museum on International Men's Day on Friday 17 November 2023.

There are so many men playing hugely important roles across West Northants communities and workplaces.

However, we cannot recognise these men without the help of residents who know and work with them closely, so we are calling on you to help!

What we’re looking for is not only someone who goes that extra mile, but that man who has made a real difference to those around them and helped to support their community and nurture the next generation of young men.

Potential nominees could include someone who has inspired you through their charity work, an inspirational business owner or someone who has helped you personally.

It could be a family member who has been a rock during a challenging time, a neighbour who has set up a community group to support local children, or a friend who has campaigned for better healthcare – nominate your role model now!

Cllr David Smith, WNC's Cabinet Member for community safety and engagement, and regulatory Services

International Men's Day (IMD) is celebrated around the world, and in the UK focusses on the core themes of making a positive difference to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys, promoting a positive conversation about men, manhood and masculinity and raising awareness of charities supporting the wellbeing of men and boys.

For more information about the WNC Male Role Model Awards 2023 and to make a nomination, please visit our Male Role Model webpage.