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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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20 March 2024
To coincide with English Tourism Week, a brand-new tourism strategy for the county has been launched by North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) and West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).
The Northamptonshire Tourism Strategy sets out a vision and approach to nurturing and enhancing the county’s visitor economy and aims to improve pride in place, generate inward investment and create new employment opportunities as well as reduce carbon emissions in line with both councils’ sustainability goals.
The strategy, which has been developed over an 18-month period and co-produced by WNC and NNC alongside partners and stakeholders from across the public, private and voluntary and community sectors, will be implemented between now and 2030 focusing on 4 key themes: Visits and Value, Great People, Better Business and Inspirational Places.
A total of 150 representatives from across the industry, both councils and stakeholders gathered for an event at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery yesterday (19 March) to hear about opportunities to progress the development of a Northamptonshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, as well as see the new strategy and hear from presenters including Visit England.
National statistics show Northamptonshire receives over 18 million visits each year. This totals a spend of close to £1billion which supports over 30,000 jobs and 3,000 businesses across the county, including a wide range of attractions, hotels, pubs and other amazing venues that visitors value and enjoy. NNC and WNC want to grow this economy to not only support local businesses and increase footfall and spend, but to raise the profile of Northamptonshire on a global scale as a unique destination to visit time and time again.
“While we all know that Northamptonshire is a hidden gem, combining gorgeous countryside, ancient woodlands and cultural treasures, we need to let the rest of the world hear what’s on offer and invite them to relish in our county’s grandeur.Cllr Helen Howell, NNC’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism“The recent 2023 cinema smash, Saltburn showcased the stunning heritage we have right on our doorstep at the wonderful Drayton House but this is just a tiny slice of what we have with the county bursting with stately homes and countless honey-stone villages. We really are the envy of others around the globe.
“I’m tremendously proud that we’re part of a partnership which has launched a new tourism strategy for our county and we’re determined to work with the industry and local businesses and attractions to ensure that Northamptonshire’s visitor economy is supported to maximise tourism.
“Whilst both councils are working together on delivering the strategy, we are also committed to our respective areas and, here in the North, we have provisionally been allocated £5 million from Government which will help develop our cultural offering even further.”
"Everyone in Northamptonshire knows our area is a unique destination for every resident, visitor, business and investor to enjoy time and time again, before relocating here permanently.Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration & Growth at WNC“The offer of this county combines the beauty of the Cotswolds with the excitement of London; there is an unlimited number of things to see, do and experience and we know that the strength of our combined voices will continue to get Northamptonshire showcased on a global stage. We are dedicated to working with as many partners as possible to enhance the local visitor economy and achieve pride in place for everyone within the area.
“Here in West Northamptonshire, we’re proud to be home to Silverstone which just received a 10-year extension of the Formula 1 grand prix, we’re hosting large scale music events in the summer including A Perfect Day concert featuring award winning headline act James Arthur, and next year we’ll be hosting the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
“Northamptonshire is an area that has a unique offering, a robust heritage and an incredible potential for growth. I’m extremely excited to see this develop and our Economic Growth & Inward Investment service will be working diligently to secure LVEP status for Northamptonshire as soon as possible.”
As well as the launch of the Tourism Strategy for Northamptonshire, this week sees the first birthday of the Discover Northamptonshire Hub at Rushden Lakes - a fully interactive space which promotes all things Northamptonshire, including days out, attractions, walks, town and village offerings, places to eat, sustainable transport, heritage, accommodation and local and major events. The hub has events planned to mark English Tourism Week as well as for the Easter holidays.
The strategy can be viewed on the Discover Northamptonshire website.
Editor’s Note:
North Northamptonshire Council have provisionally been awarded £5m of Levelling Up Culture Projects funding from central Government. As part of this process, NNC will be required to create an investment plan detailing how the funds would be spent.
As part of this process, NNC will be working alongside partners to identify suitable projects as well as looking at the council’s recently adopted Culture, Tourism and Heritage Business Plan.
Any funding received will be used to develop and improve the culture offer across North Northants, building on what is already a vibrant and diverse range of opportunities.
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