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15 January 2024

Businesses and residents are invited to give their views on plans to introduce a new Environmental Policy for Northampton Town Centre.
West Northamptonshire Council is asking people for their thoughts on the introduction of a new policy which will seek to improve commercial waste and environmental issues in the central Northampton area.
The consultation period has been extended and will now close on Sunday, 18 February. The policy will initially be trialled in Northampton before being considered for roll-out across the wider West Northamptonshire area.
People are being asked to help shape parts of the policy around waste from businesses in the town centre and help the Council to understand if there are any obstacles that businesses face in respect of their waste collections. This will form part of a wider project of engagement with Northampton town centre businesses.
People can view the plans and give their views on the WNC website.
Feedback from the consultation will be collated and analysed and will help the council to prepare and shape the Northampton Town Centre Environmental Policy which will be considered by Cabinet in May 2024.
All organisations have a responsibility for ensuring that any waste arising from their activities is handled, stored and disposed of in a responsible manner as defined by the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (section 34) and the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991. After consultation, a waste policy shall apply to the town centre of Northampton for the management of all commercial waste generated by businesses.
Prior to coming into effect, the Council will be working with businesses within the town centre to do a soft launch of the policy, in doing so we will be able to advice and signpost businesses for any assistance they may need to be able to work within the policy.
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15 January 2024

In response to the rise in homelessness, the Hope Centre in partnership with West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has opened a winter night shelter. The Hope Centre, a lifeline for those experiencing homelessness, are witnessing a record influx of individuals seeking support, with an alarming 1-3 newly homeless individuals registering for support daily over the Christmas period.
Homelessness and rough sleeping is a significant issue across the country and there is concern that many people are unaware of the harsh realities of rough sleeping, particularly as winter approaches.
Cold weather is a serious threat to anyone sleeping outside, there is the risk of hypothermia and death, we are already seeing a record increase in the numbers of people facing homelessness, and during the winter months we always see numbers rise.Alex Copeland, CEO of the Hope CentreWhile temperatures have been un seasonally low, we are anticipating a cold and unsettled winter to come. We have a duty of care to protect the most vulnerable and with numbers rising, and many new to experiencing rough sleeping, providing somewhere safe for people to sleep in the harshest of weather must be a priority.
The night shelter is the result of weeks of behind-the-scenes preparation and collaboration with WNC.
The establishment of the new night shelter represents one of the biggest expansions of support for Northampton’s rough sleepers in years. I want people to know that we are determined to do everything in our power to help those who find themselves homeless, and the new night shelter is just one aspect of our offer.Cllr Adam Brown, Deputy Leader of West Northamptonshire Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and LeisureIt has taken a lot of work alongside Northampton Hope Centre to provide this temporary overnight accommodation so that those who find themselves in a housing crisis can avoid sleeping on the streets. As a council we are continuing to work hard to prevent homelessness early on and we are working with a range of partners to provide access to specialist support for those who need it.
Our ultimate ambition will always be to get people into permanent accommodation, but in the meantime, I am proud that we are expanding the emergency support on offer. We are also carrying out an extensive reform of our homelessness service to increase early intervention and prevention work as well as extra investment in staff for this service to help manage an increasing demand.
The night shelter, located at Queens Grove Methodist Church, will be a 7-day service to give emergency accommodation to those who find themselves in housing crisis. The overnight service will form part of Hope’s wider support process during the winter months which also includes extended hours at their day centre.
As with all Hope services the night shelter will be integral to their holistic approach to the problems associated with homelessness, giving individuals the critical support they need to cope with the traumas that have resulted in them becoming homeless and helping people rebuild lives.
The Hope Centre, celebrating its 50th birthday opened the temporary night shelter as a pilot project with a view to open a permanent night shelter as part of its anniversary goals. It is with thanks to the success of their winter appeal and support from West Northamptonshire council that they have been able to raise enough to open the temporary shelter this month.
With numbers rising as they are and with the lack of enough alternative accommodation this winter, we have a duty to protect the most vulnerable. I don’t want to be here talking about how many people died on the streets during the winter of 2024.Alex Copeland, CEO of the Hope CentreHomelessness is the very end of a journey thousands of people across the UK are navigating as income fails to match living expenses, debts are spiralling, and rents rise. These are just some of the many reasons people find themselves on the streets, and I’m afraid we are at the coalface of this social crisis.
The Hope Centre concedes there is a cost to running the shelter but believes the service will save lives. The centre continues to rely heavily on public donations and the support of local businesses to support people facing homelessness and hardship and have launched an appeal for funding for their birthday year.
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15 January 2024

Candidates have been announced today for a by-election due to take place in an area of Northampton next month.
People living in West Northamptonshire Council’s East Hunsbury and Shelfleys electoral ward will be able to go to the polls on Thursday, 8 February to vote for a new councillor to represent their area. The election was prompted by a vacancy following the resignation of former WNC councillor Suresh Patel.
Elections information published today sets out who has been nominated to stand for the election, along with the location of polling stations in the electoral ward, which covers areas including Shelfleys, Merefield and Blacky More.
The candidates are:
- Clare Robertson-Marriott (Labour and Cooperative Party)
- Daniel Soan (Conservative Party)
- Carl Neville Mark Squires (Liberal Democrats)
More information can be found on the Statement of Persons Nominated document on our Elections pages
Voting information
Residents in the ward who are not already registered to vote have until Tuesday, 23 January 2024 to do so. You can register to vote on the gov.uk website
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Thursday, 24 January.
Those wishing to apply for a proxy vote (when someone votes on your behalf) must submit their applications by 5pm on Wednesday, 31 January.
Voter ID
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.
Electors 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, 31 January to apply for their Voter ID.
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16 January 2024

Residents, businesses and community groups are invited to share their views on the draft Brackley, Daventry, and Towcester Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP).
These plans, open for public consultation from today, Monday, 15 January to Sunday, 25 February aim to create a culture of walking and cycling by proposing infrastructure developments that make active travel a natural choice for residents and visitors.
The initiative aligns with the government's ambition to promote cycling and walking for shorter journeys, reducing traffic congestion, enhancing air quality, and contributing to the overall well-being of the community.
The draft LCWIPs for Brackley, Daventry, and Towcester represent our commitment to building a sustainable and connected future. We believe that by investing in walking and cycling infrastructure, we can create vibrant, healthier communities while contributing to broader environmental goals.Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for environment, transport, highways and waste at West Northamptonshire CouncilYour views are crucial in shaping the future of sustainable transportation in our communities and will be shaping the final plans and ensuring they align with the needs and aspirations of our residents. We want to hear from you, so please take a moment to share your thoughts on the proposals.
The LCWIPs, currently in the early stages of development, provide a glimpse into potential schemes that, over time, will create comprehensive walking and cycling networks. The focus on Brackley, Daventry, and Towcester demonstrates the commitment to local communities, with plans for Northampton set to be consulted on later this year.
Key objectives of having LCWIPs for Brackley, Towcester, and Daventry include:
Securing Funding: The plans position the council strategically to secure additional funding for walking and cycling schemes, ensuring the best value for money by concentrating efforts where the highest increases in walking and cycling are anticipated.
Collaborative Partnerships: The council aims to work collaboratively with partners such as National Highways, Network Rail, and other stakeholders, including developers, who have access to alternative funding sources.
To view the draft plans and share your thoughts, visit the dedicated consultation pages on our Consultation Hub:
Brackley Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Consultation
Daventry Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Consultation
Towcester Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Consultation
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11 January 2024

An expansion of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas headquarters has been given the go ahead by West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Strategic Planning Committee at their meeting on Tuesday (9 January), anticipating millions of pounds of economic investment and over 500 multiple skill set jobs in Brackley.
The site, located on St James Road, is currently the headquarters for the Mercedes Formula one team and is where the cars are designed and constructed with engineering work being carried out through their Applied Science engineering capability, which conducts engineering design for external clients. These projects include the design of the next British Challenger for the Americas Cup.
A key aim of the planning application is to create a parkland campus setting, which will result in the removal of much of the car parking that dominates the site and replace it with trees and landscaping to create a site appropriate for a Formula 1 headquarters.
The plans propose to remove the existing car park and replace with a single deck car park featuring an under croft and a surface level car park, together with vehicular access to the Mercedes site from Lauda Drive and St James Road. In addition, there will be a covered walkway, refurbished bridge, new pedestrian and cycle bridge, cycle hub and parking spaces with solar panels.
The refurbishment will also see the introduction of a three-storey marketing centre and health and wellbeing hub complete with restaurant, gym, yoga space and other facilities for Mercedes employees.
Mercedes has plans to expand its operations on site which could include further diversification away from Formula one and involve expanding the workforce from 1400 to 1900 people over the next five years. The company also has ambitious sustainability objectives to become Net Zero by 2030.
Following extensive consultation with local businesses, the proposals also include works to mitigate the impact of traffic flow in the area by widening Oxford Road and lengthening the right turn lane into St James Road to accommodate an additional 2 cars. Double yellow lines along the northern side of the St James Road and around the turning head will be extended to mitigate unsafe parking and make the area safer for road users.
In addition, alterations will be made to the Oxford Road/Lauda Drive roundabout to provide an additional lane and improvements will be made to the cycle route along Oxford Road.
I am delighted that Mercedes has chosen to invest and expand its world-famous motorsport engineering in West Northamptonshire. The site is located in an area which is known for motorsport given the proximity of the Silverstone circuit and our location within Motorsport Valley. This is an area of national significance in the high-tech innovation and high-performance engineering sectors.Cllr Daniel Lister, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and GrowthThese plans promise fantastic opportunities for economic growth and inward investment in Brackley and support our strive to be a leader in driving innovation while supporting business growth and building a strong, responsive and thriving local economy.
This development is likely to generate around 500 new full-time jobs with a predicted expenditure of approximately £70m which would further feed into the local economy and create additional full time jobs during construction. Our Economic Growth & Inward Investment Team have been working closely with Mercedes to deliver impactful benefits to the local labour market, including local recruitment, school engagement and more.
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