Issue 90
Winter 2016
In this issue‌ Christmas recycling Development spotlight Love your market
Contact us
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All the latest Council news and information online Keeping in touch with us Daventry District Council provides a wide range of services including waste and recycling collections, street cleaning and grounds maintenance, Council Tax collection and benefits, elections, Homechoice lettings, economic development and regeneration, community safety, planning and development control and environmental health issues such as dealing with food safety, noise, pollution and Environmental crimes.
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www.twitter.com/daventrydc www.twitter.com/love_daventry
Scan this image with your Smartphone to take you to DDC’s website – www.daventrydc.gov.uk
www.facebook.com/daventrydistrict Or visit the Daventry Country Park page at www.facebook.com/daventrycountrypark Or the Love Daventry page at www.facebook.com/Lovedaventrydistrict
Daventry Calling is a quarterly magazine with the next issue due out in the Spring
We’re always keen to hear what you think about the magazine and any suggestions you have for future editions. Please contact us at news@ daventrydc.gov.uk or call 01327 871100 You can also read Daventry Calling online at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ daventry-calling
Daventry Calling is available on request in large print, audiotape or in Braille.
Disclaimer: We care about accuracy and aim to correct any mistake in subsequent issues of Daventry Calling if you let us know where we’ve gone wrong. Every effort is made to ensure articles are accurate and up to date. No responsibility can be accepted for inaccuracies or omissions however caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Daventry District Council. This magazine is printed on an FSC® certified material. DDC cannot accept any responsibility for claims made by advertisers and their inclusion in Daventry Calling should not be taken as endorsement by Daventry District Council.
when you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.
Call: 01327 871100 Email: comments@daventrydc.gov.uk Web: www.daventrydc.gov.uk Write to: Daventry District Council, Lodge Road, Daventry NN11 4FP
Other useful contacts Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) NCC deals with various services including: roads, paths, street lighting and drainage, potholes, bus passes and bus services, Blue Badges, road gritting, social care, schools admissions, register of births, deaths and marriages, libraries, household waste and recycling centres. Call 0300 126 1000 www.northamptonshire.gov.uk Your town or parish council Daventry District has 72 parishes and one town council covering services such as allotments, village halls and recreation grounds, grass cutting and street cleaning, cemeteries (outside of Daventry Town). To find out contact details for your parish, visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/parishcouncils Northamptonshire Police Call 101 or visit www.northants.police.uk Always dial 999 in an emergency Northamptonshire Credit Union Call 01604 250016 www.northamptonshirecu.co.uk Futures Housing Group Call 0300 4562531 www.futureshg.co.uk Bromford Housing Association 0330 1234034 Job Centre Plus Call 0845 6043719 Government services and information www.gov.uk
Viewpoint
Leading the way I was reminded very recently by a local resident how over the years we have “punched well above our weight” for a relatively small District Council as we focus on our overall objective of enhancing our 257 square miles of District area as a good place to live, work and visit. We have and will continue to take our very positive agenda forward at the lowest possible cost to the local taxpayer, with our average “Band D” council tax precept equating to £2.56 per week. The foundation stones of our agenda since 2002 – via our very ambitious and attractive redevelopment plans – have always focused on attracting inward investment to drive future economic prosperity across our District, resulting in new jobs and better education and leisure facilities. We are currently blessed with very low unemployment levels, and with a wide range of new jobs on the way, this can only be good news for existing and future generations. Talking of future employment opportunities, I recently had the pleasure of visiting the new state-of-the-art Northampton College Daventry campus which will house their new Digital Academy along with more traditional training areas such as motor vehicles and healthcare (more details on page 11). This new facility will be certain to attract more students, offering a broad curriculum and an excellent learning environment. You can also find out more in this edition about our discussions with Royal and Derngate on setting up a new cinema in Daventry, based upon the very successful Errol Flynn Filmhouse
in Northampton, which offers a very comfortable viewing experience (see page 10). I recently spoke to a full house at Royal & Derngate’s ten-year celebration event, which confirmed what a high-quality organisation it is, delivering great entertainment for the residents of the County. Back in the autumn of 2007 we made both national and international news about our then-innovative interest in driverless vehicles, which of course are now coming to fruition across the world. As you can see on page 12 we are now promoting and supporting the use of electric vehicles across our District, working in partnership with local businesses and partners to offer a greener and more efficient form of transport. As the local population continues to grow, with thousands of more houses in the pipeline, I believe it is important that both Local and Central Government plan attractive public transport systems in order to encourage less car use where possible. This can only be achieved if planned well in advance of large new housing developments being built. We recently held our 15th Annual Daventry District Sports Awards which again highlighted the depth of sporting talent across our District and all attendees appeared to enjoy the evening. I believe it is absolutely correct recognise not only participants of all abilities - including people with disabilities - within a wide range of activities, but also those coaches, organisers and mentors behind the scenes who provide so much support in making it all happen – a true team effort.
There is plenty to look forward to throughout our District area in the year ahead so, on that note, I would like to wish all our District residents and their families seasonal greetings and all the very best for 2017! Councillor Chris Millar Leader - Daventry District Council
Contents News: Read a round-up of some of the latest news from Daventry District Council pages 4-5 ‘Tis the Season: Important information on household recycling collections over the Christmas period plus details of the Council’s opening times and how to access services online pages 6-7 Love your market: Discover the history of Daventry’s longest-running institution, its market pages 8-9 The changing face of Daventry: A special look at some of the regeneration projects that are moving forward in the town pages 10-11 What’s on this winter: Our guide to events and activities taking place across Daventry District in the coming months pages 14-15
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Focus On
District’s diners are spoilt for choice People looking for somewhere to go out for a meal in Daventry District this winter are in safe hands.
on their hygiene standards, based on inspections carried out by Daventry District Council (DDC).
And in Daventry District only four out of 558 establishments (0.7 per cent) failed the FSA hygiene inspection.
That’s because the District was recently named among the top ten safest places in the country to go out for a meal by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Businesses are rated on a scale ranging from 0, which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’ to a top rating of 5 which is ‘very good’. A score of two or lower is considered a fail with businesses needing to make improvements to meet the standards required.
Councillor Mike Warren, Health and Housing Portfolio Holder at Daventry District Council, said: “We are pleased and very proud to be able to say that Daventry District is among the safest places to eat in the country.
The FSA’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates food businesses in the District
“It’s testament not only to the hard work and professionalism of our local food businesses, but also to the dedication and expertise of our Environmental Health Officers, who carry out regular checks on all food premises and work with them to ensure high standards are maintained.” Find out the scores for food businesses across Daventry District at ratings.food.gov.uk
All eyes on Park Watch scheme People are being encouraged to join in an initiative aimed at tackling anti-social behaviour and environmental crimes in their local parks. The Daventry District and South Northants Community Safety Partnership is relaunching the Daventry Park Watch Scheme in the spring and is keen for residents to get involved. As part of the initiative, schools, community groups and others who use Daventry’s open spaces and parks will be encouraged to report suspicious activity that could relate to issues such as antisocial behaviour, arson and criminal
damage, fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles and dog fouling. The campaign will initially relaunch in the Daventry area, but organisers are keen to extend the initiative across the District and are keen to hear from residents living in villages and local parish councils. The Community Safety Partnership brings together partners including Daventry District Council, South Northamptonshire Council, Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service, Northamptonshire County Council and Nene Clinical Commissioning Group to reduce crime, disorder and anti-social
behaviour within the community. For more information on Park Watch please contact Lindsay Checkley lcheckley@daventrydc.gov.uk or call 01327 871100.
Come to a committee meeting All the meetings listed start at 6.15pm and take place at the Civic Offices, in Lodge Road, Daventry.
Committee
Date of meeting
Planning Committee
Wednesday 14 December
Planning Committee
Wednesday 11 January
All meetings are open for the public to attend. For more information visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/meetings, email jfindlay@daventrydc.gov.uk or phone 01327 871100.
Strategy Group
Thursday 12 January
Corporate Governance Committee
Thursday 26 January
Planning Committee
Wednesday 1 February
Scrutiny and Improvement Committee
Tuesday 7 February
To listen to an audio recording of a meeting, visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ audiorecordings
Strategy Group
Thursday 9 February
Planning Committee
Wednesday 22 February
Council
Thursday 23 February
Strategy Group
Thursday 9 March
Planning Committee
Wednesday 15 March
Focus On
Everybody needs good neighbours A new scheme to support elderly, vulnerable and isolated people in their communities is set to launch in 2017. Daventry District Council (DDC) is working with Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) to develop Good Neighbour Schemes in villages across the district. The scheme will establish Good Neighbour coordinators, who will be on hand to provide dayto-day support for other residents who may need help on an occasional or regular basis. The idea of the Good Neighbour Scheme came out of DDC’s Ageing Well Consultation, which gathered the views of older people living across the district in order to identify key issues. Councillor Alan Hills, Community, Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder on Daventry District Council said: “The consultation identified a number of key priorities for older people, including the importance of being able to maintain an independent lifestyle, access to welfare and benefits advice, and the availability of help with gardening and household chores. “The Good Neighbour Scheme would seek to meet these priorities, giving elderly and vulnerable residents someone in their village that they can contact in times of need. Whether it be help with dog walking, shopping, using a computer, or putting people in touch with professional or voluntary support services, the aim is to give those in need a helping hand to allow them to maintain a good quality of life.”
Hundreds flock to forum People over 50 are encouraged to get involved in a district-wide forum offering a range of activities from music and singalongs to tea and tai chi. More than 700 residents are already members of the Daventry & District Forum, which meets on a quarterly basis with guest speakers, free activities, refreshments and prize draws. They are also kept up-todate on the latest issues with a regular newsletter. For more details visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ddf or contact Emma Parry at eparry@daventrydc.gov.uk or on 01327 871100. l
Tips to stay well this winter
Parking improvements at Daventry Country Park
GPs and health professionals have issued new seasonal advice to help residents in Daventry District beat the bugs and other illnesses this winter.
Improvements are being made at Daventry Country Park this month to help welcome more visitors to the award-winning site.
The NHS Stay Well initiative aims to help people avoid getting ill during the colder weather. Among the top recommendations are ensuring people get their flu jabs, keep their homes warm (at 18°C (65°F) or higher) and that people seek advice from their pharmacist as soon as they start to feel unwell with the symptoms of a respiratory illness. Residents are also encouraged to take advantage of financial schemes and discounts to help pay for heating and look out for others who may need a bit of extra help over winter. For more information visit www.nhs.uk/staywell
Work is taking place to extend the visitors’ car park, which will result in an extra 30 parking spaces for people visiting the beauty spot off Northern Way, Daventry. The country park, which holds the acclaimed national Green Flag Award for quality, hosts a range of community events all year round, including annual favourites such as the family cinema day, Halloween Spooktacular, Easter Eggstravaganza and Santa’s Stop (see page 15 for details). All money paid by visitors for parking tickets at the site is ring-fenced and goes back towards funding improvements and maintenance at the park. You can find out more about Daventry Country Park updates, events and attractions on Facebook www.facebook.com/ daventrycountryparkr
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Your Council
Festive opening hours at DDC Daventry District Council will be closing its offices over Christmas and New Year from Christmas Eve until Tuesday, 3 January. Essential services, such as waste and recycling collections and street cleaning, will continue over Christmas and arrangements will continue to be in place in the event of an emergency. The Council offices will close as normal at 4:30pm on Friday 23 December, reopening at 9am on Tuesday, 3 January. The offices in Lodge Road will still be open to visitors of Jobcentre Plus and Northamptonshire County Council’s Children’s and Young People’s Service, which will each operate different working hours over Christmas. The Abbey Resource Centre in St John’s Square, Daventry, will be closed from 24 December until 28 December. When it re-opens on 28 December, through until 30th December, it will close at 5pm each day. The Abbey will also be closed on Monday, 2 January 2017.
For more information on all the Christmas arrangements, including waste and recycling collections, visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/christmas
Do it online While the council offices may be closed over the Christmas period, residents can continue to access a range of information and services online using the Self Service system. People can make a range of service requests on the Council website, including ordering new bins or recycling boxes, requesting an area be litter picked or requesting a parking permit. A number of issues can also be reported online, including missed bin collections, fly-tipping, dog fouling, noise complaints and anti-social behaviour. The website also includes an interactive mapping service, allowing people to see the latest planning applications in their area, to find their polling station at election time, check on local conservation and tree preservation orders and to see local facilities and amenities including schools, shops and leisure services. People can also sign up for one of our customer accounts, allowing them to keep up to date with their Council Tax, housing benefit information and Business Rates online. Payments can also be made online and can also be made over the phone out-of-hours by calling 01327 302303. Councillor Wayne Howard, Access and Communication Portfolio Holder on Daventry District Council, said: “We have introduced a number of improvements in recent years to make it as easy as possible for residents to access services online.
The Council’s online mapping service “People can now report any issues to us at the touch of a few buttons, allowing us to respond quickly and efficiently, while the customer accounts are helping people to keep on top of things such as their Council Tax and housing benefit. “I would urge residents to take a look for themselves and discover the range of services available to them online.”
Access Daventry District Council’s range of online services at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/online
Your Council
Christmas 2016 waste and recycling collections Households are encouraged to find out more about arrangements for waste and recycling collections over Christmas and New Year. All collections will take place on their usual days over Christmas and New Year, including Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and on the public bank holidays after Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Black bins will continue to be collected as normal on their fortnightly cycle. Please make sure you recycle as much as possible as excess side waste and bins with raised lids will not be collected. Brown bins will be suspended for two weeks from Monday, 26 December and Saturday, 7 January inclusive. This will enable crews to focus on collecting extra recycling. Please refer to your collections calendar as to when your brown bin will be collected next. Recycling boxes and food bins will continue to be collected weekly for all households on their usual collection day. Large cardboard will be collected for two weeks from Monday, 26 December and Saturday, 7 January inclusive. If you have large cardboard and it won’t fit in your recycling box, please flatten it as much as possible and place next to your boxes on your collection day. Please do not place it inside another cardboard box.
Real Christmas trees will be collected on your scheduled brown bin collection day from 8 January for a four-week period. Please break it up and put it into your brown bin or place next to your recycling boxes. Alternatively take it to your local household waste recycling centre – you can find your nearest at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/recycling There are no communal collection points for real Christmas trees and they are only collected from households, not businesses or other premises.
Check your collection calendar – new waste and recycling calendars were sent to households in October, featuring bin collection dates for the next two years up to June 2018. If you have not received this calendar you can find the information and check your collection day on our website at www.daventrydc. gov.uk/recycling or call us on 01327 871100. Reporting a missed bin over Christmas and New Year Daventry District Council’s offices and Contact Centre will be closed from Christmas Eve, reopening on Tuesday, 3 January. During this time waste and recycling services will continue and you can report a missed bin collection on our website at www.daventrydc.gov.uk
Extra recycling can also be put out for collection over Christmas. If you have more recycling than your boxes can hold, please continue to sort your items and place them into clear or white bags next to your boxes (not black or green sacks). Don’t forget that you can recycle a range of festive items, including Christmas cards, wrapping paper, sweet tins and drinks bottles.
Get some top tips for reducing your rubbish this Christmas at www.recyclefornorthamptonshire.co.uk
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A market with a rich history It was once the beating heart of Daventry’s rural economy, a place to buy and sell horses and livestock, for weary travellers to restock their provisions, for farmers and merchants to trade grain, and for mercers, ironmongers and drapers to sell their wares. And while Daventry Market may be on a smaller scale today, it remains an important part of the fabric of our town, with a history stretching back to the time of King John. From the murderess who earned the market its first entry in the history books in 1203, through to its move to the High Street in the 1990s, local historian Colin Davenport explores a story 800 years in the making: Although no royal charter setting up a market or a fair in Daventry is in existence prior to the one issued by Queen Elizabeth I in 1576, there is a tradition that one was granted by King John (1199-1216) and there is good evidence for this. The first mention of a market in Daventry appears in the Northamptonshire Assize Rolls for 1203, when a case involved Emma Brunfustian, who was described as going ‘daily to the markets at Daventry and Northampton and is of the worst repute so that she has killed men and leads robbers to houses’. Then in a legal case in 1329, Daventry claimed its weekly market and fair were granted by a charter given by King John and this was upheld. So by 1330 Daventry had a weekly market on Wednesdays and an annual fair on St Augustine’s Day (26 May).
Clockwise from top: Views across Market Square before the Burton Memorial was built, and the old Sheep Market.
By 1400 a building known as the ‘Mothall’ stood at the western entrance to the market, close to the present position of the Burton Memorial. Around it were butchers’ stalls, while Market Hill had the drapers’, mercers’ and ironmongers’ stalls. To the north of the market square were the hog and horse markets and the corn market was held in a lane from the market square towards Norton. In the vicinity of the market square would also be beast and sheep markets. The ‘Mothall’ (from which the name Moot Hall is understood to derive) was where the Lord’s steward held the manor court and collected the market tolls from traders. The Elizabethan Charter of 1576 allowed Daventry two extra three-day markets at Easter and September in addition to the existing St Augustine’s Day fair and the weekly Wednesday market. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries Daventry continued to flourish as a market centre as ever increasing trade and passenger numbers travelled along the main routes through the town especially from London to Coventry and Oxford/ Banbury to Market Harborough/Leicester. Indeed, Daventry’s market was important enough to be mentioned by Robinson Crusoe author Daniel Defoe, who in the mid-1720s described it as a ‘considerable market town which subsists chiefly by the great concourse of travellers on the old Watling Street way’. The market underwent further change in the early 19th century, with the demolition of the old Moot Hall (the
Moot Hall we know today had been built in 1769) and a reorganisation of traders to specific areas on the Market Square and along the High Street with the addition of stock areas for oxen and cows on Cow Lane (now New Street), Badby Road, Tavern Lane and the western end of Staverton Road (now Warwick Street). By the middle of the 19th century, Daventry had 14 fairs as well as the weekly market. Mop Fairs were also held at the beginning of October for the hiring of domestic and farm servants – something still remembered today when the ‘Mop’ Fun Fair comes to the town. The growth of the railways and subsequent decline of the traditional coaching routes diminished Daventry’s status as a market town, and the market was further hit by the agricultural depression in the latter quarter of the century. Consequently, although some of the fairs had disappeared by the 1930s, Daventry still had its weekly market on Wednesdays and a stock market, located off St James Street from 1914, on Tuesdays. The Market Square itself had become adorned in 1911 with a memorial to a former Town Clerk, Mr E.C. Burton, commemorating his sporting achievements and his public service. The cattle market ended in the mid1960s, and even the ordinary market disappeared for a period in the 1950s until the expansion of the town in the 1960s led to its revival. It was held in Market Square on Tuesdays and Fridays for many years until moving to its present location in High Street in the 1990s.
Focus On
Meet the stallholders of today Based in the High Street every Tuesday and Friday, Daventry Market offers fresh, local and competitively-priced produce and products as well as great service with a smile. Daventry Calling looks at some of the regular stalls visitors to the market will find: Ben on the plant stall offers a variety of plants and flowers at great prices as well as the benefit of his expertise.
Simon stocks a range of household goods – all for sale at great prices.
Nicholas has been a market trader for 36 years and can help you with your watch repairs and strap replacements. He also has a great range of watches for sale.
Visit Nigel on The Isla Jane Bakery stall and try one of his delicious sticky buns for only £1 each! Nigel also sells a lovely selection of fresh rolls and loaves
Pick up the catch of the day from Grimsby Fish, who have a range of fresh fish available at great prices.
The Jewellery Stall sells a beautiful range of necklaces, bracelets, scarves, handbags and other lovely items.
From jeans to jumpers, fashionwear to workwear, the Clothes Stall offers something for every occasion.
Elliotts of Leicester offer a stunning array of locally-sourced fresh fruit and vegetables as well as providing many of the traditional market cries.
Fancy becoming a stallholder on Daventry Market? Run your own business from the High Street from only £13.45 per day. Find out more at: www.daventrydc.gov.uk/market
@Love_Daventry
search for Love Daventry District
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Your Community The last year has seen major progress on a range of key projects which promise to enhance Daventry as a place to live, work and visit. The schemes form part of Daventry District Council’s (DDC) ambitious growth agenda, which has seen the authority work with partners to enable development, improving educational and community facilities as well as boosting our local economy and helping to create jobs.
Daventry Calling looks at
The changing face of our town…
Town centre retail development
Discussions over Daventry cinema proposals
DDC’s development partner Henry Boot Developments Limited is seeking planning permission on proposals for a new retail park in the Chaucer Way/Waterloo area of Daventry – known as Town Centre Vision Site 5.
With its comfy seating, bar and wide variety of mainstream and independent films, Northampton’s Errol Flynn Filmhouse has proved hugely popular.
The plans include a food hall-style store and retail units, a family restaurant, a fast food restaurant with a drive-through, a hotel and around 380 parking spaces. The existing alignment of Braunston Road would remain, but the Eastern Way roundabout and three subways would be removed. There are also separate plans for a McCarthy and Stone retirement housing complex on the site of the former Danetre Vauxhall garage. The site originally had planning permission for a superstore with a petrol station but the scheme had to be revised after supermarket operators began shelving plans for new stores on that scale. Find out more about the proposals at www.daventrydevelopment.co.uk
Now Royal & Derngate is in discussions with the Council and its development partner Henry Boot Developments Limited over the possibility of recreating its success in Daventry. It could result in the development of a cinema on land north of High Street, also known as Site One in the Council’s Town Centre vision. Martin Sutherland, Royal & Derngate’s Chief Executive, said: “It is very exciting to be part of these plans, helping to shape the cultural development of Daventry Town Centre over the next few years. Our knowledge and expertise, gained in the successful establishment of the Errol Flynn Filmhouse, will help deliver a filmhouse that Daventry can be proud of.”
Your Community
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Supporting business growth Improvements to community facilities Work on transforming the Phoenix Youth Centre on Ashby Road is continuing ahead of its anticipated reopening in spring 2017. The new-look building is set to include an improved gymnastics hall, new toilets and changing areas, improved insulation and more efficient heating and lighting. All the new facilities will also be accessible for people with disabilities to encourage greater community use. DDC is overseeing and steering the £1.7m build in partnership with The Phoenix Youth Centre team, while the project also has support from Sport England and developers Landform.
Glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) rooflights are rolling off the production line at Hambleside Danelaw’s Daventry headquarters after work on a 30,000 sq ft extension was completed over the summer. The project was carried out in partnership with DDC, which invested £3.178m of capital funding and is leasing the facility to Hambleside Danelaw on a long-term basis. The completion of the extension cements an already fruitful partnership between DDC and Hambleside: the council built the company’s HQ in 2007 as part of a project to regenerate the former Middlemarch industrial estate, and leases it to the firm on a 15-year term. Volvo has also invested its future in Daventry, with work on a new £6m Training and Development Centre currently underway on its Prospect Way site. Set to open in summer 2017, the site will be purchased by DDC on completion and leased back to Volvo Car UK.
Enhanced education facilities Students began moving into Northampton College’s brand new state-of-the-art Daventry Campus recently. The multi-million pound Badby Road West facility is home to the College’s new Digital Academy, teaching students software and coding, web development, games design and social media. There are workshops for motor vehicle engineering, contemporary hairdressing and beauty therapy salons, teaching space for healthcare and childcare plus dedicated provision for students with learning difficulties and disabilities. The College was awarded a £6.5m Local Growth Fund by the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) to fund this purpose built campus in Daventry, with DDC also making a significant funding contribution. Meanwhile, pupils at Daventry’s Hill School are set to receive an early Christmas present, with contractors on target to complete the handover of their new specialist facilities on December 23. Operated by the Education Excellence for All Trust, the school caters for children aged 4 to 18 years with special educational needs and is currently operating on a temporary basis from the nearby University Technical College. The new building has been built at the bottom of the Ashby Road, on land provided by DDC.
Better connected Construction of the 3.5 mile Daventry Development Link road is well underway and is due to be completed by early 2018. It will bypass the A45 through Weedon, Flore and Upper Heyford, relieving traffic congestion in those villages and improving links between Daventry, the M1 and Northampton. A cornerstone in the future growth of Daventry, the road is being built by contractors for Northamptonshire County Council after DDC agreed to invest more than £20 million from the New Homes Bonus generated from the North East Sustainable Urban Expansion of Daventry, which the road would make possible, and developer contributions including the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
‘Looking forward with a positive agenda’ Councillor Colin Poole, Daventry District Council’s Economic, Regeneration and Employment Portfolio Holder said: “The significant progress on all of these projects is testament to the hard work and commitment of all partners to improve Daventry and the local economy and accommodate the future growth of our town. “When you look at the regeneration of our businesses, our retail offer, our education facilities, the housing growth, you see that Daventry has a very simple message – we have a positive agenda and we’re happy to be going forward with it. We often use the strapline that we’re open for business, well business is actually coming to Daventry in a major way, and that is to be welcomed.”
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District looking to lead the way on electric vehicle infrastructure Daventry District Council is looking to the future of green travel with a new plan to promote and support the use of electric vehicles. The Electric ‘Plug-In’ Vehicle Infrastructure Plan for 2016-18 outlines proposals for eight new electric charge points at key locations across the district, mostly in car parks attached to retail outlets. It has been produced following a public consultation which asked people for their attitudes towards electric vehicles, as well as suggestions for where the charge points might be placed. The plan aims to promote and build confidence in electric vehicle technology in the district and, in doing so, increase the number of electric vehicles on the road. Though electric vehicles are more expensive than their petrol or diesel counterparts, more and more drivers are choosing to buy electric. In the last quarter of 2011 just 1,205 electric vehicles were registered across the UK. The last quarter of 2015 saw 47,288 registrations. In total there have been 246,000 plug-in vehicles registered on the road in the UK. This is due in part to a range of incentives offered by the Government, which by 2050 wants to see almost every car and van on Britain’s roads to be an ‘Ultra Low’ or zero emission vehicle. The Government has already committed £400 million on low emission vehicle innovation, infrastructure and incentives and is planning to spend a further £500 million before 2020.
Councillor Jo Gilford, Environment Portfolio Holder on Daventry District Council, said: “It is clear from national and local data that there are more and more electric vehicles on the road, but that one of the factors limiting further take-up is the lack of convenient charging points. “We hope that by working with local businesses and other partners we can increase the number of charge points in our district and encourage more motorists to go electric. This Council is committed to protecting the environment. We want to be a leader in adopting ultra-low emission technology, but we also want to encourage local organisations as well as other local authorities to do the same.”
Making progress with green transport DDC installed the first public charge point in the district in its Lodge Road car park in May 2013. Funded by Plugged in Midlands and Great Central Plastics, it is completely free to use and was joined in November 2015 by a second fast charge point in the undercroft car park off Welton Road. The Council was also one of only 19 local authorities across the country to receive OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles) funding as part of the Government’s ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles) Readiness Programme. DDC’s Environmental Improvement Team run an electric Renault Kangoo, and the Council this year acquired a Nissan LEAF electric pool car for use by staff. It also runs a hybrid electric vehicle which is used as a second pool car as well as for transporting the Chairman to civic events. Eight members of staff have also opted for hybrid and electric lease cars.
Plug in to savings Motorists looking to go electric are spoilt for choice these days, with every major manufacturer offering at least one electric vehicle in its range. And while they may be more expensive than their petrol or diesel equivalents, there are a number of incentives available that make owning one more affordable than ever before. The Government’s Plug-in Vehicle Grant provides a subsidy that can take up to 35% off the cost of a car, depending on how environmentally-friendly it is. For businesses there is also a 20% grant towards the cost of a van, up to a maximum of £8,000. Grants of up to £500 are also available towards the cost of a home charge point, to speed up recharge times, though vehicles can also be plugged into a normal wall socket at home. The real saving, though, is made on the day-to-day running costs. A full charge on most electric vehicles will cost £2-3 and give you a range of about 100 miles. Travelling the same distance in a petrol or diesel car could cost between £9 and £13 in fuel. Electric vehicles are also exempt from road tax and the London Congestion Charge, and usually have lower service and maintenance costs because there are fewer mechanical components.
Focus On
The affordable housing schemes that are improving lives in rural communities ‘Scheme helped us stay close to family and friends’
Poachers Close in Walgrave Daventry District is home to some truly stunning villages, but with the property prices to match, some people can find themselves priced out of an area in which they grew up. That’s why Daventry District Council has been working with rural communities in recent years to deliver small-scale affordable housing developments for local people in villages including Walgrave, Norton and Braunston. These rural exception schemes, as they are known, are developments that would not normally be permitted, but which are allowed specifically to meet local housing needs. Typically comprising no more than a dozen properties, they are built on suitable sites with the agreement of the parish council and are designed to fit in with the look and feel of the village. The homes provided tend to be a mixture of social rent and shared ownership properties which are reserved for local people. Some local market houses may also be available for purchase by local people. Evidence of local housing need helps to decide how many and exactly what kind of homes to build. Councillor David James, Daventry District Council’s Strategic Planning Portfolio Holder, said: “There are many younger people who are unable to afford to remain within the rural community where they have grown up and older people who want to downsize to a smaller, more manageable house or bungalow. “Many see the benefits of small scale affordable rural housing developments to help to rebalance communities, keeping families together whilst providing a boost for local services, sustaining schools and providing options for older people to downsize their home when needed. “
In Braunston, Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association is developing 12 new affordable properties in Maple Close. The scheme is supported by DDC and Braunston Parish Council, with funding from the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency. Priority will be given to people with a local connection, including those who live or work in Braunston. Craig Felts, Company Secretary of Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association, said: “With the demand for houses in rural areas rising, driving house prices and rents upwards, providing affordable rural housing is more important now than ever before. “Bringing affordable homes to villages such as Braunston makes a difference to the whole community. It transforms the lives of local people by enabling them to remain living in the villages they have a connection to, as well as contributing to the future sustainability of rural communities for the generations to come.”
Poachers Close in Walgrave
Gouldens View in Norton
Karin Poolton and her partner Matthew were keen to move back to Karin’s childhood village of Norton following the birth of their son Theo but initially struggled to find anything affordable. However when a friend told the couple about Northamptonshire Rural Housing Association’s development at Gouldens View, they applied for one of the properties. As with other rural exception schemes, people with a local connection are given priority, and the couple were delighted to move into a two-bedroom house earlier this year, putting them close to family and friends. “It’s the little things which make a big difference like getting my mum to mind Theo while I run off to the dentist,” said Karin. “It’s so handy for us to be able to pop up to my parents. “Out the front of our house there’s a little communal children’s playground where all the kids in the close come and play. It will be brilliant for Theo when he’s growing up and I can’t wait for him to become part of the village community like us.”
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What’s on
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Events in Daventry District this Winter December 9
February 1
Christmas Crafts Evening at Badby Village Badby and District Photo Club hosts Hall at 7.30pm - make a wreath or swag for a talk by Bob Brind Surch on The Art of Christmas. Wildlife Photography, at Badby Village Hall from 8pm. Christmas Fair at Lilbourne Village Hall, in Station Road from 6pm. Featuring a visit February 11 from Father Christmas, hot turkey rolls & Bellringing at Flore Church from 3mince pies, mulled wine and seasonal music. 4.30pm and at Whilton Church from
December 11 Christmas Extravaganza at Moulton Public Gardens from 2pm to 5pm, including stalls, a Santa Scramble, mince pies and mulled wine, plus Santa arriving on a motorbike for the switching on of the village lights at 3.30pm and a performance from Moulton 77 Brass Band. Candlelit Carol Service at All Saints’ Church, Station Road, Lilbourne. Starts 6pm with mulled wine and mince pies to follow.
January 14 Law and order exhibition at Daventry Museum. Running until April 28, the exhibition will include artefacts relating to historical crime and punishment in Daventry and the surrounding area, and will explore how law and order was brought about in the town. The Museum is open from 9.30am-1.30pm Tuesday to Friday and from 10am-4pm on the first Saturday of the month. Daventry district bellringers gather at Holy Cross, Daventry for their annual general meeting with ringing from 3-4.30pm and 7-9pm. All welcome.
Go ‘below stairs’ to lift the lid on Hall’s restoration
7-8.30pm. Come and see the Daventry Branch at their stimulating hobby.
February 25 Spring Jumble Sale at Lilbourne Village Hall, Station Road from 1pm. Entry costs 30p (under 12s go free) with all proceeds to the church’s repair and maintenance funds.
March 1 Badby and District Photo Club hosts a talk by Kay Reeve on how to make the best use of your camera, at Badby Village Hall from 8pm.
March 3 Wine & Quiche Evening at Badby Village Hall at 7.30pm with entertainment to be confirmed.
March 11 All Saints Church, Braunston will host district bellringers from 3-4.30pm followed by a short service, tea and a meeting. Evening ringing is at St Andrew’s Church, Rugby. British Science Week event at Daventry Museum from 10am-4pm. Celebrate science with fun, free, hands-on activities for children and families.
Kelmarsh Hall is giving visitors and the local community an opportunity go behind the scenes on its largest ever restoration project. With a £1.3 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Kelmarsh Hall has been able to begin restoring areas of the Hall which were at risk. ‘Below Stairs’ areas formerly used by those who worked in the Hall will be preserved and opened for visitors to see, including a butler’s pantry, bake house and footman’s room in the basement of the main house and a wash room and ironing rooms in a separate laundry block. Visitors can join a tour or take part in one of the Have A Go Restoration Experiences – a chance to learn restoration techniques under expert guidance. The events run on 14 December, 25 January, 1 March and 29 March. Tickets are free but places are limited so people are urged to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Due to distribution schedules, some areas of the district may receive Daventry Calling later than the date of some featured events.
People can find out more at www.kelmarsh.com or by phoning 01604 686543
What’s on
Half-term sports camps at leisure centre Youngsters can join in sporting activities at Daventry Leisure Centre during the February half-term holidays.
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Meet Father Christmas at Daventry Country Park
Daventry District Council’s leisure partners Everyone Active has organised sports camps at the centre in Lodge Road, Daventry, from February 13 to 17. The camps are aimed at children aged 5 to 16 years and cost £13 per day, with discounts available for those booking for the entirety of the camp. Youngsters participating in the camps can also book a place in the Connections Club, which offers a variety of games and activities from 8.30am to 10am before the start of the sports camp. It costs £2.40 per day and includes a free one-hour swimming voucher valid at the Leisure Centre between 1.30pm and 4pm on the same day as the camp. Under 8s must be accompanied in the pool by a paying adult. For more information phone 01327 871144 or visit www.everyoneactive.com/daventry
Santa will be making a special stop at Daventry Country Park to meet youngsters in the run-up to Christmas. He will be flying in from the North Pole on Wednesday, 21 December to meet children at the park’s visitors’ centre, off Northern Way, Daventry from 10am to midday. Santa’s Stop has been arranged with the help of Daventry District Council, the Rotary Club of Danetre Daventry and the Friends of Daventry Country Park. Meeting Father Christmas is free and each child who sees him will receive a free gift. Councillor Alan Hills, Daventry District Council’s Community Culture and Leisure Portfolio Holder, said: “Santa has really enjoyed visiting the country park over the last few years and he’s really looking forward to returning this Christmas to meet even more youngsters, so come along and enjoy the fun.” Families visiting Santa’s Stop are reminded to make sure they wrap up in warm clothes and that youngsters are accompanied by an adult. Due to the increasing popularity of the event in recent years and to limit queue times, parents are asked to book their children into time slots in advance by calling 01327 871100.
Discover more days out at www.lovedaventry.com/whats-on