Issue 98
Winter 2018
Make the change: Could you switch to real nappies?
Also in this issue...
Christmas bin arrangements Festive shopping guide What’s on this winter
Season’s greetings to all of our residents DC Issue 98.indd 1
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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.
Follow us on
twitter.com/daventrydc twitter.com/love_daventry
Scan this image with your Smartphone to take you to DDC’s website – daventrydc.gov.uk
facebook.com/daventrydistrict Or visit the Daventry Country Park page at facebook.com/daventrycountrypark Or the Love Daventry page at 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 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.
Call: 01327 871100 Email: comments@daventrydc.gov.uk Web: 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 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 daventrydc.gov.uk/parishcouncils Northamptonshire Police Call 101 or visit northants.police.uk Always dial 999 in an emergency Harvest Money (formerly Northamptonshire Credit Union) Call 01604 250016 harvestmoney.co.uk Futures Housing Group Call 0300 4562531 futureshg.co.uk Bromford Housing Association 0330 1234034 Job Centre Plus Call 0845 6043719
when you have finished with this magazine please recycle it.
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Government services and information gov.uk
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Viewpoint
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Leading the way As yet another calendar year draws to a close, we continue to move forward with preparations for the proposed two new Northamptonshire unitary councils, with a possible target date for their creation, if approved by Government, of April 2020. At the time of going to print, we are awaiting a government led consultation on the proposals following which the Secretary of State will determine whether or not to proceed. If he does decide to proceed (we are all preparing for that scenario due to the very demanding timelines) and that decision is accepted by Parliament, then the Government will need to start drafting the legislation required – namely a Structural Change Order – which will oversee the creation of the new unitary authorities via two shadow authorities (north and west Northamptonshire respectively). These shadow authorities will manage the transition process and everything that must be legally achieved before the new councils are formed.The current target date for these shadow authorities to be in place is mid-2019. You may be aware that district and borough councils across the county are scheduled to hold local elections next May, with a third of seats in Daventry District due to be contested. However with this significant reorganisation of local government on the horizon, all councils agree that proceeding with these could waste public money and will therefore be asking Government to postpone them for a year. This will then fit in with the planned formation of the Unitary Councils and their elections in May 2020. As part of our exciting plans for a new cinema complex in Daventry Town Centre, Daventry Library will move from its current premises in North Street to a new modern home in the ground floor
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of the Abbey Centre in St John’s Square. This will make it part of a community hub alongside organisations such as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Daventry Area Community Transport (DACT), Olympia Care Services and Time to Talk. This will be the first “Dementia Friendly” library in the County, also providing a new secure outside play area for young visitors as well as a modern new base for the Daventry Registration Office. If all goes to plan this should be operational in April 2019. Just as a reminder it should be noted that our new dog control powers came into force on 1 December, which followed a public consultation exercise, in our efforts to promote a District area that is safer and cleaner for everyone. These powers are not aimed at the vast majority of dog owners who act responsibly, but at a small minority who persistently do not control their dogs around areas such as schools and children’s play areas or who fail to pick up after their dog. It is again pleasing to note that, in the latest annual inspection of our District Council’s accounts for 2017/18, external auditors KPMG concluded that we are providing value for money, despite the ongoing backdrop of public sector funding pressures and uncertainties. They also concluded that we had appropriate arrangements in place for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of our resources. The challenge that lies ahead of us, up to 2020 or possibly beyond, is to ensure that our District and its residents reap the benefits of our strong track record in delivering affordable and sustainable services before we move into the new unitary arrangement with South Northamptonshire Council and Northampton Borough Council, and that we also maintain our good governance record.
Despite these challenging times there is plenty to look forward to in our District in the year ahead and on that note I would like to wish all our residents and their families Seasonal Greetings over the Christmas period and all the very best for 2019! Councillor Chris Millar Leader – Daventry District Council
Contents News: Read the latest news from Daventry District Council including information about the introduction of new dog control powers. Pages 4-5 Recycling guide: Everything you need to know about bin collections over the Christmas and New Year period. Page 6 Get real: Find out how parents of children in nappies can save money and help the environment by switching to a reusable brand. Page 7 Shopping guide: Discover what Daventry has to offer the festive shopper. Pages 8-9 Reels in motion: Read about exciting plans to build a cinema in Daventry town centre. Pages 10-11 What’s On: Plan your Christmas and New Year with our winter events guide. Pages 14-15
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News
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Support on offer for those experiencing domestic abuse Is someone you love hurting you? Do you feel uneasy within your own home? Do you change your behaviour to please someone else? If you have said yes to any of the questions above, you may be living with domestic abuse and the Northamptonshire Sunflower Centre may be able to help you. Domestic abuse is defined as an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse. Domestic abuse takes place between partners, ex partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. Sunflower Centre provides support across Northamptonshire for those experiencing domestic abuse utilising a variety of locations in Daventry District.
The service can offer telephone or face to face support to help people with: • Understanding what domestic abuse is • Giving advice on how to keep safe • Liaising with agencies such as housing and the police • Supporting people through the criminal justice system • Practical interventions such as security assessments and civil advice. If you believe that you or someone you know is experiencing abuse then contact the service and they can talk through your concerns and assess the support you need. The Centre works very closely with other services in Northamptonshire so if they cannot help you they will find an agency that can.
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Help support There are a range of support services in Northamptonshire for people who are experiencing domestic abuse. Contact the Sunflower Centre on 01604 888211 or email sunflowercentre@northants.pnn. police.uk Voice is a free, confidential support service for victims and witnesses of crime and can be reached on 0300 303 1965 or email voice@ northants.pnn.police.uk The Northamptonshire Domestic Abuse Service can be reached on 0300 012 0154. The national Refuge helpline is 0808 2000 247.
Glittering ceremony recognises our District’s sporting heroes
Local sporting heroes from across Daventry District have been honoured for a year of achievements at a glittering awards ceremony. Northampton Saints and Samoa international rugby player Ken Pisi was on hand to present the accolades at the Daventry District Sports Awards, which marked its 16th year this autumn. Dozens of clubs, groups and individuals were nominated across 13 categories, with more than 130 people attending the annual ceremony in the Saxon Suite
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at Daventry Leisure Centre, hosted by BBC Northampton’s Martin Heath.
Young Sportswoman of The Year – Lauren Hughes
The winners were:
Young Sportsman of The Year – Thomas Symons
Community Club of The Year – Daventry Tigers Team of The Year – Daventry Tigers Senior Girls Patterns Team
Disabled Sports Person of The Year – Kian Saville Local Sportsman – Kevin Michael Jane
Coach of The Year – Saffron Small
Local Sportswoman – Annette Russell
Sport School of The Year – Flore CE Primary School
Lifetime Contribution to Sport – Jackson White
Young Leader of The Year – William O’Toole
Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Community Sports and Activity – Alan Hills.
Volunteer of The Year – Saffron Small
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Introduction of new dog control powers Dog owners are encouraged to take heed of new regulations designed to help keep dogs under proper control in public places. The new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) came into force on 1 December and introduces a number of new regulations, including: • Dogs must be on leads in graveyards, cemeteries and memorial gardens • Dogs must be on leads near schools (on school days only). • A maximum of 6 dogs can be walked by one person at one time • No smoking is permitted in defined and fenced off children’s play areas. The new PSPO also includes all the rules set out under the previous PSPO, which states
that people in charge of a dog must: • Carry the means to pick up after the dog • Pick up after the dog • Prevent the dog from entering a fenced-off children’s play area • Put the dog on a lead when requested by an authorised officer • Keep the dog on a lead around the café area at Daventry Country Park. Daventry District Council has been working alongside schools and parish councils across the District in change to recent weeks to agree appropriate boundaries
and signage for the regulations requiring dogs to be put on leads. The boundaries around schools will focus mainly on entries and exits and will apply only on school days. No smoking signage will also be added to fenced-off children’s play areas. Although the additional new regulations have been introduced this month, full enforcement of them will not begin until 1 April 2019. Anyone caught breaking the new rules between now and then will be given advice and guidance. The rules set out under the previous PSPO are still enforceable during this period and anyone in breach faces a £100 fixed penalty notice or potentially court action, which could result in a fine on conviction of up to £1,000. Councillor Richard Auger, Environmental Health and Housing Portfolio Holder on Daventry District Council, said: “We want to create a cleaner and safer environment for everyone who uses our streets and pavements or enjoys our many parks and public open spaces. “The regulations set out in the PSPO will support us in this aim, by further extending our enforcement officers’ powers to deal with the small minority of irresponsible dog owners who persistently fail to properly control or pick up after their pet.” People can find out more at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/pspo
Initial enforcement of the new rules will focus on education
Come along to a committee meeting at civic offices All the meetings listed right start at 6.15pm and take place at the civic offices in Lodge Road, Daventry. All meetings are open for the public to attend. For more information visit daventrydc.gov.uk/meetings, email governance@daventrydc.gov.uk or phone 01327 871100. To listen to an audio recording of a meeting, visit daventrydc.gov.uk/ audiorecordings
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Committee Council Planning Committee Planning Committee Strategy Group Corporate Governance Committee Planning Committee Scrutiny & Improvement Committee Strategy Group Planning Committee Council Strategy Group Planning Committee
Date of meeting Thurs 6 December Weds 12 December Weds 9 January Thurs 10 January Thurs 24 January Weds 30 January Tues 5 February Thurs 7 February Weds 20 February Thurs 21 February Thurs 7 March Weds 12 March
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Christmas waste and recycling Households are encouraged to find out more about arrangements for waste and recycling collections over Christmas and New Year.
Collection schedules Collections will continue to take place as usual over the Christmas and New Year period, except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: • If your collection is due on Christmas Day (Tuesday, 25 December) it will instead take place on Saturday, 29 December. • If your collection is due on New Year’s Day (Tuesday, 1 January) this will instead take place on Saturday, 5 January.
Extra recycling collection
Food waste
Your blue-lidded recycling bin will continue to be collected as usual over Christmas and New Year, with the addition of an extra collection for all households in the week beginning 7 January - please put your recycling bin out on your usual collection day alongside any other bins that are scheduled. Please also note that this extra collection is not listed on the paper calendar you received in June.
Food waste bins will continue to be collected on their usual weekly schedule. Please remember you can recycle leftover raw and cooked foods, including veg peelings, egg shells, out-of-date food, plate scrapings, solid fats, meat and fish bones. Please do not put any liquids in the caddy.
Extra recycling that you cannot fit in your blue-lidded bin will also be collected during the festive period – please place items into clear or white bags (not black or green sacks) and put them next to your bin. Don’t forget that a range of festive items can be recycled, including sweet tins, and foil-free wrapping paper and Christmas cards. As a good rule of thumb, wrapping paper that can be torn is probably made from paper and can therefore be recycled.
Garden waste collections Those subscribed to the service will continue to receive collections on their usual schedule in the run up to Christmas and New Year. Please note there will be a short break in collections during the second week of January so that crews can focus on the extra seasonal recycling.
Christmas trees
General waste
Only households subscribed to the garden waste service can have their real Christmas trees collected. They can be put in the bin or placed alongside it for collection in the week beginning 22 January.
Black bins containing general waste will continue to be collected as normal on their three-weekly cycle. Please make sure you recycle as much as possible, as bins with raised lids or bags of rubbish left next to your bin will not be collected.
There are no communal collection points for real Christmas trees, but you can take trees to your local household waste recycling centre. Find your nearest centre at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/ recycling
Keep up-to-date with our mobile app You can check your collection day and set up notifications to remind you which bins to put out using our mobile app. Available for free from Apple’s App Store and the Google Play store, the app will also send you information and updates about any major disruptions to collection services which may occur, for instance as a result of heavy snowfall. If you do not have access to a tablet or smartphone you can check your bin collection dates on the calendar delivered to you in June, or on our website at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/recycling
Reporting a missed bin Daventry District Council’s offices and Contact Centre will be closed from Christmas Day, reopening on Wednesday, 2 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/recycling
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Environment
Make the change and switch to real nappies For 28-year-old Meg and her husband Neil, the decision to put their daughter Francesca (six-weeks old at the time of writing) in cloth nappies was largely an environmental one. “We’re pretty good as a household,” said Meg. “We recycle everything we can and do our best to avoid unnecessary packaging.
Meg and her daughter Frankie
Three billion disposable nappies are thrown away each year in the UK, filling landfill sites where they will rot for around 500 years, releasing methane into our atmosphere. But there is an alternative – modern reusable cloth nappies save waste and come in a wide range of styles and bright designs which are a world away from the towelling squares and safety pins of old. When you consider using them can save parents an estimated £500 per child compared to disposables, they really are a win-win. Daventry District Council is offering £25 cashback to any resident who spends £75 or more on reusable cloth nappies. And as new mum Meg Blundell can testify, parents who decide to make the switch have nothing to fear.
Cloth nappies come in a variety of colourful designs
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“Before we had Frankie I knew I wanted to try reusable nappies, but there’s almost too much choice and it can be daunting at first. That’s why the free nappy loan kits from the library are so good - you can test them without having to commit. I bought some bundles second-hand to get an idea of how it all worked and we settled on the all-in-ones, which are as easy to put on as a disposable nappy. “We use them with fleecy liners or a bit of soft blanket cut up into squares, so everything’s reusable. They have poppers on them, so they are fully adjustable and grow with your baby. They’re also more secure than disposables and we’ve never had a poo explosion in one! I love all the different cute designs, and choosing them is half the fun. “We’ve got a wet bag which we put the used nappies in. You can zip it up so there are no smells and every second or third day we just unzip it and throw it in the washing machine on a hot wash – all the nappies fall out and get cleaned. It works out at about two extra washes a week, but we hardly notice. “There were a few teething problems, as there can be with disposable nappies, but there is lots of advice out there. I’m a member of the Cloth Bum Mums group on Facebook, which is great for chatting to other mums and sharing ideas and advice. It’s a really nice community to be a part of.
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Meg’s Top Tips • Try before you buy by picking up a real nappy loan kit from your local library. • Find lots of other parents using real nappies by typing ‘cloth bum mums’ into Facebook and joining one of the many community groups. • Wet bags are a great no-fuss way of storing dirty nappies or re-usable wipes, and can be put straight in the washing machine once full. • If the nappies are starting to get smelly, put them on a hot wash and leave them on the line in the rain and the smell will disappear. Leaving them on the line in direct sunlight also bleaches stains! • Cloth nappies are thicker than disposables so factor that in when buying clothes. Brands including Next and Marks & Spencer are cut generously, while Frugi offers clothes specifically designed to fit clothbummed babies.
Cla cashb im a real n ck on appie Distric t resid s ents c they sp a
n get end £ £25 c thank 75 or more ashba s to D c on re avent usable k when ry Dis n app t rict C To find ouncil ies, www out m . .dave ore vis ntryd email it c.g custo merca ov.uk/gre e re@d or pho avent nerliving, ne 01 r y dc.go 327 8 v.uk 71100 .
“We still use the odd disposable nappy when we need to but we are gradually using them less and less. I don’t see using a disposable as a defeat - instead I like to think of it as a win every time we use a cloth nappy. “There’s a misconception that you have to be a sling-wearing hippy to use them, but it’s not true at all. I’m really glad we did it. It’s definitely something we’re going to carry on with and I would encourage anyone else to give it a go.”
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Unique Christmas gifts r
Daventry’s independent retailers are encouraging people to shop local this Christmas
People experiencing déjà vu around Christmas are encouraged to shake things up this year and treat their friends and family to something a bit different from Daventry town centre.
Daventry is the antidote to the chain store ‘clone towns’. Far from major cities, the town has avoided overdevelopment and retains an unspoilt pre-shopping-mall charm.
selling furniture, pet supplies, carpets and lighting, Daventry also has a great choice of specialist cafes, jewellers and gift shops – perfect for a browse and then a relaxing chat.
The call comes from retailers in the town who offer a range of unique and fresh gift ideas to help shoppers avoid the plastic-wrapped Christmas served up by the supermarkets and shopping centres.
While the town centre shops have experienced the ups and downs of social change, the current mix of more than 100 specialist independent shops and cafes provides for a very pleasant day out.
Shopping in Daventry Town Centre has also never been easier now that the Retail Forum has published the Discover Daventry map. The fold-out illustrated map highlights many of the 100+ stores in the historic town centre and is available to pick up for free at local shops as well as recently being delivered to homes in the town.
The Daventry Retail Forum is a loose alliance of retailers in the town who love Daventry and want to encourage more people to shop local.
Daventry has a lot to offer the casual shopper, especially if you’d also like a nice lunch or afternoon tea. As well as practical shops
Our independent
stores* will be opening their doors until 8pm on Thursda y 6th December. Enjoy the chorus of local carol singers with free mince pies and mulled wine *Participating stores only
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s right on your doorstep Support our rural retailers Elsewhere in Daventry District, shoppers can find fine homeware, fashion, food, drink, and a range of fantastic gift ideas in a splendid Victorian setting at the Heart of the Shires Shopping Village off the A5 near Weedon. The Old Dairy Farm Craft Centre also offers some fantastic independent shops off the A5 at Upper Stowe, together with a restaurant.
Festive ideas for the family
For Dad...
How about some equipment or Lycra from Leisure Lakes? Or a year’s worth of haircuts from top barber, Jeeves@FiftyFour?
For Mum... Have an artwork or photo montage beautifully framed, or a gorgeous seasonal bouquet from one of Daventry’s creative florists. The town’s jewellery stores have many unique and elegant pieces.
For the kids... Go traditional with craft-making kits from Daventry’s many quirky gift shops, or contemporary with the latest comic memorabilia from Kunis Coffee & Comics Cafe.
For Gran... Handbags galore from The Shop Around the Corner in Bishops Court, at a wide range of prices to meet everyone’s approval.
Whilton Locks Garden Village, Harlestone Heath Garden Centre and Bliss Lane Nursery in Flore all offer
a cafe as well as shops selling food together with a range of products for the home and garden. The District is also blessed with a number of fantastic farm shops, including Skylark Farm near Staverton, Smiths Farm Shop in Chapel Brampton, and Waterloo Cottage Farm Shop in Great Oxendon. The award-winning Sauls of Spratton is famed nationwide for its localsourced meats and artisan pies, pates and pastries.
Two new independent shops open their doors Two new businesses are opening their doors in Daventry’s Sheaf Street this winter to further enhance the great choice available to shoppers. Daisy B’s is a new fashion boutique opening opposite the Post Office.The family team, led by Daventry’s own Sarah McCrossan, are excited to come to the town following five years of successful trading in Southam. Bread & Circus, a daytime artisan bakery and evening pizzeria is opening at 28 Sheaf Street, a Grade II listed building dating back to the 16th
Century. Thought to have previously been used as a butcher’s, a pub, a wine bar and most recently as a café and photographic studio, Bread & Circus will bring the building to life after three years’ dereliction. The new bakery is owned by Shaun Higgs and Cheryl Thallon who opened the popular Sheaf Street Health Store in 2016. Daventry District Council is contributing to the success of the project via a match-funded shop front improvement grant.
Daventry retailers are open for late night shopping on Thursday 6 December until 8pm. Pop along for special offers, free tasters, snacks and drinks at all the participating stores. Check out the Discover Daventry Facebook page for a list of who’s taking part.
For Grandad... A voucher for a full English Breakfast at The Kitchen or lunch at The Foundry? Or photographic equipment from First Light Photography?
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Lights, camera, action for cinema s Reels in motion for Mulberry Place project Plans to build and open a new cinema in the centre of Daventry by summer 2020 are taking major steps forward. A planning application should recently have been submitted to construct Mulberry Place, a 3-4 screen cinema with two restaurants/bars on land north of High Street (Town Centre Vision Site 1).
Cinema front view
It follows a public consultation this autumn when people were invited to give their views to help shape the scheme’s design. Daventry District Council (DDC) is progressing the plans for the current site of Daventry Library, which would be relocated to modern new premises within the nearby Abbey Resource Centre in St John’s Square. DDC is working with design and build contractors Willmot Dixon and architects Marchini Curran Associates on the cinema development and a planning decision is anticipated in February. The Council is continuing discussions with a range of cinema operators to appoint a preferred operator for the scheme, with the option to build a cinema with either three or four screens, depending on their requirements.
Cinema consultation
Councillor David James, Daventry District Council’s Economic, Regeneration and Employment Portfolio Holder, said: “A new cinema has always been at the forefront of our vision to transform Daventry town centre into a thriving leisure destination so delivering this scheme is a top priority for us. “I would like to thank all residents, businesses and community groups that gave their views on the scheme’s design, which helped to inform the subsequent planning application.” To find out more about the proposals, visit www.daventrydc.gov.uk/cinema
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Birds-eye view
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… and a new chapter for Daventry Library
Daventry Library is set to move to a modern new home this spring to help pave the way for the new cinema and restaurants in Daventry town centre. People of all ages will benefit from the improved facilities when the LibraryPlus service relocates a short distance from its current base in North Street to the ground floor of the Abbey Centre in nearby St John’s Square.
• Housing the library in an established community hub for the town, alongside organisations including Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Olympus Care Services, Daventry Area Community Transport and Time2Talk.
DDC is working together with Northamptonshire Libraries Service on moving the library to The Abbey by April 2019.
People were able to view and make comments on the new library designs during October, when a series of information sessions for local groups were arranged alongside a public open day.
The current library building in North Street, which dates back to the 1920s, is a large, underused space with impractical layout that is costly to run. Although slightly smaller, The Abbey will provide ample room for LibraryPlus services with a more flexible layout that can change with the future needs of users. Other benefits from the relocation include: • All-new fittings, furnishings and technology, with accessibility at the heart of its design. • A new, secure outside play area for young library visitors – families will be encouraged to give their views on how best to utilise this new space as the project progresses. • A modern new base for Daventry Registration Office.
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Deputy leader of Northamptonshire County Council Councillor Cecile Irving-Swift said: “This is a great proposal for Daventry’s library and indeed for the town as a whole. The proposed location would enhance the experience for visitors of all ages. “This is a perfect example of what can happen when the county and district council work alongside each other for the good of the communities they serve.” Work on converting the ground floor of the Abbey is expected to be completed in March 2019, with the new library due to open in April 2019. It is anticipated that Daventry Library will be closed for approximately one week in spring to enable it to move into the new facilities – further timings and details will be confirmed as the project progresses next year.
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Amanda’s got Care & Repair to thank for her new-found freedom Braunston resident Amanda Sigsworth suffers from multiple sclerosis and osteoarthritis – conditions which had left her unable to use the side entrance to her home because it was steep and uneven.
“It was a massive amount of work but now I have this wonderful, safe wheelchair-friendly access to my home, which I didn’t have before,” said Amanda. “Because of the handrails I can always use it - even on my bad days, so it’s tremendous. I knew nothing about Care & Repair before this, and I wouldn’t have thought for a second to approach the Council, because I own my own house.” Amanda urged others in need of help to get in touch with Care & Repair: “If my health visitor hadn’t had put that referral in I’d never have had all this help, so I would say to anyone – make that call, because you never know.”
Amanda (left) with Care & Repair caseworker Lindsay Mayne
But the mum-of-three is enjoying a new-found freedom following the installation of a new ramp and handrail. It’s all thanks to Care & Repair Daventry District, who not only helped Amanda access a grant to pay for the work, but managed the job from start to finish. “It’s made an enormous difference to our family and I’m extremely grateful,” said Amanda, who admits she had never even heard of Care & Repair before the process began. “I didn’t even know they existed, but my health visitor told me about them and said she would ask them to come out and talk to me, and it just went from there.”
One of the team’s caseworkers, Lindsay Mayne, visited Amanda at her home and chatted to her about the issues she was having using the side entrance to her home, which was too steep and uneven for a wheelchair. Lindsay recommended the installation of a new ramp and handrail and was able to help Amanda secure a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to cover the cost of the work. DFG grants can provide up to £30,000 to help people with a disability make necessary adaptations to their homes whether they own their own home or not.
Help is at hand Care & Repair Daventry District has enabled thousands of people to live safely and securely in their own properties since it was first set up in 1998. During that time the service, which originally served south Northamptonshire as well, has grown from a staff of two, to a very busy team of six handling hundreds of cases each year. The service offers practical advice, guidance and solutions to people who need a range of home improvements and adaptations to their homes. If you are receiving a means-tested benefit, please contact their friendly team for an informal chat to see if you could be eligible
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To find out more visit: www. daventrydc.gov.uk/careandrepair email: careandrepair@daventrydc.gov.uk or call the team on: 01327 871100.
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w
local O
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Supporting good causes in Daventry District O
Celebrate
Have a JOLLY good time with hundreds of pounds worth of shopping vouchers to be won!*
with the community this
FESTIVE S
E
A
S
O
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4x • Help us make a difference to our community by supporting good causes in the Local Lotto • Sign up for £1 a week – 40p of your money will go directly to your chosen cause, and another 10p to other causes in our area • There is one £200 High Street shopping voucher to be won in each Local Lotto draw taking place during December
£200 Post Office One4All vouchers
8 th D e 15 th D cember 22 nd ecember D 29 th D ecember ecem EACH ber DRAW ONE O F S IS THES £200 FOR A SI E N VOU CHE GLE R
• That’s alongside the chance to win cash prizes of between £5 and £25,000 every week!
www.local-lotto.co.uk *Terms and conditions – see website for full details. Supporters must be 16 years of age or older.
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What’s On
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What’s on this Winter All aboard for a visit to Santa Families can visit Santa in his magical grotto and then take a train ride along the Northampton & Lamport Railway this Christmas. The Santa Special runs on Saturdays and Sundays up to 23 December from Pitsford and Brampton station. Appointments start at 10.30am and take place at 30-minute intervals until 3.30pm. Children will receive a present from Santa, a soft drink and biscuits, while adults can enjoy a sherry or soft drink plus a mince pie, as well as a train ride along the restored branch line. Tickets are priced between £10 and £13 for adults, £11 and £14 for children and £5 for infants under 12 months. Advance booking is essential at www.nlr.org.uk
Get into the spirit The Daventry Winter Fayre comes to Daventry town centre on Saturday 8 December. The event runs from 10am to 4pm and features fairground rides, festive stalls, donkey rides, a Christmas Market and a chance to meet Father Christmas. It is followed by the traditional Lantern Parade. Find out more at www.daventrytowncouncil.gov.uk
Get your skates on Ice skating returns to Whilton Locks Garden Village this winter. The open air, real ice rink is bigger than ever before and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. A team of trained ice stewards ensure the rink is safe and well maintained at all times. Sessions start on the hour and last for 45 minutes, with free skate hire included in the ticket price. Online booking is advised. Ice skating is one of a number of fun events taking place at Whilton Locks’ Winter Wonderland during the festive season. Visitors can enjoy tea or breakfast with Santa, a visit to his grotto, a Frozenthemed afternoon tea and more. Find out more and book online by following the link to the Winter Wonderland at www.wlgv.co.uk
Daventry Winter Fayre
Village Voices
Victorian Daventry
The Village Voices choir are putting on a special Christmas performance at All Saints’ Church in Brixworth on Friday 21 December.
Daventry Museum’s new exhibition runs from 12 January and will span Victoria’s reign and the implementation of several Parliamentary Acts which reformed society and paved the way for modern Daventry.
The District-based choir will be performing Benjamin Britten’s St Nicolas with a small orchestra, plus carols and readings. The concert starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £12. For more information and tickets visit www.village-voices.org.uk.
Photo club If you got a new camera for Christmas, why not pop along to Badby and District Photo Club to discuss all things photographic. The group’s first meeting of 2019 will take place at Badby Village Hall at 7.30pm on Wednesday 16 January , when there will be a talk from Mary Kirby called “From Stratford to Safari”. Find out more at www.badbyphotoclub.org.uk
It follows the Museum’s World War One Centenary Exhibition, which runs until Friday 14 December. The free Museum is based in New Street and opens from 9.30am-1.30pm Tuesday to Friday and the first Saturday of each month from 10am-4pm. If you would like to include forthcoming events in the District in Daventry Calling please email news@daventrydc.gov.uk Please note that due to distribution schedules, some areas of the district may receive Daventry Calling later than the date of some featured events.
Half term activity camps Everyone Active is offering a range of Activity Camps at Daventry Leisure Centre during the February half term. The camps are on from Monday 18 to Friday 22 February and offer sports, team challenges and competitions delivered by qualified sports leader professionals. They run from 10am until 3pm at a cost of £14 per day. For parents and carers who are unable to make those drop-off times, Everyone Active also offers a Breakfast Club and Evening Connections Club which take place before and after the camps at a cost of £2.40 per child, per session. Both clubs offer a variety of games and activities, with the morning session also providing a nutritious breakfast to help children start their day. For more information and to make a booking, phone Daventry Leisure Centre on 01327 871144 or visit www.everyoneactive.com/Daventry
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What’s On
Santa tour is a very merry tradition One of Daventry District’s most wonderful traditions is the annual tour of Father Christmas. Santa has been visiting Daventry and some of the surrounding villages each December for more than 50 years thanks to the support of his great friends from the Rotary Club of Danetre Daventry.
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Meet Father Christmas at Country Park
The tour raises thousands of pounds for local good causes each year, as well as helping spread a little festive magic in the run-up to the big day. This will be the 54th annual tour, and you can view this year’s schedule below. Tours take place each evening between 6-9pm unless otherwise stated: 3 Dec: Long Buckby 4 Dec: Long Buckby & Braunston 5 Dec: Nether Heyford, Newnham & Badby 6 Dec: Southbrook & Danetre Dr/ St Andrew’s Dr 7 Dec: Timken & New Forest Way/Royal Gardens 8 Dec: Bowen Square, Daventry from 9am - 1pm 10 Dec: Flore, Welton & Norton 11 Dec: Kilsby & Barby 12 Dec: Weedon (north) and Weedon (south) 13 Dec: Ashby Fields & Staverton 14 Dec: Stefen Hill & The Dingle/The Slade 15 Dec: Bowen Square, Daventry from 9am - 1pm 17 Dec: The Grange & Cherry Orchard 18 Dec: The Headlands & Middlemore
Santa will be making a special stop at Daventry Country Park to meet children in the run-up to Christmas. He has found time in his busy tour schedule to meet youngsters at the park’s Visitor Centre, off Northern Way, Daventry on Friday 21 December from 10am to 12.30pm. 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 costs £2.50 per child, which includes a gift. Any donations to the Rotary Club’s Christmas campaign to support local good causes will also be gratefully received. The Reservoir Café will also be open for hot and cold food and refreshments, as usual.
20 Dec: Daneholme & Monksmoor
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.”
21 Dec: Santa Stop at Daventry Country Park from 10am - 12.30pm (see adjacent).
Families visiting Santa’s Stop are reminded to make sure they wrap up in warm clothes and that youngsters are accompanied by an adult.
19 Dec: The Inlands & Town Centre (West)/Drayton
21 Dec: Lang Farm 22 Dec: Bowen Square, Daventry from 9am - 1pm
Please note that this event is extremely popular and booking is essential. Please book your place by visiting www.daventrydc.gov.uk/events
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Look out for your extra recycling collection after Christmas and New Year During the week beginning 7 January 2019, we will be carrying out an extra collection of your recycling bin on your usual day. This extra collection isn’t advertised in the paper calendar we sent you in June, so don’t forget to put your blue-lidded bin out in the second week of January along with any other bins that are scheduled. Waste and recycling collections will continue as normal except for those scheduled for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day (Tuesday homes) which will instead take place on 29 December and 5 January respectively. Check your collections at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/recycling or download our FREE Daventry District Council mobile app from the Apple and Google Play stores.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year xmas recycling poster.indd 1 DC Issue 98.indd 16
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