Annual General Meeting

Wednesday 4^th July 7.30pm @ Elgar Centre

Come along to discuss the future of Upton and its Residents Association, including:

· Discuss current plans to make West St the main access route into the future Upton Park development to the west of Upton. (A representative from the Homes and Communities Agency will be attending)

· Learn about other developments in Upton

· Decide the future of the Residents Association – what should we be doing next? Who could do this work for the community? (The current committee members have been actively  involved for the past three years and many feel the time is right to step down.)

Please attend if you can. 

This is your chance to help shape the future of Upton.

Your residents association, your choice.

Upton Meadows Residents' Association is at a cross roads.

The current committee members have been actively  involved for the past three years and many feel the time is right to step down.

This is your chance to get involved and make a difference to your community.

Positions available include:

• Chair
• Communications officer
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• and committee members.

As Upton becomes more established, the Residents Association's role is changing. The new committee will be able to decide how best to serve the community's needs and take UMRA in a new direction.

Please attend the AGM on WEDNESDAY 4^th JULY, 19:30 ELGAR CENTRE where these available positions and other matters of interest will be discussed, there is no obligation to join the committee, but as a member of our community your presence there would be greatly appreciated.

If you would like to know more about the committee positions please contact the current chair  Magnus Ramage   chair@uptonmeadows.org.uk.

In the last few years UMRA has organised several community events involving a BIG LUNCH, three BIG TIDY UPs, two Summer Fêtes and two Christmas Fêtes. UMRA is involved in the Upton Steering Group - where local planning decisions are discussed with the Borough Council, the West Northants Development Association and the Homes and Communities agency (HCA). There are also current projects in development such as a guide to living in Upton (with the Northamptonshire Library Services), which is intended to welcome new residents to the area, and to provide useful information about the local area and amenities to all residents.

We need new people to be actively involved, using their skills to help make Upton a great place to be.

Upton is a popular and busy development, but it's still a work in progress. The UPTON MEADOWS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION can help ensure this is a place that everyone can enjoy living in.

 www.facebook.com/UMRAupdate 

www.uptonmeadows.org.uk 

Cabinet to discuss new bus interchange proposals...

Northampton Borough Council’s Cabinet is to consider proposals to locate the town’s new bus interchange on the site of the old covered market (Fishmarket) when it meets next week. (October 12).  Creating new bus and 
passenger facilities is a key part of the regeneration plans for the wider town centre.


A number of possible options for a new site have been considered over the past few months, in consultation with partners and user groups.  As a result of this work, the Fishmarket site is now being recommended as the preferred location. 

One of the main benefits of this site is its central location, which would bring bus passengers right into the heart of the town and give them easy access to shops, the Market Square and facilities including the Guildhall, County Hall, the Royal & Derngate and Castle Station.

Northampton Borough Council also owns all the land that would be used if the new interchange were built on this site, which would make the scheme easier and quicker to deliver.

West Northamptonshire Development Corporation’s board is expected to consider contributing funding to the scheme.

As well as being asked to endorse the Fishmarket site for a new bus facility, the Cabinet will also be asked to approve continued working with the Northampton Arts Collective, which currently uses the former indoor market rent free, to find them suitable alternative premises.

Cllr Tim Hadland, Northampton Borough Council portfolio holder for Assets and Regeneration, said: "The new bus interchange is a vitally important part of the future development of our town and we know that a lot of people feel very strongly about it.

"We want to create a site that that is welcoming, bright, safe and clean and brings passengers right into the heart of Northampton. We will look closely at these proposals to ensure that they enable us to provide the right facilties to meet the needs of bus users and the town as a whole in the future.”

If the proposed site is approved in principle, it is expected that a planning application would be submitted by January 2012, with construction to start in Summer 2012.  Northamptonshire County Council, as a key partner in the regeneration of Northampton, has undertaken to take lead responsibility for the design, preparation and submission of the formal planning application.

The Cabinet meeting will take place at the Guildhall at 6pm on Wednesday 12 October.

Action to reduce dangerous parking around schools....

  

 

A joint campaign to tackle the problem of inconsiderate, dangerous and illegal parking around primary schools in the north sector of Northampton is being launched this week.

The campaign spearheaded by Northampton Borough Council’s neighbourhood management team and run jointly with the police and county council’s parking enforcement comes after an increasing number of comments from residents concerned about dangerous and inconsiderate parking around schools.  The issue is a particular problem around school drop off and pick up times.

Whilst the primary intention of the campaign is to warn drivers of the dangers of inconsiderate parking, fines will also handed out to those caught parking illegally or dangerously.

 

Councillor David Mackintosh, Northampton Borough Council cabinet advisor, said:  "Inconsiderate and dangerous parking around schools is a real issue that we hope this campaign will help to address.  We have received numerous complaints from residents and parents about drivers who abandon their vehicles in dangerous places which makes negotiating the roads safely an absolute nightmare.

"Our main concern is for the safety of children and we are urging parents and people who use their cars to get to and from school to park legally, safely and responsibly.”

Each week the team of borough council, county council and police officers will carry out unannounced safety spot checks at one of 17 primary schools in the north sector.  Although all schools will be receiving written notification of the campaign, the exact dates of when officers will carry out the safety checks at each school has not been revealed.

Making the planning process easier for homeowners...

People are being asked to have their say on new rules that should make it easier to navigate the planning process when extending or altering a residential property.   Planners at Northampton Borough Council have written a new guide for home owners, architects and developers looking to make significant changes to a property. The draft Residential Alterations and Extensions Design Guide is now available for consultation before councillors make a final decision on the document later this year.   The new easy to follow guide has been written to show people the types of extension and alteration will be accepted, and which are likely to be refused. The guide also supports the advice available from the Council's planning team when preparing a planning application.   The guide deals with a range of issues to ensure that any new extension or alteration does not negatively affect neighbours or the local area. This includes making sure any changes do not block natural light, interfere with privacy, or damage the character of the area with large or unsightly modifications.   Councillor John Yates, Northampton Borough Council's cabinet member for planning and environment said: "We want to make the planning process as easy as possible. For most people they will only encounter planning legislation when they want to make an extension or alteration of their home. So we want to make sure everything is as straightforward as possible and there is no confusion about what can or cannot be done. So, we want people to tell us what they think of the draft guide."   The Design Guide, which will be a Supplementary Planning Document, and accompanying consultation documents are available from Thursday 15 September.   The consultation documents are available on-line at: www.northampton.gov.uk/consultation or in local libraries within the Borough. All consultation responses must be received before Thursday 27 October 2011.

UK's first night run being staged in Northampton!

Saturday 29 October is the date for the UK’s first dedicated night running event which takes place in Northampton as part of this year’s Igniting Ambition Festival in the lead up to London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The family-friendly Night Run Northampton is suitable for all ages and abilities, as participants will be encouraged to run or walk a 3km town centre circuit that takes in Northampton’s key cultural landmarks at night.  The route will be animated with a spooky mix of digital lighting installations, giant LED screen, exhibitions, Market Square illuminations as well as live music, street theatre and performance.

There is no registration fee to enter the fun run which sets off from Abington Street at 6.30pm, but participants are being encouraged to raise as much sponsorship as possible with proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation to celebrate Northampton becoming one of 50 places in the UK to be designated a Heart Town as part of the charity’s 50th anniversary this year.

Councillor David Mackintosh, Northampton Borough Council cabinet advisor, said: "Night Run Northampton promises to be a fun night out for friends, families and work colleagues.  Participants will benefit from a bit of exercise whist taking in some of the town’s fantastic heritage, being entertained and raising money for a great cause all at the same time.  This is the very first night run in the UK, which makes it even more exciting. 

"And if running isn’t for you, then come along on the night anyway to watch the entertainment and cheer on family and friends; it will be a great evening out.”

Online registration is open from now until 26 October by visiting www.marketsquareevents.com

Registering is as easy as 1...2...3...

Letters hit your doormats this weekend as over 90,000 households across Northampton are asked to check their details are correct.    Over the next few weeks Northampton Borough Council will be delivering electoral registration forms to every home in the town. The pre-printed forms show who is listed as living at the address, and all people will need to do is check the details are correct and let the Council know.    This year the entire process is as easy as 1.. 2.. 3.   One, we send you the form.   Two, you check the details are correct.   And three, let us know by freephone, internet of freepost.    Northampton Borough Council's democratic services  and chief executive services manager Cassie Triggs said: "It only takes a few moments to complete the form. If our records are out of date, just write down the correct details and use the freepost envelope provided. And, if everything is correct it is even easier, just call our freephone number or visit  the registration website."   This year's deadline  is  Wednesday 30 November, all forms must be received by then in time for publishing the electoral roll on 1 December. For further information or assistance call the electoral services telephone helpline on 0300 330 7000  or visit www.northampton.gov.uk/registration

Nominate your local sports star for the 2011 Northampton Sports Awards

Do you have a sports man or woman who will go the extra mile? A young leader of a sports group that has shone out from the rest of the crowd? Or a volunteer who shows commitment and enthusiasm for grass root sports?

If so we want to hear from you…

The search is on for Northampton’s sports stars of the year as Northampton Leisure Trust opens its nominations for the Sports Awards 2011.

The awards, which are now in their third year, showcase the hard work, dedication and sporting successes of individuals and teams in the town.

You can vote for:

· Community club of the year
· Team of the year
· Coach of the year
· Volunteer of the year
· Young sportsman of the year
· Young sportswoman of the year
· Young leader of the year
· Get Active 2011
· Disabled sports achiever
· Local sportsman of the year
· Local sportswoman of the year
· Sports school of the year
· Long time contribution to sport

The closing date for nominations is 12pm on Friday 9 September.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday 13 October, St George's Hall.

The winners of this round will be entered into the county awards.

Managing Director of Northampton Leisure Trust, Ian Redfern said: "This is the third year that we have run the Sports Awards and do so to recognise and reward the wealth of sporting talent and those who contribute to supporting grass roots sports in Northampton.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise our many excellent sportsmen and sportswomen, so lets get voting for the talent of the town and put Northampton on the map.”

Nomination forms are available from the Leisure Trust sports development team by calling Northampton 837704, emailing stevejohnson@northamptonleisuretrust.org.uk or logging on to www.nleisuresports.co.uk