UMRA General Meeting Notes

Mobile Library Service on Upton

Greyfriars Bus Station escalators out of service...

On Monday 1 August the escalators in the Greyfriars Bus Station will be out of service for three weeks due to scheduled repair work.

The escalators require maintenance to improve the daily running of the machines to maintain a good service for people accessing the bus station.

However, with the future developments of the Grosvenor Centre in mind, replacement of the escalators was not deemed appropriate.

In the meantime, people can access the station via the three stairwells and the lift. There will also be signage and additional staff to direct bus passengers between levels.

The work is due to be complete by Friday 19 August and we will keep you updated on the progress.

Town Centre Manager, Derrick Simpson said: "We understand this may cause bus users a slight disruption when using the service. However, there is access to a lift if you are unable to use a stair well.

"This is an essential repair to ensure the escalators are in good working order for the future, improving access within the Bus Station. We aim to cause minimal disruption whilst the work is being carried out.”

Both escalators are being worked on at the same time to reduce the disruption to passengers.

Plants for sale in Abington Park

A selection of plants grown from seed by a group of volunteers who help Northampton Borough Council to look after the floral displays in Abington Park are now on sale in the park. The Choices group are a team of adults with learning disabilities who love working in the park and when they are not tending the flowerbeds they are planting up pots of vegetables and herbs. They have a tabletop sale of a selection of plants they have grown from seed on sale to park visitors every day of the working week.  Tomatoes, gooseberries, dill and lettuce are just four of the crops they are currently selling. All proceeds from plant sales go towards paying for compost and seeds for next year as well as an annual treat for the volunteers who work so hard. Plants will be on sale until September and are located near the booking office between the tennis courts and bowling green in Abington Park.  Alternatively call Choices horticultural team on Northampton 634383.

Street Lighting

You can't fail to have noticed that street lights are being turned off around the county at the moment.

Northamptonshire County Council have produced THIS DOCUMENT (click on the DOWNLOAD THIS FILE button) to explain what, how and why they're doing this.

Medieval fun in Abington Park!

Abington Park visitors are in for a fun-packed day of medieval madness as Northampton Borough Council’s museum service gets set to host its annual family fun day on Saturday 13 August.


During the day of medieval madness there will be activities and events suitable for all the family.  


There will be fighting knights and fire eating in the medieval pavilion, medieval-themed story telling, a chance to have a go at archery under the expert supervision of two medieval costumed tutors, dancing and games as well as lots of arts and crafts activities that include tile painting, making a beeswax candle and writing with a quill.


The Museum of Leathercraft, which is housed in Abington Park Museum, will be joining in the fun and running a themed activity and the Park Café located near the museum will also be putting on a special medieval-themed children’s menu for the day.


For those interested in seeing genuine medieval artefacts, the county council’s finds liaison officer will be showing of a collection of medieval archaeological finds from Northampton.  The Northamptonshire Records Office will also be there to showcase some excellent reproductions of medieval documents from their collections. 


Councillor Michael Hill, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for museums, said: "Northampton played a major part in England’s history in medieval times and I am sure that today’s young people will enjoy the opportunity of trying some of the varied activities of 600 years ago that the museum is laying on.”


The medieval fun day is at Abington Park Museum from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 13 August.  


Admission is free, but there may be a small charge for some of the activities.


Anyone wanting more information can telephone (01604) 838111 or email museums@northampton.gov.uk

Free residential for young people interested in history & heritage!

Northampton Museums & Art Gallery is offering young people aged 14 to 25 years-old, who might be thinking of a career in the museums or heritage sectors,  a fantastic opportunity to take part in a free weekend residential course as part of the Stories of the World project for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

The weekend residential will be held at Quorn Hall in Leicestershire from 19 to 21 August.

The first activity will be a treasure hunt to test team working, organisational and creativity skills and learn more about the history of Quorn Hall and village.  On Saturday participants will travel to Snibston for a packed day of activities which include: how to develop a fashion gallery exhibition; a colliery tour with former mine workers; and a workshop on how to develop tours and guides using mobile apps and podcasts.


On Sunday participants will get the opportunity to work again as teams to develop their own tours and guides using what they have learnt over the weekend.

The residential finishes at 4pm on Sunday.  All travel, accommodation, meals and activities will be provided free. 

Councillor Michael Hill, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for museums, said: "I’m delighted that young people who might be interested in museums and history have the opportunity to sample the sort of work that they would do were they to decide this is the career for them.  It really is marvellous.”

Further details and application forms are available from the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery located on the Guildhall Road or by calling 01604 838111.  As numbers are strictly limited to 20 places, anyone interested in taking part is urged to get their application in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Summer holiday activities at Northampton museums

A host of fun activities will be taking place at Northampton museums over the summer holidays.

As well as a range of family-friendly exhibitions and displays, Northampton Museum and Art Gallery has children’s events going on throughout August.  On Tuesday 9 August there will be pirate-themed drop in workshops with lots of fun activities for children to take part in.  Sessions run from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm.  Admission is free, but there may be a small charge for some activities.

On Tuesday 16 August there will be drop in workshops with picnic basket-themed arts and crafts.  Sessions run from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm.  Admission is free.


On Tuesday 23 August children will get the chance to take part in sea creature-themed crafts at drop in sessions that run from 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm.  Admission is free, but there may be a small charge for some activities.


A special watercolour painting session with professional artist Clare Carney is on offer to children aged eight and over on Tuesday 30 August.  The session runs from 10.30am to 2.30pm and tickets priced £5 per child are available in advance from the museum.


Northampton Museum and Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 5pm.  Admission is free.


Abington Park Museum, which also has free admission, is open throughout the summer holidays from Thursday to Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 1pm to 5pm.  In addition to the popular exhibits, on Wednesday 3 August there will be a free National Play Day with painting activities and toys for children aged five and under, and on Saturday 13 August from 11am to 4pm there will be a free Medieval-themed family fun day.


For more information about these events call the museum service on 01604 838111.

Northamptonshire Police Open Day

Northamptonshire Police is set to hold a force open day on Saturday 30 July.

The free event, which will take place from 11am-4pm, will be held at Police Headquarters at Wootton Hall.

The day will include live demonstrations from the police dogs, firearms, a visit from the police helicopter and much more!

Come along and see more about what we do - there's something for all the family to enjoy!

Summer entertainment in Abington Park

Abington Park visitors can enjoy live music every Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 5pm until 11 September.

The popular Bands in the Park programme will once again be performed at much-loved Victorian bandstand, which has recently undergone a £15,000 restoration.

The summer music programme has been arranged by the Council’s events team who have this year booked bands from across the region for the enjoyment of park-goers.

Cabinet member for Community Engagement, Councillor Michael Hill said: "Bands are always a popular part of spending summer Sundays in Abington Park, and the event programme prepared for this year will give brass band enthusiasts a good variety of music to enjoy.”

This Sunday (17 July) the Abington Wind Band will be playing.

The line up for the rest of the season is:

24 July, Moulton 77 Brass Band

31 July, Daventry Bass

7 August, Praise in the Park

14 August, Kibworth Brass

21 August, Road Runner Event

28 August, Rushden Windmill Band

4 September, Enderby Senior Band

11 September, Gretton Silver Band

In addition to these Sunday events Inspiration FM will be taking to the bandstand on Saturday 23 July and the Jesus Fellowship will be there on Saturday 6 August.

Weekend of activity kicks of Olympic Countdown

Northampton Leisure Trust has teamed up with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, Northamptonshire Sport and local sports clubs to host a weekend of events marking the one year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The sporting celebrations begin at Lings Forum Leisure Centre on Saturday

23 July, with an opportunity to take part in a wide range of new or traditional sports and activities. 

For just £2 for the whole day, children and adults can take part in sporting sessions including zorbing, zumba, swimming, wet 'n' wild, trampolining, dodgeball, badminton, squash, street dance and professional soccer school.

The Funzone play scheme will also be running all day, where children from five to13 years old can take place in a variety of activities including arts & crafts and giant computer gaming in the Forum Cinema. 

Prizes and give aways will be on offer throughout the day and events are taking place from 10am to 6pm. 

The weekend of activities continues on Sunday 24 July, with Fitness Fusion, a day-long sample of the best classes that Northampton Leisure Trust has to offer.

From 10am to 6pm, Lings will play host to back-to-back zumba, body combat, body pump, spin, body attack, body balance, tai chi, yoga and pilates.  People can sample all the classes for just £2 in advance or £3.50 on the day.

Lawrence Kay, Sports and Play Development Manager for Northampton Leisure Trust said: "We are joining in with the rest of the country to start the Olympic countdown and encouraging people to get involved with sport, not just to watch it.

"This Open Weekend and Fitness Fusion will give people the opportunity to try something new or be inspired to pick up where they left off with an old favourite.  It will be fun and it’s just one of the activities we are planning to get people in Northampton involved in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.”

For more information contact the Lings Forum Leisure Centre on 01604 837300 or visit www.nleisure.co.uk

Enjoy the riverside easier at Becket's Park

Work has started on improving the riverside walk running through Becket's Park linking Midsummer Meadow with the new Northampton Marina. 


In the last few years the riverside has been transformed with new a new 80-berth marina, public art and improvements to the pathways running from Sixfields to Midsummer Meadow. This new phase of work will see the final section of the riverside walk completed just in time for the Riverside Festival in August. 

Northampton Borough Council is investing almost £300,000 in improving the Becket's Park promenade. Park goers will be able to walk along the new resurfaced footpath or enjoy watching the world go by on one of the new park benches. The project will also see new bins and lighting added to the park.

 

Councillor Tim Hadland, Northampton Borough Council's cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise said: "For years the Nene has been one of our town's hidden treasures. But more and more people are discovering that the river is the perfect place to relax thanks to the new marina and improvements along the riverside from Sixfields to Midsummer Meadows.

 

"With a number of major new developments planned on the south bank of the river, the walk will no doubt become an easy and attractive pedestrian link to the town centre."

 

The footpath will reopen at the end of July in time for the Riverside Festival, a free family event celebrating the past, present and future of the River Nene. 

With some final improvements being made before the end of the year when work on the marina is completed.

Summer Riverside Festival

Preparations are being made to celebrate the past, present and future of the River Nene this summer with a Riverside Festival. 

 

On Sunday 7 August live music, dancing groups, battling knights, decorated boats and exciting sports activities will be among the attractions in Becket's Park as Northampton celebrates the River Nene. 

 

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the River Nene becoming navigable. It is an important date in the history of the town as for the first time traders and businesses in Northampton could easily sell goods and buy materials with other parts of the country. 

 

As traditional heavy industry moved away from using the River,  the leisure industry grew with more and more people enjoying canal holidays and the wildlife along the riverside. The canals have become so popular that an impressive 80 berth Marina was created for river users in Beckets Park . 

 

This summer's Riverside Festival is set to be a fantastic family day out with something for everyone to enjoy including:

 

• Free boat trips,
• Tours of the new Marina,
• Canoe taster sessions,
• Water zorbing from Get Wet Dry,
• Live music From Dave Barry Band and a steel band,
• Street theatre from Maynard FlipFlap, 
• Local dance group performances,
• Northamptonshire food tasting court,
• Battle re-enactments and medieval demonstrations,
• Craft workshops,
• Only Fools and Buffs,
• Raffles and prize draws,
• And, much more.

Councillor Michael Hill, Northampton Borough Council's cabinet member for community engagement said: "The River Nene has always been important to Northampton and its people, and the Riverside Festival gives an opportunity for everyone in the town to have fun on what we all hope will be a sunny Sunday.  The wide variety of attractions offer all the family something different to enjoy, and I hope everyone will come along to Becket's Park to find out more about how the river is continuing to shape the town as a leisure attraction."

 

The event is being sponsored by Northampton Town Centre BID, David Williams Financial Services,  Northampton Borough Council and Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership. We also have fantastic prizes to be won kindly donated by Royal and Derngate, 78 Derngate, House of Fraser, Canoe2, Nene Valley Boats, Daily Bread and The Saints amongst others.

For more information, a programme of the day and full list of prizes please visit www.northampton.gov.uk

New exhibition looks at lasting legacy of town's shoe industry

A fascinating exhibition that explores how the shoe industry has contributed to the growth and development of Northampton and helped create the town we live in today is to open at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery next week (16 July).


Lasting legacies of some of the more prominent shoe manufacturers include Barratt Maternity Hospital, the place where many Northamptonians were born.  In 1934 William Barratt pledged £20,000 to establish the hospital "which shall be open to persons in all stations of life, and not regarded as a charity.”  Allegedly Barratt had witnessed his own mother giving birth in the outdoor privy and vowed that no woman should have to give birth in such circumstances.


In 1921 brothers Charles and Thomas Lewis, founders of shoe manufacturer C&E Lewis, bought two fields between Dallington Village and Harlestone Road that were being sold off by the Spencer family for building purposes.  Rather than building on the site the brothers donated all 23 acres to the town for use as a public park, which remains known as Dallington Park today.


These are just two of the notable contributions made by the shoe industry that will be revealed in the exhibition, which has resulted from a collaboration between Northampton Borough Council’s museum service and the Northampton U3A group.


The idea for the exhibition sprang from a research project U3A was undertaking into the town’s Victorian past.  A meeting to discuss the research with the museum resulted in the idea for a joint family-friendly exhibition that looked at Northampton’s shoe making heritage and how it had benefited the town.


Councillor Michael Hill, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for museums, said: "Northampton is synonymous with the footwear industry, and it is very fitting that the town’s museum, which houses the country’s largest shoe collection, should pay tribute to the philanthropic work of major shoe manufacturers.  This exhibition will fascinate everyone interested in the history of our town.”


‘What did the shoe industry ever do for us?’ will be showing at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery from 16 July until 6 November.  Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 5pm.  Admission is free.

Summer exhibition of children's shoes & interactive games

A heart-warming exhibition of children’s shoes opens at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in time for the summer holidays.

First Steps features a selection of baby bootees, first shoes, school shoes, teenage trends and a host of cult shoes that were the ‘must-haves’ of their day.

As well as the shoes there will be fun to be had with various types of shoe fastenings including the revolutionary Velcro and plenty of interactive games and activities for younger visitors.

There will also be a chance for everyone to record their very own personal shoe memories.

Rebecca Shawcross, Northampton Borough Council’s museum shoe officer, said: "This promises to be a lovely exhibition which will be a really great family day out over the summer holidays. "One of my earliest memories as a child is of my mum buying me my first pair of shoes.  I remember being really excited and looking at all the brightly colours shoes.  I had my feet measured on what at the time seemed to be a really high-tech gizmo, but was little more than a ruler.  The shoes I wanted weren’t the ones my mum wanted me to have.  My favourites were red with little flowers and a tiny heel, but I ended up with brown lace-ups with little holes punched in to let the air circulate.  Heartbreakingly practical.”

First Steps is showing at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery from 23 July until 4 September.  Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 2pm to 5pm.  Admission is free.

Weekly collections for clothing this Autumn...

Plans for new weekly kerbside collections of clothing, shoes and soft toys in Daventry District and Northampton will be introduced this autumn.

Northampton Borough Council and Daventry District Council’s new environmental services contractor Enterprise had initially hoped to launch the weekly textile collections this month alongside other changes to the waste and recycling service.

However, with residents making great efforts to recycle, there has been a large rise in the volume of other materials that have been collected. This has meant that the current collection vehicles do not have enough space to accommodate additional clothing.

Weekly textile collections will now begin this autumn when the contractor introduces new vehicles with larger recycling compartments.

In the meantime an appointment system has been put in place for residents wishing to request a textile collection and it will be collected from their homes within four working days.

Enterprise will continue to donate money from these collections in Daventry District to the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.


Enterprise Partnership Director Simone Wade said: "The kerbside vehicles being used at this very early stage of the new service unfortunately do not have the room to accommodate textiles collections. This is due to a large rise in the volume of other recyclates we have been collecting, following residents’ efforts to recycle more.


"We apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused residents who were expecting new weekly textile collections as set out in their leaflets, but we can assure them that these will be in place in the autumn when new vehicles with larger compartments are introduced. We are putting alternative arrangements in place and if customers phone their council to request a textile collection, they will then be collected within four working days.”


Daventry District Council’s Environment Portfolio Holder Councillor Daniel Cribbin said: "It’s encouraging news that we’re seeing an increase in recycling during these first few weeks of the new joint service.


"We hope this slight delay in an improved textiles service does not deter residents from continuing their excellent recycling efforts.”


Cllr David Mackintosh, Cabinet adviser at Northampton Borough Council, said: "One of the benefits of our new partnership is that it provides many more opportunities to recycle.  I hope people will continue to keep recycling everything they are able to.  While textile collections are currently available by appointment we will further improve the service when we introduce weekly textile collections to all households in the autumn."


To request a textile collection, please contact:
Northampton Borough Council – phone 0300 330 7000, email recycling@northampton.gov.uk or visitwww.northampton.gov.uk/recycling