August 20: Development will wreck our countryside
We live in a wonderful part of Northamptonshire, bounded by a pretty stream. The heron sits fishing patiently, surrounded by wild birds and animals, some rare and some just plain gorgeous . . . woodpeckers, bats, kingfishers, owls, herons, toads, foxes, badgers etc.
At night, bats flit about in the streetlight that glows as they dive in our garden for flies.The owl's hoot breaks the silence as he screeches across the garden.
One day, we woke up to find 18,000 houses and a dual carriageway are planned to wreck this lovely countryside . . . a bit of old England preserved and loved by all who live here. In c1272-1307 King David had land here in Preston Deanery and used to hunt in Preston Wood. Part of this wood is still here.
We will lose a sense of ourselves, who we are, what England is all about . . . this green and pleasant land.
We owe it to our children and dependants to leave them the legacy of beautiful countryside to simply enjoy the calm and simple treasures of wildlife in all its natural beauty.
The animals haven't got a voice, we must speak for them. We must use ours. Say no to this over-development of Northampton.
Penny Mawby,
Hall Cottage, Preston Deanery.
Infrastructure before building
IF ever proof was needed of the grave error in top-down Government targets then surely the proposal from the West Northants Joint Planning Unit to build more than 20,000 new homes around Northampton is proof.
Northampton already has problems of congestion and excessive out-commuting, flooding and a lack of infrastructure. The town centre is in dire need of the proposed regeneration and bringing in yet more new housing before the town is sorted out is a big mistake.
The only way to build a significant number of new homes is with the commitment to the increased infrastructure up front and with the agreement of the democratically-elected representatives of existing local residents.
Andrea Leadsom,
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for South Northamptonshire.
The six-hour questionnaire
Following their shock announcement that in spite of having no guaranteed up-front infrastructure funding, West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit intends to surround the towns of Northamptonshire with 62,000 houses (the equivalent of three towns the size of Daventry) and extend urban sprawl to swallow up to 15 villages and communities.
It has have launched a six-weeks "consultation". The consultation ends on September 11 and comprises a questionnaire and a number of exhibitions.The questionnaire is a monster. It's full of jargon with 56 questions – each requiring more than a yes/no answer – and in one case they ask "If you don't like what we propose, what alternative plan would you suggest?"
We downloaded a questionnaire. It took six hours to complete. Most people are far too busy to spend this amount of time and so the questionnaire is useless as a form of consultation.
Northants Residents Alliance has completed one of these questionnaires and residents are encouraged to download a copy from our website, print it, add their name and address and then post it to WNJPU. Don't let WNJPU stifle public concerns with its tactics.
Visit www.northantsresident.co.uk to download the questionnaire.
Two thirds of the exhibitions are being held during working hours and the main holiday period. Therefore, we predict that turnout will be low – almost as WNJPU planned it. Once again, public voices are being muted by the actions of the so-called professional planners.
The only effective way to stop this nonsense is to shout back with the loud voice of reason. To add your voice to the movement to stop these plans, join us and many others by registering (free) at the NRA website.
Roger Kingston,
Northants Residents Alliance, Northampton.
Land is needed to grow food
THE Government Minister Hilary Benn recently stated that because of the rising population in the UK, we have to produce more home-grown food and become generally more self-sufficient.
Perhaps Mr Benn could explain how our farmers are expected to produce more with such vast areas of past farmland built on, and are now areas of tarmac or concrete?
This Government has not helped the farming industry, failing to provide support to subsidise and sustain farming when necessary.
Many people, including myself, believe the UK, especially England is severely overpopulated. When figures of a potential population of 70 to 80 million people are quoted for the future, I fear for our coming generations.
Locally, we are told we need to build at least 40,000 more homes in Northamptonshire. How can we support this many people when our infrastructure cannot cope with our population at present?
Also, we will lose much of our beautiful Northamptonshire countryside, along with the local way of life and cultures that go alongside it.
Changes that occur to localities as years go by are understandable, but not the loss of green belt and villages that will be completely swallowed up.
Whenever the subject of population increases are put to politicians, they studiously avoid the question because they fear being labelled as racist. However this is nothing to do with racism or immigration, it is purely using common sense and facing up to the fact that everyone, no matter what their roots, will all be affected adversely in the long run.
Peter Minney,
Irondale Close, Northampton.
Stadium: time to move forward
There was good news from the recent council meeting – expansion of the football stadium, new housing and a new athletics stadium.
We all now have to move forward and not go over what has happened in the past. I appreciate money is tight at the moment, but the sooner land can be identified for the new athletics stadium and money put into place, the quicker the football stadium expansion can take place.
With the right athletics stadium, this town would be able to host, regional and national athletic competitions and bring the top performers to the county. It would also benefit our local athletes who are lacking in facilities at this time.
The new stadium will need a clubhouse, large stand, floodlights and an indoor facility. This would bring us to a level that Bedford enjoys.
What would be nice is if land for the new athletics stadium was identified between the football club and the rugby club. It would be even better if a swimming club was brought on board, we could have an area of sporting excellence.
Don’t let us be short-sighted – let us all look to the future and offer sporting facilities that other towns already enjoy.
Neil Glover,
Snetterton Close, Northampton.
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Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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