August 3: Expansion will be a complete disaster
Contrary to Councillor Tony Woods's letter (July 24), having recently attended a meeting at which the head of the WNJPU staff introduced the proposed plans for building a further 43,000 homes around Northampton, it is clear that saying "no" is essential.
For several compelling reasons it would be a complete disaster. Northampton and the Nene Valley just cannot contain the homes. Apart from the diabolical and barbaric vandalism proposed by the planting of 18,000 new homes on valuable and beautiful countryside, and based on the designated conservation village of Little Houghton and its surrounding parishes, the future potential flooding consequences, particularly with the threat of global warming, are horrendous.
Furthermore, where are the jobs coming from? Government can help to build houses but it cannot create real jobs. Has nothing been learnt from the mistakes of the 1959 Development Plans?
It is claimed that building this "New Town" would help the regeneration of central Northampton. It was obvious to all at the meeting that it would do nothing of the sort.
It would only make matters worse and it would destroy the lives of several thousand innocent people together with several thousand acres of prime farmland and beautiful countryside, all for the sake of supporting a totally discredited and dysfunctional government.
I therefore challenge the four elected councils which are involved, to stand together, protect their constituents and say to the Government "no". Controlled growth "perhaps". Mass destruction "no".
Christopher Davidge,
Little Houghton.
River Nene will be open sewer
YOUR recent correspondent's comments "No is not an option" concerning this massive expansion are not only appalling, but also outrageous.
For this massive number of houses, are we to turn the River Nene into an open sewer? It is quite obvious that the local sewage works are already overloaded.
The residents of Billing will be able to tell you how the stink gets up their nostrils and has done for the past 20 years. Absolutely nothing has been done about this.
Regarding the water supply, where do the developers expect to be able to take the water from?
This is especially if we think about the drought of 1976.
We are at present losing 26 square miles of fertile food producing land per year with an ever-expanding world population.
Surely every acre of fertile land should now be carefully preserved from the developers.
Incidentally if, heaven forbid, this expansion should go ahead, where are all these people going to work? We are no longer a manufacturing country.
Surely it is time to halt all further immigration, legal and illegal.
I wonder if this present Government has any idea of the present population of this isle.
This massive development must be stopped at all costs.
Charles Keith Barker,
High Street,
Kingsthorpe, Northampton.
Soldiers made day extra special
ON Saturday, July 25, I married the woman of my dreams (Rachel) and our day was perfect from start to finish.
However we have some extra special memories due to all the extra goings on in the town.
As we had finished our vows we had a marching band walk past the Guildhall. We managed to have some photos taken with a small group of the 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment who were in town for the 200 year celebration of the Battle of Talavera (see David Saint’s column on page 11 – Editor).
Stephen Weatherley,
Boughton Green Road, Northampton.
MP was only doing her job
I find it odd that Dennis Meredith (Viewpoint, July 28) should brand local MP Sally Keeble’s action in writing to Southfields residents a trick to win votes.
On the occasions I have contacted Mrs Keeble, I considered her to be a hard-working MP, spending time in Parliament and also spending a lot of time in her constituency working on behalf of her constituents and helping them with some of their problems.
I believe that politicians should be taking account of what the people they represent want and this is exactly what Mrs Keeble was doing in writing to Southfields residents.
Most people want to be properly consulted on a proposed housing development in their area and be given the opportunity to object if that is their wish.
My understanding is that Mrs Keeble has requested a longer consultation period for the proposed Southfields development. I suspect that many people do not know about the various agencies and procedures regarding taking part in consultations.
In writing to Southfields residents she was, in my view, doing her job as an MP and expressing concern that residents may not have had enough information or time to take part in any consultations.
Cliff Goodman,
Hamsterly Park, Southfields, Northampton.
but withheld by request.
Governments’ poor legacies
Keith Jackson (July 15) complains about Labour’s legacy for the Tories. Every administration leaves a legacy for its successor. Because too many politicians are greedy there is always a poor legacy.
Mr Jackson complains about the billions Gordon Brown gives to the EU. He should remember that Tory supremo Ted Heath took us into Europe by lying about how it would affect our sovereignty.
Our local government also inherits legacy, not only from its predecessor but from national government. The Liberal Democrats have a legacy from both Labour and Conservative administrations as well the New Labour Government.
Let’s face it, New Labour has got so bad it is impossible not to complain.
The Liberal Democrats are not doing a brilliant job, but is it fair to be too hard on them since their legacy is unenviable?
Faith Bricher,
Christian Peoples Alliance, Broadmead Avenue, Northampton.
Long mortgage
I refer to Councillor Simpson’s letter regarding PFI funding for the redevelopment of council housing in Northampton.
My understanding of PFI funding is that it’s akin to taking on a very long mortgage at a high rate of interest.
Please can someone from the council tell us how they propose to pay this money back, especially bearing in mind their current financial crisis?
Also, what happens if they fail to keep up with the repayments?
Name and address supplied but withheld by request.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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