November 8: Make these new homes eco-friendly
May we add our comments regarding the expansion of Northampton, particularly the proposal for a greenfield development of 12,500 homes called Preston Green?
Friends of the Earth (Northants) consider that a step-change in housebuilding volume has been foisted on Northants without positive consent from voters.
To make it less unacceptable this must be accompanied by step-changes in building standards and infrastructure provision.
The scale of the programme provides economies of scale which allow modern eco-standards, including energy-efficiency (solar, wind and ground sources, district heating etc), insulation, and environmental drainage and waste solutions to be built into projects at reasonable cost.
We consider the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation's (WNDC) main role lies in arranging infrastructure provision, and harmonising local development frameworks within the overall regeneration plan.
This will involve close liaison with the Inter-Regional Board and bodies such as EMDA, as well as agencies, developers and local councils, to ensure adequate funding is earmarked and available for essential infrastructure upgrades, before housing schemes are begun.
So far we have seen little evidence of progress in either field, or of an overall regeneration plan.
The proposed Towcester A5 bypass is a single carriageway which will prove inadequate to traffic volumes if the town's expansion goes ahead.
The same observation applies to the Sandy Lane Northampton project, which fails to complete the desperately-needed ring road round Northampton and merely serves more housing.
The Preston Green proposal contains no significant provision for infrastructure improvement.
With financial and property meltdown it is highly likely that many if not all major building projects will stay on hold for years.
If so, the WNDC and its new chairman, John Markham, have a breathing-space to reconsider and upgrade current plans to acceptable eco-standards, and align endeavours with genuine need.
It is not too late to move the focus to more realistic and sensible aims than massive greenfield developments and concentrate on refurbishment, rebuilding and sub-division of existing properties.
Friends of the Earth (Northants) calls for suspension of all greenfield projects so long as inner town and brownfield sites are still available.
S M Blyth,
Friends of the Earth, Northants.
Simple question, arrogant answer
I was amazed at the arrogance shown by Councillor Church at the full council meeting on October 27.
When questioned by Councillor David Palethorpe as to what figure could be put on the number of retail outlets that have closed in the last 12 months, Councillor Church replied "I don't know, I haven't a clue.
Perhaps Councillor Palethorpe could find time to go round town and count them up for himself".
What an arrogant and dismissive response that was to a perfectly simple question.
Mind you, Councillor Church is right about one thing, he doesn't have a clue, and neither do most of his fellow Lib Dem councillors, especially when it comes down to morals and matters of finance.
Ray Patrick,
Summerfields, West Hunsbury, Northampton.
Happier now at sheltered home
After you published my recent letter on care, the sheltered housing officer visited me at home, listened to my concerns and assured me my needs would be met.
I am now happy, changes have been made as I requested and I feel more confident in the service.
I appreciate the officer took the trouble to come and see me.
I thank the Chronicle & Echo for publishing my letter . . . it proves that people do take note.
Brian Feary,
Sotheby Rise,
Ecton Brook, Northampton.
Council house scheme alarm
The confirmation that our local Lib Dem council intends to use the discredited policy of a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme to refurbish some of the town's council housing should set alarm bells ringing.
Having witnessed the example of the PFI scheme for Northampton's schools we might have expected the Lib Dems to have learnt a lesson from their (and other parties) past support of that scheme.
To remind readers, that scheme saw costs of 265 million balloon to 865 million to cover so-called maintenance costs, financing costs and builders' profits.
Such schemes, so beloved of speculators, are now being exposed as we all suffer the consequences of similar economic madness, but the Lib Dems argue it will be good for tenants and the town.
But is that the case?
This PFI scheme will put 170 million into 1,400 council houses . . . 120,000 per dwelling.
Now just these figures tell us we're being ripped off as we own the land, and a non-luxury house or flat can be built, or bought, for far less in today's economy.
But in addition everyone knows that the PFI sharks actually take three to four times the capital expenditure (see above) for their guaranteed running, maintenance, financing and profit costs over 30 years.
The local Save Our Services campaign has long argued against the privatisation and sell-offs of council services to the private sector.
Such services, including council housing, came into existence because the private market could not provide for all and to believe the leopard has changed its spots shows political blindness.
We demand the Lib Dems tell us the true costs over 30 years of this economic nonsense and also if tenants' rents will go towards the PFI profits.
Dave Green,
Save Our Services, Northants.
Don't trust them over council tax
Those of us who have long memories can recall Andrew Simpson wanting to help people in Northampton who were struggling with "rising bills, rising prices, and wages that aren't keeping up" and to some extent I agree with him.
The failed policies of Gordon Brown have put a great deal of strain on household budgets and it is vital therefore that local politicians do all they can to keep the level of council tax as low as possible.
Asking residents to fund huge increases in councillor's pay is as insulting as it is reckless.
Although Andrew Simpson has said that, despite voting in favour of massive inflation busting pay rises, he would not be taking them, one has to question his motives.
If he is serious about helping local voluntary groups, why did he vote for these increases?
If the Lib Dems want to help local groups, why were his colleagues at the county council the only ones to greedily vote for an increase in their allowances?
It would seem the Liberal Democrats cannot be trusted when it comes to tax.
They talk about value for money and keeping the council tax down but pay themselves huge amounts of our money.
Andrew Simpson also supports replacing council tax with local income tax which would mean households across the county paying more tax.
Not my words, but the words of Vince Cable. It would seem Northampton is starting to pay the price of the misguided and misleading polices of the Liberal Democrats.
Matthew Golby,
Weggs Farm Road, Duston, Northampton.
Parking disgrace
I am writing to you with regards to disabled parking and I can see where Mr Jwanczuk is coming from in his letter to you in the Chron of October 29.
We disabled people like to go out for a drink with friends at night time or weekends, this makes a break from sitting indoors all week.
I would also like to add that supermarkets should have wardens patrolling to make sure that the rules are being adhered to.
Tesco at Mereway should look at their disabled parking more often.
We have gone there umpteen times and found out that most of the disabled spots have been taken up by non-disabled people, which is a disgrace.
Brian Smyth,
Queen Eleanor Road, Far Cotton, Northampton.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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