Politics

Traffic enforcement cameras are set to go live in the Gold Street area as soon as next week.

Two new traffic enforcement cameras set to go live in busy streets in town

Updated masterplan of the 114 home neighbourhood, including the two new play areas at each end of the attenuation pond at the bottom of the development.

Updated plans for 114 homes in Northamptonshire town have been approved

John Greatrix, owner of Cafe Continental on the Market Square, has spoken out about the past six months on the newly-refurbished space.

Long-standing food trader slams new £12.5m Market Square as 'NOT GOOD ENOUGH'

Les Brannan, Hung Vo, and Elliott Jones are all veteran market traders.

Another long-standing trader says £12.5 million Market Square is 'struggling'

The X account was active between 2017 and 2018, when a series of offensive posts were made. Image: @RonFirman2 on X

Offensive tweets from account belonging to Reform UK candidate resurface

Voters will be going to the polls on May 1 to elect a new set of councillors to the North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire authorities.
Credit: Nadia Lincoln LDRS

Local coalition between Reform and Conservatives in Northants ruled out

Scenes like this are an everyday occurrence on the inadequate A422 pinch point at Farthinghoe

Villagers hope desperately a plan for 700 homes west of Brackley is rejected

Daventry Lido (top), closed in 2006 and was later demolished, but could be revived by local businessmen who want to transform it into a year-round facility, similar to Saltdean Lido (bottom). Photo: Glyn Kirk.

Talks progress as MP backs multi-million-pound vision to revive lido in Daventry

Bus stops at the Drapery, in Northampton town centre.
Credit: Nadia Lincoln LDRS

Northampton residents speak out about the big issues that matter to them

In 2024, just over half of all incidents were attended to by the fire service within the current 10 minute standard.

Fire service proposes to attend house fires quicker as consultation opens

399 Wellingborough Road (left) has been given planning permission by WNC to be converted into a nine-bed HMO. The property is next to a children's nursery.

Plans approved to convert Victorian house next to children's nursery into HMO

The full list of candidates who will be standing to be a councillor on West Northamptonshire Council has been revealed.

Names of all the candidates across standing in the local elections 2025

Colin Richardson, 86, said that fellow lodge owners had "deep concerns" over the expansion plans, which he said would "vandalise" the setting. (Image: Nadia Lincoln LDRS)

'It would be chaotic' - Further opposition against plans to expand holiday park

Plans have been approved to improve walking and cycling routes in areas across West Northamptonshire.

Walking and cycling routes to be upgraded as part of 10-year plan

Crips Against Cuts Northants, who previously held a protest in Wellingborough, will be gathering again this weekend in Northampton town centre. (Image: Crips Against Cuts Northants)

Activists to hold protest against 'cruel' proposed disability benefit cuts

Elections

Local elections to be held next month
On Thursday, 1 May voters across West Northamptonshire will go to the polls to elect their local representatives.
Rebecca Hutson

Angel Street is closed until June 6 for improvement works.

WNC explains why the street outside of its HQ is undergoing improvement works

All 144 candidates across Northamptonshire were invited up onto the KLV stage at the end of the night. (Image: Nadia Lincoln LDRS)

Nigel Farage vows to 'fight a big campaign' in Northamptonshire

Russian state media fell for an outrageous April Fools joke that Britain was buying a new aircraft carrier and would name it HMS Prince Andrew.

Russia media falls for April Fool's gaffe involving Prince Andrew

The Queen Eleanor roundabout is undergoing major improvement works.

Council release statement following long delays as work begins on roundabout

Use the 'Submit a Story' link to tell us your news

Plans to transform how residents access Council services move forward

'Northamptonshire is broken' Nigel Farage tells Reform rally

Overstone Hall

Developer explains why building 100 homes is vital to restore Overstone Hall

West Northants Action Group parents have been known to protest outside WNC's Angel Square offices. (Bottom left) Conservative councillor Fiona Baker is WNC's Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education.

WNC spends £1.1 MILLION fighting parents of special needs children in court

The Queen Eleanor interchange is undergoing major improvement works.

Here's what to expect from the roadworks at busy Northampton junction

Four schools in Northamptonshire, including Oakway Academy in Wellingborough, have been approved to create a school-based nursery

First school-based nurseries - what this means for Northants parents

Wheelie bins in Wellingborough

Northants homes could see new recycling bins and rules introduced from next year
Homes across Northamptonshire could see new recycling bins and rules introduced, as updated requirements have been set by the government.
Nadia Lincoln, local democracy reporter

Here’s an overview of how the site could be laid out, according to the applicant

65 residents OBJECT to plans for 100-home development at Overstone Hall

Plans have been submitted to convert the former Circus store in the Drapery into a Wingstop franchise.

Plans unveiled to open major brand American fast food chain at iconic building

The property, which received permission to house 12 tenants in December, could be increased to a 14-bedroom HMO. Credit: Google

Neighbours blast 'ridiculous' plan to further increase house to huge 14-bed HMO

It was West Suffolk District Councillor Janne Jarvis who instigated the first Deposit Return Scheme and recycling rewards scheme in the UK last March.

Tidy Our Town: This councillor helped get a Deposit Return Scheme machine here

The proposed property at 5 Blossac Court, Duston, which could be converted into a children's care home if plans are approved.

75 residents OBJECT to plans to turn house into care home for vulnerable kids

Updated masterplan of the 114 home neighbourhood, including the two new play areas at each end of the attenuation pond at the bottom of the development. (Image: Stonebond Properties Ltd )

114 homes recommended for approval again despite concerns

Southbridge apartments on New South Bridge Road, by the University of Northampton's waterside campus. (Image: Google Maps)

Two council housing projects in Northampton completed despite series of delays

Kier workers are back on site in Abington Street

Work finally restarts on £5m refurbishment scheme after three-month 'pause'

A 3D visualisation of what the new Wood Burcote cricket green and pavilion, in the Towcester Vale residential extension, could look like. (Image: Persimmon Homes)

Plan for cricket pavilion in new urban extension in Northamptonshire

The 'deteriorating' former Retro Bar building on 2 New Street. Applicant Achrom Limited says the proposals would bring a long vacant building back into use and improve the appearance of the town centre. (Image: Google Maps)

Former bar and closed down bank could be transformed into nine apartments re

Entrance to the existing Pury End Quarry, which is directly south of the proposed new limestone quarry site. (Image: Google Maps)

'This is our home' - Residents launch petition against quarry plans

Social media and telecoms firms have been urged to go ‘faster and further’ to prevent fraud.

'Tech and telecoms companies must do more on fraud' says minister

Demand forecasts continue to point to a decline in pupil numbers over the next five years according to the local authority.

Thousands of school places left unfilled due to falling birthrates

Regent Portfolio Ltd applied to convert the former office block Sol House into flats in April 2024. Credit: Google

Appeal launched into converting large vacant office block

Only seven per cent of dog fouling reports in 2023 and 2024 resulted in a fine being issued by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC)

Council issues ten fines for dog fouling over two years across West Northants

Daventry Lido (top), closed in 2006 and was later demolished, but could be revived by local businessmen who want to transform it into a year-round facility, similar to Saltdean Lido (bottom). Photo: Glyn Kirk.

Businessmen call on WNC to hear their multi-million-pound vision to revive lido

West Northants Labour Group leader Wendy Randall, who is a councillor for Daventry West, is the latest to speak to the Chronicle & Echo as part of the Tidy Our Town campaign.

Tidy Our Town: West Northants Labour leader believes collaboration is key

Voters will take to the polls on Thursday May 1.

Everything you need to know about the upcoming 2025 local elections

Tim Foster took West Northamptonshire Council to court and won his £150 council tax refund. Credit: Kirsty Edmonds.

Bailiffs recover £150 council tax refund for dogged man who took WNC to court

Illustrative designs showing the entrance to one of the proposed buildings

Final plans given go-ahead for two ‘colossal’ warehouses

This is how the town centre has been left since December. Works are set to resume next week and end by May, according to WNC.

Major £5m refurbishment works set to resume soon – project now delayed

Council leader Adam Brown (left) claims the Sandy Lane Relief Road will be completed 'early' this Spring. PHOTO: Clare Malings

Timeline of events that lead to relief road being opened early, according to WNC

Billing Aquadrome flooding November 2024. Credit: Richard Durham

Major plans submitted to improve flood defences at flood-hit holiday park

Former Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman has spoken out against a number of key Government education reforms

Ofsted ex-boss claims schools bill may 'make education worse'

It looks like the review will recommend the current exam system as a whole stay largely intact

How GCSE exams and other assessments could change in curriculum review

Heather Andersen, whose home was flooded in Dallington in September last year, said that residents are "utterly dismayed, angry and demand answers".

Dallington residents 'utterly dismayed, angry and demand answers' from council

Four key areas of focus were identified in the curriculum review

Curriculum 'not working for all' - 4 things review says need changing

Here's an artist's impression of what the site could look like.

Plans submitted to build 14 small rooftop flats on top of town centre shop