Funds reallocated towards bridge repair and youth services in Towcester

South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) is allowing Towcester Town Council to reallocate section 106 funds to the two new projects. The funds came from housing developers five years ago as community contributions, but some of the cash remained unspent.

Now however, Towcester Town Council (TTC) has found projects to assign it to. The council had been approached by South Northants Youth Engagement (SNYE), a new charity delivering projects and services to children, young people and their families across the district for funding. The group has been awarded £5,000 to deliver their projects.

Back in 2015, the town council received £35,000 from the developers of the Belle Baulk estate to be spent towards the Vision Youth Cafe, which folded last year, and changing facilities for Towcester Town Football Club. The £5,000 is the remaining amount left from this sum.

The second scheme is for £26,250 repair works to the footbridge at Belle Baulk over the River Tove.

A report seen by members of the South Northamptonshire Council’s planning committee states: “The anti-slip treads on the large wooden bridge are now in need of complete replacement. A recent structural survey report showed there is movement in the bridge, which is now subject to annual monitoring. It may not be for some years but the Belle Baulk bridge will need to be replaced at some point, but this will be at significant cost.”

The £26,250 is the remaining balance of a £50,000 lump sum, with the original funds being spent as intended for outdoor fitness equipment at Belle Baulk.

The town council required permission from SNC to reallocate the sums, which the planning committee agreed to when it met at The Forum on Thursday afternoon (March 5).

Councillor Martin Johns, who sits on Towcester Town Council as well as being a member of SNC’s planning committee, said: “I think this would be a good use of money to go into the pot for as and when the bridge needs replacing.”