Kingsthorpe New Churchyeard pocket park has won a Green pennant Award in recognition of its establishment as a community run park. The award is part of the Green Flag Award scheme, and is a tribute to the dedicated work by local residents to clear the churchyard of brambles and overgrown trees, so that it can be enjoyed by local people and be a haven for wildlife.
Cheerio Churchy, and thanks for nothing. That’s the first comment on the Chronicle & Echo’s website to the news that I am retiring from the borough council at next year’s elections.
By next year, I will have been the Borough Councillor for Kingsthorpe for 28 years. Before 1983 there were no Liberal councillors in Northampton, just getting elected and representing a ward was the objective. I never thought I would be re-elected seven times!
For three years now the Lib Dems have run the council, an idea thought utterly unrealistic all that time ago. Being a councillor and speaking up for the people of the area you represent has been for me what it is all about. Being in power for the last three years has been exciting, challenging and rewarding. As a team I am proud of what we have done, for the town centre, for the environment and to sort out the financial mess that the council was in. I hope that will continue after next year’s elections and I will work for it, bit I will not forget that what has always motivated me is to be an effective spokesperson for the people of Kingsthorpe.
Next year, the boundaries of Kingsthorpe are likely to change. Boundary Commission proposals, supported by the Borough Council, suggest the Queens Park area will form part of a new Trinity ward, while Thornton estate and Kingsthorpe Hollow join a new Semilong ward. Kingsthorpe will have just one councillor instead of the present two. It is a good time to move on.
Meanwhile, there is another 10 months to go, and lots to do! Today, I asked the Council to take up complaints of nuisance caused by businesses operating out of the area at the end of Thornton Rd. Let me know of any problems you have found there.
Come and have your say
8th July 7.00pm
Pastures Community Centre
This is the first of new the new neighbourhood meetings set up by the Lib Dem run Borough Council. They cover smaller areas than the old neighbourhood managed areas, so can deal with issues at a more local level.
All residents of Kingsthorpe ward are welcome to attend.
County Council contractors will be starting soon on changes to the Cock Hotel junction to improve the flow of traffic. This will include a new right hand turn into ASDA and the removal of the right turn from Harborough Rd into Kingsthorpe Grove. We are told that more space will be given for traffic turning right out of Mill lane for the town centre.
Following concerns espressed by residents the County Council have confirmed that trees, the tram shelter and memorial on the traffic island will not be affected by the changes, and the Council will review the effect of the changes to see if further changes are needed to deal with traffic cutting through Queens Park.
The County Council have dropped plans for a cycle route through Thornton Park. Council officers visited the park with Friends of Thornton Park Chair Christine Teulon, Sally and Richard. Concerns were raised about the route running close to the historic ha-ha wall and sunken garden, and the proposed route would not be well used by cyclists.
Richard suggested that the council upgrade the footpath from Mill Lane to Studland Rd, already well used by cyclists, and provide a recommended route through the village. Sadly the council officers are not taking up these ideas.
Changes are planned to Council wards throughout Northampton. It is proposed that Kingsthorpe will have only one councillor (instead of the current two) and that Queens Park will become part of a new Trinity ward together with the Kingsley Rd and St George’s Avenue area. Thornton Estate and Kingsthorpe Hollow will join Semilong to become part of another new ward. The proposals can be viewed on the boundary commission’s website The Council will be responding to the boundary commission, and you can respond direct to them too via their website. Meanwhile, we would like to hear your views.
The new play facilities on the Kingsthorpe Recreation ground are now complete and being enjoyed by hundreds of young people.
Sally Beardsworth has contributed £2,000 from her councillor fund to repairing the rotting wooden boardwalk in Kingsthorpe Nature reserve.
Plans to improve Thornton Park will be revealed at a meeting organised by the Friends of Thornton Park this Friday (26 March).
The Friends group was started with the help of Northampton Borough Council Kingsthorpe Neighbourhood Management Board in January 2009. Since then it has been working with the council to restore the ornamental gardens in the park and improve the park’s general management and maintenance.
Plans for these improvements and what the group hopes to achieve in the next few years will be discussed at Friday’s meeting.
Christine Teulon, who set up the Friends group and is now its chairperson, said: “It has been a very busy year. We have had several groups of local people working on different aspects of the park, ranging from litter picking and weeding to researching its history and the families who lived in the hall.
“It has been a time of getting to know and understand the park in detail, including its wildlife. We have completed a number of useful surveys which will form a vital part of our planning for the future.”
“Last year we held guided walks round the gardens and put on an exhibition over Heritage Open Days weekend. It was extremely successful and attracted over 90 visitors. We hope to be able to do this again in September as well as other special events. Thornton Park is a much loved park full of special memories for many local people and we need to cherish it.”
Anyone interested in supporting the work to improve the park is invited to the Friends meeting on Friday 26 March at 7.30pm in the Kingsthorpe Parish Church Annexe. Those who would like to help but are unable to attend the meeting can call Christine on Northampton 711755.
The police hold regular surgeries and communioty frop in sessions in Kingsthorpe.
ASDA Kingsthorpe- Every Saturday 3pm-4pm
Kingsthorpe Police Box- Harborough Rd. Every Thursday 6pm-8pm
Kingsthorpe Community College- Every Tuesday (term time only) 12.30pm-1pm. Students particularly welcome.
Link Rd. Mobile Police Station 12pm-4pm. Thurday 25th March, 15th April, 27th May
You can meet the local officers, get advice and discuss any issues or ideas you have about the local area.
