Reserves of £70,000 have been earmarked to fight two major upcoming planning appeals on greenfield sites in villages near Daventry.

The district council’s Strategy Group gave its assent to the fund at a meeting held last week as the local authority gears up to make its case for the proposed 121 homes off New Street in Weedon and 99 homes near Rugby Road in Kilsby.

Both applications were refused by Daventry District Council’s (DDC) planning committee last year.

The application for Weedon attracted strong criticism from locals who were concerned existing services, including the surgery and primary school, were already near capacity.

In Kilsby the proposed homes were refused over worries it would cause harm to the local area and would be detrimental to highway safety.

Villagers who set up Kilsby Action Group to combat the plans opposed additional development due to the expansion of DIRFT and other housing estates nearby.

Both developers have appealed and the cases will go before the planning inspectorate later this year.

According to the council’s website, the council cannot demonstrate a five-year land supply, making it harder to it to fight appeals. The legal aid, which still must be given 
approval by full council, would pay for legal services, expert external witness and 
additional administrative support if contingency funding is unable to meet these costs, 
expected to be around £40,000, with £30,000 in reserve.

The report says: “It is important to local residents and the Planning Committee that these appeals are properly defended.

“Whatever the outcome of the appeal, failure to provide an adequate defence of the reasons for refusal could lead to an award of costs against the council for unreasonable behaviour.

“These could be a considerable amount.”

On Friday, February 13 children at Falconer’s Hill Infant School celebrated International Book Giving Day with a giant school book swap.

Children brought hundreds of unwanted books from home to share alongside a number of library books from the school. During the day each class chose a book they would like to take home. Spare books were donated to a children’s hospice and the charity ‘Promoting Global Learning’.

A police crackdown on antisocial and abusive behaviour in Daventry has seen 13 teenagers being interviewed under caution.

Following a week of information-gathering as part of ‘Operation Nugget’, on Tuesday officers from the Safer Community Team and the Antisocial Behaviour Unit offered parents of disruptive teenagers the choice of their child being arrested or voluntarily attending the town police station.

Officers interviewed teenagers in relation to a number of incidents, including attacks on a postman and a teacher in school,damage to the town’s CCTV equipment and damage to a shop window.

Three teenagers have also been issued with Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABC) forcing them to desist from anti-social behaviour in certain areas.

In addition four teenagers aged between 14 and 16 were arrested on Tuesday, February 17 in relation to allegations of racially aggravated criminal damage to a restaurant in High Street.

Sgt Sam Dobbs, who has been coordinating the operation said officers have been running more patrols in crime hotspots, scrutinising CCTV and speaking to local retailers to encourage greater reporting of offenders, the results of which have been telling: “I have to say that the majority of the teenagers we have interviewed at the police station have never been in the police interview room before and showed real remorse during their time with us, and their parents were largely supportive.

“A minority showed no remorse, and the response from a small number of parents was disappointing to say the least.”

Once the interviews – set to continue for the rest of the week – have concluded police will decide whether further action will be taken.

In the meantime, Sgt Dobbs said Operation Nugget will now move into its ‘prevention phase’, which will involve meetings between police and local schools and support agencies.

Sgt Dobbs pledged police would “come down very hard” on any future incidents more effectively thanks to new CCTV in the town and increased patrols, while district council solicitors are considering the use of new gang legislation.

However, he stressed he was keen to avoid criminalising remorseful teenagers caught out in a “crowd mentality” and called for parents, workers in retail outlets and anyone else affected by antisocial behaviour to report incidents so they can be dealt with effectively.

“They will be dealt with appropriately, as will those who are repeat offenders or show no remorse.”

“I thank all those who have had the courage and strength to tell us about how this core group have acted in an almost feral way since the new year. I hope all those who have given us information will be encouraged by the past and ongoing work of Operation Nugget.

Inspector Jon Lloyd, sector commander for Daventry district, added: “It’s been a very busy week for the team the response to the letter sent out by the secondary schools and the very responsible coverage in the Daventry Express has all been phenomenal. People have come up to us in the street to express their confidence in the stance we have been taking.

“Teenagers using the skatepark have approached officers to say they appreciate that we are targeting the few who spoil things for the many. Parents have contacted us to ask us for help where they feel their children are going off the rails or getting into the wrong company. We’ve also been able to deal with three assaults of violence, which is a key part of the forcewide Operation Limit.”

Former Gusher editor Keith Ridley (pictured) has left the industry after a career spanning almost 42 years.

As editor-in-chief for Johnston Press in East Sussex, Daventry born Keith had been responsible for the Herald and Gazette in Eastbourne, as well as the Hastings Observer series in Hastings, Bexhill, Rye and Battle, and the Sussex Express in Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford and Uckfield.

He stood down from the role last month, bringing to an end a 42-year career in local newspapers and media which began as a trainee on the Rugby Advertiser and saw him editing the Gusher at the age of 21, succeeding founder editor Walter Green.

He went back to Rugby to edit the Advertiser before moving to the south coast to join the daily Portsmouth News. He first ventured to Eastbourne in 2001 as managing director of TR Beckett, a subsidiary of Johnston Press, which owns around 300 titles across the country, including the Gusher.

Four years later he moved within the company to become managing director of Central Counties Newspapers, based in Aylesbury with responsibility for newspapers and websites across Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire – including the Rugby Advertiser and the Daventry Express.

When he went back to East Sussex six years ago, it was a return to his editorial roots.

He said: “My entire working life has been spent at the heart of local communities.

“It really has been a privilege and particularly so in East Sussex, which has such a fantastic community ethos. And my days at the Gusher were some of the happiest of my career. I have been tremendously lucky.”

Keith will continue to be involved with Johnston Press in East Sussex as a consultative editor and is also planning his own communications business.

He lives between Eastbourne and Brighton in a village called Friston with his wife, Amanda, a former Daventry dentist. They have twins sons, Max and Guy. Keith’s parents, Ken and Doreen, live in Elizabeth Road, Daventry.

Members of the Bawdsey Radar Trust were out in force near the memorial marking 80 years since the first demonstration radar in Litchborough today Thursday).

Despite pouring rain and strong winds volunteers from Coventry Amateur Radio set up an impromptu radio station with the call-sign GB8ORE from 11am, making contact with other radio operators from across the country and beyond.

Robert Watson-Watt successfully demonstrated his invention for the first time on February 26, 1935, using receiving equipment set up near Weedon and the signals transmitted from the BBC station on Borough Hill.

His instruments were able to detect an RAF Heyford bomber flying at 6,000 feet – proving to the Air Ministry the effectiveness of what would later become known as radar.

In the late afternoon actor Eddie Izzard, who plays Robert Watson-Watt the star of new BBC drama charting Watson-Watt’s accomplishment also turned out to show his support.

Changes to rules banning parking on some of Daventry’s key arterial roads could put public safety at risk, according to the town council.

Western Avenue, Braunston Road and London Road all currently have clearway status, banning drivers from parking or stopping at any time. Now Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) propose to scrap this status on sections in the town to save on the cost of installing new illuminated signs.

The clearway on sections of road between Braunston and Daventry and Dodford and the town will remain in force.

Built in the 1930s Western Avenue retains its clearway status from when it was associated with the old A45 Daventry bypass. With the installation of the new bypass in 1976 it was downgraded to a class C road.

But Daventry’s Town Council (DTC) have hit out at the changes.

A DTC spokesman said: “The council’s view is that the road regulations at the moment are fit for purpose and they feel that this proposal is to reduce the need to light this area.

“The council feels it is very important this road remains lit as it is also used by pedestrians to and the work place. In essential areas lighting is key.”

Concerns were also raised by councillors at a meeting on Tuesday that visibility would be impaired by parked cars, particularly on Ochard Way, a popular route for primary school children on their way to school.

The council has also attacked a new Toucan crossing, due to be installed in Northern Way on April 7 lking the new estate off Welton Road to facilities in Wimbourne Place.

The spokesman added: “The council is supportive of any measure to assure safety and to assist pedestrians in crossing busy roads, however they have concerns about putting a crossing near that roundabout because it is very close to as bus stop.

“The proximity of the roundabout is problematic because pedestrians feel a sese of security in relation to the traffic. “

A novice runner from Badby is taking on the Bath Half Marathon next month in a bid to raise much-needed funds and awareness for The Sick Children’s Trust.

Steve Brooks, 45, will be taking on 13.2 miles in an attempt to raise money for the charity to thank them for giving support to his friends, Mark and Andrea Halliman, while their little boy Finley was undergoing treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) suffering from a rare heart condition.

The Sick Children’s Trust provided the family with accommodation at its Rainbow and Guilford Street Houses, just minutes from Finley’s hospital ward.

Steve, who only began running last year taking on the Movember 5km, Clumber Park 10km and The Great South Run, is determined to make a difference to more families like the Hallimans.

He said: “Last year I managed to raise more than £650 for charity and this year I hope to raise more.

“My first event of the year will be the Bath Half but I want to really challenge myself this year and have a number of events lined up throughout the year.”

“Fin is due to head back to GOSH for his third stage of reconstructive surgery, just a week or so after my first run of the year. So it’s going to be even more poignant because of that.”

To support Steve, visit his Just Giving page at ww.justgiving.com/Stef-Brxd

An eight-year-old boy from Staverton was chosen from more than 30,000 youngsters to lead his favourite team out on Saturday.

William Harrison was picked to be the mascot for Arsenal in their 2-0 victory over London rivals Crystal Palace in a Premier League clash.

William was able to lead the team out onto the pitch for the kick-off at Palace’s Selhurst Park home.

He also met players from the Arsenal team, including German centre half Per Mertesacker who was in the German Word Cup winning squad last year. William said: “It was amazing to have been chosen to be the mascot and to walk the team out onto the pitch.

“I got to meet loads of players, including my favourite players Per Mertesacker, Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez – and we won the game which topped off the day perfectly!”

His mother Louise added: “William was made to feel very welcome at the stadium.

“He loved the dressing room experience and the players were all very friendly to him, signing his shirt which he will treasure forever.

“He was then able to take a few shots on goal in front of the gathering crowds whilst the players warmed up.”

The Gunners won the game 2-1 with first half goals from Spanish international Santi Cazorla and French striker Olivier Giroud. Crystal Palace scored a late goal at the end of the match through Glenn Murray but it was not enough to deny the north London team.

In addition to being in with a chance to be a mascot, Junior Gunners also have access to reduced price tickets for first team matches, as well as various events, competitions and quizzes held throughout the season.

Plans for nearly 200 homes across two different villages have been thrown out by Daventry District Council (DDC).

The council’s planning committee met on Wednesday last week and turned down a proposal which would have seen 116 built homes in Byfield and 70 homes in Kilsby.

Both applications had proved controversial, with dozens of people from the villages turning out to hear the decision.

Richmond Estates’ application for 70 homes on land off Barby Road in Kilsby was turned down by the committee against the recommendations of DDC’s planning officials.

Cllr Catherine Lomax, speaking at the meeting, said: “The benefits of these plans are far from clear. The people of Kilsby are having their electricity supply interrupted and the broadband is not good enough to support more homes.” The committee turned it down due to it being outside the confines of the village and the effect on a nearby listed building and ancient ridge and furrow. Also turned down was an application by Gladman Developments for 116 homes on land to the north side of Woodford Road in Byfield.

Planning officials at DDC had recommended the application for refusal and it was turned down unanimously by the committee.

It was turned down as it was outside the existing confines of the village and also would not integrate well with the rest of the village.

One of the villagers speaking to the committee also stated that there was a high levels of traffic and if new homes were built it would add to the congestion.

However, the county highways department suggested it had no problems with the plan.

A campaign to tackle litter thrown from vehicles onto road sides across the Daventry district is urging people not be a ‘tosser’.

The Don’t be a Tosser campaign has been launched by the Northamptonshire Waste Partnership (NWP), made up of local authorities countywide.

The campaign launches on Monday and will warn motorists they could be fined £75 or more if they are seen tossing litter out of their vehicle.

It has seen posters go up along the county’s main roads, at petrol stations and fast food outlets as well as on local buses, bin lorries, council vehicles and messages on social media sites.

Chairman of the NWP, Cllr Chris Millar, said: “Whether it’s an apple core, cigarette butt or a burger bag, throwing litter from cars is not only anti-social but also illegal – and those seen doing so could be fined.

“There are much better ways to spend taxpayers’ money than cleaning up after these individuals, whose thoughtless actions are harming our local environment and wildlife. People think they’re much more anonymous throwing litter out of vehicles than dropping it elsewhere, but the comfort of their car is no hiding place.

“Our message to these offenders is clear – you are not invisible and anyone who sees you dropping litter can report you.

“Our campaign headline ‘Don’t be a Tosser’ is a play on words that’s designed to attract attention and get people thinking and talking about the problem of litter from vehicles. It’s used alongside an image of someone tossing their litter from a car, emphasising the meaning of the word in the context of our campaign.

Across the Daventry district, the campaign will target the A5 along Watling Street and the A45 through Braunston, Daventry, Flore and Weedon.

There will be a similar patrols taking place across the county.

It has already proved a successful anti-litter message in other parts of the UK, including Essex and Suffolk.

Littering comes with anything from a £75 Fixed Penalty Notice to prosecution in court and a fine of up to £2,500, plus any additional costs awarded.

For more details about the campaign, visit www.recyclefornorthamptonshire.co.uk.

A site for the planned Daventry Special Academy (DSA) has been announced.

The proposed home for the new academy is three acres immediately south of the Daventry University Technical College.

It was revealed in an agenda for a full meeting of Daventry District Council (DDC) to meet tonight (Thursday) which will discuss a disposal of the site for this purpose.

The academy would cater for four to 18-year-olds with profound and multiple learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and autism. It is being promoted by the trust Education Excellence for All (EE4A).

A report written by DDC’s business manager Simon Bowers said: “Use of the site in this way would be broadly consistent with the Daventry Town Centre Vision and subsequent policy statements, and the indicative masterplans prepared for Sites 3 and 6 and reviewed by the Daventry Town Development Implementation Working Group.

“EE4A has identified that the school being in a reasonable distance of the town centre is an important characteristic, as part of the curriculum will involve integration of young people with wider society.”

Councillors will be deciding whether to dispose of the site for the sum of £750,000 and also whether to release the sum of £450,000 from earmarked reserves as a contribution towards the special academy scheme.

DDC had been contacted by the body responsible for funding and finding sites for new free schools stating that it had been unable to find a site.

The Education Funding Agency has asked for an agreement to be completed before Government decisions are frozen in the period before the general election. Therefore the report will go straight to full council rather than being discussed by DDC’s strategy group.

If the recommendations are approved and the school is given planning permission, it is hoped the academy will open in September 2016. Shez Webb has been appointed executive principal of the school.

The report continued: “The quality of education in the district is a key concern of the council, and therefore disposing of this site to help meet the needs of a number of young people with particular needs is a reasonable approach.

“The DSA would also form a natural part of the Learning Quarter alongside the UTC. A crystallised receipt from Town Centre Vision Site 6 is of some value, albeit the full potential value would not be realised.

“There is also the ability to rectify this through a transfer from the earmarked reserve for primary education. The disposal is therefore recommended.”

The meeting will take place at the council offices at 6.15pm.

For further information about the DSA visit its website www.daventryspecialacademy.co.uk.

Students from the Danetre and Southbrook Learning Village (DSLV) have embarked on a new green project. The youngsters had to design and build an electric-powered racing car which will compete against cars from other schools in regional heats with the aim of making it to the annual final held at the Goodwood Motor Circuit.

DSLV’s technology department is working with industry partners Cummins to enable students to learn about all aspects of racing car design from aerodynamics to steering and suspension geometry.

Students studying for qualifications in engineering and in vehicle maintenance will contribute to the design and build of the car, while two teams at the school will develop the project. One team will focus on the design and construction of the bodywork, and the other team on building the chassis.

Sally Childs, corporate responsibility leader for Cummins said: “Cummins actively works with students, partnering with regional schools, colleges and universities to promote subjects. It is a great opportunity for us to work alongside DSLV students and teachers promoting sustainable Engineering. What better way to introduce the world of Engineering than design, build and race their own electric powered car.”

People can have their say on plans to shape the development of West Haddon.

The West Haddon Neighbourhood Development Plan has been prepared by a group of villagers with input from residents including consultation on a draft plan carried out earlier this year.

Submitted to Daventry District Council (DDC) earlier this month, it is the first such plan in Daventry District to reach this stage. DDC has launched a six-week consultation to allow people to comment on it. Those comments will then be passed to an independent examiner who will be appointed to inspect the plan.

People can view the plan by visiting www.daventrydc.gov.uk/living/planning-policy. Alternatively, copies of the relevant documents are available at DDC’s Lodge Road offices, Long Buckby Library, West Haddon Post Office, West Haddon Village Store and the village’s Pytchley Inn. The deadline for comments is 5pm on Thursday, April 2.

Following the consultation and examination process, West Haddon residents will be asked in a referendum whether they support the Neighbourhood Development Plan. It must receive support from more than half of those voting for it to be ‘made’ and adopted by DDC.

If adopted it will form part of the wider development plan for Daventry District up to 2029 and will be used to help determine future planning applications in the West Haddon Neighbourhood Area.

DDCs strategic planning portfolio holder Cllr Alan Chantler said: “It is important that local people have a say in how their community is developed so I would urge West Haddon residents, businesses and any other interested parties to give their views during the consultation period.”

A police crackdown on antisocial and abusive behaviour in Daventry has seen 13 teenagers being interviewed under caution.

Following a week of information-gathering as part of ‘Operation Nugget’, on Tuesday officers from the Safer Community Team and the Antisocial Behaviour Unit offered parents of disruptive teenagers the choice of their child being arrested or voluntarily attending the town police station.

Officers interviewed teenagers in relation to a number of incidents, including attacks on a postman and a teacher in school,damage to the town’s CCTV equipment and damage to a shop window.

In addition four teenagers aged between 14 and 16 were arrested on Tuesday, February 17 in relation to allegations of racially aggravated criminal damage to a restaurant on High Street.

Sgt Sam Dobbs, who has been coordinating the operation said: “I have to say that the majority of the teenagers we have interviewed at the police station have never been in the police interview room before and showed real remorse during their time with us, and their parents were largely supportive.

“A minority showed no remorse, and the response from a small number of parents was disappointing to say the least.”

Once the interviews – set to continue for the rest of the week – have concluded police will decide whether further action will be taken.

In the meantime, Sgt Dobbs said Operation Nugget will now move into its ‘prevention phase’, which will involve meetings between police and local schools and support agencies.

Sgt Dobbs pledged police would “come down very hard” on any future incidents more effectively thanks to new CCTV in the town and increased patrols. However, he stressed he was keen to avoid criminalising remorseful teenagers caught out in a “crowd mentality” and called for parents, workers in retail outlets and anyone else affected by antisocial behaviour to report incidents so they can be dealt with effectively.

He said: “They will be dealt with appropriately, as will those who are repeat offenders or show no remorse.”

For more on ‘Operation Nugget’ visit the Daventry Express website on
www. daventryexpress.co.uk.

Work to remove trees and overgrown hedges from a former bowls club in Daventry is set to start this week ahead of the building’s demolition.

The work to the former New Street bowls club will involve the removal of trees next to the disused pavilion, as well as inner hedging from the outside of what was once the bowling green. The hedge next to Tesco car park will also be trimmed back.

The work is being carried out by contractors for Daventry District Council (DDC) well in advance of the demolition planned for later this year, to eliminate the risk of disturbing nesting birds.

Once demolished, the site will be levelled and turfed or seeded, forming part of the New Street Recreation Ground. Temporary fencing will be put up around the site this week and will remain until the demolition and reinstatement work is complete.

The former bowls club was managed by Daventry District Bowls Club until it disbanded in April 2011. DDC launched an appeal to find a new group to take it on but none came forward.

Daventry Tigers Bowls Club, based at Mayfield Park Sports Club, has benefited from the donation of a number of items from the pavilion since the decision was taken to demolish it, including pumps from its watering equipment, green baize and paving slabs.

A heaton oil storage tank in Church Road, Upper Boddington was targeted by a would-be burglar on Monday night between 8pm and 8am the following day.

The offender tried to force the lid of the tank, which was kept in the back garden of a house, but failed to get inside it.

They then tried to gain entry into the house through a ground floor bedroom window. They failed to get in as it is believed they may have been disturbed.

No property was stolen.

Anyone with any information can call Northamptonshire Police on 101. Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org

The star of the Disney film Frozen will be appearing at Weedon Village Hall.

The event has been organised by the Weedon Bec Little Ducklings which was set up in September following the closure of SureStart groups.

The fundraising event is to be attended by Anna from the Disney film and will be held on Saturday from 10am to noon.

It is hoped to raise funds for a sensory tent designed for the babies at the group. The event will be selling tea, coffee and cakes, will have a raffle and will be holding a children’s table top sale along with face painting and various other attractions.

Blaine Taylor, who runs the group, said: “We get no funding or help as we are just a parent run group, so we need to rely on this to help us purchase the sensory tent.

“This is the only group of its kind in our village so we need to keep it going; mums rely on these kinds of groups as there aren’t any others within the village, making it hard for those’s who don’t drive to have somewhere to go!

“Tesco Express is currently holding a tombola with a donation bucket for our group, which has been such a lovely help towards our fund raising, and I look forward to seeing how much it has helped us raise.”

Daventry is set to have 450 new homes and a primary school built in the north of the town.

Planning officials at Daventry District Council (DDC) have recommended the application by Landfom Daventry Limited be given approval.

The Mickle Well Park proposal will now be determined by the planning committee of DDC, which meets on Wednesday, March 11 at 6.15pm.

The plans also include a hub consisting of a community hall, medical centre and shop, open space and allotments as well as the two-form entry primary school and homes.

The planning application has not been entirely welcome with many residents of both the Lang Farm estate and Welton parish critical of the bid to build the homes. It has led to creation of the Mickle Well Park Opposition Group which is bidding to stop the development.

A total of 210 letters of objection have been sent in by residents and a separate petition against the development has attracted more than 400 signatures.

The parish councils in Welton, Braunston, Barby and Onley have also all objected to the planning application.

Daventry MP Chris Heaton-Harris has voiced his concern over the planning application, saying there would be insufficient infrastructure provided by the development to support the regeneration, investment and expansion of Daventry and it would add to traffic on the already dangerous A361, leading to greater safety risks.

There has been support for the plans from Daventry Town Council and the Phoenix Centre in Daventry.

For more on the story see this week’s Daventry Express.

Two men tricked their way into a Daventry house by pretending they were fixing a neighbour’s fence.

The men went to the house in Morning Star Road at about 4pm on Tuesday, March 3.

One of the men knocked on the door and asked the woman who was alone in the property if he could go into her garden to look at the fence.

She let him in but did not lock the front door behind her.

A short while later, the second man appeared in the house and told his accomplice it was time to leave.

The home owners later realised the upstairs of the building had been searched, with the thieves looking for jewellery.

Fortunately, no jewellery was stored in the house and nothing was taken.

The men were both white, chubby, spoke with English accents and were between 30 and 35.

The first was between 5ft 8in and 5ft 10in, had short blond hair and was wearing a black fleece and a yellow jacket with a yellow National Geographic logo on the front.

The second man was between 5ft 10in and 6ft and wore a dark coloured jacket.

Witnesses, or anyone with any information, can call Northamptonshire Police on 101.

Alternatively, they can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Children at St Mary’s Primary School in Aston le Walls were delighted when a writer and film maker visited to talk about his experiences climbing Mount Everest.

Matt Dickinson, a filmmaker who has worked for the BBC, Channel 4 and the Discovery Channel, visited the school on Tuesday last week and used photographs and film clips to take the children on a journey to the top of Mount Everest.

He described the landscape, the people who live and work in the Himalayas, the perils of climbing and what it was like to reach the top of the world.

Headteacher Janice Hamilton said: “The children have been learning about mountains and explorers so were engrossed by Mr Dickinson’s talk and thrilled to have the opportunity to ask him many questions.

“He then spent the rest of the morning in school working with children on creative writing and they produced some fantastic work.”