A number of pieces of technical equipment were stolen from Steinbeck Dental Surgery in New Street on Wednesday, March 11.

Thieves broke into the property between 3.30pm on Wednesday, March 11, and 9.45am the following day.

Specialist equipment including compressors and washers made by Melag and Cattani were taken.

Witnesses, or anyone who is offered the equipment for sale, 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.

Dog owners who take their pets out for a night-time stroll could be in for a shock as the council unveils new glow-in-the-dark posters targeting dog fouling across the Daventry district.

The posters bearing the uncompromising slogan ‘we’re watching you’ and a pair of glaring eyes are being put up in dog fouling hotspots after Daventry District Council (DDC) signed up to the Keep Britain Tidy initiative.

The posters were designed in response to research by Keep Britain Tidy which suggests the majority of dog fouling occurs at night.

Dog fouling dropped by an average of 46 per cent in the 20 areas of the country which took part in a pilot campaign last year.

The new initiative follows the success of DDC’s dog fouling spray paint scheme, under which volunteers from parishes and community groups were provided with cans of brightly-coloured biodegradable paint to spray on dog mess, in order to shame irresponsible owners into clearing up.

Brixworth Parish Council saw excellent results from taking part in the spray painting initiative and has now put up the new ‘We’re Watching You’ posters in dog fouling hotspots in the village.

Parish councillor Sandra Moxon said: “The results from the spraying were remarkable. When we started we counted 46 incidents of fouling on The Ashway Playing Field alone – within a few days of spraying it was down to four.

“As a Parish Council we’re committed to working with DDC and its contractors to tackle this issue. We’ve put up these posters because they carry a really strong message to thoughtless dog owners: we are watching you and it is not acceptable to allow your pet to spoil our beautiful village.”

The new poster campaign and the spray paint scheme run alongside a number of other DDC initiatives to tackle dog fouling, including regular patrols of hotspots and dog action days in badly-fouled areas.

The council is also reminding people it is an offence not to pick up after their pet, punishable by a £75 fine and even court action in some instances.

Councillor Mike Warren, health and housing portfolio holder on Daventry District Council, said: “Our spray paint initiative met with a very positive response and the volunteers who take part are telling us it is having a really positive effect on the amount of dog fouling in their communities.

“However many of them are also telling us that a small hard-core of dog-owners continue to fail to pick up after their dogs, often using cover of darkness to hide the offending behaviour.

“These glow-in-the-dark posters specifically target that problem and we hope we will see the same results as the local authorities who took part in the trial.”

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Phil Barton said: “We are delighted that Daventry District Council is joining us for this campaign.

“Our research tells us that people see dog fouling as, by far, the most unacceptable and dirtiest type of litter.

“This campaign has been proven to make a difference and encourage the minority of dog owners who don’t pick up after their pets to do the right thing.”

People are urged to report dog fouling to the Environmental Improvement Team at Daventry District Council online at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/online or by phoning 01327 871100.

Daventry district has been left open to even more speculative development which could see hundreds of new homes in unsuitable locations.

At a meeting of Daventry District Council’s (DDC) planning committee last Wednesday it was stated DDC must have a 20 per cent increase in the amount of land it needs to supply for housing – increasing it from enough for five to six years. Authorities normally only need a five-year land supply, but as the district council has under-delivered on homes in recent years the buffer has been applied.

The lack of housing supply in the Daventry area has already seen controversial planning applications approved and has been a reason used by the Planning Inspectorate to overturn proposals previously dismissed by DDC.

This means firms now applying to build homes on land DDC does not want developed are highly likely to get planning permission as long as their proposals are ‘sustainable’. A DDC spokesman said: “The requirement to demonstrate either a five or 20 per cent buffer was established in the National Planning Policy Framework. It is for the council to decide which buffer is appropriate based on historic completion rates. There has been a persistent shortfall of completions against requirements, therefore application of the 20 per cent buffer was considered the appropriate position. When DDC recalculates the position from the start of April, it may be able to argue for a five per cent buffer to apply. If we can, we will.” The spokesman added the only way to improve the situation is to identify enough housing land to meet expected demand laid out in the joint core strategy.

DDC added that after permission is granted, the council has limited influence over the rate developers can build homes but it can help with other infrastructure needed for major sites to be provided.

Generous Daventry residents have made yet another bumper donation of 30,000 used stamps to charity via Orchard Print Services on High Street, bringing the total up to 530,000.

The campaign, which is being run by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sees the stamps handed on to Oxfam and Leukaemia Care, helping to raise vital funds. Some stamps are resold while others are recycled for their silk content.

Volunteers like Jakki Bardsley and her two daughters (pictured) help with sorting the stamps. Jakki said, “We have fun in each other’s company, chat about all kinds of things and love the fact that we are doing this for such a worthwhile cause.”

Stamps can also be donated via the post office on Sheaf Street.

A proposal for up to 130 new homes on land which forms part of the Daventry campus of Northampton College has now been submitted.

The application sent to Daventry District Council (DDC) on Tuesday will also include new public open space, estate roads and new access to Badby Road West and Yeomanry Way.

The money raised from the homes will be used towards the revamped Daventry campus of Northampton College announced earlier this year.

The application comes after college’s successful bid to the South East Midlands Enterprise Partnership for £6.5 million of funding from the Local Growth Fund for a completely new centre in the town that will offer vocational training for young people and adults.

However, part of the condition of the funding from the Government is the college needs to raise the same amount.

The plans that have been submitted do not include the revamped college site. A separate application is likely to be submitted later in the year.

Work is set to start in September and the new centre will open in autumn 2016.

The plans have proved controversial with a number of residents who are angry about the loss of open space currently used by the local community.

People now have a deadline of Tuesday, April 7 to submit their views on the planning application.

Comments can be made by emailing planning@daventrydc.gov.uk or by visiting www.daventrydc.gov.uk. You can also call DDC on 01327 871100.

News of the application was heard after the annual town meeting organised by Daventry Town Council at the Community Centre on Monday.

More than 100 residents packed the meeting to raise their concerns with regards to the planning application.

It was agreed that Daventry Town Council, in its role as a statutory consultee, would organise a public meeting and would invite representatives from Northampton College, Alliance Planning and other interested parties.

A date for the meeting has yet to be determined.

The application also led to the creation of the College Grounds Action Group to fight the development.

Anyone interested in joining the group can email jamorianma@hotmail.com or call 07835 252821

People considering whether to stand as a candidate or act as an agent in the upcoming district and parish council elections are being reminded of a briefing taking place this month.

Organised by Daventry District Council (DDC), it will cover the nomination process, the election timetable, absent voting, postal vote opening, and polling day and candidates expenses. People can also ask any questions regarding the nomination and election process.

The briefing will be held at 6pm on Thursday, March 26 at DDC’s offices.

Anyone who wishes to attend the event should contact the elections team at DDC on 01327 871100 or email electoralservices@daventrydc.gov.uk, by Monday.

A recent crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Daventry has been a success – partly thanks to the use of tough new powers, police say.

‘Operation Nugget’ was launched in February to tackle a rising trend in anti-social behaviour (ASB) from a small group of youths responsible for issues in the town centre such as smashing shop windows and engaging in underage drinking.

Several teenagers were arrested in relation to allegations of racially aggravated criminal damage to a high street restaurant as part of the operation.

Sergeant Sam Dobbs, who has been leading Northamptonshire Police’s Safer Community Team, said powers to ban troublesome individuals from key areas of the town centre for up two 48 hours under section 35 of new policing legislation had been vital in reducing incidences of ASB.

“I am pleased with the fact that Daventry have been using these powers the best and getting the most responses, with section 35 notices being granted on multiple occasions.”

Since the act came into force in October Sgt Dobbs said 23 orders had been made with 40 ‘tickets’ issued to offenders.

He added: “I was a little bit wary of the new legislation but I think it is going to be good for those of us who want a peaceful life and painful for people for people who want to create anti-social behaviour. There has been a culture of acceptability of poor behaviour. We need to make sure these people know it won’t be tolerated.”

Police hope the operation will blunt the current ‘peak’ in ASB, with 2451 incidences in the district this year, down 22 on the same period last year.

Sgt Dobbs said as part of his aim to build stronger links with the community he hopes to set up meetings with the management of Daventry’s McDonald’s as well as local head teachers and MP Chris Heaton-Harris.

There is also the possibility of setting up a new database for anyone in the community to share information about issues in their area.

Sgt Dobbs said: “What happens when people don’t report things is that it then comes to the boil ,but takes longer to get there and causes more people more aggravation.”

On March 23, the way in which ASB is tackled in law is being redefined, with the implementation of new legislation replacing ASBOs with ‘Civil Injuctions’, which make it easier for officers to build up case files on offenders.

The new system can also require a person to undertake ‘positive action’ to reform, including work within the community. Failure to do so can result in a prison sentence or a fine. Cases can also be made against individuals by other authorities aside from police.

Chris Heaton-Harris took a trip to Cotton End Park in Long Buckby on Friday and was able to see the arrival of new lambs.

The Daventry MP was given a tour of the park following an article in the Daventry Express. He saw the finished the new bird hide at the nature reserve and its other facilities. He is pictured above with the park’s shepherd Donna Chriswell-Sanderson. Anyone wishing to sponsor one of the new lambs can call 07910 015473 or email cornercottagecrafts@gmail.com. For more on the park, look for Cotton End Park on Facebook.

Northamptonshire Police have revealed 78 knives have been handed in since the launch of its knife amnesty two weeks ago.

The campaign is part of Operation Limit, the force’s crackdown on violent crime, and also forms part of the national Save a life campaign.

Blades from forces across the country will be melted down to create an angel statue in Trafalgar Square in memory of those who have lost their lives to knife crime.

There is still time for members of the public to surrender knives safely and anonymously, and in turn remove the risk of these weapons being used to hurt people.

Knives can be dropped into a drop bin, or a scheduled appointment can be made by calling 101 and arranging a visit from a police officer who will take the knife away.

Plans for Daventry’s new special school can be seen by the public as part of meetings to be held next month.

It comes after it was revealed that the Daventry Special Academy will be based on land next to the town’s University Technical College.

A date for the meeting has yet to be announced but it will be a chance for parents and carers to meet members of the trust and the executive headteacher. Shez Webb, executive headteacher said: “We are working very closely with the Education Funding Agency and Daventry District Council since reaching Heads of Terms for the site.

“The trust and I look forward to speaking with parents and updating everyone about the progress of the school and sharing the plans for the site.

“These forthcoming events will also provide an opportunity to share our vision, model and ambitious curriculum for providing an outstanding education for their children.” The proposed school will open in September 2016 initially with pupils in Reception, Year Three, Year Seven, Year Nine and Year 12.

The school will then grow each year until full in 2019 with a total of 175 children.

Details about the events as well as further information about Daventry Special Academy can be found on the school’s website at www.daventryspecialacademy.co.uk or parents/carers can request further information by sending an email to info@daventryspecialacademy.co.uk.

An accident on the M1 in Northamptonshire caused long delays for drivers this morning.

One lane was closed earlier this morning following a crash in the roadworks area between junction 17 to junction 18 at Crick.

All lanes have now reopened and traffic has returned to normal.

St Peter’s Church in Wormleighton has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting heritage project and essential restoration work.

The development grant of £8,300 will allow St Peter’s Church to apply at a later date for a full grant of over £100,000. The heritage project will complement essential restoration work at the church and is for the benefit of the whole community.

A prospective UKIP candidate to stand on Daventry District Council has resigned from the party.

Tim Wilson, who was also a parliamentary candidate for the South Northamptonshire constituency, has stood down following a row with the party leader Nigel Farage.

Mr Wilson stood down after comments made by the party’s only Scottish MEP about a Scottish government minister.

A UKIP spokesman was quoted as saying that he had failed to put more emphasis on local issues in his campaign. Speaking after the story appeared online, Mr Wilson clarified is involvement on a local level.

Mr Wilson said: “I have been speaking with UKIP parliamentary candidate Michael Gerard against the NEP expansion plans of Northampton. He believes any further developments without necessary road developments are a recipe for chaos. The developments in Daventry are badly in need of proper community facilities. The promise of a local school remains a promise only.

“As a former teacher, he has been in touch with a number of local schools and want to single out Andrew Mackereth for the way he has in a short period of time shown that the Parker E-ACT Academy has a strong future.

“If we get our schools right, from nursery to undergradate level, we are investing in the next generation and if we get it wrong, we are inviting disaster.”

He also stated that the development of HS2 which will go through the villages of Boddington, Chipping Warden and Aston le Walls if built, was a major reason for him putting himself up for election.

Mr Wilson added: “HS2 will cover our land like a blanket of vomit, and people have been retching over this project for years now. We need to admit defeat, save the money for something useful and stop this in its tracks. It is not just the houses on the route that are affected. Should construction begin, our local roads will be clogged up for years.”

He also confirmed that he was considering standing as an independent councillor in Daventry,

Mr Wilson said: “I am keen to promote a revived professional park scheme. I have made a film which is already on Youtube and shows the appalling condition of our green spaces, which should be a source of pride and which are not.

“Near Ashny fields, there is a former garden with screws sticking out of the ground, and a play area with tarmac lifting. This is not simply indecorous. It is dangerous and this is what we have been paying contractors to manage. Quite simply, we need to have our own workforce who will take responsibility to do the job properly. We need to give dignity back to Daventry.

His resignation comes after David Coburn MEP compared Humza Yousaf to convicted terrorist Abu Hamza. Mr Coburn has since apologised for the remarks calling them a joke.

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Mr Coburn’s remarks were a “joke in poor taste” but he would not be taking any action against him.

But this has led to Mr Wilson’s decision to stand down saying he was disillusioned with the party over the “racist jibes”.

Mr Wilson he was appalled by Mr Coburn’s comments about Mr Yousaf and frustrated by the inaction of the party’s leadership on the issue.

Mr Wilson said: “If Mr Coburn wants to make bad jokes about religion, then he is welcome to quit and join Monty Python.

“And if Mr Farrage cannot recognise that a politician holds a position of trust and that what is said is held to be of importance then Mr Farrage is also in the wrong job.”

It He told BBC Scotland earlier in the day that David Coburn had produced “what I can only describe as an Islamaphobic insult, and that’s simply not acceptable”.

Mr Wilson added: “Of course he went on and apologised. I think, frankly, that if you are in a position of power you have to be able to control what ideas emerge from your head and how they get to your mouth and, in fact, you shouldn’t have those ideas in the first place.

“But the real issue is that when Mr Farage was asked what he thought about this he dismissed this as a joke.

“I don’t think this is a joke. I think this is something very serious. It may not be that this man intended to cause offence but we aren’t interested in what his intentions are. We are interested in the effect what he says has on other people and the effect is catastrophic, it’s appalling and I’ve resigned.”

In his resignation letter, Mr Wilson said he had been “systematically gagged by the party whip” and forbidden to speak about Islam favourably.

A spokesman for UKIP was quoted as saying that Mr Wilson had failed to put more emphasis on local issues in his campaign.

He said: “Whilst we had initially been optimistic about Tim Wilson’s abilities as a candidate, it became obvious in recent weeks that he was out of his depth in representing our party in the way we would expect.

“Mr Wilson had clearly misunderstood the expectations that UKIP place on all of its candidates. Principal amongst those is focusing on issues that are relevant to local voters. UKIP put huge emphasis on local issues and Mr Wilson was unwilling to follow UKIP guidelines in this respect.

Two men stole money from The Saracen’s Head pub on Brook Street after forcing their way into a staff office.

The men were caught on CCTV cameras as they broke into the office at about 10pm on Friday, March 13.

After trying to break into a small safe, they were disturbed by a member of staff.

They then fled, but managed to grab some money as they escaped.

Both men were white. The first was aged between 23 and 27, about 5ft 7in, stocky, with short brown hair. He was wearing a grey tracksuit.

The second man was bald, aged between 25 and 30, about 5ft 9in and slim. He was wearing black clothes.

Witnesses, or anyone who recognises the men from the CCTV images, 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.

One of the many schemes in the Daventry area to benefit from Mickle Well Park planning application getting approval is The Phoenix Youth Centre.

Money from the developer Landform Estates is to be given to the youth centre on Ashby Road, Daventry to help pay for its expansion.

Elaine Bedford, president of the Phoenix Youth Centre: “I am delighted to say that The Phoenix Youth Centre has taken another big step forward in its aim to extend and modernise the centre.  

“We have already secured funding from Daventry District Council and Sports England, and now with other funds becoming available from contributions from new developments in the town for sport and recreational facilities, we are moving closer to our target of £1.5 million.  

“We now have lots of work to do since we have criteria to meet in order to finalise the funding, which will be ring fenced for the project.

“However, we are optimistic that funds should be in place so that work on the site can begin in the spring of next year.”

Money will also be given to the Flore/Weedon bypass, new allotments and improvements to the canal towpath. Funding will also go to other community groups. The estimated total of the investment is £6 million.

There has been strong reaction from residents to plans for 450 new homes and a primary school to be built in Daventry.

The application from Landform Estates for homes on Mickle Well Park to the north of the town was given planning permission by Daventry District Council on Wednesday March 11.

The new site will also see a two-form entry primary school, a community hall, a medical centre, a shop, open space and allotments.

Members of the Mickle Well Park Opposition Group were joined by Welton residents in the protest held before the meeting. Around 75 people attended the protest and then heard the decision made by the committee.

Officers had recommended the proposal by Landform Estates be given planning permission.

There were several people who spoke to the meeting against the plans including Tony Dodd from Welton and Ian Gidley, a planning consultant working on behalf of the Mickle Well Park Opposition Group.

The meeting also heard from Jeff Smith from Welton Parish Council and Wayne Howard, a district councillor for the Hill ward of Daventry who spoke against the proposal. His fellow councillors Catherine Lomax and Abigail Campbell were also critical of the plans. However, Sheila Game fro mDaventry Town Council spoke in support of the application.

A motion was put forward by Cllr Maureen Luke and seconded by Cllr Cecile Irving-Swift to reject the application. However, this was turned down following a debate which lasted an hour-and-a-half.

There were five votes to approve the application and four against the proposal with one abstention

Erik Pagano from Landform Estates said: “We are delighted with the decision. It’s a really good housing scheme, and one that is good for Daventry and its people.

“There are considerable benefits to Daventry and the surrounding villages – economic, social and cultural.

“First, the economic advantage. Landform Estates – and its partners – will be financially contributing more than £6 million directly into improving the site and the surrounding area in a variety of ways.

“These include circa £1.25 million towards funding the new Weedon/Flore bypass, funds to Stagecoach to divert the Daventry to Rugby bus via the site, new bus routes into the site, new serviced allotments, improvements to the canal towpath, a substantial financial contribution to help Daventry town centre with improvements, money for the Phoenix Youth Centre to help rebuild the gym and modernise the premises, land for a new NHS and medical facility on the site as well as other contributions to community and sports centres.”

Mr Pagano added there are now section 106 agreements and detailed designed matters, but estimated that after these issues were resolved the scheme could be completed with 450 homes in four-and-a-half years.

Concerns were raised at the meeting about whether the primary school would be built, fearing a similar situation with the proposed school on Middlemore.

Mr Pagano said: “The 4.7 acres of land for the school will be secured under the section 106 agreement for Northamptonshire County Council (NCC), which has stated that it intends to build a two-form entry primary school for 420 pupils on the site. The promise of land is a legal obligation which we have agreed with the council and means that it cannot be used for any other purpose.

“Once consent is granted, NCC will start building the school. It has already said it intends to build all of the school facilities as a single phase, as this achieves economies of scale, although it would probably only occupy half of the classes initially and occupy the remainder as pupil demand rises.

“Again, it is difficult to know how long that occupation build-up process may take – you should ask NCC – but this could be ready within two years.”

However, the news hasn’t been universally welcomed with many lamenting the decision – especially as just before Christmas the joint core strategy was adopted designed to protect certain sites against development.

Miranda Joseph, vice chairman of the Mickle Well Park Opposition Group, said: “Daventry is in great need of so many more infrastructure fundamentals before any more housing estates should be approved. The ones we currently have are still not finished, schools are promised and then not delivered or delayed.

“Now, another arable farm will be lost forever and not to mention our countryside. Daventry is supposed to be a market town, but we will have no farms left to grow any produce for market at this rate.

“The Mickle Well Park Opposition Group feels let down by Daventry District Council.

“A third of the councillors either did not attend the planning meeting or abstained from voting, as they know the ramifications of giving the green light to this housing proposal.

“The floodgates are now open for every speculative developer to submit planning applications and take no notice of the joint core strategy, which the same councillors voted for less than three months ago. A precedent has now been set.

“The action group is now escalating the decision to Westminster and considers the matter by no means over.

“I would urge local residents to carefully consider who they vote for in the upcoming local council elections. We need councillors who listen to it’s residents – a skill that seems to be clearly lacking with the majority of our current town and district Council.” Anybody looking to join the continuing fight against the development can get in touch with the group by visiting www.facebook.com/micklewellopposition

There was also disappointment from people in Welton, the nearest village to the development.

Villager Tony Dodd said: “This will have a very dangerous impact on Welton.

“I imagine that as a result of this application there will be many people in Welton who will be putting their houses up for sale. This will in turn destroy the local community.

“I am disappointed by the decision.”

Abigail Campbell, a district councillor for the ward of Braunston and Welton, added: “I’m really disappointed by the decision, and disappointed that only nine members of the planning committee voted, and five of the 15 were absent.

“Welton put its faith in the core strategy, adopted democratically and after lengthy consultation just a few months ago. The core strategy defines how Daventry should develop. But it seems as though it counts for little.

“Parishes are working hard on their neighbourhood plans; there is huge pressure on planning authorities across the country to put Local Plans in place. To what purpose? I wonder whether Mickle Well may have just sounded the death knell for localism.”

A number of people also got in touch with the Daventry Express following the approval to register their disappointment with the decision.

Kevin Capes from the Lang Farm estate in Daventry said: “The result of the vote was also far from conclusive with five votes to four with one member abstaining. This shows a high level of uncertainty within the council members and for me should not have been enough of a majority for such an important decision.”

Chris and Geoff Smith from Welton said: “This speculative application constitutes the biggest threat to the integrity and identity of Welton in a millennium.”

Mr Pagano has outlined the time scale of the development.

He stated: “The partner in this scheme is Orbit Homes, one of the biggest private and affordable housing developers in the country. We will work with Orbit on detailed plans and the reserve matters, which need to be settled with DDC. We hope it can be achieved within the next year and the scheme started.

“Phase one of the project for around 150 units will take about 14 months – infrastructure into the site such as the new access road, opening up and servicing the land for the new school for NCC to start work.

“At this stage we will probably be working with two private housebuilders and one affordable house developer and our aim is for 150 houses to be built at this stage, including 12 six self-build. Phases two and three will take approximately another 14 months each with 150 units each, including another 12 self-build.”

A nine-year-old girl has been commended by Daventry District Council after starting a petition at school to stop a pet store turning into a food outlet.

Ellie Fowler’s petition was signed by 62 pupils at Brixworth Primary School after a plan was submitted to turn the independent shop, Northampton Pets, in Northampton Road, into a takeaway.

Her mother, Liz said: “She was too young to sign an official petition so she came up with the idea to start her own, took it into school and it snowballed from there.”

The proposal for the takeaway was refused by DDC after a similar petition against it was signed by 419 adult residents.

Mrs Fowler said that councillors had been “impressed” with Ellie’s petition.

More than 100,000 listeners and drivers will now be able to receive five local radio stations on DAB digital radio after Daventry’s Arqiva transmitter mast on Borough Hill was switched on at lunchtime today, along with two more at Ilmington and Shilton.

BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire, Capital, Free Radio Coventry, Free 80s, Heart West Midlands, and Panjab Radio will now be available on digital in the area.

Ed Vaizey MP, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy marked the office launch of the digital radio expansion programme in London today.

Commenting on the a516digital website, MP for Daventry Chris Heaton-Harris said: “I’m really pleased that the new DAB transmitter means that our excellent local radio stations can now be received on digital radio at home and in the car. Local radio plays an important role in our community and often it is the best way to keep in touch with breaking news in the region.”

The expansion programme will see the installation of 182 new transmitters extending coverage of local DAB stations to more than 90% of the population. The work is being managed by Arqiva, a communications infrastructure and media services company who will also be implementing modifications at a further 49 sites to bring them into the digital age.

The scheme is being jointly funded by Government, the BBC and other commercial groups.

Read the full story {http://www.a516digital.com/2015/03/local-dab-expansion-starts-today.html|here|}

Spring heralds many things for Daventry; brighter days, better weather and thanks to the hard work of local volunteers, cleaner streets.

More than 30 residents from the Grange estate turned out from 10am on Saturday to tackle rubbish across the estate as part of a nationwide crackdown on litter blighting our towns and villages.

The group has now collected almost 350 sacks of rubbish from the estate since they began regular litter picks two years ago. Much of what they have collected is historical litter, with some rubbish found to date back to the 70s.

A second event took place on the estate on Monday, with volunteers from Waitrose, Daventry and District Housing joined by PCSO Paul Harris, Cllr Wendy Randall and Jacquie Ward.

The group amassed a large haul of litter and other detritus abandoned by the roadside (pictured right).

This comes as the Gusher’s own ‘Tidy up Daventry’ campaign enters its second year and Daventry’s District Council’s ‘Don’t Be a Tosser’ initiative aims to raise eyebrows and hopefully dissuade motorists across the district from treating laybys and hedgerows as a rubbish dump.

At the end of the campaign key sites will be surveyed by environment officer Paul Knight to see if there has been a reduction in the overall amount of waste being dumped, much of it originating from fast food outlets.

Jacquie Ward, who organised Saturday’s Grange cleanup, said: “We found chairs, a rake, broken trees and everything you can think of. You can be amazed by the what you can find.

“The group has grown really fast, much faster than I anticipated. I can’t get over how enthusiastic everyone is. One child who took part told me it was like doing a treasure hunt.”

“The estate was horrendous before we started. You would see overflowing bins, untrimmed hedges and everything looked uncared for.

“I feel we were neglected for one reason or another. I think now people are seeing things finally get done they can appreciate how nice it is looking.”

In the meantime, residents are continuing to tackle a large amount of fly tipping in various parts of the estate.

Volunteers from Weedon also took part in a community clean up on Saturday with 19 residents and seven members of a local Brownie group improving the look of the village centre.

Everyone Active has been awarded a grant from the Big Lottery Fund to provide free community fun days across rural areas of Daventry district.

The Rural Roadshows project is being rolled out to all areas of the district during Easter, Whitsun, and Summer school holidays including Brixworth, Crick, Long Buckby, Woodford Halse, Barby and Weedon.

The project has also received funding support from Daventry and District Housing through the Community Chest Fund.

The roadshows in Easter are delivered every Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 3pm and are suitable for all ages and include activities such as football, cricket, hockey, storytime for under fives, bouncy castle, bungee run, balloon modelling, and face painting.

There will also be a free health check facility available at each event along with advice from Village Network on debt, benefits, and job seeking support. There’s no need to book, just turn up and play!

Lyn Cole, Big Lottery Fund deputydirector England said: “I am delighted that money raised through the National Lottery playing public can help local projects such as Everyone Active which works right at the heart of the community.”

Councillor Alan Hills, community, culture and leisure portfolio holder at Daventry District Council, said: “The Rural Roadshows offer a great afternoon of free activities for families across Daventry district to enjoy.

“It’s a great way to for parents to keep children active and entertained during the Easter break, as well as pick up advice and information about a range of services.”

The next roadshow events are at Brixworth Country Park on Tuesday, March 31, Naseby Playing field on Thursday, April 2, Crick Playing Field on Tuesday, April 7 and Long Buckby Sports Field on Thursday, April 9.

For more information please contact Will Heckford on 01327 871144.