A COFFEE morning held in Long Buckby on Saturday was a great success say the organisers.

Frank Berry and his wife Christine, who live in Long Buckby, organised a coffee morning in aid of Guide Dogs For The Blind at the village’s United Reformed Church.

Mr Berry, who uses a guide dog himself, had already completed a sponsored walk around Pitsford Reservoir raising more than £800.

Mrs Berry said: “The coffee morning was brilliant. The response we got was overwhelming and very humbling. We had lots of people there, and lots of guide dogs too. Our family and friends helped and gave us lots of support.

“We did the coffee morning to mark Guide Dogs Week, and it raised £750 but there’s more still to come. So, combined with the sponsored walk, that’s more than £1,500. It’s amazing to get that in the current economic times. We just want to thank everybody who has supported us.”

People in Northamptonshire will get another chance to have their say on proposals to transform East Midlands Ambulance Service at public meetings.

The Being the Best proposals involve the creation of 131 Community Ambulance Posts, Standby points and state-of-the art purpose-built Hubs or ‘Super Stations’.

Phil Milligan, East Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive, said: “We are keen to give as many people as possible the chance to come and hear about proposals, tell us what they think and provide feedback which will help us to shape the future of East Midlands Ambulance Service so that we offer the very best service to the communities we serve.”

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) representatives will be on hand to answer questions at Kettering Conference Centre on October 24 between 2pm and 3.30pm.

They will also meet members of the public at Northampton Saints Rugby Club in Weedon Road, Northampton, on November 9, at 10am.

An additional meeting has now been scheduled for The Abbey, in Daventry, on December 3, from 6.30pm until 8pm.

There will also be meeting at the Council Chambers in The Corby Cube in George Street in Corby on December 5 from 6.30pm.

The Being the Best consultation runs until December 17.

Copies of the consultation document with more information are available at every public meeting, online at www.emas.nhs.uk, by emailing beingthebest@emas.nhs.uk and by calling 0800 917 9911.

For more information follow @EMASBeingBest on Twitter or visit www.facebook.com/EmasBeingTheBest.

The public meeting at Saints Rugby Club is a Northamptonshire Community Engagement Event and places must be booked in advance by calling 0116 286 9378 or emailing gulnaz.katchi@emas.nhs.uk.

THE public are to be asked to propose sites for travellers in the district in line with a legal requirement to provide appropriate land.

It was discussed as part of a debate on the Daventry Settlements and Countryside Local Plan at a meeting of Daventry District Council’s (DDC) strategy group on Thursday last week.

It was outlined at the meeting and the document will now go out to public consultation.

DDC’s strategic planning and strategic health portfolio holder, Cllr Kay Driver, said: “We have got to have these sites, there is currently only one in the Daventry district.

“We are looking for people to come forward and suggest sites which they think might be appropriate as sites for travellers.”

The consultation will run from tomorrow (Friday) to Friday, November 30, and all comments received will help inform the preparation of the draft local plan.

To respond people will need to complete a response form which will be available from Friday at www.daventrydc.gov.uk/consultation or by emailing planningpolicy@daventrydc.gov.uk.

The response form needs to be sent to Robert Keith, Local Strategy Service, Daventry District Council, Lodge Road, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 4FP.

AN EXTRA set of body cameras have been purchased to be used by officers in Daventry.

The body cameras are worn while the police are out in patrol and £400,000 has been spent ensuring that every officer in the town can have one while they are out on the beat.

They record conversations between officers and members of the public and have proved to be useful.

Temporary inspector for the Daventry Safer Communtity Team, Paul Valentine, said: “These cameras are worth their weight in gold to us.

“We did have a few of them knocking around the office but now everyone can have one.

“If we get complaints, we can look at the footage and find out what happened. If people know they are being filmed, they will also be a lot calmer.

“These cameras help us to save a lot of time.”

DAVENTRY District Council (DDC) has criticised the provision of local buses.

The reaction from the authority’s strategy group, which met on Thursday last week, came in response to the Northamptonshire Transport Plan drawn up by the county council.

Cllr Catherine Lomax said: “In my ward of Kilsby, there used to only be a service to Daventry three days a week.

“While there is a bus route now every day between the two places, this service we believe is still at risk.

“It is even worse in one of my other villages, Ashby St Ledgers, which has no public transport at all. People in that village have to use the car if they want to get anywhere.”

DDC stated in its response it would like at least a half-hourly service running through the larger villages in the district including Long Buckby, Woodford Halse and Brixworth.

TRAFFIC is to be monitored on a Daventry road where two children were injured in recent weeks.

Last week the Daventry Express reported on a series of collisions on the stretch of the road between Western Avenue and the Ashby Road roundabout which had led residents to call for action.

Oliver Roberts, 10, was hit while trying to cross the road, leaving him with cuts and bruises, and then, on October 5, a boy aged 12 was hit at the pedestrian crossing.

In that instance the motorist drove off leaving the boy lying in the road with a broken leg which police say may require an operation.

Rebecca Dillon, who lives in Braunston Road, said: “After the first accident I contacted the county council to ask for someone to come out, and eventually, following the hit and run, they sent some officers out on Monday.

“Three of them came out for about 20 minutes. We stood by the road watching the traffic. Thankfully it wasn’t a quiet period.

“They seemed to realise there might be something worth looking at because they said they’d be looking at doing some speed monitoring.

“Apparently they’ll do it covertly, but the officer said something like 85 per cent of the cars need to be breaking the speed limit before they can do anything.

“They also apologised for saying that someone would have to die before anything could be done.

“It’s not just speed though along here – it’s the number of vehicles and the fact it’s narrow due to parked cars.”

On Monday police appealed for information over the hit and run asking anyone with information about to call them on 101 – or talk anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Runaway contender for best programme of the week has to be Brazil with Michael Palin, a new four-part BBC1 series in which the now veteran traveller – he’s been doing this stuff for more than 20 years now – visits South America’s biggest, most famous country, an emerging economic giant and, of course, host to the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016.

Palin goes right back to the start examining how Portuguese traders landed thousands of slaves on north-eastern Brazil, triggering what has become a melting pot of cultures in one huge nation. Palin, avuncular as ever, manages to drop in at the right moment on certain places and is always ready to try his hand at whatever is thrown at him. By the end of it, we will all know there’s a lot more to Brazil than coffee, football and Copocobana beach (Wed, BBC1, 9pm).

Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals is Jamie Oliver’s new teatime programme (Channel 4, 5pm, Mon-Fri) in which Britain’s most famous TV chef rustles up easy family meals starting with chilli con carne meatballs, sticky chicken, watermelon radish salad and crunchy noodles.

If you thought BBC2 was done with baking cakes, you were very much mistaken because BBC2 on Tuesday at 8pm serves up Great British Bake Off Revisited looking back at how previous winners have fared. Meanwhile, the normal Monday night is food night on BBC2 starts at 7pm with The Great British Bake Off Masterclass in which, yes, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, show us how to stay calm in the kitchen while knocking out treacle tarts and creme caramels. If anyone else has any suggestions about how to stretch this out to a five-day-a-week strand, the BBC may well want to hear your pitch.

Same night, same station at 9pm, the wonderfully engaging Professor Alice Roberts leads a team of experts helping to piece together a Neanderthal and, using DNA techniques, they attempt to find out how closely related they were to us. Prehistoric Autopsy is on each night until Wednesday.

Fans of James Bond might want to tune into BBC2 on Wednesday at 10pm when there’s a Culture Show special, Sam Mendes: Licence to Thrill, interviewing the director of the latest 007 jaunt, Skyfall, which hits our cinema screens soon (Wed, BBC2, 10pm).

For those of you with kids in the house, it’s always worth looking out for Channel 5 on Sunday teatime, which has become home to some seriously good children’s movies in recent times and this weekend is no exception with a rare re-run for the classic Disney tale of Dumbo. If you’ve never seen this 1941 stand-out film, get yourself sat down with the kids for a whole 65 minutes from 5.20pm.

Finally, Premiership football is back on Sky Sports including Spurs-Chelsea (Sat, 12.45pm) a Tyne-Wear derby at 1.30pm on Sunday followed at 4pm by QPR-Everton.

COMMUNITY regeneration on Daventry’s Southbrook estate is one of the issues residents are being invited to have their say on in a new council document.

During a meeting of Daventry District Council’s (DDC) strategy group on Thursday last week, Cllr Chris Over said regeneration was overdue on the estate.

He was discussing the Daventry Settlements and Countryside Local Plan, a document about the future of the district which will go out to public consultation. One of the areas outlined is regeneration on the Southbrook estate.

Cllr Alan Hills, who represents the area at DDC, said: “I would agree with Chris’ comments, there is regeneration needed on the estate.

“I think what people on the estate would like to see is a bigger community centre. The school is fantastic but it would be great to see it expanded.

“We have got some shops on the estate but it would be good to have some more and generally the area made a little safer, so there are less dark places to hide in.”

The Daventry Settlements and Countryside Local Plan has been agreed upon by the council and will now go out to public consultation.

Cllr Kay Driver, DDC’s strategic planning and strategic health portfolio holder, said: “The document will now go out to public consultation and we are looking for as many people to come forward with ideas as possible.

“We are hoping to arrange a series of public meetings across the Daventry district which will give people the chance to speak out about what they would like to see in the plans.”

Among the ideas put forward in the plan includes housing developments on the town’s Middlemore and Monksmoor estates, additional retail space in the town centre, improved public transport systems and access to Long Buckby train station.

There is also a need to build 1,355 homes in the rural areas between 2011 and 2026.

Cllr Driver added: “We would like to hear from any villages that would like extra homes and we would hope that these can be provided where they are needed.”

The public consultation will last for six weeks with a more detailed plan to be drawn up and published in March next year.

However it could be February 2015 before it is formally adopted by the council.

Residents in Bugbrooke have reported the theft of 31 car aerials between Friday evening (October 19) and yesterday morning (Sunday 21).

Aerials were stolen from vehicles parked in Badgers Close, Beech Close, Chipsey Avenue, Georges Avenue, High Street, Lime Grove, Oaklands, Pilgrims Lane and Pound Lane over the weekend.

Police are appealing for information about the thefts as well as damage to two vehicles in the area.

Witnesses to this incident, or anyone with information, should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 - alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

DAVENTRY District Council (DDC) has led fresh calls for a new train station in Weedon.

The request came from the council’s strategy group that met on Thursday last week to discuss its reaction to Northamptonshire County Council’s (NCC) transport strategy.

DDC is to ask NCC to promote the potential new station at the general location on the West Coast Main Line fast line which would see people from the town access it via the A45.

The council’s strategic planning and strategic health portfolio holder, Cllr Kay Driver, said: “We are very critical of this strategy in that we do not think it is nearly ambitious enough.

“In addition to the improvements that we think should be made to Long Buckby train station, we would like to see a promotion of the new train station in the district, ideally to be built at Weedon.”

A station opened in the village in 1888 but was closed 70 years later in September 1958.

Also in the response is a desire to improve the overall appearance of the station at Long Buckby – the only train station in the Daventry district – and for an improved bus service between the town and the train station.

In the long term, DDC has asked NCC to look at providing the A45 bypass.

The response was agreed by the strategy group and will now be sent off to NCC, which is currently running a public consultation on its Northamptonshire Transportation Plan.

The public consultation on the transport strategy will end on Thursday, December 13.

For more details and to see the strategy visit www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/council/consultations/pages/register.aspx

Daventry people are invited to get involved in the drafting of a new Settlements and Countryside Local Plan.

People can have their say on the issues that need to be considered in the drafting of the plan which will contain detailed planning policies for Daventry town, the villages and the wider countryside to help inform future planning decisions.

At this stage there are no specific policies or proposals being put forward but the views of the community are wanted to help prepare the draft plan, which will be the subject of further public consultation next year.

It will then supplement the policies and proposals in the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy.

Ian Vincent, Chief Executive at Daventry District Council, said: “The aim of this first stage in the process is to invite responses from the local community and businesses on the issues to be considered in the Local Plan and seek views on how they should be addressed.

“All the comments we receive will help to inform the preparation of the draft Local Plan and I would encourage as many people as possible to have their say.”

An issues paper and response form is available from all the libraries in the district or from the Council’s Lodge Road offices.

Alternatively go to www.daventrydc.gov.uk/consultation or email planningpolicy@daventrydc.gov.uk.

The response form needs to be sent to Robert Keith at Local Strategy Service, Daventry District Council, Lodge Road, Daventry, Northamptonshire, NN11 4FP, by Friday, November 30.

The NHS Blood and Transplant is appealing for volunteers to attend blood donor sessions in Long Buckby tomorrow (Wednesday).

The sessions will take place from 2.15pm to 4pm and from 5pm to 7.30pm at the community centre on Station Road.

Attendance by appointment is recommended - to book call 0300 123 23 23.

A VALUABLE mobility scooter facility is extending its service to users by introducing long-term hire.

Daventry Shopmobility, based near the New Street bus station, has launched a longer term hiring scheme.

Members can now hire scooters for more than one day to help with temporary disability, or as a stop-gap in case of breakdowns or while waiting for new equipment.

Previously Shopmobility – which is run by Daventry Area Community Transport (DACT) – could only hire out scooters for a single day.

Shopmobility co-ordinator, Tina Walker, said: “There was definitely a need for longer term hire and we’ve had enquires in the past. This is just an extension of our scheme and a way of supporting DACT in whatever way we can to make sure it keeps going.”

The scheme, launched on Monday, now also offers a delivery service to anyone borrowing a scooter for a long period.

Tina said, after the first couple of weeks, prices for hiring the scooters go down to make them more affordable.

COMPLAINTS against Northamptonshire police officers dropped by 30 per cent in 2011/12 the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has announced.

Annual complaints statistics released today (Wednesday) show that in 2011/12 the force recorded 376 complaints against officers, compared with 535 the previous year.

The 30 per cent decrease in complaints is more than three times the national average across England and Wales which saw a nine per cent decrease in complaints.

The figures also show a reduction in the number of allegations contained within the complaints to a five year low. Down from 619 the previous year to 492 this year, representing a 21 per cent reduction compared with the national average which saw an 8 per cent reduction in allegations.

167 allegations were also dealt with by local resolution, meaning 30 per cent were resolved, with the consent of the complainant, by discussion between the complainant and the officer or member of staff involved.

This is often the case with less serious complaints where an explanation is given to resolve misunderstandings, an apology issued where appropriate or information given about what the force is doing.

While the national average for dealing with and finalising complaint cases was 93 working days, the average for Northamptonshire Police was 72 working days.

Chief Inspector Mark Taylor, from the Professional Standards Department, said: “We have worked hard to refine our processes around complaints to firstly make it easier to access the complaints system, and secondly to respond and deal with complaints more effectively.

“We now offer a simple and streamlined option of quick service recovery for all members of the public dissatisfied by our service, this focuses on providing the complainant the outcome they want and how they want to receive it – this is reflected in the improved complaint statistics.”

He added: “We have found that against the national target of recording complaints within 10 working days, Northamptonshire Police ensured 97 per cent were within this time limit compared with the national average of 86 per cent, a year on year increase over the last three years for the force.

“Since August 2011 we have further improved our service by adapting our processes to record complaints in just 24 hours, not the national average of 10 days, as we feel this better meets the needs of our public – this is a significant step for us and our communities.

“Whilst we are pleased with the improved position the force is in, we are aware that further improvements are required, like the number of appeals upheld by the IPCC. We recognise that we still have more to do in achieving our aim of delivering an excellent service to the communities of Northamptonshire.”

All your local news including:

– New warehouse bringing 1,000 jobs into the area

– Enterprise criticised by councillors

– Road marking in Daventry makes national headlines

– Ambulance meeting venue in the town agreed

– Villagers react to devestating homes decision

– New reception children photographed and featured in our eight page First Day at School supplement

- Police step up patrols to deal with revellers

– WIN: Family tickets to Thinktank Museum

– SPORT: See all the winners from the Daventry District Sports Awards

A DEAL to build a new warehouse unit for Sainsbury’s will create 1,000 jobs for the Daventry district.

The supermarket giant has signed a contract with Prologis, owners of the DIRFT II site, near Crick to design a purpose-built unit which covers one million square feet.

The news has been welcomed by leaders in the area and comes in the same month that engineering firm Cummins, based in Daventry, announced they were cutting 98 jobs at its plant on the Royal Oak Way South.

Daventry District Council’s economic, regeneration and employment portfolio holder, Chris Over, said: “This is great news for the employment situation which, while it has been better than the national average, has suffered a blow.

“This is a boost for the area and I would hope the jobs are not just warehouse operatives but that there will also be management and planning positions available.”

He said he hoped further jobs would be created if the expansion of the DIRFT (Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal) site was given the go-ahead.

Cllr Over added: “If the expansion of DIRFT was approved then we would be looking at between 8,000 and 9,000 new jobs in total and that would be very welcome news for the district.

“This would be a great boost for the local economy.”

Prologis expects to start work on the warehouse on the DIRFT II site in early 2013 and is expected to be complete by autumn 2014.

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

POLICE are urging road users to make sure they prepare for winter.

The call comes as mornings and evenings get darker and is aimed at those people who use the county’s roads and pavements and need to be seen by others.

Superintendent Sean Bell, from the Force’s operations department, said: “Cyclists should ensure they have working lights on their bike and wear high visibility clothing as well as a correctly fitted helmet.

“Joggers should also take safety responsibly and ensure that they are also wearing high visibility clothing if they are jogging along a road.

“Of course, motorists are also reminded to make sure they use the most appropriate lights, at the most appropriate settings, when driving in the dark. They should also make sure that their tyres are roadworthy as wet and icy weather becomes more commonplace.”

Police are investigating a suspected arson at the Red Lion Inn, Brixworth.

Police were called to the scene in Harborough Road, at 6.30am and are working with Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue to establish the cause of the fire.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and is helping officers with their enquiries.

Witnesses to this incident, or anyone with information, should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 - alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

THE deadline to register to vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner Elections is fast approaching.

You have until Wednesday, October 31 to register and you must be on the electoral register to vote for a candidate.

A total of 41 PCCs will be elected across England and Wales with the aim of giving you more of a say on how to cut crime in your area.

The candidates for Northamptonshire are Lee Baron, Labour Party; Jim MacArthur, UKIP; John Norrie, Independent; Adam Simmonds, Conservative Party; and Paul Varnsverry, Liberal Democrats.

Elections will be held on November 15. For more information on registering visit: www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.

TWO creative pupils from Woodford Halse School won a competition to design the best poster.

Emily Shenton, seven, and Jamie Betts-Arnold, six, came up with posters to advertise the school’s forthcoming charity fireworks night.

Chairman of the Woodford Halse Friends of School Association, Claire Rose, who helped to judge the competition, said Emily’s design was very glittery and appropriate while Jamie’s was written in beautiful handwriting.

Mrs Rose said: “The competition was a lovely opportunity to see the children’s artistic skills.”

The fireworks event will take place on Saturday November 3 at the Woodford United Football Club. Gates open at 5pm and fireworks start at 6pm. Entry is £3 for adults £2 for children and £10 for a family.