Northampton Borough Council’s Cabinet has agreed to back a request from residents of Upton Grange and Upton Phase 1 to realign the parish boundary .
Development at Upton Phase 1 has seen the original parish boundary disappear under buildings and roads. This resulted in 109 homes being served with incorrect Council Tax demands in 2007. Residents across both developments have tried on previous occasions to change the parish boundary, but their efforts were thwarted by technical and legal difficulties. A change in legislation in April 2008 passed more decision-making powers to local authorities so, supported by Paul Varnsverry, residents raised a petition which was handed to the Mayor at a Council meeting on September 8th.
Upton Grange resident, Michael Clarke, addressed the Cabinet meeting, held on Friday September 26th and asked them to endorse a recommendation to move the boundary to align its eastern edge with Upton Way. He was backed by Councillor Paul Varnsverry, who pointed out to the Cabinet that some 265 residents had made clear their wish to see the change implemented, adding that “this shows the extent of community spirit that exists in Upton”.
Cabinet endorsed the report, with two minor modifications, and the recommendations will go to a future meeting of the full Council for approval.
Update: The review was approved by a meeting of full Council on 27th October 2008.
Members of Northampton Liberal Democrats living in the Northampton South Parliamentary Constituency have selected Paul Varnsverry as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate.
In a process contested by four applicants - Kevin Barron (previous Parliamentary Candidate), Jenny Conroy, Portia Wilson and Paul Varnsverry - Paul took an early clear lead and his place was confirmed after secondary preference votes were collated.
Speaking immediately after the result was confirmed, Paul said “I am grateful to the Liberal Democrat members in Northampton South for selecting me as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate. They had four extremely good candidates to choose from and I extend my commiserations to Kevin, Jenny and Portia, and thank them for the congenial manner in which they conducted their individual campaigns throughout the selection process.
“Another campaign starts now - to show residents in Northampton South that they have a clear choice at the next General Election: a Liberal Democrat candidate who will put Northampton first and represent the electorate in a manner the other two main parties have shown they cannot match.”
Two new groups have been formed to represent the interests of residents in West Hunsbury during the past week.
On Tuesday, September 23rd, a public meeting was held at Parsons Meade Community Centre to discuss whether residents in the Camp Hill, Mallard Close, Harksome Hill and Summerfields areas of West Hunsbury wished to set up a residents association.
An initiative of the management board of Neighbourhood Managed Area 5, the meeting attracted a number of enthusiastic residents who, after a healthy debate on local issues, decided they would form a new association.
The inaugural meeting of the new group - which at the time of writing has yet to decide what it will be called - will be held at 7 pm on Monday 20th October 2008 at St. Benedict’s church rooms. Contact Paul Varnsverry for further details.
The second meeting took place on Thursday, September 25th - again, at Parsons Meade Community Centre - and asked the public if they wished to re-form the Friends of Hunsbury Country Park.
Arranged and hosted by Paul Varnsverry and Richard Matthews, this meeting also attracted a healthy attendance, with the result that it was agreed to re-form the friends group. The inaugural meeting will be held on Tuesday 28th October at 7 pm and the venue will be Parsons Meade Community Centre. Paul Varnsverry will again be pleased to assist with further information.
