Councillor Paul Varnsverry

An interesting proposal has been put forward to mark the western approach to Northampton’s town centre.

Local artist Chris Fiddes has produced a design for a building bridging the highway, with two portals through which traffic would pass.

Quite how recently, or how far back, the idea originates is not stated, but the drawing depicts one of Northampton’s old double-decker buses passing through the structure. Artistic license, or perhaps a clue as to how long the artist has harboured his idea?

The overall impression reminds me of paintings of bridges which had buildings constructed on them, straddling rivers, like Bath’s Pulteney Bridge, which was inspired by the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, The Ponte dei Sospiri in Venice, or the Palladian Bridge in Buckinghamshire.

The proposed building would use stone reclaimed from Northampton Castle, once the favoured residence of Richard the Lionheart and King John, as well as being the seat of Parliament for 200 years.

The castle was ordered to be destroyed by Charles II, in retaliation for the town’s support of the Parliamentarians in the Civil War and its ruins were finally removed to make way for Northampton’s railway station, known as ‘Castle Station’, in the nineteenth century.

I like the idea of reusing the castle’s original stones, but not in the way proposed. There are plans to significantly re-engineer Northampton’s railway station and I have long held the view that it would be fitting to commemorate the important historic building that once occupied the site within the modern transport hub that forms part of the regeneration plans for Northampton.

If there must be a use for the location that would have been the site of the universally-opposed ‘Needle’, why not commemorate the role of internationally-reknowned Cosworth Engineering, whose base is nearby in St. James Mill Road, in showing Northampton in a positive light?

Whatever may become of Mr. Fiddes’ proposals, it is useful to have the opportunity to debate the possibilities for the Westbridge and Black Lion Hill area in advance.

Paul Varnsverry has condemned the process of providing infrastructure to new development by the “phased delivery” method, stating that it has failed to ensure new communities receive the facilities they require. Addressing Northamptonshire County Council’s full council meeting on Thursday, October 1st, Paul stated that communities at the award-winning Upton development and the St. Crispin Hospital development, both in West Hunsbury Ward are still waiting for medical facilities that were promised up to ten years ago or more. 

Paul was speaking on the agenda item concerning the County Council’s response to the Emergent Joint Core Strategy and used the opportunity to point out the lessons learned in West Hunsbury, which need to be addressed and should never be permitted to occur at other developments. Commenting after the meeting, Paul said “The meeting attracted almost twenty public speakers and the common message from all was that the targets for housing development are not credible and the public has no confidence that the required infrastructure will be provided. Whilst a robust local development plan is essential if West Northamptonshire is to avoid development by appeal, the Joint Core Strategy is mired in the mistakes of the past.” 

 Paul’s full speech read as follows: “On Tuesday I was speaking to a man who informed me that when he married he could not continue to live in the village where he was born and had grown up due to the complete absence of any homes he could afford.  He had to move to Northampton and has remained here ever since.  

“Consequently, he supports controlled development in villages – particularly of affordable starter homes – that will provide new homes for village communities and provide the choice he was denied.   “He understood the need for a Local Plan that will prevent developers from building uncontrolled development wheresoever they please through “development by appeal”.  

“This man’s views were identical to all others I have heard. I have not spoken to one person who is opposed to any and all further development whatsoever. It is the scale of the numbers involved that has shocked people. Even though the targets were set by the South Midlands Study over seven years ago, against opposition from some local politicians, it seems the figures have only now reached the public’s attention.   “Central government’s diktat on numbers for future new homes lacks credibility. It lacks credibility when existing new homes in the Ward I serve stand incomplete or unoccupied as a result of the recession.   

“Their diktat lacks credibility when developers build on Greenfield sites, yet desert Brownfield development, such as the listed St. Crispin hospital building, and shun their obligations to deliver a completed community. A failure on the part of central government to address the taxation issues surrounding Brownfield development has surely compounded the situation. It lacks credibility when there is already a serious infrastructure deficit that needs to be addressed.   “Recent protests have seen placards highlighting flooding issues with Wootton Brook. Part of the course of Wootton Brook, from its source, is the area being suggested as suitable for some 18,000 new homes and a major new road.  

“This has greatly concerned residents in West Hunsbury, who know only too well that it takes only brief periods of heavy rainfall to burst its banks. They fear that the additional surface water run-off from new development will increase the risk to their homes and personal safety.  “Flood attenuation measures at the site of new development may be all well and good, but those living downstream, where the measures may be to a lesser standard, need to be considered too.  “Residents are therefore understandably sceptical about any statements that adequate infrastructure will accompany new development. We’ve heard it all before. Where are the community facilities in Upton and St. Crispin Hospital development? What is happening – or, in most instances, not happening – now on these developments must be remedied and not permitted to be repeated again. No one expects the end of the recession to mark an immediate return to the boom years and residents have already waited far too long for essential services which were promised up to a decade ago, or more.  

“Phased delivery of infrastructure has been tested and found wanting.  “There are two clear messages central government needs to hear in one unified voice from this council and the other Borough, Town and District councils in West Northamptonshire: “your numbers don’t stand up to scrutiny” and “no infrastructure - no development.”  

Across the road, that is what we have said through our own responses to the Emergent Joint Core Strategy and to the East Midlands Regional Plan Partial Review.  “Those two clear messages apply to any and all proposals for development, whether they be in urban or in rural areas.” 

Controversial plans for conversion of a former toilet block at Hunsbury Hill Country Park into a cafe will be decided at a meeting of Northampton Borough Council’s cabinet on Wednesday September 23rd

The planning application, approved by the borough council’s planning committee in June 2008, met with numerous objections from local residents, who had expressed concerns that the cafe would increase crime in the area. Their concerns were supported at the time by Councillor Paul Varnsverry - the only member of the planning committee to vote against the application - who had been informed by local police that they feared the cafe would attract ‘new crime’ to the area.

“My views in the intervening fifteen months have not changed”, Paul Varnsverry commented today. “Local police are still not supportive of the development; particularly in light of figures which indicate an increase in reports of anti social behaviour in some parts of West Hunsbury Ward over the past three months.

“I have already submitted my written objection to the granting of a lease at the cabinet meeting on September 23rd, although I am seeking advice from the council’s legal advisors on whether, now I am a cabinet member, my long-stated position on this development is potentially a conflict of interest that will prohibit me from taking part in the debate and the vote.”

Members of the West Hunsbury community who support or oppose the plans can address the cabinet meeting by contacting Northampton Borough Council’s Democratic Services department on 01604 837101 by 12 noon on the 23rd September and registering to speak.

Liberal Democrat Borough Councillors for West Hunsbury, Paul Varnsverry and Richard Matthews, have welcomed the instalation of “Local Access Only” signs in West Hunsbury as a measure to prevent heavy goods vehicles using residential roads as a cut-through to Northampton’s ring road.

“Residents have been reporting a noticeable increase in the number of lorries cutting through West Hunsbury, along Hunsbury Hill Road and Ladybridge Drive, to avoid hold-ups at the Mereway roundabout”, Paul Varnsverry explained. “Richard Matthews and I took it upon ourselves to speak to officers at Northamptonshire County Council’s highways department when it became apparent the Conservative county councillor for the area was more interested in gesture politics than getting the job done and providing a solution. He intends to address the county council meeting this Thursday, calling for action. Too late and a typical example of his closing the gate after the horse has bolted!

Richard Matthews added “The county officers  readily agreed to instal the signs. The alternative was a long wait for a legal process that would have placed a weight restriction on the road, but officers say these local access only signs have proved extremely effective elsewhere.”

Local residents have thanked their Lib Dem borough councillors’ pro-active approach, one Hawkridge home owner saying “We were very pleased to see workmen erecting Local Access Only signs at the entrance to Hunsbury Hill Road from the old Towcester Road. Thanks for your efforts on behalf of the residents of West Hunsbury.” 

Following a concerted campaign, over several months, by residents and parish councils, backed by Scott Collins and Paul Varnsverry, Parliamentary Candidates for South Northants and Northampton South respectively, Northampton Borough Council has submitted an objection to the plans for a quarry to be opened at Milton Malsor and Collingtree.

Speaking today Paul Varnsverry said “This will be a great relief to the residents of East and West Hunsbury who would have been affected by the airborne dust and noise from the quarry and the hugely increased industrial traffic from the quarry travelling along the Towcester Road via the Hunsbury roundabout and adjoining roads in their route to the M1 and beyond.

Scott Collins, Parliamentary Candidate for the Liberal Democrats in South Northants said “The plan for the quarry so close to the villages of Collingtree and Milton Malsor was always going to draw opposition but the decision to include it in the County Council’s Minerals Plan is quite frankly ridiculous and should have been dropped whilst still in the hands of the County Council.” Commenting further Scott said “The effect of this quarry will be massively detrimental to the local residents across Milton Malsor, Collingtree, East and West Hunsbury and I am glad that the Borough Council has seen the sense in objecting to the proposals.”Cllr Paul Varnsverry also said “As councillor for West Hunsbury I have received a number of calls from very concerned residents and I am happy to be able to go back to them to assure them that the Liberal Democrat Borough Council has heard their concerns and supports their views that the quarry will be detrimental to the lives of the people on the Hunsbury estates.”Speaking at the meeting Scott raised further concerns about the affects of vibration on local buildings “The area directly around the proposed quarry site could suffer the potential affects of vibration from the workings of the quarry and the associated lorry movements very close to peoples homes in the villages and on the routes away from the site”

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.

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.