Latest news with #WestNorthamptonshireCouncil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Council backs next stage of major housing plan
A plan to build 278 new homes has been approved by councillors as part of a larger housing development. The homes, approved by West Northamptonshire Council, will be built on land between Harpole and Duston in Northampton, as part of the second phase of the Norwood Farm project. In total, the wider project will deliver 1,900 homes, along with shops, a school, and public green spaces. The decision was made during the first planning meeting since Reform UK took control of the local authority at the recent local elections. The latest plans include a mix of one to four-bedroom properties and of the 278 homes, 139 will be affordable. Planning officers said this was 92 more affordable homes than the developers were required to provide. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) each home will have its own parking space, and extra visitor spaces will be added along the roads. Green areas are also planned around the edges of the site. The area covered in the upcoming phase is in the north-west part of the Norwood Farm site and is divided by New Sandy Lane. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Plans for 120 homes in urban extension approved West Northamptonshire Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Car cruising may be banned under new order
Car cruising is set to be banned across West Northamptonshire over rising concerns about anti-social behaviour. The Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) would allow the council and Northamptonshire Police to take more effective action against nuisance car activities. West Northamptonshire Council said events had been taking place on the county's roads for several years, while police said they created a "significant demand" on resources due to worried residents calling them. The largest event to date included more over 160 cars and several hundred spectators in March 2024, police said. Locations regularly used for meets include the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, the A45 off junction 16 of the M1, the Sixfields roundabout in Northampton and the A43 Moulton bypass, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. According to the council, features of car cruising include driving at excessive speed, revving engines, driving in a convoy, racing, performing stunts and causing obstruction on a public highway. PSPOs are powers used by councils and their partners to tackle anti-social behaviour in a defined public space. The order would apply to all land within the West Northamptonshire boundary. Individuals could be found in breach if they participate in any car cruising activity as a passenger or driver, or congregate to spectate at such an event. Failure to comply carries a maximum £1,000 fine if convicted by a magistrates' court. Officers may also issue a £100 fixed penalty notice to anyone they have reasonable cause to believe has breached the order. The council's new Reform UK cabinet will meet for the first time on 3 June to discuss the proposed PSPO measures. If approved, the order will be made for a maximum period of three years with the opportunity to extend. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Local Democracy Reporting Service West Northamptonshire Council
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
West Northamptonshire Council could ban car cruising
Car cruising is set to be banned across West Northamptonshire over rising concerns about anti-social Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) would allow the council and Northamptonshire Police to take more effective action against nuisance car Northamptonshire Council said events had been taking place on the county's roads for several years, while police said they created a "significant demand" on resources due to worried residents calling largest event to date included more over 160 cars and several hundred spectators in March 2024, police said. Locations regularly used for meets include the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal, the A45 off junction 16 of the M1, the Sixfields roundabout in Northampton and the A43 Moulton bypass, according to the Local Democracy Reporting to the council, features of car cruising include driving at excessive speed, revving engines, driving in a convoy, racing, performing stunts and causing obstruction on a public are powers used by councils and their partners to tackle anti-social behaviour in a defined public order would apply to all land within the West Northamptonshire could be found in breach if they participate in any car cruising activity as a passenger or driver, or congregate to spectate at such an to comply carries a maximum £1,000 fine if convicted by a magistrates' may also issue a £100 fixed penalty notice to anyone they have reasonable cause to believe has breached the council's new Reform UK cabinet will meet for the first time on 3 June to discuss the proposed PSPO approved, the order will be made for a maximum period of three years with the opportunity to extend. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Woman jailed for racist X post loses appeal
A Conservative councillor's wife who was jailed for inciting racial hatred after an online rant against migrants on the day of the Southport attacks has had her appeal against her sentence dismissed. Lucy Connolly, from Northampton, was jailed for 31 months in October after calling for "mass deportation now" and urging her followers on X to "set fire" to hotels housing asylum seekers. The tweet was viewed 310,000 times before it was deleted. Judges at the Court of Appeal have now ruled that "there is no arguable basis on which it could be said that the sentence imposed by the judge was manifestly excessive". Connolly, 41, posted the swearword-ridden message on 29 July 2024 - the day three girls were murdered at a dance class in Southport. While calling for "mass deportations now", she wrote: "If that makes me racist, so be it." She urged readers to "set fire" to "all the hotels" that were "full" of those she wished to deport. The post had been deleted before Connolly was arrested on 6 August but it had already been viewed 310,000 times. She was jailed at Birmingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to inciting racial hatred and told that she would serve 40% of her sentence in prison before being released on licence. Her husband, Ray Connolly, rejected a call from a local MP for his resignation from West Northamptonshire Council, but lost his seat in this year's local elections. He is still a member of Northampton Town Council. Giving a written judgment on Tuesday, three Court of Appeal judges said Connolly's principal ground of appeal "was substantially based on a version of events put forward by the applicant which we have rejected". Woman appeals against Southport tweet jail term MP calls for councillor to quit after wife jailed Tory politician's wife jailed for race hate post Tory politician's wife admits race hate post on X
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council's £170k bill revealed for warehouse appeal
A council is facing a bill of almost £170,000 after losing an appeal over a warehouse plan on the edge of a town, it has emerged. West Northamptonshire Council's planning committee refused permission in September for a DHL site on the edge of Towcester. The firm appealed and a planning inspector overturned the council's decision in April after a public inquiry. The council said the bills would be covered by its annual legal budget. Protesters opposing the building of a logistics hub with a 18.5m (60.7ft) high warehouse on the edge of Towcester claimed victory when councillors went against their officers' advice and threw out DHL's plan. More than 1,100 people had written to the council to express worries about an increase in traffic, the look of the buildings and noise and light pollution. The logistics firm appealed, and a nine-day hearing in the town resulted in a planning inspector allowing the development to go ahead. Following a Freedom of Information request by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council revealed the cost of external consultants and external legal counsel and fees was approximately £169,999.53 (including VAT). This figure does not include internal costs such as work by planning officers, the council's legal team and administrative staff. The bill for printing documents, paper and filing has also been left out of the total. The council was under Conservative control when the appeal was heard, but was taken over by Reform UK following the election on 1 May. A spokesperson for the authority said: "West Northamptonshire Council has an annual legal budget that can be used to defend planning appeals and seek legal assistance. "It was used in this case for an appeal which received widespread community support where the council acted overwhelmingly in the public interest. "The council's new administration will be prioritising work to put in place a cohesive and robust Local Plan for our area to protect our communities from inappropriate development." Since the appeal, the council announced it would not contest a separate warehousing appeal for land next to Bell Plantation in Towcester. Planning officers said the sites had "very significant crossover" and that the reasons for refusal were no longer sustainable when looking at the DHL appeal result. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. DHL warehouse plan is approved after public inquiry Residents face DHL in warehouse appeal battle Victory for campaigners against rural warehouses DHL Towcester project Save Towcester Now
