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Archive for: March 2014

Curried Parsnip and Banana Soup

Mar. 30 Eat!! Comments Off on Curried Parsnip and Banana Soup

Curried Parsnip and Banana Soup

I was on holiday in Scotland and had ended up at a lovely hotel in Grantown-on-Spey.  It was an autumn break and the weather was, well Scottish, so we all ended up a little chilly!  After a day out walking, we retired to our rooms for a quick shower and a warm through then down to the restaurant for evening meal.

I seem to recall a beautiful cat that wandered around the hotel including the dining room and no one seemed to mind, I bet health and safety have put a stop to his adventures now.  Once were all seated the waitress came over to explain the choices for the evening.  “You can start with Prawn Cocktail or Curried Parsnip and Banana Soup” she explained… to which we all replied of course with cries of “Curried Banana Soup??”

She laughed and said that everyone had said that.  But added that for every dish of soup she’d delivered to her tables a clean bowl had been picked up with compliments to the chef sent back with the washing up.  So we threw caution to the wind and prepared to be warmed up by this Scottish chef’s unusual soup of the day!

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Ingredients

4 good sized Parsnips

2 Bananas – slightly over ripe is best

Half a pint of Milk

A cube of Butter

1tbsp Curry Powder, just a standard supermarket variety is fine

2tsp Turmeric

Pinch Salt

Pinch of Chilli Powder (optional)

Some Coriander leaves to garnish if you wish

What to do

In a large saucepan melt the butter.  Slice the banana into chunks and add to the pan, this may burn quite quickly so keep the heat at a medium level and stir, the banana will become quite translucent as it cooks.  Remove from the heat.

Peel and chop the parsnips and add to the saucepan, along with all the spices you are using, plus just a pinch of salt.  Add the milk, plus a quarter pint of water and take pan back to the heat to bring to the boil.  Simmer with a lid on the pan for around 20-30 minutes until the parsnip pieces are soft and the banana has completely disintegrated into the mix.

Test that the parsnips are cooked by prodding with a knife, and remove from the heat when soft.  Using a blender or potato masher if you don’t have one, grind all the ingredients together into a soup, you will be glad you left the parsnip mixture to cook until really soft at this point, or arm-ache will set in with the masher!  You can add a little boiling water or milk at this stage depending on whether you like a more runny soup or a ‘stand your spoon up in it’ soup.

Pour mix back into the saucepan, bring to the heat and serve with crusty warm bread and butter.

Ring the Changes

Substituting the parsnips for butternut squash works really well.

First Tuesdays at Fermynwoods

Mar. 27 Local News Comments Off on First Tuesdays at Fermynwoods

Fermynwoods have now reached the end of the first year’s Free Exchange programme of events on the First Tuesday of every month.

The events set out to explore areas of overlap between artistic practice and everyday life. They would therefore like to review the last year’s events by inviting everyone to suggest their own personal highlights from the programme, and discuss how we might move forward with next year’s programme, as we ask the question…

WHERE NOW?

They’d love lots more interaction from local people, so why not go along and see what they have to offer?

WHEN?
Tuesday 1 April
7:00 – 8:30pm
Fermynwoods Building, 33 High St, Thrapston, NN14 4JJ

Through the discussion we hope to identify key themes, approaches or skills, which could form the basis of future Free Exchange events and would benefit those working within the arts at this moment in time.

The event is free, but places are limited so please reserve your seat! Book by email or phone (01832) 733009.

 

Calling all Photographers!

Mar. 27 Walks & Wildlife Comments Off on Calling all Photographers!

Rather bracing over Thrapston GP today and so noisy from all the honking and quarrelling of the greylag geese! Sue also popped to Stanwick Lakes where she watched a beautiful pair of great crested grebes courting and a muntjac deer ( these can all be seen at Thrapston GP too!)Grebes_204

Send us your own wildlife pictures and we will display the best on the site.

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Planning Applications: 27 March 2014

Mar. 27 Planning Applications Comments Off on Planning Applications: 27 March 2014

PLANNING APPLICATIONS LIST                                   Weekly List Date :     27 March 2014

 

Ward :  Barnwell

Application No. :                                                                         14/00417/FUL  Parish :         Thurning

Date received :                                                                           04 March 2014 Date valid :  25 March 2014

Easting :              508604          Northing :   282833              Case Officer :   Joe Mitson

Proposal :          Change of use from retail outlet to ancillary annex to The Old Rectory. New

timber doors and windows to barn and adjacent garages, new roof lights

and flues to roof.

Location :           The Old Rectory Winwick Road Thurning Northamptonshire PE8 5RF

Applicant :         Mr G Summerton   14 Mill Hill Pudsey Leeds LS28 8NR

Agent :                G3d Solutions   Chesterfield   Lodge Harley Way Oundle Northants PE8 4HR

Application No. :                                                                         14/00418/LBC  Parish :         Thurning

Date received :                                                                           04 March 2014 Date valid :  25 March 2014

Easting :              508604          Northing :   282833              Case Officer :   Joe Mitson

Proposal :          New timber doors and windows to barn and adjacent garages, new roof

lights and flues  to roof.

Location :           The Old Rectory Winwick Road Thurning Northamptonshire PE8 5RF

Applicant :         Mr G Summerton   14 Mill Hill Pudsey Leeds LS28 8NR

Agent :                G3d Solutions   Chesterfield   Lodge Harley Way Oundle Northants PE8 4HR

Application No. :                                                                         14/00585/TCA/        Parish : Titchmarsh

Date received :                                                                           24 March 2014 Date valid :  24 March 2014

Easting :              502650          Northing :   279460              Case Officer :   Tamsin Dennis

Proposal :          Ash trees labelled A1,A2,A3 on plan. Fell and poison roots. Taking light

from recently refurbished property in St Andrews Close

Location :           47 High Street Titchmarsh Kettering Northamptonshire NN14 3DF

Applicant :         Ms J Rowe   47 High Street Titchmarsh Kettering Northamptonshire NN14

Agent :                N/A

Ward :        Fineshade

Application No. :                                                                         14/00454/FUL  Parish :         Collyweston

Date received :                                                                           07 March 2014 Date valid :  19 March 2014

Easting :              499858          Northing :   302997              Case Officer :   Anne Dicks

Proposal :          A two storey extension to the side of the property and a single storey one

to the rear. Permission to provide a drop kerb entrance to new driveway

with blocking up the existing entrance.

Location :           65 Main Road Collyweston Stamford Northamptonshire PE9 3PQ

Applicant :         Mr Jason Mugrove   65 Main Road Collyweston Stamford Northamptonshire

PE9 3PQ

Agent :                Rutland Planning And Design Services- Mr Kenneth Yeates   15A Nook Lane

Cracroft 15 A Nook Lane  Empingham Rutland Le15 8PT

 

Application No. :                                                                         14/00516/FUL  Parish :         Duddington With Fineshade

Date received :                                                                           14 March 2014 Date valid :  14 March 2014

Easting :              497238          Northing :   297676              Case Officer :   Anne Dicks

Proposal :          Proposed conversion of and extension to former wash house at Fineshade

Abbey to create a dwelling

Location :           Fineshade Abbey Stamford Road Fineshade Corby Northamptonshire NN17

3BA

Applicant :         Mr Nigel Fuller   St Mary’s House Fineshade Corby Northamptonshire NN17

Agent :                Marrons Planning – Mr Richard Dunnett   1 Meridian South Meridian Busniess

Park Leicester LE19 1WY

Application No. :                                                                         14/00583/TCA/        Parish : Duddington With Fineshade

Date received :                                                                           24 March 2014 Date valid :  24 March 2014

Easting :              498862          Northing :   300855              Case Officer :   Tamsin Dennis

Proposal :          T1 Robinia – to be felled – dead T2 Lime – raise crown to approximately 5m

above ground level and remove epicormic growth (less than 20mm

diameter) to 5m above ground level. To conform to highway regulations

and for aesthetic purposes T3 Whitebeam – fell to allow better light to

neighbouring beech T4/T5/T6 Lime – raise the crown to 6m above ground

level where overhanging garden – to allow better light infiltration and abate

encroachment G1 silver birch – fell 4 small tree to the west of the group of

silver birch – for relandscaping purposes

Location :           Todds Barn Church Lane Duddington Stamford Northamptonshire PE9 3QF

Applicant :         Mr P Kerr   Todds Barn Church Lane Duddington Stamford Northamptonshire

PE9 3QF

Agent :                Hill Fort Tree Care – Mark Ashman   Landfield Farmhouse Burrough Road

Little Dalby Leicestershire LE14 2UG

Ward :        Higham Ferrers Lancaster

Application No. :                                                                         14/00547/FUL  Parish :         Chelveston-cum-Caldecott

Date received :                                                                           17 March 2014 Date valid :  17 March 2014

Easting :              499120          Northing :   269526              Case Officer :   Susan Scott

Proposal :          Change of use of Highways land to Parish Council maintained amenity

area for the purpose of display of a heritage plinth

Location :           Land Adjacent The Star And Garter Higham Road Chelveston

Northamptonshire

Applicant :         Mr M Hunter Clerk To Chelveston-cum-Caldecott Parish Council   Ashbury

Caldecott Wellingborough Northamptonshire NN9 6AR

Agent :                N/A

Application No. :                                                                         14/00548/ADV Parish :         Chelveston-cum-Caldecott

Date received :                                                                           17 March 2014 Date valid :  17 March 2014

Easting :              499120          Northing :   269526              Case Officer :   Susan Scott

Proposal :          Change of use of Highways land to Parish Council maintained amenity

area for the purpose of display of a heritage plinth

Location :           Land Adjacent The Star And Garter Higham Road Chelveston

Northamptonshire

Applicant :         Mr M Hunter Clerk To Chelveston-cum-Caldecott Parish Council   Ashbury

Caldecott Wellingborough Northamptonshire NN9 6AR

Agent :                N/A

Ward :                 Kings Forest

Application No. :                                                                         14/00576/TPO/       Parish : Apethorpe

Date received :                                                                           21 March 2014 Date valid :  21 March 2014

Easting :              502228          Northing :   295469              Case Officer :   Tamsin Dennis

Proposal :          Reduce the height of Beech tree

Location :           Apethorpe Hall Hunting Way Apethorpe Peterborough Northamptonshire

PE8 5DG

Applicant :         Mr Nick Hill – English Heritage   Apethorpe Hall Hunting Way Apethorpe

Peterborough Northamptonshire PE8 5DG

Agent :                N/A

Application No. :                                                                         14/00406/FUL  Parish :         Bulwick

Date received :                                                                           03 March 2014 Date valid :  20 March 2014

Easting :              496360          Northing :   294271              Case Officer :   Graham Wyatt

Proposal :          Proposed alterations to existing workshop outbuilding including

installation of woodburner and flue to south elevation to form new 1 no bed

nanny accommodation ancillary to the main house.

Location :           The Old Rectory Church Lane Bulwick Northamptonshire NN17 3ET

Applicant :         Mr And  Mrs J Ratcliffe   The Old Rectory Church Lane Bulwick

Northamptonshire NN17 3DY

Agent :                Ross Thain And  Co. Ltd – Ross Thain   20 Belton Street Stamford

Lincolnshire PE9 2EF

Application No. :                                                                         14/00407/LBC  Parish :         Bulwick

Date received :                                                                           03 March 2014 Date valid :  20 March 2014

Easting :              496360          Northing :   294271              Case Officer :   Graham Wyatt

Proposal :          Proposed alterations to an existing workshop outbuilding to form new 1

bed nanny accommodation ancillary to the main house

Location :           The Old Rectory Church Lane Bulwick Northamptonshire NN17 3ET

Applicant :         Mr And  Mrs J Ratcliffe   The Old Rectory Church Lane Bulwick

Northamptonshire NN17 3DY

Agent :                Ross Thain And Co. Ltd – Sally Wetherell   20 Belton Street Stamford

Lincolnshire PE9 2EF

Ward :        Lower Nene

Application No. :                                                                         14/00588/TCA/        Parish : Polebrook

Date received :                                                                           25 March 2014 Date valid :  25 March 2014

Easting :              506880          Northing :   287042              Case Officer :   Tamsin Dennis

Proposal :          T1 – sycamore sever and strip ivy. Crown clean removing all dead,

diseased, dying, crossing, rubbing and duplicate branches T2 – Fruit tree

in rear garden, fell stem growing over wall to ground level

Location :           The Rectory Main Street Polebrook Peterborough Northamptonshire PE8

5LN

Applicant :         Carter Jonas – Ms J Hayward   12 Waterside Way Bedford Road Northampton

NN4 7XD

Agent :                Wilby Tree Surgeons – Miss C Trinder   Towerfield Farm Sywell Lane Ecton

Northampton NN6 0QT

 

Ward :        Lyveden

Application No. :                                                                         14/00071/LBC  Parish :         Brigstock

Date received :                                                                           14 January 2014      Date valid :          21 March 2014

Easting :              494551          Northing :   285124              Case Officer :   Joe Mitson

Proposal :          To replace one window to front elevation, to agree already replaced pair of

gates, back door and two roof lights

Location :           16 Park Walk Brigstock Kettering Northamptonshire NN14 3HH

Applicant :         Mr R Wells   16 Park Walk Brigstock Kettering Northamptonshire NN14 3HH

Agent :                N/A

Ward :        Oundle

Application No. :                                                                         14/00533/LBC  Parish :         Oundle

Date received :                                                                           18 March 2014 Date valid :  18 March 2014

Easting :              504276          Northing :   288262              Case Officer :   Anne Dicks

Proposal :          To convert first floor bedroom into a bathroom

Location :           Laundimer House North Street Oundle Peterborough Northamptonshire

PE8 4AP

Applicant :         Oundle School – Mr P Potter   Building And Maintenance Department 60 East

Road Oundle PE8 5BZ

Agent :                CMPS   Lodge Barn Lindsey Close Woodnewton Peterborough PE8 5EW

 

Ward :                                                                                         Prebendal

Application No. :                                                                         14/00566/TCA/        Parish : Fotheringhay

Date received :                                                                           20 March 2014 Date valid :  20 March 2014

Easting :              505941          Northing :   293183              Case Officer :   Tamsin Dennis

Proposal :          Quince in front drive – fell. Willow tree in rear garden – fell.

Location :           Church Barn Main Street Fotheringhay Northamptonshire PE8 5HZ

Applicant :         Mrs Wendy Ashton   Church Barn Main Street Fotheringhay Northamptonshire

PE8 5HZ

Agent :                N/A

Ward :        Raunds Saxon

Application No. :                                                                         14/00528/FUL  Parish :         Raunds

Date received :                                                                           14 March 2014 Date valid :  25 March 2014

Easting :              500468          Northing :   273417              Case Officer :   Joe Mitson

Proposal :          Conversion of attached barn into separate dwelling and extension to

existing two bedroomed cottage of a new utility room

Location :           Brook Farm Cottage Brooks Road Raunds Northamptonshire NN9 6NS

Applicant :         Mr C Richardson   Brook Farm Cottage Brooks Road Raunds

Northamptonshire NN9 6NS

Agent :                N/A

Ward :        Rushden Bates

Application No. :                                                                         14/00546/FUL  Parish :         Rushden

Date received :                                                                           17 March 2014 Date valid :  17 March 2014

Easting :              496639          Northing :   265656              Case Officer :   Joel Wright

Proposal :          Replace existing boundary fence with taller fence

Location :           8 Goulsbra Road Rushden Northamptonshire NN10 0YX

Applicant :         Mr P Pout   8 Goulsbra Road Rushden Northamptonshire NN10 0YX

Agent :                N/A

 

Ward :        Rushden Spencer

Application No. :                                                                         14/00535/VAR Parish :         Rushden

Date received :                                                                           18 March 2014 Date valid :  18 March 2014

Easting :              495604          Northing :   267201              Case Officer :   Amie Baxter

Proposal :          Variation of Condition 3 allocation of grocery collection times and

Condition 5 – revised parking layout of approved planning permission

EN/13/01111/FUL  – Single storey canopy within the customer car park

dated 10.12.13

Location :           161 High Street Rushden Northamptonshire NN10 0PA

Applicant :         Asda Stores Ltd   Asda House Great Wilson Street Leeds LS11 5AD

Agent :                Deloitte – Mr P Campbell   2 Hardman Street Manchester M3 3HF

Ward :        Woodford

Application No. :                                                                         14/00586/TCA/        Parish : Woodford

Date received :                                                                           21 March 2014 Date valid :  21 March 2014

Easting :              496990          Northing :   276833              Case Officer :   Tamsin Dennis

Proposal :          Eucalyptus – fell as in poor health Ash – raise the crown remove ivy

Location :           The Old School 18A Church Street Woodford Kettering Northamptonshire

NN14 4EX

Applicant :         Mr C Miller   The Old School 18A Church Street Woodford Kettering

Northamptonshire NN14 4EX

Agent :                N/A

 

 

THE CURRENT APPLICATION DETAILS CAN BE VIEWED:

  • on our website at http://publicaccesssrv.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/PublicAccess/
  • at Thrapston Customer Service Centre (all applications), 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays and statutory holidays)
  • at Rushden Customer Service Centre (Rushden applications only – excludes Higham Ferrers), 9am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays and statutory holidays)
  • at Oundle Customer Service Centre, 4 New Street Oundle (Oundle applications only) 10:00am – 1:00pm  Monday – Saturday

To view the application on our website

Follow the link above.  Use the Application Search tool.  Enter the unique Planning Application reference number eg 02/0001/FUL (omitting the EN at the beginning of the reference and remembering to enter all slashes (/).  Scroll down and click the Search button to retrieve the application. Click to view column to view the application details.  Click the Associated Documents tab and then click View Associated Documents.

YOU CAN SUBMIT COMMENTS:

  • By fax to 01832 734839

To submit comments via our website

Follow the link above.  Use the Application Search tool.  Enter the unique Planning Application reference number eg 02/0001/FUL (omitting the EN at the beginning of the reference and remembering to enter all slashes (/).  Scroll down and click the Search button to retrieve the application. Click to view column.  Click the Submit Comments button. This will open an online form into which the required information should be entered. Send your comments to the Local Authority by selecting the Submit Comments button at the end of the form.

We cannot consider comments on things like private property rights, the developer’s morals, motives or past record, possible future development, effect on the value of the property, the fact that the development has started, trade objections based on competition, loss of a private view, inconvenience or other problems caused by building works.  Comments are not considered confidential and will be scanned and posted on our website along with other application related documents.  In addition the details may be reported to the meeting of the Planning Committee (in summary form) and members of the public.  Your correspondence will be acknowledged, but we cannot normally respond to specific points/questions.

For all comments please quote the relevant EN reference number, your name and address.  Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the stated consultation period.

To find out more about planning and these applications, please visit www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/planning

The Editor’s Sticky Chicken

Mar. 27 Eat!! Comments Off on The Editor’s Sticky Chicken

Ingredients

(Enough for two)

2 pieces of skinless Chicken, breast is best.

1cm cube of peeled, fresh Ginger

1 Clove of Garlicsoy sauce

2tbsp Malt Vinegar

2tbsp Dark Soy Sauce

2tbsp Tomato Ketchup

2tbsp Golden Syrup

2tsp Worcestershire Sauce

2tsp Mixed Dried Herbs

1tsp Chilli Powder

A little Olive Oil

 chicken pieces

What to do

I use a wok for Sticky Chicken as there’s lots of stirring room.  Add a little oil to the pan, grate the cube of ginger and heat through. Honestly if you really can’t be bothered to wash the grater for just 1cm cube of ginger you can just chop this really finely and no one will really know.  Chop the garlic and add to the pan.  Add the chicken pieces and part cook, I usually slice the chicken into pieces about 2cm by 1cm but you can leave them as whole breasts too.  I just feel that smaller pieces enable a good coating of sauce on each one. I cover the wok at this point to cook the chicken through a little better.mix it up

In a separate bowl mix the vinegar, dark soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, chilli powder, tomato ketchup, mixed herbs, golden syrup and mix together well.  As the chicken is cooking in the wok, give it a stir and pour over the sauce mixture, do not replace the wok lid.  coat on the sauce

Continue to cook for around 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked, and the sauce has reduced to a sticky consistency.  Stir well to get the chicken well coated in sauce.

Ring the changes

You can also use this sauce to cook spare ribs.  Pork Fillet is also a favourite in our house but can work out quite expensive if cooking for four or more.

eat with rice or chips

Community radio station looking for volunteer DJs

Mar. 25 News from our Area Comments Off on Community radio station looking for volunteer DJs

An online community radio station in Northamptonshire is looking for volunteer presenters who are keen to experience life as a DJ.radio

Radio Northants, launched last month and based at studios in Rushden, is a not-for-profit station which hopes to have an FM licence within two years.

Station manager Darren Smith has already assembled a team of 20 volunteers and more are needed to keep supplying the mix of local content and music which is proving a hit with listeners.

He said: “We’ve been delighted with how things have gone so far and we’ve been getting some brilliant feedback from our listeners.

“We are now in a position where we need more presenters and we are keen to get as many voices on the station as possible to keep things fresh.”

The station is looking for people with an interest in radio who can spare a minimum of three hours a week and want to become part of a fast-growing station.

No experience is necessary as full training will be given. Applicants should live within 30 miles of Rushden.

To find out more email dsmith@radionorthants.com or call 07814841901

 

‘Batteries Not Included’ Northampton toy exhibition opening soon

Mar. 25 It's Child's Play!! Comments Off on ‘Batteries Not Included’ Northampton toy exhibition opening soon

Northamptonshire was a mecca for toy making in the twentieth century. Famous manufacturers based in Northampton included Mettoy of Harlestone Road which made space hoppers, Corgi cars and distributed Fisher-Price toys, and Bassett Lowke of St Andrew’s Street which made model locomotives. Countywide toymakers included Rosebud Mattel and Burbank in Wellingborough and Be Be dolls in Ringstead.

toys

Be Be dolls was the last factory to close its doors in the 1990s and this family friendly exhibition, called ‘Batteries Not Included’, pays homage to the county’s toy making tradition and showcases some of the best and most iconic toys made here.

Toys from the museum’s own collection will also be displayed, including the Bassett Lowke locomotive ‘The Duke of York’, Mettoy space hopper from the 1970s and Mettoy’s Bobby the walking policeman. There will also be games, teddies and dolls dating from the 1750s to the present day, and all those toys people are familiar with from their childhood including Barbies and Sindys, Star Wars toys and Lego.

Batteries Not Included is at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery from 14 June until 28 September. Opening times are Tuesday to Saturday and bank holiday Mondays 10am to 5pm, Sundays 12pm to 5pm.

Story Courtesy of ToyWorld

Save King John School – the story so far.

Mar. 21 Local News Comments Off on Save King John School – the story so far.

Currently, Thrapston is in the middle of a debate at parliamentary level regarding the move from a three tier system of schooling to a two tier system.  A petition of 1500 names has been handed to councillor’s regarding the proposed closure of The King John School (Middle school).

This area has a specific geography of small villages and the market towns of Oundle and Thrapston. This creates specific needs for the area and the children within.  The proposed changes would see the county coming into line with most of the UK and having primary and secondary schools, and no middle schools – which currently cater for 11-13 year olds.

Reading from the Save our Three Tier System website – “We risk losing our small primary schools in the area. Parental preferences will change with the creation of three large and well-equipped primary schools to compete with only slightly larger other primaries. With a huge leap between these small schools and Prince William, parents are also less likely to choose small. Other parents currently choose schools in our catchment to come to a more nurturing middle school system – they will no longer come.

Our children are arguably young children for longer than they would be were they brought up in an urban inner-city context. This means at 11 they are not ready for an adult environment. Prince William currently has a sixth form on site, rather than there being a separate Sixth Form College, as in some areas. This means that our children will be exposed to 18 or even 19 year olds everyday on the bus, at school and at break times.

Lose our three-tier and we will change our children and our communities forever!”

They also add “Internationally the best age for transition is considered to be 13-14 years of age (OECD and US for example). This is supported by the Conservative Lord Kenneth Baker in his recent book (Kenneth Baker ’14-18 A New Vision for Secondary Education), which alongside the school leaving age increase to 18, seems sensible.

OFSTED reports routinely find that children gain more in terms of personal development and well-being in a middle school setting. This is also supported by academic work (Symonds, J. 2010, Cambridge University). In the US it was the reason many areas introduced the Middle School system to replace the Junior High of old.”

Here at Nene Local we also believe their will be a huge impact on the towns too, how many parents will now be driving their children to Oundle and other secondary schools and no longer either driving of walking through our town past shops and cafes which they then regularly use?  We believe footfall on the High Street will drop.

There is growing public disquiet about the issue, with a protest march planned for Saturday, March 29.

A group of parents opposing the decision, which would see the King John School closed, have organised the march, which will start at the under-threat school in Market Road at 11am.

Speaking this week, parent Suzanne Woods said: “Consultation meetings have taken place, though many important questions have yet to be satisfactorily answered by the county council.

“Thrapston is rapidly expanding, with 600 new homes planned forecast population to expand by 25 per cent between 2010 and 2020, making proposals to close school appear short-sighted and not aligned with Thrapston Town Council plans for the community.”

In Summary the website states;

  • Middle Schools are great in terms of promoting well-being.
  • Our children need to remain children for as long as possible.
  • The three-tier school system is suited to the geography of the area. We don’t want large primaries or all-through schools here.
  • Cost should not be an issue in terms of the middle school system, as long as schools are properly managed and good oversight applied.
  • Achievement is neither better or worse under any particular school system. Good, joined-up management is what makes for a good school.
  • The costs of change for our children are enormous and the benefits negligable, if any.

school1

Northamptonshire County Council began its consultation on January 10. It ends today and a decision will be made on April 15.

More information on the march is available on the Facebook page for Save King John School

 

Office Refirb at Arbonne

Mar. 19 News from our Area Comments Off on Office Refirb at Arbonne

Northampton based health and wellness organisation Arbonne has expanded its UK operation and unveiled plans to launch its award winning business in Poland.S

Following a period of significant growth, Arbonne has expanded and refurbished its office space and launched a recruitment drive to find six new team members to support the existing twenty one staff members.

The new team members will include a Polish marketing specialist, who will be employed to support the company’s launch into Poland later this year. Following the launch, Arbonne will then be operational in five countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia and the UK.Arbonne Office Refurb 2

The expansion sees the company take on additional office space, meaning it now occupies both floors of its current building and is the sole occupant. The additional floor will house Arbonne’s expert customer service team, freeing up valuable space for the expanding operations, finance and marketing teams. In addition, the expanded office now includes an event room, which is available for Arbonne Independent Consultants to hire.

Dedicated to supporting business locally, Arbonne has established a number of supplier partnerships with nearby organisations in its seven years at Grange Park. These include third party warehousing company Dalepak Ltd and the UK Direct Selling Association (DSA), which Arbonne is a member.Arbonne Office Refurb 1

Speaking about the company’s growth, Arbonne UK’s Senior Marketing Manager, Kelly Lloyd-Sanderson, said: “It’s an exciting time to be part of the Arbonne UK team; growth within the head office team and on the ground amongst the Independent Consultants has been unprecedented over recent months and the new office refurbishment will help us to build upon this success as we launch into Poland and expand our product offering.”

Centred on the principles of pure, safe and beneficial, Arbonne’s diverse range of products can be purchased online or through its network of Arbonne Independent Consultants. Arbonne’s UK operation has seen significant growth over the past 12 months with its Independent Consultant base growing by 36%.

To find out more about Arbonne or its product range, please contact 0800 9775721 or visit www.arbonneinternational.co.uk.

Nene Local say “We’ve used Arbonne products from our local representative, Helen and we loved them!  You can follow her on Facebook for more information”

Canoe2 Pirate Paddle down the Nene

Mar. 19 Local News Comments Off on Canoe2 Pirate Paddle down the Nene

WANTED – Canoe2 are looking for 32 Pirate Paddlers to help raise money for Sport Relief.

On Friday 21st March, Canoe2 will be celebrating Sport Relief by sending 16 canoes on a 10 mile challenge along the beautiful River Nene, through East Northamptonshire.

Paddling on the Nene

Paddling on the Nene

Canoe2 will provide the 16 two-person canoes, equipment & instruction free of charge for this challenge, and are supported by Kelroy Minibuses, making sure that nobody is left marooned.cliff

The Catch?  Only One!  You’ll have to raise a minimum of £100 PER CANOE in sponsorship for Sport Relief.

Groups of friends, work colleagues, couples, are all asked to jump on board.  Sport Relief is just a month away now, so if you’re interested, please contact Canoe2 today.  Your entry will be set up and managed online as part of the PIRATE PADDLERS TEAM on the Official Sport Relief website, so all your sponsors can quickly & easily donate direct to Sport Relief.

The money raised will help people living incredibly tough lives, both at home in the UK and across the world.

Ian Blackwell, Director of Canoe2, says, “A good pirate costume may well be necessary, but experience is not.  If you’re a bit of a Jack Sparrow or Elizabeth Swann, that’s great, but Captain Pugwash is equally welcome, so give us a call and come join the fun”.

For more information please call Canoe2 on 01604 832115 or email ian.blackwell@canoe2.co.uk