December 2016 - Nene Local

Archive for: December 2016

Thrapston Lakes – the Tree that Fascinated us

Dec. 20 Local News, Walk Thrapston Comments Off

Thrapston Lakes is one of our favourite places to be and we feel lucky that it’s right on the doorstep.

This year, 2016, we decided to take some photos of the same tree on the bans of Thrapston Lakes in order to document the seasons as they come and go.

At least once a month, sometimes each week, we walked around Thrapston Lakes to find our tree and take a photo of its progress in life. We’ve chosen the very best photos to show you here.

To get to our tree, you need to walk down Roman Way, turning right at the bottom nd walking parallel to the horse fields, there is a path (bark coered) to your right heading downhill, this will get you to Thrapston Lakes. Head down the path and when you emerge from the trees onto the lake path you need to go straight ahead toward the lake, then turn left onto a path heading through some trees, then there is a small clearing, the first ‘fishermans plot’ you get to, and here is our wonderful, knarly tree that we thought made an excellent subject for our photogrpahy project at Thrapston Lakes.

A year at Thrapston Lakes

January – there were some some crisp frosts…

Early February gave us more frost and bright mornings

Late February – the sun begins to shine and birds swim lazily on the lake

Early March – a few winds made Thrapston Lakes very choppy at times

Late March brought us some foggy mornings

April sees the leaves on the trees and enough breeze for a sail

Lovely greenery in May

Followed by some early sunshine in June

Long July days round the lake

The Nene Local pup enjoying some sun and a paddle in August

Early September – its bright, sunny but cool

Late September sees the shadows lengthen – I wonder if the fisherman caught anything?

October – very few leaves left on the trees

Deep November fog lying on the water

No leaves left in December

We’d love to see your Thrapston Lakes photos – post them to our Facebook page if you want to share them

Road Closures in Thrapston – Due to Start in February

Dec. 19 Local News, Thrapston & Oundle Comments Off

Road closure due 6-10 February 2017 on High Street (from Bridge Street/Plaza end to Oundle Road/traffic light end).

This is for resurfacing work. I believe that the closure will take place between 9.30am and 3.30pm each day, but hope to confirm soon.

More details can be seen on this link – https://roadworks.org?tm=94821

Council issues Decision on Supermarket Sign

Dec. 19 Local News, Rushden & Raunds Comments Off

A planning inspector has agreed with councillors and officers that an illuminated totem sign outside a Rushden store must be removed as it is not in keeping with the visual amenity of the area.

Councillors and officers first raised concerns after receiving a planning application for two free standing 6 metre high illuminated signs for the new Lidl store in Rushden.

The application was refused on the grounds that “the proposed advertisement would adversely affect the character and visual amenity of the area, including views into/out of the Conservation Area. The proposal is therefore contrary to national and local planning policies.”

Unfortunately, one totem sign was put up between the committee making its decision and the decision notice being issued shortly after and so the council’s enforcement officer served a notice to remove it. The planning decision and the enforcement notice were appealed against but on 12 December, 2016 an inspector dismissed both appeals and agreed with East Northamptonshire Council that “the sign does harm the setting of the conservation area and the character and appearance of the surrounding area”. He also said that at “an important and attractive entrance to the town and the conservation area… the totem stands out and… looks incongruous and wholly out of place. It also seems to be over-large and dominant.”

Ward member, Councillor Barbara Jenney said: “We’re really pleased that the planning inspector agrees that this sign is at odds with the area and agree that from certain angles, it dominates and is out of place.

“Planning officers and councillors have worked hard to show how the sign harms the setting of the Rushden conservation area and the character and appearance of the area.”

Planning officers are now in communication with Lidl to agree a date for removal of the sign.

Set a New Year’s Resolution to make a difference for Peterborough

Dec. 19 Peterborough & Elton Comments Off

Are you looking ahead to 2017 and starting to think about setting your New Year’s Resolution? Would you like to try something new in the upcoming year? Why not become a volunteer with the independent charity Peterborough Environment City Trust (PECT)?

With most resolutions revolving around people wanting to become healthier and do more exercise, this is the perfect time to join the charity’s project Forest for Peterborough as a volunteer and get active outdoors.

The aim of the Forest for Peterborough project is to plant one tree for every person living in Peterborough. So the charity needs your help to achieve this vision for Peterborough and make it a healthier, greener and more sustainable place to live in.

The benefits of volunteering are numerous. Not only does it benefit the individual volunteer and the organisation, but also the wider community, through the delivery of projects that make a real difference.

Becoming a volunteer for Forest for Peterborough will enable you to build upon your team working and social skills through getting involved in the tree planting days, which give you the chance to get outside and try something practical with other like-minded people.

One of the volunteers for Forest for Peterborough said: “Taking part in the tree planting day was very rewarding especially when we were told that the initiative hit their target due to our efforts. It is gratifying to know that our hard work will help to develop the local community in many years to come.”

Karen Igho, Communities Team Manager, explains: “By giving your time, you are investing in the future, by making the city a more sustainable place to live and work for years to come.”

So, if you are looking for a more enjoyable way to achieve your New Year’s resolution in the upcoming year, become a volunteer for Forest for Peterborough! Planting days for early 2017 run from Saturday 21^st January through to Saturday 25^th March, focusing on sites in Bretton and Werrington.

If you are interested in volunteering, please get in touch with Project Officer Simon Belham on simon.belham@pect.org.uk or call 07715 372432. For more information, visit www.pect.org.uk/forest. Plus keep updated with the latest news and events on the Facebook page.

Christmas Safety Campaign Launched in Wellingborough

Dec. 19 Wellingborough & Great Doddington Comments Off

People on their Christmas parties or out for festive drinks in Wellingborough are being urged to think safety as part of a town-wide campaign.

The Stay SAFE initiative has been launched in partnership with the Wellingborough Business Improvement District (BID) and Sanjai Tailor who runs three busy venues in the town centre.

Together with the Wellingborough Council, Northants Police, the Wellingborough Taxi Association and the Community Safety Partnership, festive revelers are being urged to avoid binge drinking and to walk home in groups.

A warning about only using licensed taxi cabs has also been issued, along with reminding people there are door supervisors, police and street pastors present at weekends should they need further assistance.

Mr Tailor, who owns Raff’s Bar, Temple and The Kingfisher, said: “The communication and commitment to keep the night time economy safe is ongoing and this campaign demonstrates how we can further promote that to the people who drink within the town.

“We take the safety of our customers extremely seriously and we want to remind people that we want everyone to have a good time, but it’s important they take care of themselves when out.”

Posters promoting the campaign will be distributed to venues within the town and taxi drivers will receive pocket-sized cards to keep within their vehicles.

John Cable, manager of the BID, said: “Wellingborough has a thriving nightlife, which is why it gets so busy at the weekends, particularly at this time of the year, but we want to make sure everyone has a good time and stays safe.

“Although we have put as many measures in place to protect party goers, we want to remind everyone that they have an individual responsibility to look after themselves and their friends.”

The BID is paid for by businesses, through its Discover Wellingborough campaign, which stages events and activities aimed at encouraging people into the town centre.

Should you Fit CCTV?

Dec. 19 Peterborough & Elton Comments Off

Empty houses and piles of Christmas presents make December and January the months you’re most likely to be a burglary victim.

Homes across the UK are already filling up with presents while families make plans to visit friends and relatives over the festive period. But the increased number of expensive items in our home and the longer hours they are left empty provides a perfect opportunity for thieves.

But there is now a growing number of devices that can help in protecting your house and everything inside it.

Security-boosting devices include smart lighting systems that mimic your typical house hold lighting usage pattern while you’re away, automated smoke-releasing generators, cameras with facial and number plate recognition, and sensors that learn your behaviour and notify you when something out of the ordinary happens. All of these can be linked to your mobile phone via integrated smart home controllers.

Simon Mathieson of Finite Solutions North West advises,

“Nothing concerns us more than the fear of someone breaking into our own home, yet very few homeowners know about an intruder until they are already inside. A simply burglar alarm system is no longer a good enough warning for homeowners or deterrent for burglars as research commissioned by GoCompare last year concluded that over three quarters of brits ignore burglar alarm sirens on neighbours’ homes.

“A bespoke smart home solution can provide the benefits of intelligent entertainment and lighting but it can also provide peace of mind. It allows you to see, hear and check on your home at all times and warns you of the presence of an intruder as soon as they step foot in your garden.

“A good integrated home security system can be automated to arm/disarm itself through sensors inside and outside the house. Smart home systems also provide a view of the CCTV cameras and door entry systems, allowing you to remotely open the door and let people in.

“An exterior perimeter heat or mass based detection system surrounding a property will warn whenever an intruder steps foot in your grounds by displaying CCTV footage on your TV screens and giving you early warning of a problem before the intruder ever reaches the property.

The smart integration of security systems also extends beyond in-house control. Thanks to the latest bespoke security solutions, our clients are able to monitor their home security remotely. Dedicated iPhone and iPad apps offer access to the home automation alarm system remotely and this provides an extra level of security and peace of mind by instantly displaying CCTV images on your phone and activating lighting inside and outside the property to give the impression you are at home and even giving you the ability to “shout out” to intruders via exterior speakers to inform them police have been called.”

Finite Solutions has a show house in Leeds dedicated to showcase integrated smart home technology and security as described above.

@FiniteSolutions

Tickets go on Sale in January for Opera Festival

Dec. 19 Northampton & Earls Barton Comments Off

Leicestershire’s award-winning opera is preparing to launch ticket sales for its 2017 festival in January.

Nevill Holt Opera (NHO), based in the Harborough district at the stunning Nevill Holt estate, has seen rapid growth in its box office year on year since 2015. In 2016, box office figures increased by 40 per cent.

Rosenna East, general manager of Nevill Holt Opera, said: “With the ever-popular Puccini’s Tosca on the bill for summer 2017, this festival is likely to be no different.”

The Nevill Holt Opera 2017 Festival takes place on 15, 17, 18, 20 and 22 of June. Tickets go on sale on 13 January.

Tosca will be directed by the new Director of Opera at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Oliver Mears. It will be conducted by NHO Artistic Director Nicholas Chalmers. Mears has directed a number of sell out, five star shows at NHO since it was founded in 2013.

NHO recently scooped Best Festival at the 2016 Leicester and Leicestershire Tourism Awards. Announcing the award, Leicestershire Promotions Chief Executive Martin Peters said that the award went to Nevill Holt Opera for “their growth, their engagement with the community and their work with young people”.

NHO has significantly expanded its work in the area since 2015, staging a gala concert of Handel’s Messiah at Leicester Cathedral at the start of December, featuring a chorus of young professionals, operatic soloists, and the choristers of the Leicester Cathedral choir.

For more information visit www.nevillholtopera.co.uk. To book tickets call the box office on

0115 846 7777 from January 13.

Christmas Safety Campaign launched in Wellingborough

Dec. 19 Wellingborough & Great Doddington Comments Off

People on their Christmas parties or out for festive drinks in Wellingborough are being urged to think ‘safety’ as part of a town-wide campaign.

The Stay SAFE initiative has been launched in partnership with the Wellingborough Business Improvement District (BID) and Sanjai Tailor, who runs three busy venues in the town centre.

Together Wellingborough Council, Northants Police, the Wellingborough Taxi Association and the town’s Community Safety Partnership are calling on festive revellers to ensure they drink within their limits and to stay together throughout the night.

“We take the safety of our customers extremely seriously and we want to remind people that we want everyone to have a good time, but it’s important they take care of themselves when out.”

Posters promoting the campaign will be distributed to venues within the town and taxi drivers will receive pocket-sized cards to keep within their vehicles.

“Although we have put as many measures in place to protect party goers, we want to remind everyone that they have an individual responsibility to look after themselves and their friends.”

The BID is paid for by businesses and through its Discover Wellingborough campaign stages events and activities aimed at encouraging people into the town centre.

Gill Chapman, Principal Community Support Manager at Wellingborough Council, said: “The communication and commitment to keep the night time economy safe is ongoing and this campaign demonstrates how we can further promote that through the Community Safety Partnership to the people who drink within the town.”