St James Residents' Association

For The Residents And Workers Of St James

Thursday 19 December 2013

Top 10 tips to keep homes warmer for less this winter

ON FREEZING winter days like these and rising energy costs, homeowners should look now at some things they can do to protect their homes and wallets from the effects of falling temperatures. NHBC, a UK warranty provider and standards setting body for new build homes, offers the following advice to keep your home cosy and draught free for the winter:

Christmas drink drive campaign

Northamptonshire Police have arrested 52 people since the start of the Christmas drink drive campaign.



Read more: http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/News/Northampton-News/Police-have-arrested-52-motorists-since-December-1-in-Christmas-drink-drive-campaign-20131218094800.htm#ixzz2ntboZPit

Proposed Northamptonshire tidy tip charge described as "backward"

A proposal to introduce a charge at tidy tips has been criticised as “backward” and “irresponsible” by a senior figure from the Green Party.





Read more: http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/News/Northampton-News/Proposed-Northamptonshire-tidy-tip-charge-described-as-backward-20131216193804.htm#ixzz2ntayXtjD

Merry Christmas from the SJRA Committee.


Monday 25 November 2013

Warning!


Police are issuing crime prevention advice after a phone scam continues to affect people in Northamptonshire. 

The phone scam encourages residents to part with bank details including pin numbers and banks cards and police are urging people never to part with this information.

During the scam the offender calls the resident, purporting to be a police officer, investigating a fraud on their bank account, a fraud investigator from a bank or other bank official. They then ask for account information, including their card numbers, security number and pin number.

Thursday 21 November 2013

Police non emergencies & enquiries 101 update



Local people can now report an incident or crime when they call 101.

The Victims’ Voice report identified the lack of an option for people to report an incident or crime when calling the non-emergency number.

In the past callers have been given four options, none of which were to report a crime or incident. 

The phone system has now been changed so there are just three options; if you know the name or extension of the person you wish to speak to, to report a crime or incident and for all other departments and enquiries.

Police and Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds said he welcomed the change, which he hopes will improve the experience of victims and witnesses of crime who are contacting the police.

Legal Highs


POLICE and public health professionals are repeating warnings about ‘legal highs’ following a number of recent incidents in the county.

Three men were found collapsed outside a night club in Northampton town centre last weekend and were taken to hospital. It is believed they had taken a substance identified as a ‘legal high’.

All the men are recovering but the county councillor responsible for public health and well being said that he had serious concerns about the availability and use of new psychotropic drugs.

Councillor Robin Brown said: “The very term ‘legal highs’ could lull people into thinking that these substances are safe and regulated. 

Monday 18 November 2013

Are you aware?


 Are you aware quite how dangerous getting distracted while driving is?

That's the question that police across Northamptonshire will be asking next week in support of Brake's national Road Safety Week which starts on Monday, November 18. The aim of the initiative is to highlight the risks to all road users - drivers, bikers, cyclists and pedestrians - of being involved in a road traffic collision as a result of being distracted. People can be distracted when using a mobile phone, using headphones, applying make up, eating and drinking.


Sergeant Mark Pointer said: "Driver distraction is a major cause of death and serious injury in the UK. Driving is the most dangerous thing that most of us do on a daily basis and requires full attention, but many drivers have a sense of over-confidence and attempting to multi-task is common."

Alcohol Awareness Week


Northamptonshire Police is supporting this week’s Alcohol Awareness Week, which is aimed at encouraging people to think intelligently about alcohol, and the impact it has on individuals and society. 

As well as the associated health risks, excessive alcohol consumption is linked to 50 percent of violent crime, not to mention family dysfunction and road traffic collisions.

During the week, we will be raising awareness of alcohol related issues in the county and asking people to think about their relationship with drink. We will also be backing Dry January 2014, encouraging people to give up drinking for a month.

Alcohol Awareness


Tis the season


Monday 4 November 2013

Remembrance Day Parade and Service 2013


The Mayor of Northampton Councillor Leslie Marriott will lead a procession of councillors and town dignitaries from the Guildhall to All Saints' Church as part of this year's Remembrance Day Parade and Service on Sunday 10 November 2013.

The main Parade will form in two parts on the Market Square.  The Northampton Pipe Band will lead the first part of the march to All Saints’ Church at 9.30am and will be followed by the second part led by the Air Training Corps Band at 9.35am.  The Parade will join with the Mayor's procession at All Saints' Church for the Divine Service which starts at 10am.

After the Divine Service the Parade will assemble outside the Memorial Gardens in George Row.  They will be joined by clergy, the choir of All Saints' Church and the Salvation Army Band.  The traditional two minutes silence will begin at 11am at the first stroke of All Saints' clock.  The laying of designated wreaths and the Remembrance Service will then follow.

After the Service, the Parade headed by the Northampton Pipe Band will make its way to the Guildhall to make the Salute before progressing up St Giles Street, into Fish Street and then reaching its final destination in Abington Street.

The Mayor of Northampton Councillor Leslie Marriott said: "Remembrance Sunday is a special day that allows us to remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our country.  It is also a time for us to think of those injured and of those who are serving our country today.”

Tuesday 29 October 2013

NCC Consultation









Title:



Northamptonshire Highways - Asset Management Strategy Consultation
Subject:Motor Vehicles
Maintenance
Cycle Ways
Public Rights of Way
Footpaths
Roads and Highways
Transport
Rural Communities
Start Date:19 Oct 2013
End Date:01 Dec 2013
Result Date:31 Mar 2014
Overview:
The consultation is about changes to the future policy in relation to highway maintenance policy and standards.  The consultation will be with County Councillors, District and Borough Councils/Stakeholders/Residents and other representative Groups.

The outcome of the consultation will be used to inform the County Councils future asset management strategy including any amendments to policy and standards.

View Consultation Details

Advertising Space On The SJRA Web Site




Chair - SJRA
If you have a local business and you want to advertise your company why not think about letting us do it for you. The SJRA wish to help local businesses advertise their company for very competitive rates. To find out more why not drop us an email at 

stjamesra@phonecoop.coop

or go to our web site 

http://www.sjra.info/.


Northampton Borough Council is Consulting on its Tenant Engagement Strategy. To have your say please click on https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BXN5LZW   

Saturday 26 October 2013


The St Crispin’s Street Fair will be in Northampton town centre later this month and there will be a number of road closures as a result.

Organised by fairground owner Albert Evans and supported by Northampton Borough Council, the event will run from Sunday 27 October until Tuesday 29 October and will be situated on Gold Street, Mercer’s Row, Market Square and Abington Street.

For the duration of the fair, Gold Street, Mercer’s Row, Dychurch Lane and the bottom of Abington Street will be the only roads closed to traffic. Gold Street and Mercer’s Row will be closed from 6pm on Saturday 26 October until 6am on Wednesday 30 October and Dychurch Lane and Abington Street will also be closed to traffic from Sunday 27 October until 6am on Wednesday 30 October.

Other changes being made will include the location of the taxi rank, which is usually situated on Mercer’s Row, being temporarily moved to George Row from 6pm on Saturday 26th October and amendments to the layout of the rides on Gold Street, Abington Street, Mercer’s Row and on the Market Square, which will help improve pedestrian access and minimise disruptions to market traders and businesses.

Cllr Brandon Eldred said that certain changes had been made to accommodate this year’s fair after receiving feedback from local businesses. He said: “With the return of St Crispin’s Fair for the second year running, we have asked the organisers to work closely with town centre businesses to find out how we can make this year’s fair work for them as we help attract more visitors to Northampton.”

The fair opening times are Sunday 12pm to 10.30pm and Monday and Tuesday 10.00am to 10.30pm. 

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Bus Depot Update

The St. James Residents' Association has held productive talks this morning with the Borough Council leader, David Mackintosh on the subject of the future of the bus depot site in St. James.

As a result of previous correspondence between the Council and ourselves and the talks this morning the SJRA are delighted that the Borough Council have acted swiftly to protect the buildings from the uncertainty of sitting vacant for months on end and thereby giving the building a chance of protection and conversion.

We welcome the fact that long time Jimmies End resident and employers Church's are looking to further invest in St. James and are committed to preserving as much of the buildings as possible, thereby protecting the heritage of St. James whilst creating jobs and boosting the local economy.

In respect of the Heritage Enterprise Hub that the SJRA were planning for the site, we are still looking to create something in the future and the Council Leader is still very much aware of our aims and we remain hopeful of achieving this. In the meantime, we look forward to being involved in discussions with Church's and the Borough Council on how we can best preserve our heritage whilst at the same time creating a world class manufacturing site in St. James.

The SJRA would like to place on record its thanks to all those who signed our petitions and promised support. In particular we would like to thank Mary Clarke-Croucher for giving up so much of her own time to research the project and help bring about the promising news of today.

Thursday 25 April 2013

St. James Residents’ Association hustings Meeting for this years County Council elections


On Behalf of the SJRA Committee I would like to thank all the Candidates in  this years County Council elections who turned out to meet the public and answer their questions at the Doddridge Centre on Wednesday 24th April. The SJRA would like to wish you all the very best of luck and look forward to working with our new County Councillors.

Chair SJRA - J Connolly

Eamonn Fitzpatrick (Green) Dallington Spencer
 Gareth Eales (Lab) Dallington Spencer
  Jenny Conroy(Lib Dem) Dallington Spencer
Viv Dams (Labour) Sixfields
 Jill Hope (Lib Dem) Sixfields


Saturday 20 April 2013

Youth Club


St. James Residents’ Association


News

Hustings Wednesday 24th April 2013
The St. James Residents’ Association has organised a hustings for this years County Council elections. The event is for residents of St. James who live in the new divisions of Sixfields and Dallington Spencer which have bizarrely replaced St. James ward in County Council terms.

The meeting takes place on Wednesday 24th April, 7.pm at the Doddridge Centre, St. James Road Northampton..

All Candidates have been invited to attend, those who have replied and confirmed their attendance are, for Dallington Spencer; Gareth Eales (Lab), Eamonn Fitzpatrick(Green), Jenny Conroy(Lib Dem) and for Sixfields; Jill Hope (Lib Dem) and Viv Dams (Labour).

Residents and business owners are urged to attend in order to make an informed decision on their voting preference. They will hear the candidates make a short address then they will have the opportunity to put questions to them.

More information about the candidates can be found on our website here

Please share this e-mail with friends, family and colleagues and perhaps consider putting the attached poster in your window?

Hope to see you there!

Tuesday 9 April 2013

Residents’ Meeting Thurs 11th April 2013



The next open meeting of the St. James Residents’ Association will take place next week on Thursday 11th April at 7pm at the Doddridge centre, St. James Road.

We will have updates from local councillors, Police, Neighbourhood wardens and the Castle Partnership. Two of the councillors will be making their last attendance at this meeting as councillors as the changes to ward boundaries in the forthcoming County Council elections mean they will no longer be representing St. James as a ward, they are Tony Clarke and Suresh Patel.

The forthcoming elections will be discussed at the meeting and some of the candidates will be in attendance hoping to influence the residents vote. All are welcome to come along and see if the candidates are worthy of your vote.

In addition, we have two guest speakers; Jodie Low, Director of Free2TalkCIC, a social enterprise company that work with young people and families and help empower them to change their lives, Jodie will be talking about her work and how they help communities and how they can help residents.

The other guest speaker is Pauline Woodhouse, Community Development Officer for the Northampton Bangladeshi Association who will be talking about her work and the Womens’ Forums she is running and the wider role in the community.

Residents will also have the opportunity to raise any issues or concerns that they may be experiencing and wish to share with the community.

Free tea and coffee will be available and everyone is welcome to attend.

Bands in the Park 2013 summer dates announced



Abington Park in Northampton is to play host to a packed programme of 
live music every Sunday throughout the summer.

Sunday 5 May - Bletchington Silver Band
Sunday 12 May - Gretton Silver Band

Sunday 19 May, 12.30pm-630pm - Pentecost in the Park.
A celebration of the feast of Pentecost by local churches

Sunday 26 May - Northampton Concert Band. 10th anniversary Friends of Abington "Picnic in the Park"
Sunday 2 June - Bedford Town Band
Sunday 9 June - Kidlington Town Band

Sunday 16 June, 1pm-6pm - Twinfest at the Bandstand.
Music from Northampton’s Twin Towns plus local artists

Sunday 23 June - NMPAT Music Services.
The bandstand plays host to the best of the county’s youth performers

Sunday 7 July - MK Brass
Sunday 14 July - Watford Band
Sunday 21 July - Abington Wind Band
Sunday 28 July - Towcester Studio Band
Sunday 4 August - Praise in the Park.  Gospel celebration of praise
Sunday 11 August - Rushden Windmill Band
Sunday 18 August - Moulton 77 Brass Band

Sunday 25 August - Similar Jones.
A bank holiday bash - with a brilliant local band from the Beatles and Stones up to the present day.

Sunday 1 September - Corby Silver Band
Sunday 8 September - District of Dunchurch Band

Tuesday 5 February 2013




The next open residents' meeting of the St. James Residents' Association will take place on Thursday 14th February 2013 at 7.00pm at the Doddridge Centre on St. James Road.

This is the first meeting of the year and residents' are invited to come along and find out what is happening in the area or raise any issues that they are having problems getting resolved.

Residents' can meet their local councillors and hear updates from them. They can raise any crime issues to be forwarded on to the local Safer community Teams.

Whether it be blocked drains, potholes, parking, housing or any other problem that they think people should know about, then come along to the meeting and raise your concern.

The association are also seeking additional committee members to help run the association and raise the profile of the area. So if you have a little time to spare and want to give something back to your community then come along to the meeting or telephone 0784 1678018 for more details.

Free tea and coffee is available and it doesn't matter what race, colour, gender or age you are, all are welcome to attend SJRA meetings.

Monday 4 February 2013

Use It Or Lose It.


Waste and recycling collections update Monday 4 February






Waste and recycling collections are back to normal from today.

Please return to your scheduled collection.

Brown bin collections have resumed and so if your normal collection is scheduled for this week please put your bin out.

The waste and recycling crews will continue to pick up any extra recycling placed at the side of boxes.  They will also pick up any real Christmas trees that are left out alongside brown bins for the next two weeks.  Any extra green waste that has accumulated over the last few weeks can also be left alongside the brown bin, preferably in untied, clear bags.

Check Northampton Borough Council's website at www.northampton.gov.uk for updates or follow on twitter @NorthamptonBC

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Dozens of roads to be closed for £2.5 million upgrade of Northampton’s sewers


Anglian Water is planning to re-line 90 different sections of sewer including five-and-a-half kilometres of pipes in the town centre.
The aim of the work is to protect the ageing brickwork and reduce the potential for the sewer to be blocked.
The work will involve a number of road closures across the town while the work is carried out.
Roads affected include Booth Lane South, Collingtree Road, Kettering Road and Weedon Road.
The work involves a long ‘sock’ lined with resin being inserted into the sewer where it fixes itself to the walls. It is then heat cured to form a rigid pipe within a pipe which is designed to last for 100 years.
John Clare from Anglian Water said road closures may be needed for safety reasons but this will be done with plenty of notice and access will be maintained for residents and emergency vehicles.
He said: “This is a big job but the hope is that by using the liners we can keep disruption to an absolute minimum.

The Government today announced millions of pounds more for road repairs in Northamptonshire on the day the county was hit by the first snowfall of 2013.


Damaged road surface in Northanptonshire
Northamptonshire County Council, which oversees highways maintenance, will receive an additional £3.7m over the next two years in addition to the current annual budget of £16m which the authority spends on preventative road repairs across 2,500 miles of roads.
According to County Hall, the heavy rainfall at the end of last year has caused considerable damage to the roads and, combined with the current severe winter weather, it will bring further deterioration.
Councillor Andre Gonzalez De Savage, county council cabinet member for infrastructure and public protection, said: “We very much welcome this extra money from the Government which is part of a nationwide investment with the aim of helping councils to fund the repair and maintenance of roads which are experiencing increased deterioration due to successive severe winters and the recent heavy rainfall.
“We will use this extra money to continue with our good work of preventative repairs which extends the life of roads and therefore reduce the need for future full structural reconstruction works which can cost up to 10 times more.
“In this way the county council is able to improve value for money and treat more of the road network.”
The Government has made £2,457m available in 2013/14 with a further £1,315m on offer for the financial year 2014/15.
Fluctuations in temperature during very cold conditions can break up the road surface as water expands when it turns to ice. But milder weather brings no respite as surface water can also damage highways because vehicle tyres compress water to such an extent, the increased pressure breaks up the carriageway.

Published on Monday 14 January 2013 13:22

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/business/local-businesses/3-7m-extra-to-treat-northamptonshire-s-weather-worn-roads-1-4679675

St James End before 1965

St James End before 1965

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