Down Your Way for 17th October

The consultation on the future of our library service closed on 30th Sept, a report was produced, dated 30/09/11 barely enough time one would think to collate effectively all the information sent in, particularly as many comments were sent late on Friday the 30th.

That report has now been approved by the County Council Cabinet, at the meeting held at Silverstone on 11th October.

It makes one suspicious as to the purpose and validity of the consultation when only 1555 people took part ( County Council now say over 1600 took part) and answered loaded questions, then the report is produced in record time to be ratified by the County Council cabinet barely two weeks later. It make you wonder whether the Council are confident in the results of their document? Further, to find any information about the consultation results you have to go to the Cabinet meeting agenda webpage, it was buried where no one would obviously find it. There is no link from the homepage of the Council website, for example, however you can read them on the SJRA website www.sjra.info As expected the proposal was “nodded”through far from the majority of the enquiring public, whom found it difficult to get to such a lhard to reach location. So much for transparency and democracy! Three members of the public (myself included) did address the Cabinet to object to the documents as did several councillors, although not all councillors were against the proposal.

Garages

Sadly this is becoming more and more the picture you are likely to see these days when you walk into a block of Council owned garages. Why is the Council refusing and neglecting to do their jobs and weed and maintain what people pay good money for!

Reported Twice!

Sadly even though this garage was reported to the Borough Council on two occasions including to the Housing officer, it has still been left unattended. Let see if contacting them again will make any difference.

Pathway Being Made Safe

The SJRA were very happy to see work commencing on the footpath to make it safe. Let’s hope the roots from the nearby trees don’t come back to soon.

Libraries Consultation and Strategy Document Proposals

Dear Mr Harker,

We write on behalf of the St. James Residents Association and the Friends of St. James Library Group in reference to the above.

We are very dismayed at the way the recent consultation on the future of the Library Service has been carried out. We note that only 1555 people took part in the process and answered what were, certainly in the case of the first question, loaded and suggestive questions. The first question; “People have said they don't mind paying for the service. How much would you be willing to give?” gives an unfair slant to the process and leads people to believe that they should give something too because others have said they would. It is misleading because no information is given as to what people or how many have actually said such things. A figure of 1555 is no basis to claim that the populace has spoken and the vast majority of Northamptonshire people are all in favour of the County Council suggestion of paying twice for a service they already receive, and certainly no basis to make policy on.

It is not surprising that the results of the consultation were in favour of donations and volunteers, for after all, the way the questions were phrased left the respondents completely unaware about the Council’s intention to cut public funding and to axe full time permanent staff. Therefore, library users quite innocently responded without knowing the underlying context of the questions and could have conceivably given a different response had they of known.

Down Your Way, for Mon 10th October

The Doddridge Centre has applied to the NatWest bank’s Community Force award scheme for funding of £6,000 but the bank will not just be giving it away they need people to vote for the centre. If you have ever needed Doddridge Centre, they hope they can call on your support now.  They need your vote to win £6,000 so that they can offer a Community Force Resource, providing free meeting rooms and support to small, new, and unfunded groups.  If they win, the project will be funded by Nat West Community Force.   In the current financial climate this type of project will be essential to groups at risk because of funding cuts. To vote for us:

Go to the Nat West web page or copy this link; http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/4905, view our profile, tick the box next to “Accept terms and conditions” (if you do!), register by entering your email address and a password, Nat West will send you a verification email, VOTE !!!!  Please tell people about this, because if the bid is successful it will help a lot of people in the community. So get voting!

Cabinet to discuss new bus interchange proposals

Northampton Borough Council’s Cabinet is to consider proposals to locate the town’s new bus interchange on the site of the old covered market (Fishmarket) when it meets next week. (October 12). Creating new bus and passenger facilities is a key part of the regeneration plans for the wider town centre. A number of possible options for a new site have been considered over the past few months, in consultation with partners and user groups.  As a result of this work, the Fishmarket site is now being recommended as the preferred location.  One of the main benefits of this site is its central location, which would bring bus passengers right into the heart of the town and give them easy access to shops, the Market Square and facilities including the Guildhall, County Hall, the Royal & Derngate and Castle Station.

Free car parking in time for Christmas

Cash conscious shoppers and visitors to Northampton town centre will be happy to hear that the cost of car parking in Northampton is being cut in time for Christmas.
As of this Sunday (9 October):

• Parking on Sunday will now be free in all car parks
• A stay of up to an hour in the town’s St John’s, St Michael’s and Mayorhold multi-storey car parks will be free of charge with two hour stays reduced by 25 per cent
• The price of parking for two hours in Northampton’s premier surface car parks and the Grosvenor Centre car park will be reduced by 25 per cent.

Visitors and shoppers are, however, reminded that parking reductions do not apply to on street parking spaces as these are managed by Northamptonshire County Council and are outside of the borough’s control.