Unknown Species ??

Spring is around the corner and the flower beds in St James Square are looking wonderful.I think the shrub is a tobacco plant as there are dozens of cigarette butts all around.

Paradise Rejuvenated

The Demise of a Local Landmark

Castle Pub – The SJRA has been successful in applying pressure to have the Castle Pub made secure. Since the premises ceased being a pub it has been gradually descending into a state of disrepair and has lain empty while the owner has been attempting to convert it. The project stalled sometime ago and as a result the building became unsafe with broken windows and doors that were insecure leading to the suspicion that squatters may have taken over the building. The owner has allegedly gone bankrupt.
The SJRA contacted the ward Councillors and informed them of the deteriorating condition and as such they informed us that the Environmental health dept was investigating. The result is that the Council has decided to forcibly board up the premises to make it safe. This was due to take place on Friday 27th February 2009.
This issue is one that has been constantly raised at SJRA meetings by concerned residents and we thank them for bringing it to our attention. We will continue to monitor the situation until the building is hopefully, one day, inhabited again in a proper manner

Down Our Way

There is now a mobile police station visiting St James on regular basis. The next surgery for St. James SCT is 2nd March, between 12 and 3 pm at Sainsburys in the coffee shop.

Update on the Castle Pub; the council have started the process for boarding it up and are attempting to contact the current owners.

After discussion, and vote, at the last residents association meeting, the Exec have written to Northampton Probation Service informing them that although we are happy for the probationers to be working on worthwhile tasks while wearing high-visibility clothing, it was voted for the `Community Payback` legend not to be used on the clothing of the probationers while they are working in the St James area of Northampton.

Next SJRA meeting Thursday 26th March - get it in your diary now!

The Tree Lives !!!!

 

The tree adjacent to the Nat West Bank is apparently alive and well according to an inspection carried out by the NBC

XMAS PARTY SUCCESS

The SJRA Senior citizens Christmas lunch on the 10th December was a great success. Twenty of our senior residents were treated to a free Christmas lunch of roast turkey and all of the trimmings with a raffle and entertainment provided by Perfect Notes school of music. All of the residents thoroughly enjoyed themselves and had a great time. It was a pleasure for the association to provide this lunch for our senior residents. A big thank you goes to Caroline Standring (Neighbourhood Warden), Naomi and Charlotte castle Ward S.C.T. Community support officers and Gemma Craigie from CASPAR+ for helping out in serving tea and coffee and generally making sure the residents had a good time. Also to Sue and Linda at the Doddridge centre for being the perfect hosts. Not forgetting the “Chefs in Training” organisation for cooking a marvellous lunch. Of course none of this would have been possible if it was not for the very generous donations provided by our sponsors who were; McManus Pubs, Church`s shoes, Cube Partners, Underwood and Weston, Square One Café, Calmac Tyres, Northants Police Castle Safer Communities Team and CASPAR+.

XMAS PARTY SPONSERS

A BIG THANK YOU TO THESE PEOPLE FOR SPONSORING THE OAP'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

McManus Pubs
Square one Café
Cube Partners (accountants)
Underwood & Weston
Church`s Shoes
Suresh Patel (K.P. news, Weedon Road.)
Northants Police Castle SCT.