Woodford Northamptonshire

Woodford News

Saints Alive

The Saints Alive magazine issued by the Benefice includes more village news and can be viewed on the Benefice website.

April 2024 Parish Council Meeting

Mr D Cullum and Mr G BanhamAt the beginning of the April Parish Council meeting a presentation was made by Chairman Mr Guy Banham to Mr David Cullum, for his work as groundsman for the council. This role primarily involved cutting the village greens and Church Green, a task he has carried out for 31 seasons 1993-2023. Amongst the mementos he was presented with was a small diorama, and a framed certificate of appreciation. Based on the record of hours worked since 1993 and the average speed of Dave’s lawn mower, it was calculated that he had travelled enough miles to reach Perth (Western Australia – not Scotland).

During the meeting discussions about parking and speeding throughout the village were discussed once again and contact will be made again with the relevant authorities again asking for action. Further information regarding these points can be found on www.woodfordpc.co.uk. The Kettering Energy Park Masterplan was once again discussed and the Council agreed to continue to object to this potentially large development, which is currently at the preplanning stage. It was however agreed that any plans, irrespective of the size of any development in the vicinity of the windfarm and the planned solar farm on the A510 towards Finedon must incorporate junction improvements at General’s Corner (Addington Rd, Cranford Rd and Woodford Rd at the A510)   The council agreed to apply to be a trial site for a weekly community bus service from Woodford to Rushden Lakes.

Lastly at 7.00pm the Annual Parish Meeting on 20th May in the school room of the Baptist Chapel. This meeting last about half an hour and is an opportunity for any village organisation to give a verbal annual report of their achievements. Anyone wishing to be included on the Agenda should contact the Clerk to the Parish Council (which convenes the meeting), by 12th May.

News Catchup February 2024

Now that the upgrading of street lamps is complete the Parish Council has been able to reduce the annual precept (the amount we receive from Council Tax ) by £4,000. (15%). On the subject of street lights the council has also ordered an additional lamp to be installed in the High Street between Sunnyside and the old Infant School. This was the longest unlit stretch of pavement in the village.

The council was asked to investigate providing a dog waste bin near the Newtown allotments. The result was that it was not sufficiently accessible for the vehicles which would empty the bin, and there were also three other bins within 250 metres at The Leys, Rose Terrace and Sunnyside.

Other bins are available in Church Street, Bakers Lane, Church Green, West Street, Thrapston Road, Mill Road and two in Highfield. In the last days of the old East Northants Council it was calculated that Woodford had more dog waste bins per head of population than any other town or village in the district. Dog walkers – please use them.

The council has received a number of complaints regarding the state of the verges within the village, due to the wet weather. Please try to avoid driving on the verges to minimise damage. The Parish Council does not have the resources, neither financial or physical to carry out repairs, and any requests for repair should be made to North Northants Council vis www.fixmystreet.co.uk.

 

December 2023 Parish Council

The main subject for discussion was the budget for the forthcoming financial year.Following the completion of the streetlamp upgrades it will be possible to reduce the budget for 2024/5 by £4,000, and consequently the amount raised through Council Tax will also be reduced by a similar amount.

Traveller's Site in Thrapston Road

There are various rumours circulating about what can and cannot be done on the Traveller's Site in Thrapston Road. When the Planning Inspector agreed to a temporary approval for three years, various conditions were also specified. These conditions can be found in the Inspector's Report. The actual layout of the site which the applicant should be working towards was submitted to NNC in February 2022 and it is this plan upon which the Inspector based her decision.

Change of Local Election Arrangements

The Local Government Boundary Review has taken place over the past twelve months and the recommendations to be put before Parliament will reduce the number of Councillors at NNC by ten, and change many of the ward boundaries with effect of the 2025 Local Elections. Woodford will be part of the Thrapston Ward comprising three councillors. The Irthlingborough Ward will reduce from three to two councillors, and will also lose the parishes of Ringstead and Denford which will become part of the Raunds Ward. Ford full details see the Commission's Report.

November Parish Council Meeting

Mrs Sally Bryant was welcomed to her first meeting.

It was reported that NNC would not install a dog waste bin at the Newtown Allotments due to the restictive access for vehicles servicing the bin and the lack of comlaints regarding dog fouling in the area. If you see persisant evidence of dog fouling please report to NNC.

It was agreed to obtain a quotation for the installation of a new street lamp in the High Street between the former infant school and Sunnyside. All street lamps requiring upgrade had now been replaced.

October Parish Council Meeting

At the October Parish Council meeting Councillors hear approval had been given to the Planning Application for a side extension at 78 Highfield and a rear extension at 3 The Moorings. A discussion regarding the alteration to glazing at Manor Farmhouse was also on the agenda, but no objections were raised to this application.

A long standing vacancy for a Prish Councillor was filled with the co-option of Mrs Sally Bryant of Mill Road. This brings the number of Councillors up to the full allocation of thirteen.

It was reported that the remaining orange sodium lamps in the village will be replaced shortly with energy efficient LED models as used in the rest of the village.

The provision of a dog waste bin near the Newtown allotments is also being investigated. Dog fouling is on the up in the village, and there is a legal responsibility for dog owners to clean up after their pets and dispose of the waste in a hygienic manner. The provision of dog waste bins is not required by law but are generally provided to assist the dog owner. Please use them. If on the other hand you are aware of dog owners not clearing up after their pets please report to North Northants Council by visiting www.northnorthants.gov.uk and in the search field enter “dog Fouling” or follow this link.

Lastly, the council is looking to employ a villager to cut the village greens next year following Mr David Cullum advising he wishes 2023 to be his last season. The successful applicant would be directly employed by the Council and would be covered by the Council’s insurance. Fuel costs are reimbursed and a payment for the “hire” of the mower is also made. Further details are available from the clerk.

 

September Parish Council Meeting

At the September meeting of the Parish Council councillors discussed planning applications for 13 Church Street, and also Twywell Station House. No objections were raised.

The Energy Park at Burton Latimer was briefly discussed and councillors learned that a joint letter from local Parish Council had been sent to North Northants Council lamenting the methods that had been employed with regard to the style and scope of the consultation.

Verge cutting this year was reported as being haphazard due to issues with staffing but hopefully will return to more regular cuts until the end of the season.

Lastly it has been reported that Mrs Susan Hayman, Parish Clerk from 1984 to 1998, and Parish Councillor 1999 to 2011 passed away in early September at the age of 91 years. Condolences are expressed to the family by the current Council.

May 2023 Parish Meeting and Annual Parish Council Meeting

The Woodford Annual Parish Meeting was held prior the May Parish Council Meeting. Annual Reports were given by the Parish Council, the General Charity, the Temperance Hall Charity and the Reading Room. The Parish Council report drew attention to some of the costs incurred last year and the huge increase in lighting costs faced by the Council. The Council had commented on twelve Planning Applications, had continued to maintain the Village Greens, pay for verge maintenance and litter picking within the village. The children’s playground is also maintained at the Council’s expense. The General Charity donated £3,220 to good causes and widows and pensioners in the village benefitting 148 individuals last Christmas. The Temperance Hall Charity had provided £7,000 towards works at the Reading Room, Woodford Sports and Community Complex and also contributed towards the upgrading of some of the street lighting. The Chairman of the Snooker Club / Reading Room advised that the snooker club now had fifty members but was still struggling with the cost of electricity. It is also home to the Woodford Library where books can be borrowed for free, or a voluntary donation. There are over 2,000 books to choose from so why not pay them a visit one Tuesday or Saturday morning.

At the Annual Parish Council meeting Mr Guy Banham was re-elected as Chairman and Mr Ivor Vaughan as Vice Chairman. Appointments were made to the two village charities. Planning applications for properties in Highfield, The Moorings and Church Street were all discussed but no objections raised.  The additional information for the proposed green waste recycling plant near General’s Corner was discussed and the Council continues to object to this application. A discussion also took place with regard to the Policy Document being created for the so called “Kettering Energy Park”. A large number of concerns, comments and objections were raised and these will be forwarded to North Northants Council in order to shape the future of this site

Facebook

Rather than being found on Facebook at.

https://www.facebook.com/Woodford-Parish-Council-108585915328013

we can now be found at www.facebook.com/woodford.pc

April Parish Council Meeting

At the April meeting of the Parish Council Ms Sheree Southcombe of Long Row was welcomed as a new Parish Councillor. There is still one vacancy should there be another villager interested in entering local politics. Please see contact the clerk for more details.

There were no new planning applications however, the appeal for the traveller site will be held on Wednesday 24th May at the NNC Thrapston Council Offices. This is a public hearing, so anyone can attend, although it is necessary to register your intention to attend as space is limited. Contact  appeals.ENC@northnorthants.gov.uk or call 01832 742143.

Advance notification of the three day closure of Addington Road commencing on 26 June for water connection works. Local diversions will be in place – see https://one.network/?tm=133581402.

The council discussed the proposed expansion of use for the "Kettering" Energy Park, which the council had previously been advsed was primarily for high energy use businesses, however, there now seemed to be greater emphasis on general warehousing. The greatest concern was that all traffic to the site would be routed from Junction 11 of the A14 past the Woodford and Great Addington junctions of the A510 which is well known as a local accident blackspot. The council is of the opinion that any further development on the energy park site should be coupled with junction improvements on the A510.

The May Parish Council meeting on 16th May will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.00pm, and should any village organisation wish to attend and give a verbal report of their activities of the last twelve months please contact the Clerk no later than 9th May in order to be included on the agenda.

March 2023 Parish Council Meeting

Councillors heard that a planning appeal for an extension to 1 Rectory Lane had been given the go ahead by planning inspectors. A planning application for a garage and store at 1Church Green had been refused by North Northants Council.

Funding had been received from North Northants Council to put towards the cost of repainting the Children's Playground equipmnet in Highfield. This will be carried out by volunteers. A letter had been received from a Club Lane resident complaining about the speed and traffic using CLub Lane especially whe passing parked cars. This road is narrow and not ideal for both pedestrians and vehicles. Ideally if not visiting a propeerty in Club Lane drivers are advised to use Church Green, and similarly pedestrians are advised to use BakersLane which has very little traffic due to being even narrower. The matter has been forwarded to North Northants Highways for any suggestions they might have. Lastly, one of the Councillor vacancies was filled when Mrs Sheree Southcombe of Long Row was co-opted to the Council

February Parish Council

It is been confrmed that the Planning inquiry for the traveller site in Thrapston Road will be held at Thrapston on 24th May.This is a public enquiry and anyone can attend. It was agreed to borrow the litter picking equipment again from NNC for a village wide litter pick for use before the end of April before the verges start to grow too vigorously.

Councillor Vacancies

There are presently two vacant seats on the Parish Council. The Council meets on the 3rd Tuesday at 7.30pm each month to carry out business advised on the agenda. Meetings usually last about an hour and a half. Please view this document for more background information.

If you are interested in being co-opted please email the Clerk by 15th February providing a few background details about yourself and why you'd like to be considered

January 2023 Parish Council Meeting

Woodford Parish Council is looking for two Parish Councillors. If you’ve got two or three hours a month spare then you could be who we are looking for. The council will be co-opting new councillors at the next meeting in February. Consideration was also given and agreed that a request for a reduced speed limit be introduced between Woodford and Great Addington. The route between the A6 at Irthlingborough through to the A6112 at Islip is a frequently used short cut and whilst some of the route is protected by reduced speed limits the Great Addington to Woodford section is not, and this section has had a considerable number of incidents over recent years

December 2022 Parish Council

At the December Parish Council the main business discussed was the budget for the forthcoming year. The huge increases in electricity costs means that street lighting costs have increased by over 120% despite the move over the past three years to energy efficient lamps. The Parish precept (the amount of Council tax the council needs to fund its business) will therefore increase from £21,500 to £27,000. For a Council Tax Band D property this equates to approximately £9 per annum or 17p per week. Band A properties will pay about an extra £3 per year.

The Parish Council now has two vacancies for councillors. These positions will be filled by co-option at the January meeting on 17th January 2023. If you would like more information please see www.woodfordpc.co.uk or email the clerk@woodfordpc.co.uk. Interested persons wishing to put their name forward should do so by emailing the Clerk by 12 January providing some details regarding why they wish to be considered and what skills they could bring to the Council.

November Parish Council

At the November meeting a planning application for five dwellings in The Leys was discussed. This application would involve the demolition of the existing garages and the construction of three terraced houses one side of the road, and a pair of maisonette flats on the opposite side. A similar application had been approved in 2015 and had now lapsed. The Council welcomed the tidying of the disused site, and the fact that off road car parking for two cars per property was included in the scheme. The Council’s major concern was that the development would generate potentially ten additional vehicles using the narrow Whittlesey Terrace.

An application for a small extension to a property in Paddock Road received no objection.

The other main issue discussed was a new lighting power contract. Power for the streetlights had previously been supplied under a three-year contract since 2019. Last year the council budgeted for a 10% increase for this financial year, however, as is now well known since February this year costs have escalated far beyond that figure, with the present supplier forecasting a 200% increase increasing the costs by over £600 per month. The Council is working hard to find more competitive quotes, and at present is hoping to avoid switching lamps of, even if cuts are made elsewhere.

October Parish Council

The October Council meeting started in sombre mood with a minutes silence and tributes in memory of the chairman of the council, Mr Peter Bird, who had passed away at the beginning of October. The first formal business was to elect a new Chairman and Mr Guy Banham received the unanimous backing of the council. Guy has lived in the village for several years and has been a parish councillor for six years.

It was learned that an appeal had been lodged with the Planning Inspectorate regarding the recently refused travellers site in Thrapston Road. The timescale for the appeal is not yet known.

A request for a new dog waste bin in Church Street to be located between the field gate at the end of the road and the Rectory Lane junction was discussed, and advice regarding a location enabling easy emptying of the bin will be sought from NNC.

The Book of Condolence in respect of Her late Majesty the Queen has been deposited at the Lord Lieutenants office for collation with other books from the County. Thanks were also expressed to the Reading Room Committee for allowing the book signing to take place on their premises.

Peter Bird dec'd (Chairman Woodford PC)

1935-2022

Peter Bird was born and bred in Ringstead and on leaving school served an engineering apprenticeship at Keunen Brothers, Irthlingborough, followed by the obligatory national service, as an RAF engineer. On demob in 1959 he joined Unilever Research at Sharnbrook where he worked in a variety of engineering and management roles until being offered early retirement. He met Woodford girl, Muriel,in 1951 but not being an impulsive man, it was ten years before they married in St Mary’s Church Woodford, moving into their newly built home in Church Street later that year. Peter served as a local preacher for over twenty years before becoming lay pastor of the Woodford Baptist Church in 1986, a position he held until earlier this year. He was a trustee of the Woodford Charity from 1963, and served two terms as a parish councillor, 1967-1970, and 1973–2022, over half the latter period in the role of chairman.

On retirement in 1990 he became a magistrate spending a day, most weeks, at Kettering Magistrates Court for fifteen years. He also enjoyed gardening, caravanning, all manner of DIY and travelling.