Archive for category: News

Election of Councillors for the Parishes listed including Harlestone Parish Council.

Parish Notice of Election 2025

People across West Northamptonshire are being invited to have their say on the draft Local Plan strategy which enables West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to plan for the future of the area positively and sustainably by guiding decisions on future development proposals and creating places where people wish to live, work and visit and will thrive.

The draft Plan sets out a vision and objectives for the area, its ambitions for new development and commitment to dealing with climate change. The Plan allocates land for housing and employment and contains a series of planning policies for these and many other topics such as leisure, transport, health and wellbeing, infrastructure and the environment and where development can and cannot take place.

Once adopted the new Plan will replace current plans that cover West Northamptonshire and form part of the development plan against which planning decisions are made.

This consultation is gives residents the opportunity to get involved with this stage of the local plan process and will help WNC consider and address issues before a final draft is produced.

People can have their say from Monday 8 April to Sunday 2 June by visiting: Have your say on West Northamptonshire’s new draft Local Plan – West Northamptonshire Council – Citizen Space

Cllr Rebecca Breese, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Built Environment and Rural Affairs at WNC, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for local businesses, residents and community groups to help shape the future of planning across West Northamptonshire.

“The local plan provides the guiding principles for new development, dedicated green spaces and infrastructure across the area; and has an impact on everyone’s lives across the area. We invite the community to review the plans and have their say.”

The Plan is still being prepared, evidence gathered, and proposals considered, and WNC invite comments on the fully developed policies, the partly developed policies and any other parts of the Plan including allocations for housing and employment growth and guidance that applies to your area.

The draft Plan is accompanied by a number of technical documents and other evidence. All can be found on the dedicated New Local Plan for West Northamptonshire page.

The evidence will continue to be updated as the Plan progresses.

RAINFALL – DECEMBER 2023 to FEBRUARY 2024

Northampton Town last Ten Year’s Averages:

Rainfall – January = 57.00mm. February = 44.64mm.

Northampton average Ten Year minimum temperature = 1.59°F

Northampton average Ten Year maximum temperature = 7.78°F

Days of Air Frosts = 8.80; Days of Rainfall (min 1.00mm = 9.90.

Greenbelt Statement 

The Parish Council have been made aware of a post on another Facebook page which is not monitored by the Parish Council. Any concerns should always be emailed to the parish clerk in the first instance to ensure a timely response.

The Parish Council has tried on behalf of residents to build relationships with Greenbelt. This is evidenced on the Parish Council in meeting minutes via the website for public record.

Feedback previously was that residents were unhappy with additional charges raised by Greenbelt over and above the annual bill. Last year, following concerns over charges for removal of a slide adjacent to Dunkley Way, the Parish Council contacted Greenbelt and asked whether the council could be made aware of works required before they were billed. This was to provide the earliest opportunity to check whether the issue could be rectified by the council or others without costs being passed on to residents. Greenbelt were initially reluctant to share this information, as in order to discuss particular issues, it might require them to divulge details of communications with individual residents and properties. The sharing of such identifiable information is not permitted under GDPR regulations. Since then, we have been allocated a named contact at Greenbelt who the Parish Council can approach to discuss matters of concern, and our intention is to use this method to keep an open channel of communication with Greenbelt.

This week residents received advanced notice of additional costs relating to tree works on the edge of Harlestone Manor estate. The Parish Council immediately contacted Greenbelt to obtain further information about the charges. Greenbelt responded to say that they had been made aware of health and safety concerns from a number of trees which are unsafe and which they are duty bound to respond to. The Parish Council highlighted to Greenbelt that residents are not happy with the costs. Greenbelt have confirmed

• The awkward nature of the job requires specialist equipment which has increased the time and cost for the job
• There is a considerable amount of work to be undertaken at the busiest time of year for tree contractors
• They sought 3 quotes for the works and the price was negotiated down (one contractor was unable to quote due to complexity of the job)
• The work includes the removal of trees that are overhanging into private property, and is necessary to prevent damage or injury to people
• The works are expected to commence in the next few days, with a team of 5 men working over 3 days

To date, the Parish Council has been unable to influence Greenbelt’s approach to charging for work undertaken. We have no authority over Greenbelt or land that we do not own. Nonetheless, we will continue to maintain a line of communication with Greenbelt, to lobby on behalf of residents when issues arise, and to feed back when additional information becomes available to us. We are also continuing to explore other avenues available to Parish Councils that may help prevent costs being passed on to residents.

Once again the Parish Council ask that any concerns are emailed directly to the Parish Clerk clerk@harlestonemanorpc.org.uk so they can be dealt with in a timely and effective manner.