PARISH COUNCIL Chairman: Mr Tony Crease (07787 253009) December/January Councillors: 2020/2021 Mr Neil Anthony Mr George Atkinson Mrs Jill Cooke Mr Keith Crouch Mrs Fiona Edwards Ms Libby Hart Mr Austin Havell Mr Jim Mantz Mrs Ann Ranshaw Mrs Fiona Thomas

All Councillors are contactable through the Clerk

Clerk: Mrs Susan Halkett, 16, St Mary’s Way, Weedon, NN7 4QL Tel: 01327 341057 Email: [email protected] www.weedonbec-village.co.uk

WEEDON BEC PARISH COUNCIL You can now keep up to date with the latest news and information from Weedon Bec Parish Council via our We Need Your Help please. website, use the QR Code for easy access or www.weedonbec-village.co.uk For the first time in over 20 Years Weedon Bec Pre-School is Facebook.com/weedonbecpc unable to hold their annual Christmas Fayre.

Twitter @weedonbecpc Instead we are holding a Christmas Prize Draw and in response to an earlier appeal people have been very supportive and donated some Parish Council meeting dates for 2020 fantastic prizes to us including: December 1st, January 12th £100 cash * Christmas Hamper inc Turkey

Meetings are currently being held virtually. The link to the Pamper Hamper * Children’s Hamper meeting is published on the agenda and can be sent to £50 Buy a Gift voucher anyone interested by contacting the Clerk. and many many, more items Meetings commence at 7.00 pm unless the agenda states otherwise We will post a full list on the Weedon Bec Community Facebook page. If you are able to support us by buying any raffle tickets please text or call Louise on: 07956 190675 and she will arrange to get them to you. The inclusion of advertisements does not imply any form of endorsement by the Tickets are 50p each, 5 in a book £2.50 a book. Parish Council and any views expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of the Parish Council Thank you in advance for your support

WEEDON BEC NEWS If anyone wishes to place an article for their group’s activities please give the Parish Clerk, Sue Halkett, a ring on 01327 341057 or email [email protected]. Business rates for advertising are £25 per quarter page advert. Space is limited and will be given on a first come first served basis.

The next newsletter will be distributed in February 2021. Deadline for copy:

15th January 2021.

Published by Weedon Bec Parish Council, contact Sue Halkett 01327 341057 for more information. Weedon Gas Works Scam Alert: Telephone cold calls claiming to be from ‘Amazon’ regarding ‘the iPhone 7 ordered on your account’ (November 2020) We are again warning residents to be on their guard for telephone cold calls claiming to be from ‘Amazon’. A resident received an automated call which stated, ‘The iPhone 7 ordered on your Amazon account at the cost of £399.99 is about to be dispatched’. The call then stated that you could ‘press 1 to cancel this order’. These calls are a scam and are not connected with Amazon in any way. If you receive this or a similar call our advice is do not interact with the call, do not give or confirm any information and hang up.

In previous reports, where residents have interacted with recorded message calls, they have then been connected to a person who attempts to gather personal, account or financial details. If you experience this or similar, please report it to Action Fraud and make friends and relatives aware:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/reporting-fraud-and-cyber-crime

Contractors are also going around the village offering to clear your gutters, please don’t feel pressured to agree to work being carried out without checking out the

contractor beforehand.

If you are receiving regular unwanted calls, you can speak to your phone provider and ask about options to protect your phone. They can offer options such as caller authen- tication steps, ex-directory options, new phone numbers and call blockers. You can

also look to block numbers directly on your phone.

Email scams Fraudsters purporting to be businesses or the Government offering you a service which you never receive. These types of scams are after your personal details such as emails, passwords and bank details. Examples: The map above, based on the 1900 Ordnance Survey, shows the former gas • Research Groups: Fraudsters purporting to be from a research group that mimic works, gasometer and associated house situated between the Ordnance the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organisa- Stores and West Street. The gas works was accessed by a track from Bridge tion (WHO). They claim to provide the victim with a list of active infections in their St (formerly Brook Street). area but to access this information the victim needs to click on a link which redi- rects you to a page where you input your bank details.

On the 25th August 1856 the Memorandum of the Association of the Weedon • NHS: Emails asking for donations during the crisis. These emails ask you make a Gas-Light, Coke and Coal Company was signed and, on the 28th February donation directly to a bank account. 1857, a report appeared in the Mercury of a ceremony of Tips and guidance: lighting up the village of Weedon. Illumination consisted of three stars: one in • Do not click on suspect email links sent to you Lower Weedon, one in Ordnance Row and one in Road Weedon. • The NHS would not ask you to send money directly to a bank account. If you are wishing to donate to the NHS, please contact your local NHS Trust st Weedon Gas-Light, Coke and Coal Company functioned until 1 June 1928 • There are no health groups at present offering any services where you can obtain when it was purchased by the Northampton Gas Light Company which, upon active infection information Nationalisation in 1949. became part of the Gas Board. The Please visit official sources such as the Government or NHS websites for the correct date of the removal of the gas works is not known. information and advice. If you receive a scam email please report it at: [email protected] Weedon Bec History Society Find out more at www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/report-suspicious-emails

2 19

St Peter & St Paul’s Church The photograph on the Church Warden: Sandra Rogers 01327 209435 left shows maintenance work being carried out on the gasometer.

The photograph below Writing this in November under lockdown, it’s difficult to predict what may lay ahead in appears to have been December and January – if nothing else, we are getting used to having to change probably taken around plans. For some of us, that is nothing more than an inconvenience, having to adjust to 1960 in the field, which is restricted lives; to others it is more serious, with health and jobs at risk. I get a lot of now the site of Brookside comfort from looking back at history, realising that times were often a lot worse, and that and Neneside Close. people got through it. And that God has always stayed faithful throughout, travelling When the photographer with His people, strengthening and comforting them. I know that some will say ‘Why took the picture, the does He let these things happen?’, but God is no dictator, He allows us to govern our subject may have been own world – and then we often end up in trouble. But He can bring light into darkness – the boys, but he or she a light that is often shown through the love and care in our communities. It is up to us to did not realise that they spread that light as much as possible. were recording for Church buildings are now shut for regular worship until at least the beginning of posterity the Gas Works

December. We continue to stream the Sunday 9.30am service on Youtube (the link is in the background! on the Weedon Community Facebook page each week), and hope to start services in If anyone knows the date church again once lockdown is over. But despite the hopeful news of a vaccine, I doubt of the demolition of the we will be singing again immediately. This will, unfortunately, mean no Carol Services gas works or has any this year – if there is any change to that I will advertise it as much as possible. I love other information please Carol Services, but being without them does not stop the real message of Christmas – contact 01327 341729. that God loved us enough to share our whole lives with us as Jesus, starting as a tiny, vulnerable baby. We can still celebrate this in whatever circumstances we find our- selves (and it’s definitely worth celebrating!) – and there will be things happening in the churchyard to help us remember the story. Whatever form Christmas takes this year, I hope you are able to feel the love of God surrounding you.

Let’s hope 2021 brings better news for us all. Meanwhile keep well, keep others well, and, as always, keep praying.

Revd. Barbara 01327 340 585 [email protected]

WEEDON BEC RECREATION CHARITY

The trustees of the above Charity invite applications from village groups for funding.

For the application form please contact Betty Harris on 01327 349228 or Sheila Troath on 01327 341642

18 3 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT WEEDON BEC PARISH COUNCIL— Notes from recent meetings. Full In my last report in September I said we were “Just coming out of lockdown” and life minutes are available on the website www.weedonbec-village.co.uk was regaining some small measure of normality. It was not to be and the Covid 19 Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month. Currently, virtual meet- cases started to rise again and reached the point that forced us all into a second lock- ings are taking place starting at 7.00 pm unless otherwise stated on the agenda & published on the Parish notice board and the village website. down for one month. By the time you read this I hope Lockdown 2 has ended and we are able once again, Notes from our meetings: October and November to resume some forms of contact although I think the lockdown release will be slower Village Website: Confirmed that the website conforms with current legislation. and more cautious than the first. It is great news that we appear to have a number of Trees: An arborist has been instructed to carry out a tree inspection on all trees un- Covid vaccines close to distribution giving a more positive outlook for next year. der the Council’s ownership Life at the moment is very different to a year ago and we have all found new ways of Play Areas: Kompan has undertaken its first quarterly inspection on all play equip- doing things. Zoom has become a normal way to communicate and the changes we ment owned by the Council. Nothing serious has been reported. are making were highlighted on Remembrance Sunday. The normal gatherings and Consultations: Planning for the Future and Article 4 Regulations have been re- services were cancelled and replaced by individual acts of remembrance. A very big sponded to by the Council. thank you to Euan who once again gave a moving performance of the last post and to Street lighting: One street light is waiting for Western Power to transfer electricity to Kyle who did a great job of illuminating the church in red, both acts a credit to the it, all others complete. young people of Weedon. Jubilee Field: Confirmed that the planning application has been submitted to the We are looking forward to Christmas and hoping to make it as normal as possible. District Council for the replacement changing rooms and extension of the car park. It is the time of year when we think of those less fortunate than others and I know the residents of Weedon will continue their generosity in contributing to the food bank, Planning: and all the other acts of support so freely given that make Weedon a great place to Application: DA/2020/0720. 7 Harmans Way. Work to tree subject of TPO 134. live. Application: DA/2020/0622. 21 New Street. Conversion and alterations of the ex- I wish you all a good Christmas and a healthy and prosperous new year. isting garage to an ancillary summer house. Tony Crease, Chairman, Application: DA/2019/0950. Land at Weedon Lane (The Pastures), Dodford. Lawful Weedon Parish Council. 07787 253009 Development Certificate, (Existing Use/Development) for siting of single static cara- van for residential use and use of land as domestic garden – Caravan 1, Article 4 Directions. How would you feel if you found out that your house Application: DA/2020/0713. Land at Weedon Lane (The Pastures), Dodford. Lawful had been singled out so you would have to make a planning application and Development Certificate (Existing Use/Development) for siting of single static caravan pay fees of £206 for minor every day changes to your property? Stuff like the for Residential use and use of land as domestic garden – Caravan 2. style of windows and the colour of front doors? Things that your neighbours can do Application: DA/2020/0727. Land at Dodford Wharf Farm. Reserved matters appli- without the cost and trouble of a planning application? This is what District cation (appearance, landscaping, layout and scale) for construction of 47 dwellings Council (DDC) is proposing for 15 older houses in Weedon under legislation known with associated access, car parking, landscaping and open space (following outline as ‘Article 4 Directions’. The properties are not houses which are officially ‘Listed’ by planning approval DA/2019/291) Historic and are not within the village Conservation Areas. They are just old- Application: DA/2020/0295. Land at Weedon Lane, Dodford. Change of use to 5 er houses which planning strategy officers at the District Council think are ‘significant’. pitch caravan site; 1 No. holiday chalet with decking; storage building with shower When Article 4 legislation was introduced by central Government it was intended to and toilet facilities; storage shed; play area; extended access driveway and parking be used only where older buildings were under threat of being pulled down or altered area; and works to maintain/expand earth bund on eastern boundary and where it changed a whole area’s appearance. This is not the case in most rural Application: DA/2020/0803. 2 Billing School Place. Work to tree subject of TPO39. villages in and certainly not in Weedon. Application: DA/2020/0882. Pembrook House, 50 Queen Street. Removal of trees People who buy an older house generally value its history and appearance but, like within a conservation area. most people, they like to personalise their home or make changes to bring their home Application: DA/2020/0864. 30 Fusilier Way. Single storey rear extension and up to modern energy standards. The properties that are the focus of Article 4 Regula- conversion of integral garage to habitable space. tions will have to make a planning application for minor changes that most people Application: DA/2020/0879. 35 Harmans Way. Work to a tree subject of TPO DA1. make for free. They will have to do the work to a more expensive specification than their neighbours. NEWSLETTER DELIVERY If you live in an older property (not listed or in a Conservation Area) do not think you Has anyone got a spare hour, every couple of months? We are looking for are safe. At any time and without providing evidence you could have Article 4 Regu- a volunteer to deliver the Weedon News (and other flyers when required) lations placed on your property. The legislation is easy to implement and the cost is every couple of months. The route is the High Street and Watling Street. recovered from the higher fees that householders pay for minor changes to their prop- If you have the time please call or email Sue Halkett on 01327 341057/ erty. [email protected].

4 17 BIRD NOTES - DECEMBER 2020 Weedon Bec Parish Council WEEDON As Parish Councillors, our role is to improve the well-being and quality for Not much to report apart from Kingfishers being seen along the canal in September. It village life for residents and businesses. We have found the best approach seems that autumn arrivals of Fieldfares and Redwings have been seen throughout the to deliver village wide improvements has been through the creation of County during October in higher than usual numbers, but I haven’t heard of any local mini-groups which generate and research ideas before presenting them for approval reports. Interesting non-avian reports were of a Mink crossing the road by the river in to the full Parish Council. This system also means that Councillors who have a Wood Way on 1st September, the first I have seen locally for some time and there was particular expertise or passion get to focus on that area. The activities and projects th a late Hummingbird Hawk Moth taking nectar in a garden on 15 October. our Parish Councillors work, ranges from the small to the large but the aim of each is

always the same, to provide a benefit to the people of Weedon Bec. NEARBY In September there was still a good gathering of 20+ Yellow Wagtails along the Bridle The following are some of the activities that the Council are involved in way between Little Brington and Brockhall on 5th with a Wheatear at on 6th and a party of 10 Crossbills over Newnham on 9th. At Kislingbury gravel pits there was a Our open spaces female Red-crested Pochard on 28th which was still present on 30th along with another Parks and open spaces create memories for grown-ups and children. Many of us can Wheatear there. vividly remember the parks and equipment we played on when we were youngsters. Around the village of Long Buckby in September sightings included late Willow War- The paint colour, the squeaks, the fun. Perhaps this year, more than most, we can blers, a Little Egret, a Barn Owl, a Siskin, a Redpoll and a Grey Wagtail. At adjacent appreciate how lucky we are having 3 parks and big open spaces on our doorstep. Cotton End Park during the month there were reports of Willow Warbler, Siskin, Red- During lockdown, the open spaces in the village provided the alternative to our back poll, Grey Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Snipe and Redwing and there was a Little gardens. When the play parks reopened again after lockdown 1, it was lovely to see and hear our children playing on the equipment again. A small dose of normality. Grebe with a late youngster on a pond between Buckby and West Haddon. It seems perfect timing that the Parish Council upgraded the facilities at Croft Way DAVENTRY COUNTRY PARK and installed the new mound slide and bike ramps on Jubilee Field just over a year 4th Sep 4 Common Sandpipers and a Caspian Gull ago. It meant that this summer, when so many of us couldn’t go on our usual holidays 7th Sep 2 Common Sandpipers, a Redshank, 3 Mediterranean Gulls and a Yellow- and days out, we had modern facilities and exciting play opportunities on our door- legged Gull. step. At the moment the focus is now on Jubilee Field. The planning application for 18th Sep A Garganey, Snipe, Yellow-legged Gull and Spotted Flycatcher. the new community building and car park extension has been submitted. Some of 28th and 29th Sep A Ringed Plover you will have filled out the recent questionnaire about Jubilee Field. Your answers will th 18 Oct 10 Snipe, a Pintail and a Caspian Gull help the Parish Council prioritise the ‘what next’ for Jubilee Field. These are exciting

BOROUGH HILL times. We have the opportunity to help create some memories for the children of the th village and deliver some modern facilities for the grown-ups! The prize bird was a Black Redstart which was around the summit buildings from 20 Sep until at least 14th Oct. The maximum of 3+ Spotted Flycatchers was on 1st Septem- Village news and digests ber and likewise a maximum of 9 Stonechats on 20th Sep. There was a single Raven In no particular order, the top 5 posts* on the Parish Council Facebook page over the on 7th with 2 Wheatears on the same date. Single Redstarts were seen on 15th and 20th last few months, include a new bench on Jubilee Field, the free business ad promo- and also on 20TH there was a Raven and a Whinchat. The following day produced Ra- tion, the new village-wide lighting installation, a road closure and the play park reo- ven, Whinchat and Wheatear. In October there were still up to 7 Stonechats on 7th and pening at Lockdown 1. The top 10 includes posts on article 4 restrictions and details th th 9 and a single Snipe on 14 . of consultations. We think you’ll agree these are a very varied range of posts cover- ing many aspects of life in Weedon. As well as Facebook there are other ways you RARITIES can see and read what is going on. We have a website and a Twitter page plus this The scarcest 5 in September were a Spoonbill over Billing gravel pits on 8th and at th nd bi-monthly newsletter. We also use the village notice boards for posters on relevant Ditchford gravel pits on 15 , a Bittern at Earls Barton gravel pits on 2 and at Stortons th th village activities. However you choose to follow us, we hope you enjoy the infor- gravel pits on 29 , a Wryneck trapped at Stanford reservoir on 14 and a Yellow- nd mation we deliver you. browed Warbler (also trapped) there on 22 and a Corn Bunting at Harrington Airfield st *Top 5 based on reach figures July-Nov 2020 on 21 . In October:- 5 Glossy Ibis’s over Northampton Golf Course on 22nd, 2 Cranes over Lighting your way home Crick Marina on 14th , a Woodlark at Yardley Chase MOD on 9th, a Dartford Warbler at The installation of the LED lighting has been completed successfully. All the 170 Blakesley ln 17th and a Hawfinch at Yardley Chase on 15th. lights are now in place, quite a major feat. The programme involved substantial re- search into the systems on offer, visits to other parishes to see their fittings and learn Chris Coe about the problems encountered. This has brought the advantage of being able to 01327 340493 benefit from new, rapidly advancing technology. Continued over the page

16 5 Consequently, the lights fitted in Weedon are the latest on the market, with features My first book, Running From The Sky was read not available earlier. Opportunity was taken to replace a wide range of older fittings, and enjoyed by many of Weedon's residents. including 18 concrete posts, which would have reached the end of their useful life Moonshine is a weightier book and definitely for quite soon. We have also been able to fit dimmer switches, to enable us to reduce the the adult market and is already getting some good wattage after midnight. Overall, we are making substantial savings on electricity used, reviews on Amazon. thus benefitting the environment and saving money for local residents. In addition to Set in the 1840s in America, Eliza, born to farm- the street lights, the car park lighting on Jubilee Field has had LED installed, plus solar workers, prefers to live like her brother and father, powered lights for the Church Street under-arch car parking. The whole programme hunting, fishing, and running free, barefoot. Ac- has been funded with a £39,000 contribution from the Parish Council, and an interest- cording to her ma, Eliza is a wildcat who needs free loan over 5 years of £30,000 which will be repaid from savings both in power taming. Despite her difficult relationship with her consumption and elimination of maintenance costs. A vote of thanks should be given ma, her life is happy, sheltered by the love of Mr. to the team from the Parish Council (Councillors and Clerk) who spent many hours and Mrs Deacon, the owners of the farm. When looking at lights and in discussion with the contractors in order to make this a success. tragedy strikes, Eliza’s world will change forever. Projects for the next year include the replacement of the parking barrier in Croft Way, Running from a cruel secret that had dogged her which is in poor condition, and possibly work on the bus shelter replacing scratched young life, Eliza pursues her dream, chasing it Perspex. right across America. Determined to join the wag- CEMETERY & ALLOTMENTS on trains heading west, she weaves tales to gain The Parish Council maintains the grounds and buildings of the cemetery at Ellands trust and acceptance before a God-fearing family Lane - with our thanks to the maintenance team who keep it looking so good. takes her in to journey with them. Just when for- Daffodils have been planted on the bank between the old and new areas of the tune favours her, fate catches her out. They dis- cemetery, which we look forward to enjoying in the Spring. The Parish Council owns cover her journal, revealing the truth about her. and maintains the two allotment sites at Riverside Drive and Church Street. At the Thrown out to find her way across the plains, she stumbles into a dark and danger- moment all plots on both sites are occupied and there is a waiting list of people keen ous world. Alone, bruised and battered by life’s misfortunes, she develops a friend- to take on an allotment. If you would like to put your name on the list you will be ship with a Native American, a relationship of illicit love and ultimate pain. She faces contacted as soon as one is available. murder, rape, and a freezing winter entombed in the mountains. Dreams left in shat-

PLANNING tered pieces. Life has become all about survival.

How would you feel if you found out that your house had been singled out so you The book is available from Amazon as a paper copy and kindle download. You can would have to make a planning application and pay fees of £206 for minor every day purchase it through me, cash only. Contact me direct Mandy Perry by email amanda- changes to your property? Stuff like the style of windows and the colour of front doors? [email protected]. Things that your neighbours can do without the cost and trouble of a planning applica- tion? This is what Daventry District Council is proposing for 15 older houses in Weedon under legislation known as ‘Article 4 Directions’. Just for fun as it is nearly Christmas and we have run out of corny jokes!! When the Parish Council learns about something like this, we contact all the residents Please monitor affected and explain how important it is to let DDC know what they think. We also write Book Titles Government guidelines to the District Council to raise these issues. This is just one example of where the "Housework" by Dustin Cook regarding Covid-19 Parish Council has been able to support the strong views of local people about how "I Love Mathematics" by Adam Up planning operates. If you joined the Parish Council, you could learn a lot more about "Armed Heists" by Robin Banks for any events advertised in how planning works and who really shapes the future of your village. "Get Moving" by Sheik Alegg the Weedon News.

"Girl on a Budget" by Penny Pincher" Ask not what Weedon can do for you but what you can do for Weedon. Cancellations / closures “A Stitch in Time" by Justin Case Your Parish Council is due for re-election in May 2021 and we are looking for new “Sea Birds” by Al Batross may still take place at Councillors who would like to become involved with the future plans for our village. If “Come on in!” by Doris Open short notice you are interested or would like more information please contact Tony Crease on “Parachuting” by Hugo First 07787 253009 or Sue Halkett on 01327 341057 “Don't Leave Without Me” by Isa Cuminn “The Artic Ocean” by I.C. Waters If you see a water leak on The Regulations Team at the County Council has informed us that the A45 between “Best Breakfasts” by Hammond Deggs footpaths or on the roads, report it to th Daventry and Weedon Bec will be closed from 7 pm Friday 8 January until 6 am “Work it out” by Anna Gramme Anglian Water on th Monday 11 January 2021, for road re-surfacing. “The meaning of words” by Dick Shonnery 0800 145 145

6 15 United Reformed Church Weedon Village Hall Sunday 6th December we will be holding our annual Christmas gift Well, it is good to report that the Village Hall reopened for business following the first service where gifts for the charity Eve, (a women and children’s refuge lockdown and we had a very good take up of hirers despite the fact we have had to charity) will be dedicated. If you would like to donate Christmas gifts for impose restrictions and conditions of use. To enable the Hall to be classed as a children also gifts (toiletries etc) for Mums. No gifts are to be second “Covid Free Environment “ meant a great deal of work being carried out by the Hall hand or wrapped. Monetary gifts would be most welcome. Also if you Management Committee. We would like to express our thanks to our Hirers for their would like to donate tinned or packets of food, chocolates, or Christmas help and support and adapting to the new regime! goodies. Please contact Pamela Taylor 01327 341968. The Committee felt it was most important that the Hall could open for the Community If you need to speak to someone from our Church do not hesitate to ring our Minister to use and have invested a lot of time and effort to ensure it did!. Our efforts have Revd Jay Phelps on 01327 340282 or mobile 07436 811514, or our Secretary Mrs ensured that the Hall can continue to host the Weedon Pre-School through the cur-

Margaret Hooper on 01327 340524. rent lockdown.

Please ring Mrs Margaret Hooper if you want to hire our Chapel Schoolroom. Recently we installed two large opening windows to improve the Hall ventilation and Stay safe and well will soon be installing two large powerful ventilation fans to help with air changes too, all in accordance with Covid-19 recommendations for improving the environment. We FixMyStreet now directly employ our cleaner Solomon who is doing a great job keeping the Hall neat and tidy and sanitised too! If you notice any potholes, problems with footpaths and roads, please report directly to Northamptonshire County Council’s FixMyStreet. Do you think you would like to help run your Village Hall? We would welcome some This can be done online and now allows customers to upload photos – making it further help to ensure your Community asset continues to thrive. Please visit the web clearer where highway defects are located. site https://weedonbec-villagehall.btck.co.uk for further info or email us at weedonvil-

You can easily map where the defect is and also view assets such as signs, trees [email protected] to express an interest. and adopted highways so it is easy to identify exactly what you need, when making Looking forward to hearing from you. your report. It also shows previous reports and gives updates online. Website: www.fixmystreet.northamptonshire.gov.uk Tony Wincott, Chairman & Trustee Weedon Village Hall Committee - Reg Charity No.304445 Health & Safety Portfolio, 07702 055601 HAPPY Local Council Tax Support Scheme Consultation. You are invited to give your FEET comments on the proposed changes to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS). LCTRS provides a percentage reduction on council tax bills for working age people and households. There are currently different schemes in place across Daventry, Northampton and . Following the formation of Foot Health Practitioner st Council on 1 April 2021, these will be bought together to • Corns create one scheme. • Hard callused skin Currently, the maximum reduction that working age people receive across Daventry, • Verrucae Northampton and South Northamptonshire ranges from 91.5% to 69%.One proposal • Ingrown toenails being considered is to set the maximum reduction of 73.5%. This proposal would • Toenails cut make the scheme broadly cost neutral to the new authority and place no additional

cost burden on the wider taxpayer. In addition, there are five other proposals outlined

For home appointments in the consultation document. or an appointment at Those of pensionable age are unaffected by these proposals. They will continue to Riverside Court, on the first receive the same level of reductions; these are protected by the prescribed regula- Wednesday of the month tions set out by central government. Full details about the scheme, how the proposals were developed and the other op- Call Jorgi on tions considered, along with the consultation questionnaire are available online at the following link: https://futurenorthants.citizenspace.com/lctrs-west/2021-22 07842 266575 th or email The consultation closes at midnight on 13 December. All responses are anonymous and participants are not required to submit their name or address. The final scheme [email protected] will be agreed by the West Shadow Executive Committee on 26th January 2021.

14 7 ROMAN WAY BREWERY United Reformed Church The Roman Way Brewery moved to Weedon Depot in Jan- Over the road from One Stop uary 2020, giving Weedon residents a unique opportunity to enjoy real ale brewed and bottled on the premises. Dan Minister Revd Jay Phelps Smith, the owner and brewer, started promoting beers Tel: 01327 340282 Email: [email protected] online during March with collections from the Unit at the Depot and also home deliveries in the area, especially im- Church Street portant with Lockdown impacting all small businesses. Dan was working on a farm when he had a call for help from his friend who started People of Hope the Silverstone Brewery and who was getting overwhelmed with production. He In this season of Christmas, inspire us to be a people of hope. went to help and stayed on a permanent basis, eventually taking over the whole Encourage us not to be greedy for material possessions, but for justice and truth. operation. When the brewery changed ownership he decided to start up on his own Enflame us with a love for others, which crosses boundaries of race, religion and and founded the Roman Way Brewery. Initially this was set up in a unit in the Cherry nationality. Lane Garden Centre, Stony Stratford and, as Dan is very much interested in local Stir within us a desire to fight for the integrity of creation and appreciate the history, took the name for the brewery from the Roman Road. He then kept the name immense beauty of the earth. Be with us, Lord at this time of uncertainty, that we may be a people of hope. Amen when they moved to Weedon, as it fits with the A5 – Watling Street – and the Depot. The average weekly brew is 1250 litres, 5 brews a week with 400 bottles from each brew. From time to time he brews a speciality one off beer, which have all been very SERVICES for December and January popular and is currently working on a Christmas special which is top secret at the The following are hopefully our services for December and January we would love to welcome you, so come and join with us at any or all of these services. moment but details will be released soon.

Beers DECEMBER Senate Gold 4.1% ABV - A refreshing golden bitter brewed with New Zealand hops Sunday 6th 11.00 am Gift Service for a smooth bitterness and mellow finish. Sunday 13th 11.00 am Service with Communion IPA Claudius 5.5% ABV - A golden ale with a blend of malts that gives this beer Sunday 20th 11.00 am Service subtle malt tones combined with hops delivering citrus notes. Sunday 27th 11.00 am Service

Boudicca Black 5.5% ABV - Black, hoppy IPA style beer brewed using selected malts that add only colour to this refreshing tasting dark ale and allows the dark fruit JANUARY aromas of the cascade hop to come through on the nose. Sunday 3rd 11.00 am Service Pantheon EPA 6% EPA - Copper coloured Empire Pale Ale made with six hops and Sunday 10th 10.45 am Service with Communion six malts. The initial sweetness of the malts gives way to a medium bitterness and Sunday 17th 11.00 am Service loads of hop flavours. Sunday 24th 11.00 am Service There is also speciality gin, rum and a selection of liquers from the Wharf Distillery Sunday 31st 11.00 am Service based in Potterspury and distributed locally by Roman Way Brewery. The full range of products are available on the website. FEBRUARY

The brewery has a tap room where all beers are available to enjoy on site. During Sunday 7th 11.00 am Service the current lockdown they are open 4.00 - 6.00 pm on Fridays and 12.00 noon - 3.00 pm on Saturdays for take away beer and collection of orders only. The normal tap- As things stand at the moment of writing this, we are hoping to hold the services room hours are 4.00 -7.00 pm Fridays and 12.00 noon - 6.00 pm Saturdays. Deliver- listed, but things may change as we try to adhere to Government guide lines. We do have all the requirements in place to be Covid-19 safe. A mask must be worn on ies are made all through the week. entry to the Chapel and worn throughout the service. Orders & Enquiries: Orders can be placed by phone or email. Gift packs of 3 mixed bottles are available and, nearer to Christmas, there will be some special offers to LESSONS AND CAROLS. Unfortunately due to the current situation we are sad- tempt those who want to find a unique gift. Deliveries locally are free of charge within dened to say this will not take place this year. We will hopefully be having our Christ- a 15 mile radius and with a minimum order of £30.00. Deliveries further afield can mas Day service at 10am. be arranged. Any other requests or queries please phone or email – just ask, most requests can be sorted out. Every Thursday at 9:30am from 3rd December Prayers in the Schoolroom or out-

Contact – Dan Smith on 07950 234991 or email [email protected] side for 15-20 mins. You are very welcome. Roman Way Brewery, Unit 79 Weedon Depot Continued over page

8 13 COUNTRY COMFORTS – Meals on Wheels Weedon Bec Information Pack In an emergency, when there The pack contains lots of information is a crime in progress or a life Country Comforts is similar to Meals on Wheels and is run by Marie Byles. They are based in Towcester, delivering to all villages from Brackley to Weedon. Marie’s back- about village activities as well as local at risk, always call 999. services and is available to all new resi- ground is in catering for elderly people in Independent Living accommodation and To report a crime or incident, provide when she was unable to continue earlier this year, started her own catering business dents. If you have recently moved to information or for advice, call 101 or Weedon Bec or have a new neighbour, — Country Comforts. visit www.northants.police.uk please contact the Parish Clerk, Sue All meals are cooked & delivered to their customers fresh each day between 12.00 Halkett, on 01327 341057 or via email at To contact your Neighbourhood Team noon to 2.00 pm. There are no contracts and you can order as little or as often as you weedonbecpc@ btinternet.com and she’ll covering Daventry and surrounding wish – once a week or every day, it is entirely your choice. Each day there is a main arrange for a pack to be delivered to you. Villages, use the following email: meal with a meat or fish dish, potato and vegetables, together with a pudding. There NeighbourhoodTeamDaventry is a set menu each week to choose from and the menus change each week over five Calling all businesses and village @northants.police.uk weeks. You certainly won’t get bored. The meals come in foil trays so that if you don’t groups. If you would like to include a want to eat them immediately, they can be warmed in the oven or put onto a plate and leaflet in the Weedon Bec new residents You can also provide confidential information should you wish to remain warmed in the microwave. The meals cost £7.00 per day inclusive of delivery. First information pack, please contact Sue, order is half price. To see all menus and this week’s menu visit the website at details above. We are currently anonymous. www.countrycomforts.wixsite.com/countrycomforts or look on Facebook, or email distributing about 4 information packs to These calls can be made to the Inde- [email protected]. For those who don’t have the internet please phone new village residents each month. It's the pendent Charity Crimestoppers on and, for anyone who would like more information or a menu sent to them, contact Ma- ideal way to attract new members to your 0800 555 111 or visit rie on 07388 935803. group or to promote your services. www.crimestoppers-uk.org EXAMPLES – Cottage pie, carrots, cabbage & homemade sponge; Chicken pie, herby roast potatoes, carrots, green beans & cheesecake; Beef pie, carrots, peas, mashed potatoes & trifle; Faggots, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables & Fruit crum- YATES ble; Fish, chips, mushy peas & Homemade fruit crumble. LANDSCAPES

Local family business since 1975

PATIOS • FENCING TURFING HEDGE TRIMMING PATHS GRASS CUTTING TREE PRUNING GARDEN CONSTRUCTION GENERAL GARDEN MAINTENANCE

HOLLY HOUSE CROFT WAY, WEEDON Northampton Hope Centre NORTHANTS, NN7 4QX Building 1, Royal Ordnance Depot Once again, I would like to thank, most sincerely, all neighbours and friends who have Open 7 days a week Tel: 01327 342599 donated to my winter collection for the homeless. It is always received with Mob: 07450 243495 Mon—Sat 10 am to 5 pm immense gratitude by the Hope Centre and we hope to have our usual spring collec- Sunday 10 am to 4 pm FOR FREE ESTIMATES tion in May of next year. Jenny Wilshire.

12 9 Hello again, I’m Harry Burr. You once knew me for canals, but you now probably As you can see, it is a very bold plan but just from the map you could see the bene- know me more for what took over canals, the UK national rail network. I am now the fit of the line, and the social and economic impacts, not only connecting the small non-profit administrator for Sustainable Transport Northamptonshire, a rail campaign- and large towns but also the smaller villages such as Silverstone and Whittlebury, ing group to not just reopen Weedon Station, but entire railway lines. and, of course, Weedon, which would act as a hub for the entire network with a larg- er station to serve this junction, comparable in size to Ebbsfleet International, and

being named “Weedon Interchange” instead.

Now, moving on from South Northants Link, I’m going to talk about my new not-for- profit scheme called Sustainable Transport Northamptonshire (formerly CFIR). As you can tell, all of these projects need to be under one umbrella so that we can manage them better and more efficiently and allow better integration between all the proposals, eg Weedon Station Project with South Northants Link, a proposal and campaign integration report which has already been published (downloadable from transport-northants.com).

As you might be able to tell, I am really busy at the moment, juggling school work and transport campaigns (you can read my second article in Northampton Chronicle for more info about that). Because of this, I have recently started to reach out for more volunteers for Sustainable Transport Northamptonshire. As many of you have I like to be really open with the local community, which is why I write in these sorts of an interest and expertise in the rail industry and transport industry as a whole, I newsletters, to get a local audience to have more of an interest in our public thought I’d let you know of this volunteering program existing. transport network. Today, I’ll be covering a few things such as my new project called South Northants Link, my call for volunteers and local expertise and my continued You can sign up to volunteer, find out more info about us and the benefits of volun- research. teering for us at https://snlv.crd.co. It is super fun to learn more about our projects, and, of course, the extra experience you earn would be valuable. It could also give

I have recently started another project called South Northants Link (https://snl.crd.co), you something to do during Lockdown 2.0 (and possibly 3.0?!) as it is all remote. of which the end goal is to open a brand new railway line, using some old track for- mations, to reconnect Northampton to Banbury and Leamington Spa, and on the One extra thing I am asking for is expertise. Many people have asked me and my way, re-connecting towns and large villages such as Daventry, Towcester, Brackley partners what these stations will look like, for example, and all I can give them is and of course, Weedon to the National Rail network, allowing direct services to the “Weedon Interchange Station will look like Ebbsfleet International” fno rough sketch nearby towns which would benefit from the new link, and to cities such as , or mockup, because I just don’t know how! (trust me, I’ve tried before, and failed Birmingham and even Edinburgh and Glasgow. Below, you can find a route map, or a spectacularly!) If anyone in the village, or anyone reading this article, knows about more detailed version on our website. this sort of thing, feel free to email me on my personal email address, [email protected] and I’ll get right back to you.

A few other things I should mention: • For updates and more info on our projects, you can visit our website, which will soon be getting a blog, at https://transport-northants.com. • Feel free to follow me on Twitter, at @2hb06_ where I tweet about many things concerning the Northamptonshire transport industry, and my projects and an- nouncements. • If you are a local business, and you think any of our projects, such as Weedon/ Weedon Interchange Station or South Northants Link will benefit you, I would love to hear from you and have a chat about supporting and promoting the scheme, or just having a conversation about what you would like us to do to im- prove! My email address is [email protected] if you would like to talk. • General enquiries about our campaigns can also go to that email!

Thank you for reading and continuing to bear with us as we campaign for your new rail link!

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