The most important case for HS2 in Northamptonshire is the lack of capacity on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). This serves Northampton via the loop line and Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and many other towns on the main line. From about 2020 there will be little or no spare capacity on the line, which is […]

“I’m getting very worried about Northampton at the moment” writes County Councillor Richard Church. It’s not that it doesn’t have much going for it, because it does. It’s got a strong work force, it’s located fantastically, it’s got beautiful architecture, a proud history, art galleries, theatres, shops, restaurants, and residents that want to thrive, and […]

AT THE Lib Dem Spring Conference in Sheffield I spoke in the emergency debate: “Tougher Action on Banks and Bonuses.” I spoke about how difficult it can be for small businesses, not only to borrow money from banks, but even to open a business bank account. The high street banks have been persuaded by Government […]

WRITING in The Guardian, Jim Steer, director of Greengauge 21, a non-profit making organisation researching high-speed rail says: “HS2 is the most efficient way to tackle a fully foreseeable problem – transport capacity is running out”. “It is better to build from scratch rather than again attempt a disruptive line-of-route-upgrade”. Jill Hope agrees and says: […]

PLANS for the remodelled and expanded Grosvenor Shopping Centre will be on display opposite Superdry in the Grosvenor Centre (Abington Street entrance) on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 March. Lib Dem Councillor Richard Church, who is the Cabinet member responsible commented: “We have been waiting a long time for these plans to be developed, and […]

BILL NEWTON DUNN, your Lib Dem Member of the European Parliament in the East Midlands comments: “In February, the European Commission passed a bill granting special protection to the Cornish Pasty. “No longer will street vendors across the world be able to use the name of this revered English snack to help them sell whatever […]

THE CHRONICLE’S report was an accurate report – as far as it went. It mentioned the visit of a group of skateboarders to the meeting to demonstrate their enthusiastic support for the £250,000 which the Lib Dem Council has allocated to develop an international standard skate park in Northampton. The report also pictured protestors against […]

PEOPLE talk about how great Northampton market, on one of the largest market squares in England, was in the past. The local paper has, for the last four years, been bombarded with letters criticising the borough council for the market’s decline. This is since the LibDems took control of the borough council in 2007 – […]

ON THURSDAY 24 Feb the Conservatives on Northants County Council used their large majority to pass their budget at County Hall. Because of their financial mismanagement, the impact of the recent Government cuts has been horrendous, but once the vote was taken and the budget was passed, the Conservatives clapped and cheered themselves as people […]

“What do you think of the Coalition Government?” “I’ve been asking people of all political persuasions in West Hunsbury this question” says Jill Hope. Much to her surprise, the general response is that people like it. Many thought it wouldn’t last. Many thought that the LibDems would be swallowed up, but now acknowledge that this […]