The Rothwell North Working Party AGM will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Rothwell at 19:30 on 31st October. All residents of Rothwell and Desborough are invited to attend.
The existing working party members are all willing to continue on the working party but we do have room for one more member. If you are interested in joining the working party you need to submit your application by 24th October with the names, addresses and signatures of 2 residents of Rothwell or Desborough who second your application. Applications should be sent to:
Revd. M Mossman,
32, Tennyson Road,
Rothwell,
Kettering,
Northants.
NN14 6JH
The following is the annual report for our activities in 2022, printed copies will be available at the AGM.
Rothwell North Working Party (RNWP)
Report for year ending October 2022
Membership: We currently have 12 members.
The Committee:
Chair Peter Chapman
Secretary Liz Berridge
Treasurer Andy Browne
Outline of action:
RNWP has continued to meet on a monthly basis online via Zoom since the Coronovirus lockdown in March 2020.
Since the last AGM Rothwell North Working Party has continued to inform local residents, via social media, of both the ongoing progress made at the site, and issues which could adversely affect their journeys. This level of communication has made for a good relationship between the developers and the general public, who have tolerated major inconvenience far better when understanding the cause of traffic disruption, and been given a realistic estimate of the length of time involved. It is thanks to the regular information exchange with Persimmon that this has been achieved.
Rothwell North Working Party has continually updated it’s Facebook page with relevant information, and responds to queries raised by any of the 534 members.
The opening of the roundabout at the A6 end of the strategic link road is currently delayed due to the non-arrival of some security gates, but Persimmon have confirmed that it is expected to be opened to construction traffic at the beginning of October 22. Also that they are now well within the target of being open to all traffic by the occupation of the 150th dwelling. This target was reduced considerably by the intervention of RNWP, and the co-operation of Persimmon to achieve it.
The progress of the development was summarised in a leaflet produced in the Spring of 2022 by RNWP. This was delivered to the majority of properties directly affected by the additional traffic caused by construction work, and also displayed on the group’s Facebook page.
In the past year RNWP has continued to have sight of the recordings from the ANPR system which, until the partial opening of the route from the A6, monitored construction traffic entering and leaving the site. Penalty notices have been raised against vehicles which have not used the approved route. The funds raised will soon be available for distribution to local charities in Rothwell and Desborough, in equal part.
RNWP has monitored progress of the site boundary with The Gullet nature reserve, in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. This is to ensure the new hedging planted along the boundary will become an adequate barrier against wind-blown debris and deliberate rubbish disposal into the reserve, and also to prevent access to the site from that direction, either intentionally or due to accidentally slipping down the bank from the adjacent play area.
RNWP has identified a potential issue with access to Montsaye School as the number and age range of pupils continues to expand, and has made contact with both Persimmon and the Pathfinder Schools group to make them aware that the only opportunity to create a new safer access point will be lost forever, if the proposed site layout at the rear of the school is not altered before building work commences.
On another school-related issue, Rothwell North Party has approached the local planning authority, asking them to be mindful when considering applications for businesses within the retail area, as fast-food outlets would not be desirable in such close proximity to the school.
(updated 29 09 22)
