Friends of The Library
Yes the fight is very much still on and a thriving friends group that can help drive user numbers up even further, will help protect the library from future attacks, the first of which will come later this year. Friends groups hold events, raise extra funds, help out (but not run the library) and generally promote the library to make it a fun, interesting, safe and welcoming place to be. Your help is appreciated, if you care about your community why not get involved? For details of how you can help out at the library visit: http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/leisure/libraries/publib/pages/vols.aspx The County Council will soon be holding a public consultation of the future of the library service as part of its comprehensive review.
Old St. James School Site
As you may know a planning application has been submitted to redevelop the Old school site. The plans (N/2011/0504) are to demolish the buildings (leaving the hall building that fronts St. James road) and replace with 14 houses. The building at the front is planned to be for community use of commercial enterprise.
· The SJRA has lodged an objection to this development and would rather see the buildings converted to either residential, business or a mixture.
· The school site is a rare example of a church school, particularly in Northampton.
· Too much of our heritage has been destroyed in St. James and Northampton in general.
· The buildings are as much part of St. James as the name itself.
· The site enjoys “curtilage” listing from the grade 2 listed Church, which the developer is trying to change claiming there is no link between the two!
· This application will be decided by “delegated powers” which means the planning officer alone will decide whether this is good for St. James, not a planning committee.
· SJRA believes a planning committee should decide on any applications not one single, unelected, unaccountable individual in the planning office.
· We are urging residents to lodge an objection based on the above. See our attached letter of objection.
· You can view the plans by visiting http://www.northampton.gov.uk/site/scripts/home_info.php?homepageID=179 and you can also leave comments on the application page. Enter the planning application number above when asked to do so.
Other Planning Applications
Applications have also been made for 24 flats at Spencer Street N/2011/0465, 9 2-bedrooom flats and 5 4-bed houses (N/2011/0399) on the Fyna vehicle site on Melbourne Road/Abbey St. The SJRA has also raised an objection to the latter application as well on the basis of not enough parking being provided in the plans. Parking and traffic issues are horrendous in that area as it is. Again all these applications are to be decided on “Delegated Powers”! We also urge you to view the plans and if necessary object. In addition we are inviting people to write to their Councillors to complain about these delegated powers.
Community Centre
The Community Centre has been added to the list of centres that the council want to offload and be managed by an outside group. Several “expressions of interest” have been received. More details will be available at the meeting.
Next Residents Meeting
All these issues and more will be discussed at the next residents open meeting which will be on this Thursday, 30th June at 7pm at the Doddridge Centre on St. James Road.
Subsequent meetings are onThurs 22th September 2011 (A.G.M.) and Thurs 15th December 2011. The committee however meets every six weeks to discuss issues in the area and regularly meets with our councillors.
If you cannot make it to the meeting why not have a look at our websites http://www.sjra.info/ and http://www.jimmys-end.blogspot.com/ .
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