Police have released CCTV images of two men they would like to speak to about a burglary in Ketterin.
The burglary happened in Barton Road during the evening of Sunday, March 24.
The men or anyone who recognises them, to contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.
Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Councillors met this week to determine a series of planning applications in the south of the county.
South Northamptonshire Council’s planning committee convened at The Forum in Towcester on Thursday afternoon (April 11), and discussed three items. Here’s a rundown of their decisions.
Proposal: Demolition of existing storage shed and erection of a new steel framed storage shed at Reuse and Recycling Centre, Farthinghoe.
Decision: APPROVED
Applicant: South Northamptonshire Council
The application was seeking consent to demolish an existing storage barn at the Farthinghoe Reuse and Recycling Centre, and construct a smaller replacement building serving the same purpose.
The centre is owned and operated by South Northamptonshire Council, which is why the decision had to come to the planning committee.
The existing building has a floor area of 287sqm whereas the proposed building has a floor area of 240sqm and therefore represents a slight reduction in floor space.
Vice-chairman of the committee, Councillor Ken Pritchard, commented that it was ‘unusual’ that the replacement building was smaller than the current one.
Councillor Julie Herring questioned why the council was moving forward with this application, to which planning officer William Anstey answered: “The existing building is leaking and is in poor condition, and some of the building contains asbestos.”
Officers considered the proposed building represented an ‘enhancement to the appearance of the site compared to the existing situation’ and therefore didn’t consider it harmful to the character and appearance of the area.
Proposal: WNDC Outline Planning Application - Outline application for residential development up to 82 units including public open space and associated works [reallocation of section 106 funds]
DECISION: APPROVED
Councillors agreed to fund a new electric flashing ‘slow down’ sign on a Towcester road that has a ‘serious’ speeding problem.
The £2,600 scheme on Northampton Road will use funds from an 82-home development that was built at Belle Baulk.
The money is available to use as plans to build a number of bus shelters on Watling Street using the funds from the developers, known as section 106 money, had fallen through.
The council papers said: “Whilst it was unfortunate that the installation of bus shelters was not possible, the alternative project currently identified is considered to be an acceptable alternative and in due course other projects will be reported to planning committee to ensure that the funding is spent to meet or mitigate any need or impact arising from the development.”
OTHER BUSINESS
Members of the committee hit out at their own authority for the ‘small’ amount of money - just £300,000 - that it agreed with developers that would be pumped back into the neighbouring villages as ‘mitigation’ for the Northampton Gateway development.
Roxhill's Northampton Gateway proposal would see a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) comprising large warehouses built on land east of the West Coast Main Line and next to junction 15 of the M1, between Milton Malsor and Collingtree.
The £300,000 fund, to be spent locally and administered by the council, is intended to be spent within the parishes of Blisworth, Milton Malsor and Roade.
But Councillor Karen Cooper, whose ward includes Milton Malsor, asked whether officers had just accepted the sum or whether they challenged it.
She said: “When I saw the sum I was absolutely astonished. That £300,000 has to cover three villages, and that’s a joke. Myself and my ward partner were not consulted on this, I just saw that it had already been signed. You are here to fight for us, and I feel really let down for my residents.”
Do you think you have what it takes to turn a judge's chair on BBC1's The Voice?
The national singing contest is holding pre-auditions in a Northampton town centre club in May to search for the next big thing in pop music.
A team of talent scouts will at Club 43, in Gold Street, between 7.30am and 11pm on May 2.
Hopeful solo artists, duos and trios will need to prepare one song with an instrument or a backing track, which can be on any electronic device.
All music styles are welcome and promising auditions could be invited to future recording sessions at the next season of The Voice.
To book a slot, contact thevoiceuk@itv.com with the subject line as: "The Voice @ Northampton". Limited slots are available.
Any under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. You must be 16 years of age on or before October 1.
Vinyl enthusiasts queued overnight outside Northampton record shops at the weekend to be among the first to buy some of the limited releases which were part of this year’s Record Store Day.
By the time Spun Out in Gold Street opened its doors at 8am on Saturday morning, more than 100 collectors were queuing outside – with the first having arrived at 8.30pm the day before.
Among those in the queue were Record Store Day regulars Mark Sarll and Chris Gedge who had both spent all night outside of the shop.
Mr Gedge, was queueing outside Spun Out from 11.30pm on the Friday night.
He said: “I was third in the queue. I dropped my dog off at friends in Northampton for the weekend and went direct to Spun Out.
“It’s about getting there early to be in the top ten. I was mainly after releases by Idles, slowthai, TVAM, Baby Shark, Japan and M.
“I love the camaraderie of meeting up with the regulars, many are lifelong friends now and we go to gigs together.
“I also love the challenge of getting out of the comfort zone and queuing for eight hours plus in the freezing cold.
“The clubbers are quite entertaining, asking ‘What are you lot doing?’ every year. If you don't get music, you don't get us.”
Many independent records shops across the country take part in Record Store Day each yeah, with labels releasing about 500 limited items.
The shops are not allowed to reserve items for customers or sell them online during a certain time frame as part of a drive to support the independent retailers.
Some of this year’s most sought-after releases included a live bootleg by R.E.M and releases by David Bowie and Prince as well music by Idles, Robyn, Prodigy and The Mighty Boosh.
Mr Sarll said: “I got there at 1.45 am and was the seventh person in line.
“I get there early to get my hands on the rare stuff and talk rubbish with fellow vinyl nut-jobs.
“I was after the Redskins red 10”, the New Jack City soundtrack and the 12” Idles release.
“I always enjoy talking to fellow music lovers and the procurement of super rare, limited edition one-off pressings.
“It’s about the artwork, the packaging and the beauty of the vinyl.”
Vinyl Underground in Abington Street also had collectors queuing outside from the early hours.
Both shops still have limited RSD19 stock remaining.
For more details, visit https://recordstoreday.co.uk
Councillors are ‘reassured’ at the county council’s progress in recovering debt that it is owed from customers.
The council’s overview and scrutiny committee decided to take a look at how the council was tackling the issue after £1.1million was needed to put back into the 2019/20 budget to plug the gap for a collection of debt that had not been achieved.
The vast majority of the debt is owed to the council for adult social care, and it invoiced £7million more for it this year than it had in the previous 12 months.
After looking in detail at the collection of debts, the scrutiny panel was advised that the overall debt position was ‘relatively stable’ and on average 85-90 per cent of new income was collected.
But as of February this year, there was more than £7.2million in aged debt over 12 months old before its collection date.
The issue was discussed as the scrutiny committee recorded its findings to cabinet on April 9 at One Angel Square.
Councillor Chris Stanbra, a member of the committee, said: “You want to collect your debts before they even become overdue. I would ask that cabinet looks closely at the procedures in place to ensure that debts don’t become a problem.”
Head of adult social services, Anna Earnshaw, explained that changes were already underway.
She said: “The very first thing we need to do is be consistent in telling people that they will need to pay for care, and that they need to contact us as soon as possible if there is any issue. We’ve changed our processes in terms of the first 90 days, when the debt first occurs. We now send out social work teams with the debt team to have a very early conversation, so we’re seeing an improvement in the under 90 days debt.
“However, it’s the aged debt that keeps causing the financial pressures for us, so we’re trialling multiple things at the moment, extra teams, more external support, we’re trialling two legal companies to see whether we can recover more. We’re also increasing resources in the LGSS debt collection team.”
Councillors were also told that £1.6million of aged debt was currently being assessed by solicitors to identify, which cases should be pursued through court action, while a further £2.6million concerned cases were being disputed.
Cabinet member for adult social care, Councillor Sandra Naden-Horley, said: “I can assure you that we are being very vigilant going forward with the debt situation.”
And council leader Matt Golby added: “This is a big area of concern for us, but I do know that a number of things have been put in place for us to get better at this.”
The overview and scrutiny committee has said it will continue to monitor the in-year performance relating to debt, and its report concluded: “Members expressed confidence that the council was in a better position than in the past in relation to debt management and recovery, and that the lead officers involved had a good grasp of the situation. However, members emphasised that continued focus on this area was necessary.”
Cabinet agreed at the meeting to ensure that it has ‘effective arrangements in place’ to enable income to be collected and debts recovered promptly in order to minimise the risk of bad debt accruing.
Cobblers boss Keith Curle is in regular contact with chairman Kelvin Thomas over the club’s ‘short, medium and long-term plans’ ahead of what is expected to be a busy summer transfer window.
Curle has made no secret of his desire to delve into the transfer market this summer and overhaul his squad this summer, with a number of player expected to come and go once the current season ends on May 4.
With several youngsters emerging through the academy, Curle currently has plenty of options to pick from but he’s not afraid to leave out big names, as shown on Saturday when Ash Taylor, Jack Bridge and Shaun McWilliams were dropped from the squad.
Curle said: “It’s amazing that, not only here but at a lot of clubs, players seem to get fit for the end of the season!
“But it’s very good to have a full complement of players. We had some missing out on Saturday and there’ll be players missing out next week, the week after and then the week after.
“We’ve got 24, 25 fit senior professionals and then we’ve got the emerging young talent as well to throw into the mix so that’s up to 28 odd players that are available. It’s good to have options.”
Despite Thomas spending much of his time out of the country, Curle says they are in constant contact and regularly discuss future plans as he seeks to take the club back into League One next season.
He added: “There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes regarding the infrastructure of the footballing department with the training facilities, the training ground and staffing levels.
“They are all geared towards improvement and development. There is a short, medium and long term plan that’s being discussed over the next couple of weeks to finalise some of those things that we’re trying to implement for a level of improvement.
“I’m having good communication and conversations with the chairman, even though he’s not here. I speak to him three or four times a week and it’s always about short, medium and long term planning for the future.”
Megan Eyles took over ownership of Peppertrees, in the Ridings Arcade, back in 2016, and after investing her hard-earned savings she expanded the shop to make room for extra stock.
But yesterday morning (Monday) she issued a heartfelt statement on social media saying she is now closing the store due to "outgoing costs beyond control" and "footfall in the town centre declining" along with other factors.
Speaking to the Chronicle & Echo Megan, of Abington, said: "Of course I’m disappointed that it’s ended but for me, personally, it had to happen.
"My biggest worry was people thinking I had failed but when talking to people it became clear that people didn’t think that at all – in fact they said that identifying that this was the right time to close was more of a credit and it shows more about me as a person."
This week marks 25-year-old Megan's last week as manager of the gift shop. Her mum is set to step in to run the store during it's final weeks to May 31.
Megan, who has now got a new job, was given the option to take over ownership of Peppertrees in 2016 after she worked on the shop floor for two years prior, and invested her savings into making the shop her own.
She has always strived to keep the shop open as she believes Peppertrees has always been a core town centre shop which offers ‘in-depth knowledge’ about its stock.
She added: "It’s been hard work. People say, 'it must be nice to be your own boss because you decide what you want to do and you can have time off' but you don’t.
"If you leave early or have a day off you’re still working and thinking about your business - sleepless nights when trade isn’t good, whether your next pay cheque will come, the constant worry, it all adds up.
"Independent shops are people’s lives. We’ve put our own money, hours and time into providing unique places for shoppers to visit. The amount of times I’ve listened to conversations and watched people searching on their phones to get it cheaper elsewhere is endless. But independents aren’t always more expensive when you add in postage costs, and you can walk away with it the same day."
Megan also cited a rise in parking charges in Northampton town centre as becoming a problem for trade as well as eye-watering bills. But despite the increasing popularity of online shopping, there are still customers who like to shop on their doorsteps.
"Yes, online retail is a factor but I still hear people saying that they like to see what they are buying in person rather than online," Megan said.
"The costs of running a bricks and mortar shop is extortionate, plus business rates."
Megan pays over £30,000 in rent and business rates alone each year, and has to cover electricity bills, new stock, staff wages and packaging on top.
"I think landlords need to be more flexible with rent if they want reduce the amount of vacant units in the town.
"Also rising parking charges are eventually going to push people away. If you haven’t got the variety of shops to entice people they’ll go elsewhere where parking charges are more reasonable for what that particular place has to offer."
The closing down sale starts on Tuesday, April 23 where all stock will be sold at a 50 per cent discount before it closes finally at the end of May.
Fredrick Ogunsanmi was originally charged by the Nursing and Midwifery Council after failing to give a patient a pain relief patch on April 1 2014 but pretending that he had done so by signing the relevant form.
But he then went on to apply to two separate nursing home companies - Stepping Stones Care Homes* in Northampton and MHA in Rushden - in which he falsely stated on forms that he had never been subject to any misconduct process or safeguarding investigation.
He had been suspended since 2016, but a tribunal panel of the NMC has now banned him for life from nursing after finding that he had behaved dishonestly.
Chair of the panel Nicola Jackson said: "There was current impairment on the grounds of both public protection and in the public interest because there remained a likelihood that Ogunsanmi would be liable to act so as to put patient's at risk of unwarranted harm.
"[He is also] liable in the future to bring the profession into disrepute, is liable in the future to breach one of the fundamental tenets of the profession and is liable in the future to act dishonestly."
The panel noted that Ogunsanmi has not provided any new information addressing the concerns found regarding his practice.
He had also failed to address concerns regarding medication administration, safeguarding vulnerable children and adults or show understanding of the need for honesty and integrity, the panel said.
Mrs Jackson also highlighted a bizarre email sent by the nurse to the NMC after it enquired if he would be attending the hearing, which took place in London, stating that he intended to train as lawyer and may fight the case in the future.
Answering in the third person, Ogunsanmi wrote: "Fred is currently a law student hence am longer interested in nursing you have added more havoc in my nursing profession which l love so much.
He added: "... in future l may decide to come back to my professional job but be ware of your decision am a law student and l will fight for my wright yours sincerely fred’ (sic)."
The panel said the email showed Ogunsamni had not reacted to the conditions imposed on him as hoped.
Mrs Jackson said: "Rather than viewing the order as an opportunity to demonstrate his remediation, Mr Ogunsanmi appeared to state he no longer wished to practise as a nurse and that he had chosen instead to study law.
"The panel was of the opinion the email is a clear indication of his lack of understanding of the need to remediate the concerns found in his nursing practice which he was given the opportunity to address."
* Stepping Sones Care Homes runs Phoenix House in Kettering Road, Ryecroft Apartments in St George's Avenue and Primrose House in Harborough Road.
The following people were sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court:
FEBRUARY 15
Adam Perkins, aged 37, of Jenkinson Road, Towcester, no insurance; fined £300, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.
Rajanbala Rathod, aged 57, of Old Carpenters Close, Northampton, driving at 36mph in a 30mph zone; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.
Gareth Singer, aged 35, of Greenfield Avenue, Northampton, driving at 35mph in a 30mph zone; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.
Stuart Stone-Moore, aged 39, of Reedway, Northampton, failed to identify a driver; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.
Anna Strzelczak, aged 37, of Clare Street, Northampton, driving at 37mph in a 30mph zone; fined £220, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with three points.
FEBRUARY 18
Neil Hazell, aged 33, of Hidcot Close, Northampton, breach of a court order; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £100.
Phillip Bench, aged 63, of Archer Close, Daventry, sent threatening text messages; fined £108, compensation £50, surcharge £30, costs £85.
Jason Brittain, aged 37, of Hinton Road, Northampton, stole chilled food worth £47 from BP Service Station; jailed for one week, compensation £200. Numerous other offences of theft; jailed for a total of 21 weeks.
Maciej Lawruk, aged 39, of Orchard Street, Northampton, used threatening behaviour; fined £400, surcharge £40, costs £85.
Ashley Maparura, aged 29, of Nether Jackson Court, Northampton, stole two Dyson vacuums from Currys; jailed for 14 weeks. Assault; jailed for 26 weeks, compensation £100, surcharge £115, costs £85. Had an offensive weapon in public; jailed for 26 weeks consecutive.
Lisa McDonald, aged 35, of Hinton Road, Northampton, stole meat belongong to BP petrol station; jailed for one week, compensation £200. Numerous other offences of theft; jailed for a total of 24 weeks.
Nicholas Phelen, aged 54, of Park North, Northampton, drink-driving; fined £86, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for 12 months.
Ben Smith, aged 30, of Milburn Drive, Northampton, breach of a court order; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £85.
Yobo Bokula, aged 22, of Rothersthorpe Road, Northampton, possession of cannabis; fined £150, surcharge £30, costs £85.
Jason Fitzhugh, aged 48, of Boughton Green Road, Northampton, fraud; fined £80, surcharge £30, costs £85.
Connor Kay, aged 23, of Oakleigh Drive, Northampton, possession of a class A drug; fined £440, surcharge £44, costs £85.
Vladimirs Rutkovskis, aged 27, of Northcote Street, Northampton, drink-driving; fined £150, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for 20 months.
Geoffrey Lomas, aged 66, of Obelisk Rise, Northampton, fished not in accordance with a licence; fined £83, surcharge £30, costs £127.47.
Michael Lomas, aged 60, of Blossom Way, Little Billing, fished not in accordance with a licence; fined £208, surcharge £30, costs £127.47.
Alan Mineards, aged 34, of Queens Crescent, Northampton, fished not in accordance with a licence; fined £166, surcharge £30, costs £127.47.
FEBRUARY 19
Luigi D’Elia, aged 28, of Thirlstane Road, Northampton, unlicensed vehicle; fined £220, costs £85
Grzegorz Szliter, aged 31, of Benjamin Square, Northampton, unlicensed vehicle; fined £50.
Florin Dumitru, of Booth Meadow Court, Northampton, failed to comply with a court order; fined £100, surcharge £30, costs £260.
Moisa Meda, of Booth Meadow Court, Northampton, failed to comply with a court order; fined £100, surcharge £30, costs £260.
Paul Tonks, aged 59, of Lincoln Way, Daventry, breach of a court order; fined £200, costs £300.
Daniel Arbiter, aged 31, of Billing Road, Northampton, possession of cannabis; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £85.
Paul Moss, aged 27, of Newton Road, Duston, assaulted a police officer, assault, resisted arrest; pleaded guilty and sent to Crown Court for sentence.
Seadhna Treacy, aged 23, of St Michaels Road, Northampton; assaulted a police officer; community order made, compensation £50, surcharge £85, costs £85.
Sean Garner, aged 32, of Campbell Street, Northampton, used threatening words or behaviour; fined £120, compensation £50, surcharge of £30 and costs £85.
Jamie Hobbs, aged 20, of no fixed abode, stole a bike; sent to a Young Offender Institution for 26 weeks, compensation £100, surcharge £115.
FEBRUARY 20
Lee Clifton, aged 35, of Berkley House, Northampton, used threatening words or behaviour; community order to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, surcharge £85, costs £85. Stalking; community order made.
Connor Shortt, aged 24, of Bective Road, Northampton, damaged a front door; fined £120, surcharge £30, costs £85.
Adam Farquharson, aged 32, of Gloucester Crescent. Northampton, breach of a court order; community order to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work, surcharge £85, costs £85.
Oliver Threadgold, aged 26, of Windsor Crescent, Northampton, assault; community order made, fined £160, compensation £50, surcharge £85, costs £620.
Wasif Ahmed, aged 21, of Far Acre Court, Northampton, no insurance; fined £253, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for six months.
Paul Hirghiligui, aged 24, of St Francis Avenue, Northampton, no insurance; fined £660, surcharge £66, costs £85, banned from driving for six months.
Ian Pugh, aged 50, of Bridges Road, Long Buckby, driving at 106mph in a 70mph zone; fined £2,000, surcharge £170, costs £85, licence endorsed with six points.
Rizwan Bashir, aged 45, of Waterpump Court, Northampton, driving without due care and attention; fined £197, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with seven points.
Wayne Collins, aged 50, of Montfort Close, Northampton, failed to stop at an accident; fined £78, surcharge £30, costs £85, licence endorsed with five points.
Adrian Crai, aged 35, of Uppingham Street, Northampton, failed to identify a driver; fined £440, surcharge £44, costs £85, banned from driving for six months.
Lee Adams, aged 35, of Eaglestone Drive, West Haddon, failed to provide a breath test; fined £120, surcharge £30, costs £85, banned from driving for seven days.
FEBRUARY 21
Craig Ahearn, aged 32, of Firbank Close, Northampton, dangerous driving; community order made, surcharge £85, costs £620, banned from driving for 12 months.
Daniel Richmond-Watson, aged 41, of Potterspury, dangerous driving; community order made to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, compensation £4,230, surcharge £85, costs £85, banned from driving for 18 months.
David Trethewey, aged 58, of Turner Street, Northampton, indecent photographs of children; jailed for four months suspended for 24 months, surcharge £115, costs £85.
Daniel Estwick, aged 30, of Derby Road, Northampton, possession of cannabis; conditional discharge for 18 months, surcharge £20, costs £85. Assaulted an emergency services worker; conditional discharge for 18 months, compensation £50.
Kaylea Geddes, aged 33, of Friars Court, Northampton, damaged a car; fined £50, compensation £50, surcharge £30, costs £85.
Robert Jeyes, aged 44, of Boughton Green Road, Northampton, driving without due care and attention; pleaded guilty, sent to Crown Court for sentence.
Tristan Perry, aged 20, of Military Road, Northampton, assault; fined £55, surcharge £30, costs £150.
FEBRUARY 22
Lorna Garratt, aged 47, of Braemar Crescent, Northampton, damaged a car; conditional discharge for three years, compensation £200, surcharge £20, costs £620. Resisted arrest; conditional discharge for three years.
Elena Ioan, aged 19, of Thomas Street, Northampton, stole alcohol and jewellery worth £123.90 belonging to Sainsbury’s; fined £200, surcharge £30, costs £85.
Clive Goody, aged 37, of Carey Street, Northampton, used threatening behaviour; fined £40, surcharge £30, costs £30.
Police are appealing for information to help to find a 54-year-old man missing from Northampton.
Timothy Samson was last seen in the Headlands area of Northampton on the morning of Friday, April 12. Officers are growing concerned for his welfare and are urging Timothy to get in touch to let them know he is safe and well.
Timothy is white, 6ft 3in, with a medium build and short, shaven dark brown/grey hair and walks with a limp. He was last seen wearing a black leather coat, black trousers and black shoes.
Timothy or anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts is asked to call Northamptonshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 542 of 14/4/19.
A total of 32 Specials volunteered 320 hours between 10am and 7.30pm, in which they visited 39 addresses, executed five 'fail to attend' warrants and arrested three people as a result.
Among the day's successes, the Northampton team stopped a woman in Edgemont Road, Weston Favell and reported her for driving while using a mobile phone, having no insurance and allowing two children to travel without wearing seatbelts. As a result of having no insurance the woman’s Audi A8 was seized by officers.
Gabriel Raducanu of Greenhills Road in Northampton appeared before the town’s magistrates court yesterday (Monday, April 15) in relation to an assault causing actual bodily harm after failing to appear at court in October last year. The 35-year-old was released on bail until May 1 for pre-sentencing reports.
Nicholle Scott of Sycamore Close in Corby pleaded guilty to a total of 13 offences of theft at Northampton Magistrates Court yesterday (Monday, April 15), after failing to appear before the courts earlier this year. The 27-year-old was sentenced to community and rehabilitation orders.
A 34-year-old man from Rushden, was arrested on suspicion of fraud following the theft of a banking card. He was released with no further action after advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.
In addition to the warrants, the specials also assisted regular officers with a violent prisoner in Burton Latimer, transporting him to the Weekley Wood Justice Centre. The 35-year-old man from the town had been arrested on suspicion of attempted theft and public order offences. He was released pending further enquiries.
Young midfielder Scott Pollock is predicting a bright future for the Cobblers having witnessed first-hand the talent coming through the club’s youth ranks.
Pollock, who joined Northampton in September, was a central figure in the success of Town’s youth team earlier in the season when they won the EFL Youth Alliance South East Division and also pushed Arsenal close in the FA Youth Cup.
The 18-year-old was rewarded with a place on the bench for January’s trip to Cambridge United, and injuries to Keith Curle’s depleted squad saw him get his first taste of first-team action at the Abbey Stadium, introduced as a 44th minute substitute.
Pollock made his full debut against Mansfield Town on Saturday, following in the footsteps of Jay Williams and Ryan Hughes this season, and all three players are among the seven to have won professional contracts at the Cobblers.
With four games left this season and little to play for, Pollock and co will now be eyeing more game-time.
“With seven of the academy team signing on this year the future looks really good for us,” said Pollock. “Hopefully now we can finish this season well and then make a good start to next season.
“The manager has been great for the young players. He’s given me an opportunity and I was pleased I was able to show him what I could do and glad we got the result (against Mansfield).
“They needed the points a lot more than us because they want to go up but we did really well and battled really well against a tough team and an experienced team.
“The atmosphere was great and it helps gets you through it with the adrenaline pumping and I’m glad I could show the fans what I can do.”
After impressing on debut, Pollock should be in contention to feature again on Good Friday when the Cobblers host relegation-threatened Macclesfield Town.
He added: “I’m not sure if I’ll play this week but we’ll see how training goes and we’ll get ready for another tough game because they’re fighting relegation.”
McManus Pub Company are to reopen the the Shipmans pub, in the Drapery, which closed down in 2014, by next year.
Paul McManus said his company hopes to restore the Shipmans on the Drapery, by 2019/2020.
The pub was taken over by the McManus Pub Company in 2015 and is has undergone refurbishment for nearly five years.
The pub, which was built in 1790 by the Shipman family, is a narrow, three-storey building that is Grade Two listed.
Shipmans is believed to be haunted by a former landlord Harry Franklin, who took his own life in the building in what witnesses described as a “gruesome manner” more than 100 years ago.
A ghostly figure, suspected to be Harry, has been sighted near the fruit machine and poltergeist-like activity has been reported such as moving pint glasses and the sound of footsteps crossing the upstairs floors.
McManus Pub Company previously owned the Wig & Pen, in St Giles Street, between 1992 to 1997 before it was taken over by landlord Richard Gordon who reopened the mothballed venue in 2010.
Among its group of pubs are the Brampton Halt, in Chapel Brampton, The Lamport Swan and The Sun Inn in Hardingstone.
Last week, McManus took over the pub again and it's new owner Paul McManus said his team are over the moon to be its new bosses.
"We are excited to be running this famous Northampton town centre venue," Paul said.
"All the staff are staying on and we look forward to working with them to make the Wig & Pen thrive at being a great pub for food, ales, live sport and entertainment."
McManus Pub Company, who owns an estate of traditional pubs, sports bars and country inns, is celebrating its 50th year trading in Northampton in 2020.
A Northampton cash-and-carry celebrated 100 years of serving customers in the town with goody bags for shoppers.
Tuesday morning (April 15) marked the 100th day of the 100th year since Jones Wholesale was founded 1919.
To celebrate, a hundred lucky cash and carry customers were given goody-bags during the day to mark 100 years of service in the town.
Meanwhile, local businesses from all over the town were invited to a celebratory centenary event at the headquarters in Heathfield Way, off Mill Lane.
The family business was started in 1919 by Percy Jones after returning home from fighting in the First World War, where he delivered goods around Northampton on his pushbike.
Today, the company is run by Percy's great-grandchildren Simon and Tom Allitt, who are the fourth generation to head it up.
Jones Wholesale now has over 25-thousand product lines in stock, from clothing to home and garden, from electrical to health and beauty, from toys to stationery and office goods, from parties and catering to DIY and pets, and as well as visiting their premises in Heathfield Way, the company also offer their customers an online delivery service.
“We’re very proud to be the fourth generation running this wonderful family business,” said Simon, 51. “From humble beginnings we have been serving the people of Northampton for a hundred years, and the celebrations are a tribute to all those who have, and do, make us a successful local business.
“We have – and have had over a hundred years – fantastic and loyal staff, some of whom today are following their own parents and grandparents working in the business, which makes us even more of a family business; indeed, our staff have always been part of the family.
“The same goes for our loyal customers, who today are following on from previous generations, and knowing that this is our centenary, many have engaged us with their own memories of family members using our services, or working for us over the years,” he said. “We even have suppliers today whose fathers or grandfathers have called on us in the past!”
As part of the celebrations of their centenary, Simon and Tom are taking part in a hundred-mile cycle challenge later this year, raising money for the Anthony Nolan charity, and the Northampton based Cynthia Spencer Hospice.
The enforcement officers helped detain three men selling the counterfeit products in Abington Street, until police officers arrived to confiscate the items.
The borough council advised the public against buying the products, as they are likely to be fake and could even cause a health risk. They are instead urged to inform Trading Standards or the police.
PCSO Scott Potter said: “Please consider that the substance you are being sold is unlikely to be an official product, and could cause a number of health issues.
“A number of these sellers have been identified, but until the matter is completely dealt with, please do not support these sellers and risk yours and others' health.
“We would strongly advise people not to purchase these products as they are most likely going to be fake.”
The team of officers from Kingdom Environmental Services Ltd are contracted by the Borough Council to carry out litter enforcement across the borough. Their work is funded from the proceeds of enforcement action.
Between January 1 to March 31, officers have issued 923 fixed penalty notices for littering and 143 people have been sent to court for prosecution.
The fixed penalty notice for littering is £120, reduced to £75 if paid within the first 10 days. It must be paid within 14 days to avoid court action.
If found guilty, defendants are ordered to pay an average fine of £220, along with court costs of around £125, and a victim surcharge of at least £30. The offence carries a maximum fine of £2,500.
Councillor Mike Hallam, cabinet member for environment, said: “Our enforcement officers did a great job assisting the police to tackle these sellers and they work hard with partners, including the police, to keep our streets safe and clean.”
A man had a knife held to his throat while his attackers robbed him in Wellingborough.
The incident happened on Sunday, March 31, between 2.45am and 3.20am, in Jackson's Lane.
The victim was walking along the road and was attacked from behind by two other men.
One of them held a knife to his throat while the other went through his pockets stealing items. They both then made off.
Witnesses or anyone with information should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
A Northampton teacher will lose 12 inches of her hair mile 12 of the London Marathon to raise money for cancer research and donate her hair to a children’s wig charity.
When she gets to Tower Bridge, Lindsay Shenton will stop to have her pony tail lopped off before she embarks on finishing the remaining 14 miles.
She was inspired to run the marathon to raise money for Institute of Cancer Research after a friend’s six-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia. Her chopped-off locks will then be sent to Little Princess Trust to make a wig for a young girl with cancer.
Lindsay said: “Looking at my friend’s daughter, I just thought about how much she struggled with having no hair, and how difficult it was for her to find a wig. I realised I could help children with cancer in two ways – by supporting research at the ICR into new treatments and by donating my hair.”
This will be Lindsay’s second London Marathon in a row. Last year she was injured and struggled to make it over the finish line with a stress fracture. This year she is determined to make it over the line in one piece – just minus 12 inches (30cm) of hair.
She said: "Running isn’t something I enjoy or am particularly good at. So this will certainly be a challenge. After getting injured last year I am determined to get around and make the biggest impact I can both for cancer research, and for a little girl out there who is undergoing cancer treatment.
Lannah Carbonilla, head of supporter engagement at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:“I would like to thank Lindsay and all the other TeamICR runners for their support. A lot of hard work and dedication has gone into both their training and fundraising and we wish them the best of luck for the big day.”
A damning survey of NHS staff working for the body responsible for Northamptonshire’s health services has said that senior managers don’t communicate properly or act on staff feedback.
New chief executive of the Nene and Corby Clinical Commissioning Groups Toby Sanders has said the results of the survey, which was carried out last November, are very poor and that senior management should ‘be very concerned about what they tell us about the organisation.’
He told members of the CCG board meeting yesterday (April 16) that if results don’t improve by the next survey towards the end of the year he would take it as a ‘personal sign of failure’.
The survey was conducted by an external survey and 103 staff - almost three quarters - took part.
This is the second year in a row the survey results have been poor with staff feeling unhappy.
The two clinical commissioning groups have responsibility for planning and contracting all health care services for the county.
Board member Kevin Thomas said the survey results were ‘frankly shocking’.
The survey found that only 39 per cent of those surveyed would recommend the organisation as a place to work.
Three of the worst five scores involved senior management.
Only 17 per cent of staff thought communication between top bosses and staff was effective; 13 per cent thought management acted on staff feedback and 17 per cent thought senior management involved staff in important decisions.
Since the survey took place Carole Dehghani, who was chief executive of both CCGs, has left.
During her time in charge the organisation lost a judicial review brought by Corby residents who were fighting plans to make changes to the town’s urgent care centre.
Mr Sanders took up the role of joint chief executive in November.
Positive results were that 83 per cent of staff felt that patient feedback was listened to and 87 per cent said they did not feel pressured to come into work when ill.
Sarah Ward, Local Democracy Reporter
Saints have confirmed that Andrew Kellaway and Nafi Tuitavake will leave the club at the end of the season.
Kellaway's departure will come as a surprise to some as he has often made a good impression in the black, green and gold this season.
The Australian back, who can play on the wing, at centre and at full-back, has made 19 appearances since joining Saints from Super Rugby side the Waratahs.
The 23-year-old has scored two tries to date, against Bristol Bears and Wasps.
But he will be leaving when his one-year deal comes to an end at the conclusion of the current campaign.
“I’ve had a great time during my year with Saints; I really think this rugby community in Northampton is special and unlike anything else in the world," Kellaway said.
“It’s been an amazing experience for me coming across the globe to play a completely different style of rugby, and I’ll remember the feeling of running out in front of an amazing crowd at Franklin’s Gardens with huge fondness.”
Tuitavake has been at Saints for much longer, having joined from Narbonne in 2016.
The Tongan centre has made 32 appearances for Northampton but been unable to secure a regular starting spot.
“I’m really proud to have played for a great club in Northampton Saints and I want to thank all the supporters here at Franklin’s Gardens for their encouragement over the last three seasons,” said Tuitavake.
“The time has come for me to move on, but while I wish the rest of the squad and the coaches the very best for the future, for now I’m focused on finishing off the season as strongly as possible.”
Police were called to an incident in Station Road, Kettering, at about 1.10pm yesterday (Tuesday, April 16), following reports of a man having been assaulted by two other males.
The man sustained facial injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.
Witnesses to the incident or anyone with information should call Northamptonshire Police on 101.
Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.