Saints star Tom Wood will this week be named England captain, according to reports in the national press.

Wood skippered the Red Rose to a 2-0 Test series victory on their summer tour of Argentina and was also a star performer during the Six Nations campaign, which was led by Chris Robshaw.

But Harlequins flanker Robshaw could now be set to miss out on the captain’s role for the autumn internationals when Stuart Lancaster names his Elite Player Squad on Thursday.

Wood has also shown his leadership abilities at club level, ensuring Saints didn’t crumble when skipper Dylan Hartley was sent off during the Premiership final defeat to Leicester.

And he now looks set to get the ultimate reward as Lancaster builds his side for the clashes with New Zealand, Australia and Argentina later this year.

A drink driver who assaulted a woman who confronted him after he crashed into her daughter’s car has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Sergej Smirnovs, aged 23, Sandiland Road, Abington, drank so much vodka that he had “no recollection” of driving a car.

Northampton Magistrates’ Court heard Smirnovs, who has never passed a driving test, crashed a silver Daewoo into a stationary vehicle in Fullingdale Road. Headlands.

Colin McGregor, prosecuting, said the mother of the owner of the vehicle walked up to the car and confronted Smirnovs who appeared to be trying to restart the engine.

The woman then tried to grab the keys but Smirnovs got hold of her arm and squeezed it hard causing her pain but no lasting injury.

Smirnovs, a Latvian national, gave officers a breath test reading of 97 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

McGregor said Smironvs, who moved to Northampton from Latvia four years ago, was interviewed on July 9 and said he had “no recollection” of the night before.

Smirnovs, who works at Morrisons, pleaded guilty to drink driving, assault, and driving without any insurance or licence. He was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He must pay £85 costs and £80 victim surcharge.

A series of closures on Britain’s busiest rail route will affect Northampton rail passengers for more than five weeks from next spring.

A 12-mile section of the West Coast Main Line around Watford Junction station will be closed for 36 days between May 2014 and April 2015, as part of a £81 million Network Rail project to improve punctuality.

The restrictions will affect passengers travelling to and from London from Northampton.

London Midland, which runs the vast majority of services through Northampton, will be making alternative arrangements for passengers during the closures, which will be from May 3 to 5; August 8 to 25; December 25 to 29; February 14 to 22, and April 3 to 6.

The longer shut-downs are the lesser of two evils, as Network Rail says it would take 54 complete weekend closures to complete the work. During the project, the signalling at Watford will be upgraded alongside new junctions and track, with the aim of providing better flexibility and reliability.

Dyan Crowther, Network Rail route managing director, said: “This scheme represents significant investment in the southern end of the West Coast Main Line to improve punctuality and make the railway more reliable.

“This line has seen tremendous growth in traffic and passengers over the last five years with the section at Watford being one of the most intensively used, high-speed sections of track in the UK. This work is absolutely essential to maintain the punctuality that passengers and our freight customers rightly expect.

“There is never a good time to carry out major work on such a busy route. However, after careful discussion with the train operators and industry partners, it became apparent that carrying out this vital investment over five longer closures between May 2014 and Easter 2015 when fewer people travel would, overall, cause less disruption.”

Patrick Verwer, London Midland managing director, said: “We want our customers to have good journeys with minimum disruption. This is much needed investment and a series of closures is the quickest way of bringing the benefits of this major upgrade to our passengers. It gives certainty and allows us to plan good quality alternative travel arrangements.

“We are now working closely with Network Rail and other industry partners to ensure that there is a comprehensive programme of communication with good passenger information available well ahead of and during the closures. It’s vital that passengers are aware of what’s going on so they can plan their journeys and allow enough time to get to their destinations.”

Paul Minton, vice-chairman of Northampton Rail Users’ Group, said: “When Network Rail last came to us for discussions about the West Coast Main Line, we said we would accept longer closures if it got the work done. We were assured that would be it.

“It will cause a lot of difficulty for a lot of people. The 0700 and 0712 from Northampton are standing room only, and you are talking in the region of 1,200 people.” You can’t displace that many people in an hour.”

Alongside this project, Network Rail intends to increase the line speed of the fast lines through Watford to 125mph, from the current 80mph, and is investigating the feasibility of this.

Favell House, the respite centre in Northampton for people with conditions such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, will close, health bosses have confirmed today.

The centre, over which residents and carers fought an emotional campaign, has been branded too expensive by NHS Nene despite arguments that it was a flagship for exemplary care.

A second money saving proposal thatwas being consulted on, changes in community podiatry services, will also go ahead as planned.

Dr Darin Seiger, chair of NHS Nene Clinical Commissioning Group said: “We want to thank everyone who has taken part in these consultations which have been a valuable listening exercise for the CCGs. We know how highly these services are valued by patients and staff and I hope that they will see how their views have shaped our decision making.

“None of these are easy decisions, but given the financial challenge facing the NHS nationally, and in Northamptonshire where we face a shortfall of £44m this year alone, we need to work together to find new ways of providing high quality services that are sustainable financially as well as clinically.

“We agree with the views of many people who have told us that children and vulnerable adults should be exempt from the move to remove low risk community podiatry. We also agree that alternative respite care models need to be developed, that particular care is given to supporting the existing users of Favell House in the transition to new models of care and that more information about personal health budgets is made available.

“We will now work with patients, clinicians and our key stakeholders, including the Health, Adult Care and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, over the coming weeks to refine and agree the next steps.”

The owners of Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena are suing Northampton Town for damages in the High Court.

The Cobblers received a letter from Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) earlier this month, threatening legal action over the Sky Blues’ plans to play in Northampton for at least the next three seasons.

And ACL confirmed to the Chron today that it has now served High Court papers on the Cobblers, which the club has 14 days to respond to.

Cobblers chairman David Cardoza said the club’s position was the same as earlier in the month, when he said the action was “without any legal merit.”

ACL says it has a 25-year lease with Coventry City for them to play at the Ricoh, and the Cobblers are “inducing” the Sky Blues to play their home games at Sixfields.

The Cobblers say they have not entered an agreement with Coventry City Football Club Ltd, but have instead negotiated a deal with potential buyers of the Sky Blues.

ACL’s lawyer, James Powell, said: “We are taking this very seriously. It is with some regret that we have had to take this action, but as we didn’t get a clear and substantive response to the first letter, then we have to do something about it.

“If Northampton recognise their position, then I am sure it can be resolved.

“There is a contract in place which says Coventry City are contractually bound to play at the Ricoh Arena.

“Northampton Town have come along and entered into an agreement with a third party, which is effectively inducing Coventry City away from the Ricoh Arena to play in Northampton.

“We think there is a liability for a substantial sum of money from these actions.”

Mr Powell said the Cobblers have 14 days to respond to the summons, and 14 further days to file their case.

Speaking to the Chron this afternoon, Cobblers chairman David Cardoza said: “Our position has not changed, and it is being dealt with by our solicitors.”

The previous statement released to the Chron from the club said: “Northampton Town Football Club confirms that Arena Coventry Limited (ACL) has threatened the club with legal action in respect of Coventry City FC playing at Sixfields Stadium.

“The club was approached by Coventry City to play at Sixfields, so that Coventry City could fulfil its fixtures. The Football League has endorsed this arrangement.

“The threatened action by ACL is without any legal merit and is not conducive to the greater good of the game. Northampton Town Football Club will not be bullied or threatened.”

The Coventry Telegraph has reported how ACL has also offered to dramatically lower its rent demands to keep the Sky Blues at the Ricoh.

ACL has tabled a new ten-year rent offer as a condition for signing a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to bring the club out of administration.

The Telegraph reports that the new rental offer is £150,000-a-year while the club remains in League One - down from £1.3million-a-year.

In the greater scheme of things, the Friends Life t20 encounter between Northamptonshire and Worcestershire this evening meant absolutely nothing.

The home side were already into the last eight - when was the last time they had a dead rubber for all the right reasons? - and the visitors were playing for, well, not much really.

Nevertheless, there was another good attendance on site, albeit a bit on the subdued side, and they got to witness a worthy contest.

That it finished in a 37-run defeat for the hosts, unless they are big worriers, is neither here nor there and if it does leave a sour taste it won’t be for long.

The visitors successfully chased in excess of 180 three days ago against Somerset, giving the Steelbacks a home quarter-final in the process, and their batting line-up again enjoyed itself in near perfect conditions.

A flat pitch, lightning fast outfield and the opposition’s two most penetrative bowlers being given the night off all played into Worcestershire’s hands.

That was especially true of Moeen Ali who carved his way to 72 off 45 balls, nothing exceptional in a Twenty20 context, but the fact that he racked up 40 runs from his final 11 balls meant there was a century there for the taking but he perished in search for a fifth six in three overs when he lofted Steven Crook to long-on.

There were decent contributions from Ben Cox, Daryl Mitchell and Gareth Andrew in the early, middle and latter stages of the innings as, for once, the home side’s attack were a touch off the pace.

Matt Spriegel got rid of Cox and Alexei Kervezee in the same over before Ali took a liking to him and Olly Stone gave a glimpse of his undoubted promise with four decent overs.

The end result was a very competitive total of 182 for six which would provide a challenge however well you’re playing, but Richard Levi and Kyle Coetzer set about their task with gusto and were nicely up with the rate after the mandatory powerplay.

They both fell in successive Ali overs, the former lofting a catch to deep midwicket and the latter chipping to the short version of the same position.

Alex Wakely hit the same bowler for a pair of sixes and was then bowled round his legs, leaving the onus on Cameron White who would have to be there at the finale if win number eight was to be secured.

Ali’s remarkable evening continued as he bowled Crook and had Spriegel stumped in his fourth over to claim a five-wicket haul, and tumbling wickets nearly always result in an escalating required run rate.

When White found long-off at the start of the 18th over, a tall order became insurmountable, the Steelbacks closing on 145 for six,

Cobblers finished their pre-season campaign with a flourish as they claimed a superb 2-1 win against Sky Bet Championship side Leicester City.

Lee Collins put Town in the ascendancy with an early strike and a last-minute own goal from Sean St Ledger secured the win.

Leicester had levelled things up through Chris Wood’s first-half effort, but St Ledger’s late error cost them a draw.

For Cobblers it was a good win and another good workout ahead of the start of the new Sky Bet League Two season, at York City on Saturday.

And for boss Aidy Boothroyd it was another useful excercise as he looks to cement his squad for the upcoming campaign.

Trialists Michael Spillane and Danny Emerton, the only two non-contract Cobblers to start the game, both impressed.

Spillane showed his worth at centre-back and in central midfield, while former Hull City winger Emerton caused Leicester plenty of problems out wide.

Boothroyd must now decide whether to offer anything to the duo, or any of the five trialists - Danny Whitaker, Samir Bihmoutine, Matt Heath, Matty Harriott and Aitor Nunez - who emerged from the bench during the second half.

For the men who will be strutting their stuff at York this weekend, it was an ideal test against a strong Leicester side, which included ex-Cobblers loanee Ben Marshall.

Both teams were looking to sign off their pre-season campaigns with a win, with the serious stuff of league football just around the corner.

It was the away side who started the stronger, Wood seeing his shot deflected wide and Paul Gallagher flicking the ball into the side-netting from a corner.

Cobblers reacted with a Collins header wide from a corner and Gary Deegan’s scuffed half-volley in what was a lively opening.

And, on 14 minutes, Town had the lead as, with a flash of his bright orange boot, Collins lashed the ball past the Kasper Schmeichel after the Foxes had failed to clear a corner.

Leicester almost had an immediate riposte, but Martyn Waghorn couldn’t keep his effort down after Lloyd Dyer had found him in the area.

Waghorn did better moments later, though, as he was involved in a neat interchange with Wood, who fired the ball home to level the scores.

But the Cobblers were more than holding their own, with Deegan and Emerton, in his bid to win a permanent deal, stand-out performers in the first half.

The home side should have been ahead before the break, but Spillane hit the bar from close range before Schmeichel made two superb stops, including one from a fine Deegan effort.

Boothroyd made a raft of changes at the break, bringing every trialist into the game and resting his key men ahead of Saturday’s league two curtain-raiser.

One man who did stay on was Ben Tozer and he saw a half-volley stopped by substitute keeper Conrad Logan, before Dean Snedker shut the door on the Foxes at the other end.

Ex-Chesterfield man Whitaker had an effort well blocked after good work from Spillane and Claudio Dias as the game continued to prove unpredictable.

The Cobblers were fancying a final pre-season win as Roy O’Donovan warmed the hands of Logan with a curling right-foot shot from the edge of the area.

Leicester weren’t content with the draw either, though, and only a couple of inches separated them from the lead as Richie De Laet clipped the bar with a header.

With 15 minutes to go, the scores were still level but both sides were to have chances to win it before the end.

Ishmel Demontagnac forced Logan into a fine one-handed save, while Anthony Knockaert saw his fizzing shot well held by Snedker.

And just as the game looked to be heading towards a draw, former Arsenal left-back Samir Bihmoutine sent in a dangerous centre that St Ledger diverted into his own net to give Cobblers the win.

Match facts

Cobblers: Duke (Snedker 45), Amankwaah (Nunez 45), Tozer (Moyo 84), Collins (Heath 45), Widdowson (Bihmoutine 45), Morris (Harriott 45), Carter (Dias 45), Deegan (Whitaker 45), Spillane, Emerton (Demontagnac 70), O’Donovan (Hooper 70).

Subs not used: Reeve, Artell, Roberts, Toney.

Leicester City: Schmeichel (Logan 45), Moore, Whitbread (De Laet 45), St Ledger, Hopper (Bakayogo 61), Marshall, Danns (Knockaert 45), Gallagher (James 61), Dyer (Drinkwater 61), Waghorn (Schlupp 45), Wood (Vardy 61).

Referee: D Whitestone

Attendance: 1,821 (751 away fans)

Alex Wakely cut a frustrated figure in the wake of Northamptonshire’s 37-run loss to Worcestershire in the Friends Life t20.

With a quarter-final place already secure, the home side had nothing to play for but that was of little consolation to the Steelbacks’ captain.

He said: “It was a little bit frustrating as we talked about not taking our foot off the gas but I think that we did that a little bit.

“We didn’t perform and that was frustrating as the captain because we just didn’t perform. There was no buzz or atmosphere in the field which is where we’ve been very good this year.

“Nothing was on the game so that made it difficult to turn up for and some of the lads were a litle bit complacent.”

In pursuit of the visitors’ 182-6, the Steelbacks were in good shape at the end of the six powerplay overs but the loss of three wickets in a short space of time proved costly as Wakely acknowledged.

He continued: “What we’ve done very well this season is not to lose wickets in clusters and that is exactly what we did tonight.

“You can’t have people getting 20 and then getting out, like I did, you need someone to bat right through and then others can play the cameos at the end and we just didn’t have that.”

Even in defeat, Wakely pointed to a couple of good signs for the side, saying: “There were a couple of positives, Olly Stone bowled four good overs and Hally (Andrew Hall) got another game in before the Championship on Friday so it wasn’t all bad.

“We’ll have to park what happened here, get ready for Gloucestershire on Friday and then think about the quarter-final next week.”

Aidy Boothroyd labelled Danny Emerton’s performance ‘terrific’ after the trialist played a key role in Cobblers’ win over Leicester City on Tuesday night.

Emerton outfoxed the Foxes back four during a lively 70-minute showing as Town claimed a 2-1 victory in their final pre-season game at Sixfields.

It was the perfect preparation for Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two curtain-raiser at York City and Boothroyd now has decisions to make on who he wants in his squad for that game.

The manager handed chances to seven trialists in the game against Leicester, but was particularly impressed with Emerton and Michael Spillane, who were the only two to start.

“He’s terrific,” said Boothroyd of Emerton. “I was really very impressed with him.

“I’m going to have a think about all the guys we had on trial and I’ll make some calls and decide what I’m going to do.

“Hopefully, with a bit of luck, we’ll have another couple in (by Saturday).”

And on Spillane, who excelled at centre-back and in central midfield, he added: “He was excellent.

“I know he can play at centre-back, at right-back and in midfield, he’s a good character and I’ve got to weigh it all up and make the right decisions now.”

Cobblers’ win came courtesy of a Lee Collins strike and a Sean St Ledger own goal and Boothroyd was pleased with the workout his side got against a strong Leicester side.

“Overall, it was a really, really good game for us,” he said.

“The result doesn’t mean anything and the biggest thing is that both teams have escaped injury-free.

“We go into our respective seasons having had a really good workout on a Tuesday night.”

Every day this month the Chron has teamed up with the Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) to feature a ‘Business of the Day’ – giving you more information about an independent firm in the town.

Today, we highlight Daniel Granger Hairdressing in Gold Street

Given a cutting set of clippers, scissors and comb for a 13th birthday present in order to save money on haircuts, Daniel Granger soon became the school expert on clipper art hair patterns.

He owned his first Northampton salon, The Chair, at the age of 21, and his personality and passion for hair made him a natural contender for a place on E4′s series ‘The Great British Hairdresser’, a show in which he featured for eight weeks until he spectacularly walked out as he realised his real interest was running and managing his salon.

He said: “At the salon, we provide hair treatment for the individual and whole family, from a trim and tidy up to a full makeover in a quality environment which is modern, up to date, stylish and comfortable.

“Our mission is to use every ounce of our creativity, flair and service in delivering a quality individual hairstyle for our clients in a relaxed, friendly and fun yet professional atmosphere.”

The salon has recently been refurbished and features areas for personal consultation. There is also a separate wash suite with subdued lighting and hues to ensure the relaxation and comfort of clients.

SPECIAL OFFER: New clients can quote discount code ‘CHRONDGHAIR’ to get 25% off all cuts.

Daniel Granger Hairdressing

29 Gold Street, Northampton

01604 635480

www.danielgrangerhairdressing.com

John Griff: Future’s bright for Alive show

There’s been political change announced in the county with the retirement of Brian Binley MP at the next general election – I wonder who will succeed him. We’ve musical excellence in the brilliant Alive@Delapre concerts – just before the weather turned and the heavens opened. And now – historically – a baby boy, born to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Prince of Cambridge will grow up in the same media glare as his father and uncle – a modern royal, third in line to the throne, in a modern world. What’s next?!

In celebrating the new birth with everyone else, there are plenty of people far better qualified to comment on the constitutional ramifications of the new royal than I. My only contribution therefore is to congratulate William and Catherine on their new arrival and to wish them all the happiness that they could wish for as young parents with a long, happy, healthy life for their bundle of joy. Will there be another child to follow before too much longer? Time will tell and there’s no rush just yet, but I would anticipate so. Great-granny must be delighted – she’d only just gone on holiday before having to dash back for the celebrations…

Town came alive

For Northampton, the weekend saw three excellent days of weather for a multitude of events, most notably perhaps the Alive@Delapre concerts. As the county baked in the sun, a variety of acts delivered the goods for thousands of happy concertgoers at a site that’s never seen anything like it before. You’ll have read the reports and seen the pictures in this paper already – for me what was significant was what went on behind the stage. If there was a relaxed atmosphere outside, it was like a village green in summer inside the compound.

relaxed atmosphere

On Friday, Paul Weller strolled around with his family, a plate of food in his hand, stripped to the waist. To be any more relaxed he’d have needed to be horizontal. The entire cast for Saturday got down to the serious business of an impromptu football match – which Lawson/Vamps won from The Wanted. Half the match was spent with various band members leaping over the security wall to retrieve the ball from undergrowth near the London Road. If the fans had known (or the band managers) there’d have been a riot.

Then finally on Sunday James Morrison sauntered around with a mug of coffee, talking to everyone he encountered, including me. The teenage Market Square busker who left home on the Harborough Road for Cornwall returned as an international star, wondering if some of his former Kingsthorpe schoolmates would be in the audience.

There was absolutely no diva behaviour and everyone from the artists to the audience and crew genuinely seemed to enjoy their Delapre experience.

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT

As it develops – and it will – Alive@Delapre could be a significant catalyst for future tourism and the local economy. Over the weekend local hotels saw an increase in trade, as did taxis and shops. The planning and running of the event seems to have been spot on – due credit to all concerned therefore.

The event returns next year over the 18th, 19th and 20th of July – I’m told that at least some of the artists will be announced by September and all of them in time for Christmas presents to be bought.

SO Binners finally ended the speculation (which had probably become an open secret anyway among the Tory ranks) that he would not be standing in Northampton South in 2015.

While his Westminster “adventure” may be coming to a close, far more important was the news he is in remission from the cancer which he bravely announced to the world last January. Northampton Labour was out of the blocks very quickly paying tribute to the big man’s effort and Aufona couldn’t help but think similar such public proclamations were a little short on the ground in the Blue Corner (Mikey Ellis, Norman Hacker to name just a few).

But when it comes to getting out of the blocks, The Mack moved remarkably speedily to announce, less than six hours afterwards, that he would be throwing his hat in the ring, a move that was met with a kind of yawning “surprise surprise” by the Chron’s online commentariat.

Many may think The Mack is a shoo-in for the role, but speak to those in the know and that’s anything but the case. “50-50” was one grandee’s assessment while another Tory at regional level just this week admitted to us it could be “months” before a candidate finally comes through, a factor that could help or hamper The Mack, who turns 34 in September. Anyway, rather than rake over The Mack’s credentials, we’ll throw another name in the mix for you. Conservatives know him already, but Stephen Mold is apparently the chap most likely to give him a run for his money. Stephen, a prominent Northampton businessman, has the advantage of having done his “porridge” having fought Derby North in 2010 where he lost by just 613 votes, narrowly failing to turn around a seat that had been held by Labour since 1997. He has his own website with the logo “Committed to a Better Britain” Educated in the comprehensive system, his website (below a lovely pic of his wife and kids) is a quaint line about his upbringing: “He had a normal upbringing, he climbed trees, played football, joined a youth organisation the Air Training Corps. This taught him tolerance, how to work with others through team-work and it certainly kept him out of trouble and also taught him responsibility”. There’s not much else to say for now. Except Stephen may well be the other one to watch...

GOOD week’s work for the UK’s foremost constitutional expert, Mikey Ellis, who has stepped seamlessly into the shoes of Thatcher “wet”, the late Lord St John of Fawsley. Mikey, resplendent in suit and tie and only a smidgeon of sweat on his brow, was touring the alfresco studios opining on what lay ahead while tipping George as the likely name of choice of the Royal Baby.

Last word on The Mack. He was VERY quickly onto Twitter on Monday to welcome the news and again 24 hours later at the first photocall. Extraordinary David, how d’ya do it?

LOVELY to see the Strictly Northampton contestants gathering at Kelmarsh which gave us a chance to see just how much work the bashful burger purveyor, Tony Ansell, has to do between now and November. Quite how the Tory councillor was persuaded out into the glare of publicity is itself a stunning achievement, but our resident snout described Tony’s dancing prowess as showing lots of promise...

Schools closed on Tuesday – a natural choice of day to bring the curtain down on an academic year – but not before one lucky primary had travelled to The George pub in Tiffield to try out, wait for it, zebra casserole. Aufona has eaten many odds things in life, but hasn’t yet reached Z. Curiously this was all part of the school’s project on Africa. So, presumably, next time David Attenborough pops up, whispering on the African veld on BBC2, will the same kids be screaming “EAT, EAT, EAT”?

AUGUST is fast approaching so business slows down to a trickle at County Hall and 
the Guildhall with no meetings of any description taking place.

We’re always keen to find out where our politicians like to spend their vacations (Tuscany or Torquay, Cannes or Cleethorpes, that sort of thing) so anything you’d like to impart please do so through the usual channels..

PS DID the (Labour) Mayor receive an official invitation to Paul Weller at Alive At Delapre? No, we thought not too...

At long last, someone is trying to halt the demise of Northampton’s town centre.

Council leader David Mackintosh has announced there will be a trial period of free weekend parking at St John’s, St Michael’s and the Mayorhold car parks at weekends in August.

Elsewhere he is offering the first two hours of the day free. And about time too!

For 25 years I have run a town centre business. In 
2001, we received a body blow, courtesy of Councillor Terry Wire.

Amid a great fanfare, he announced the arrival of the Topps Scheme. Parking fees went up and dozens of traffic wardens flooded the town.

Overnight I lost 20 per cent of my business because the half hour and one-hour limited just didn’t allow people enough time to come in. Other firms were hit too, such as that fine old firm, Church’s China, which was forced to close the shop and switch to an internet operation.

Meanwhile, businesses were encouraged to move to out-of-town parks, like Riverside, where they were given free parking.

I wrote to the council begging for free two hour parking but my pleas fell on deaf ears and over the last 13 years I have seen Northampton turn from a vibrant town centre with loads of smart little businesses into a scruffy place.

Closing down sales seem to appear every week, vandals spray paint over empty premises and the only new businesses appear to be bookies or pound and charity shops. The disastrous Topps scheme may have brought in some short-term cash for the council coffers, but everyone else’s coffers were emptying fast. Thankfully the number of wardens does seem to have dropped recently.

But we have only survived because we’ve all had to, by working longer hours and constantly coming up with new ideas to encourage people in. And offering good old fashioned service.

Thank God David Mackintosh has seen the light and at long last is giving us a fighting chance. Of course he could go further.

Make Derngate, Hazelwood Road, Castilian Street, Guildhall Road and St Giles Street and Terrace two-hour parking zones. Then reduce the price of on-street parking.

And don’t pour more good money after bad by replacing the fountain in Market Square, it just attracts yobs and drunks. Finally, get rid of pedestrianised zones and let the town’s shops spring into life again.

If you agree with me, email pandbox@aol.com

THE plans to bring a former brewery site in Kingswell Street back to life - producing a traditional Northampton beer to boot - is a fantastic development for the town.

The brewery has sat empty for decades but will soon start turning out the famous Phipps beer using the King’s Well which once supplied water to the Castle.

In addition, whisky production is also planned on the site that, with the help of nearby Carlsberg, will create jobs in both the brewery and the on-site pub where drinkers can see the brown stuff being produced while they sup their pints.

This brilliant, ambitious project ticks so many boxes: Urban regeneration, job creation and heritage restoration to name but a few.

It is also symptomatic of the positive vibe that is sweeping through Northampton at the moment after years of apparent inertia. Only a short distance away, the Balloon Bar - ravaged by the Bridge Street fire of January 2012 - is also set to re-open its doors, providing another venue for visitors to the town. Keep it going!

Brian Binley, now thankfully in remission from cancer, has revealed he plans to stand down as an MP in 2015 after eight years. He has served his constituents well, never been afraid to show a rebellious streak when required and always championed our town. We wish him our very best.

As some will know I’m working on my second book. I’m writing a biography of the late Ron Todd, the former General Secretary of the TGWU (now Unite), a man of enormous courage and integrity who never forgot from where he came and who he represented.

Sifting through Ron’s papers I came across some notes he made following a Tribune Rally during the 1988 Labour Party Conference.

His words have an uncanny echo: “First, there was an apparent keenness by certain senior members of the Party, to distance the Party from the Trade Unions. Secondly, I wanted to comment on the divisions between two warring factions which needed to be bridged. I described them as the “Modernisers” with their sharp suits and cordless phones, and clipboards, who know that style and presentation are very important, but let political substance pass them by. The other group I called the “Nostalgics”, who look back to a misty past, which never really existed. For them the history of the Labour Movement was a long and glorious record of proletarian foot soldiers sold out by a rotten leadership. I did not want a Labour Government elected solely on an anti-Thatcher vote that would take us into power for one term and then return us to opposition. I wanted a Labour Government elected because the people recognised the need for a fundamental change in political thought based on Democratic Socialism.”

As a result of his speech, Ron was hounded by the press, denounced as a ‘dinosaur’ and ignored by many of the grandees in Kinnock’s model Labour Party.

Yet I suspect that many in the modern Labour Party would find great relevance in Ron’s observations.

The great truth lies in the last sentence: ‘A fundamental change in political thought based on Democratic Socialism’.

That is what is missing. Democracy has been a weak stuttering creature tied up not by the Trade Unions, but by the adventurers who saw the carcass of a once powerful party and simply colonised it.

How can so many Labour MPs have been caught up in the parliamentary scandals of the last few years? Worse still has been the jettisoning of the socialist values that once underpinned the party.

It’s strange how a system now denounced as corrupt seemed OK in the good old Blairite days. How cosy it used to be when safe Labour seats fell into the hands of those proletarian barristers and journalists and parliamentary advisors. Tony Blair himself, barrister and card-carrying member of the TGWU or was it the GMB? No matter it was the same flag of convenience that Mandelson sailed under in Hartlepool and seats like South Shields or Doncaster.

The trade union values of solidarity, justice and equality have been demonised and denigrated in favour of slickness and selfishness. Nothing epitomises how far we have come than the dreadful TV show, The Apprentice, where the Labour peer, Lord Sugar, parades a selection of grotesques in his carnival of sycophancy and greed.

The Apprentice stands as a good metaphor for where we have got to, style over substance, and it is where the politics is too, parliamentary debate replicates Lord Sugar barking at a greedy egotist and the greedy egotist respectfully barking back.

Union bashing may play well on the green benches of Fantasy Island, but millions of people are desperate for inspiration and leadership and what are they getting?

Style, of a sort, but no substance. We deserve better.

Northamptonshire Steelbacks skipper Alex Wakely does not care who his men face in the next round of the Friends Life t20.

They concluded their group stage last night when they suffered just a second loss in the competition - this time at the hands of Worcestershire.

However, their place in the knockout stages had already been assured with a guaranteed home tie to boot.

Now, ahead of tonight’s draw for the quarter-finals, Wakely insists who they are paired with at the County Ground next Tuesday does not concern him.

The captain said: “I’m not fussed who we get.

“If we end up playing the likes of Somerset or Lancashire then so be it.

“It would be nice to get someone from another group who we don’t normally play in the Twenty20 but I’m not bothered either way.

“We’re going to have to beat three good teams if we’re to win the competition and that will have to start next week.

“There’s no fear in the changing room and we’ll really be up for it.

“To win the competition we’re going to have to beat the best sides .

“It should be a great occasion here.

“Hopefully there will be a big crowd in and we can give them something to shout about.”

A passenger was left with “serious” injuries following a crash near East Haddon this afternoon.

Northamptonshire Police say the crash happened at 12.30pm, on the A428, when a white Mini Cooper was driving towards Northampton.

The car crashed and flipped onto its roof.

The 51-year-old man who was a front seat passenger in the vehicle was taken to Walsgrave Hospital with serious injuries.

The woman who was driving the car was also taken to Walsgrave Hospital, but is not believed to have been seriously hurt.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed this incident or who may have any information regarding it.

Anyone with information or who witnessed this incident can call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615.

A child who got stuck up a tree in Northampton has been rescued by firefighters.

Fire crews were called out to Shankley Way in Northampton shortly before 4pm on Wednesday afternoon.

They used a triple extension ladder and took four minutes to rescue the child.

Roy O’Donovan says there is a ‘good buzz’ around Sixfields ahead of the start of the new Sky Bet League Two season.

Cobblers kick-off their campaign at York City on Saturday, following a pre-season that has produced some very positive results.

Aidy Boothroyd’s men beat Leicester City 2-1 on Tuesday night, three days after a success against a Stoke City development side by the same scoreline.

And O’Donovan, who is likely to lead the line against the Minstermen this weekend, can’t wait for league football to begin.

“It’s been going really good during pre-season,” said the striker. “We’re starting to build a squad for the new season and we’re looking good.

“We’re maybe one or two bodies short, as the manager has mentioned, but there’s a good buzz around the place and I’m looking forward to York on Saturday.”

O’Donovan scored six times in 19 appearances for Cobblers last season, following his release from Coventry City in January.

He is the man Cobblers will look to for goals at the start of this campaign, with fellow forwards Clive Platt and Alex Nicholls out injured, but the 27-year-old is refusing to set any targets.

“I’m feeling positive,” said O’Donovan, who signed a new two-year deal in June. “It’s a good place to be and I wanted to sign for the manager and for the club because I had a good time here last year.

“Hopefully there are many good days to come.

“I haven’t made any targets, I’m just looking forward to the first game and taking it from there.”

Northamptonshire have been paired with Durham in the quarter-finals of the Friends Life t20.

The other ties will see Nottinghamshire host Essex at Trent Bridge on Thursday, Hampshire entertain Lancashire at the Rose Bowl a day earlier and Surrey, as reward for being the best placed runner-up, will face Somerset at The Oval in the first game on Tuesday.

The match will be played at the County Ground on Tuesday, August 6, starting at 7.10pm.