Creaton

Blackberry Hill Farm

On Wednesday 17 February 2010, Stan Perrins, Tim May and Jane Kimberlin met with Jo Chudley at Highgate House to discuss the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit SHLAA Application regarding the subject of the proposal to build 140 to 167 houses to be at Blackberry Hill Farm. Jo Chudley explained that the first she had heard about the specific proposal to build 167 houses on Blackberry Hill Farm was upon being shown one of the flyers recently delivered around Creaton.

The Chudley family would like to draw attention to the following statement, which is published on the JPU’s website:
‘The purpose of the Assessment is to identify where and how many new housing sites could be developed over a 5, 10 and 15 year period. It will then be used to inform the preparation of the West Northamptonshire Local Development Framework (the plan making process) so the policy makers can assess the available land against all the other policy considerations which have to be taken into account. The inclusion of a site in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment DOES NOT decide if it should be allocated for development. The Assessment has NOT taken into account, nor applied, any policy considerations; this will come later in the plan making process.’

Highgate House Conference Centre is owned by Sundial Group Limited, a private company wholly owned by the Chudley family. Blackberry Hill Farm is separately owned by members of the family. It is currently used by Highgate House to provide a relaxed, rural environment for its guests and is considered important to the business. At the present time there are no plans or drawings for the development of 167 houses under consideration by the family. The land was put forward by their land agent after several approaches from a Housing Association for an area of ‘affordable housing’ in the village of Creaton. The area highlighted on the JPU website is land identified by Local Government as having possible future development potential. This is part of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).

26th February 2010

A Happy New year to all our readers!!

There have been many good things that have happened here in our village during 2009 and some of those reported on this website are still available in the News Archive.

But what of 2010? As we have been snowed on and frozen in, it is good to look forward to the warmer days and to Creaton in Bloom, to the joys of country life and life in the country. Yet we are also likely to contend with the regular issues of the time, and perhaps some new ones.

Whilst the road speed indicator on the A5199 in November did not unleash a torrent of emails (the website received two) conversations suggest that the general consensus is that it was in the wrong place (who knows who decided it should go there?) but perhaps, in theory, it was a good idea. Thornby have replaced their permanent indicators so one assumes the financial outlay is considered worthwhile in that village.

However, Thornby does have a clearly defined beginning and end, unlike Creaton that, from the Northampton side has an imposed limit some distance from the main village. This has been said to cause frustration to drivers leading them to exceed the limit and overtake just as they enter the section where the restriction is required.

This speed restriction is a difficult issue to balance. There are probably few people in the village that consider the restriction in the vicinity of the School, the Village Hall and the Pub unnecessary, yet there are many who consider that the extension to Grooms Lane is a stretch too far. But what to do to slow down the driver, if only through the centre of the village? Spratton's answer involved lots of bright lights and lots of road paint; is this right for Creaton? Or are there other methods of equal, or perhaps greater impact? Speed humps? Gated, visual restrictions? Chicanes? Some suggest that the introduction of such measures may suit the urban setting but as this is not Kingsthorpe or Abington, what can we, the village community, do to balance the imperative for safety for our community and preserve the visual impact of the village?

On matters urban, the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit have published the Draft Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment. This list is published to check for any further information or evidence available about sites with or without the potential for housing development in West Northamptonshire. You are encouraged to read the associated documents to reassure yourselves that the excavators are not lining up, ready to pounce, but the suggestion that Blackberry Hill Farm could accommodate 167 'units' of settlement is initially unsettling.

To more rural matters. What about allotments? Is this something you would like to see reinstated in Creaton?

"Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act of 1908 makes the express duty of every Local Authority (except County Councils), who are of the opinion that there is a demand for allotments in their area, to provide a sufficient number of them and then to let them to persons resident in the area."

In order to demonstrate this need in a democratic manner, there needs to be representation made in writing by six registered parliamentary electors resident in the area, "to the effect that the circumstances of the area are such that it is the duty of the Allotment Authority to provide allotment gardens".

For more information, look at the website of The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG) from where this information has been gathered.

If you would like an allotment in the village, write to the website in the first instance.

RPH

The thoughts and comment expressed here are not necessarily those of Creaton Parish Council and are solely of the author.

The Great Creaton Cycle Event
At 10:00 on Sunday October 11th, 50 cyclists set out from Creaton to cycle 50 miles and hopefully raise £50,000 for the Cynthia Spencer Hospice and Macmillan. The circular route went through Cold Ashby, Guilsborough and Hollowell, If you would like to know more details or would like to sponsor in retrospect, please visit www.justgiving.com/bike50miles.

Pictures are here

PLASTIC BAG-FREE ZONE IN CREATON

The villages of Creaton and Spratton will become plastic carrier bag-free zones after local traders agreed to trial special bio-bags.
Bio-bags are made from cornstarch and look and feel like regular plastic bags, except they are fully compostable and biodegradable. Traders in the villages have agreed to trial the bio-bags as a way of reducing the number of plastic bags being used and also encourage people to bring their own re-usable bags when shopping.
Daventry District Council is providing an initial batch of 2,000 bio-bags for the traders to use and hopes that they will continue to invest in them once the initial trial has ended.
Councillor Catherine Boardman, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Daventry District Council, said: "This campaign is an excellent idea and will hopefully encourage visitors to Spratton and Creaton to make the switch to re-usable bags when they do their shopping. "Plastic bags are generally only used once to take shopping home in and are then disposed of in landfill sites, in which they take around 1,000 years to bio-degrade, so the more we can help to support people to re-use bags the better it will be for everyone."
This initiative follows a similar campaign led by Daventry District Council in Brixworth in May last year, when local traders and residents decided to stop using plastic carrier bags in several shops around the village.

Creaton in Bloom
Despite the best that the rain clouds could throw at us on Sunday morning, by midday glimpses of blue were seen in the clouds. The rain stopped and although the sun never really came out, the people did. Gardens did brisk business, the Church looked beautiful and much eating and drinking on The Green took place.
All in all a good day and everybody involved deserves to be congratulated - the gardeners for their undaunted optimism, the organisers for their resilience and the visitors for their enjoyment of our wonderful village - and, of course, for their money. I am told that the total taken on the day was about £3000 but I do have the final figure yet.

More on Creaton in Bloom
RPH

Water, water everywhere
Twice in two months High Street has been awash with water from broken mains. Both occasions resulted in a very quick response - "It's not an emergency". Apparently an emergency is a fountain - well, that would have been something good to look at on Creaton in Bloom. What would the water board say if such a leak appeared on our side of the water meter?
RPH

BIG TURNOUT FOR CREATON LITTER PICK

There was an excellent turnout for the 2009 Annual Creaton Litter Pick.   Our thanks go to all who helped including; John Hale, Carolyn Wilson, Susan Luchetti, Michael Montgomery,   Michael and Margaret Rogerson, Julian Hunt and team, the Watson family, the Stanley family, the Corbett family, the Masters family, Stan Perrins, Bob Osborn, Reg Thomas, Linda Toombs, Richard and Patsy Hollingum .

Our very special thanks go to Chris Patching and Karen Vessey, who took on the "Knicknacks" and not only removed the litter but all the vegetation that had crept across the path. Woe betide any dog owners who allow their dogs to foul this footpath!

We would also like to thank Creaton Village Shop for donating "rewards" for the children, and Highgate House who have given a Meal for two at Highgate House, and a bottle of wine as prizes for the Free Draw into which all the adult helpers were entered.   The winners were drawn by Sylvia Winter; the first prize went to John Hale and the second prize went to Susan Luchetti.

17 bin liners of rubbish were collected, mostly general rubbish. This year there were no vodka bottles at the bottom of Teeton Lane, which is good. However, the drinkers have now moved to Grooms Lane as a large number of vodka bottles were found there.  

There will be another Litter Pick starting at 11am on Sunday, 29th March, the day before the judging the Village of the Year Competition.   This will be based at Highgate House and all helpers will be rewarded with a free drink after they have completed their good deed.   If you would also like to take advantage of the last day of the special offer of Sunday Lunch for £15 per person, do remember to book in advance. Terrace Restaurant: 01604 731747

LT

U3A
Since starting just over a year ago the local branch of the University of the 3rd Age (U3A), based in Brixworth, now has eighty members and it is proposed to limit membership to one hundred in the first instance.
The group meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 2p.m in Brixworth Village Hall, where there is usually a speaker, and to sign up for any group activities over the coming weeks.
Interest Groups presently established are Art, Genealogy, French, Luncheon Club, Rambling, Away days, and Table Top games who meet on a regular basis, either morning or afternoon, once or twice a month.
For further information or to join, please contact the Membership Secretary, Peter Davies on 01604 880401.

Village of the Year
Following Creaton cleaning up at the annual Village of the Year Awards, the cups and the certificates are available for viewing at the Post Office.

Anglia Water
During the recent water crisis there was a period when Creaton did not know whether it was in or out of the area. Anglia Water say that as they did not come to the village and tell everybody not to drink the water it must be presumed that it was alright. What they failed to take into consideration was that if neighbouring villages have been told to avoid drinking the water, and the local and national media are giving the same message, what should we do?

An issue that has arisen from this is one of support for vulnerable people during a water shortage or a situation as has recently occurred. Anglia Water do have a scheme but it is important that people are made aware of it. Follow this link for more information.

Speedwatch Campaign
The first phase is now complete and we await the feedback from the Police. Even with adequate signs and yellow jackets people were still recorded at travelling at speeds in excess of 35mph through the village. Some have been ‘clocked’ at over 50mph, on a weekday morning as the children are going to school and Ducklings! The Speedwatch team are back in action later in the year.

Affordable Housing
Affordable Housing has been on the agenda, literally, for many years. The debate still continues: how many houses and where? What is more, are there still people who need affordable housing. Is it important that the village makes space for houses to keep the young in Creaton or are we travelling inexorably towards a des. res. village with properties starting at £300,000?

Village of the Year
The competition is over bar the final awards. Watch this space: the Awards Ceremony is on 22nd July.

Windfarming
The application to build and run an windfarm at Lodge Farm, north of Brixworth is to be submitted later this year. The pre-application consultation is still going and the next public meeting is due to be held on July 16th in Brixworth.

Trees on the Green
The trees on the green require a certain amount of surgery - some to a greater extent that others. Sometime over the next few months work will start on tending them, including removing the metal guards that in some cases now have branches growing through them.

Drains and things
Well, you knew someone had to do it and 5 of your councillors were seen drain spotting recently. Blocked drains do cause problems and it is hoped that those problem ones are soon sorted out. If you know of a drain not doing its job, contact one of your councillors or you can call Street Doctor, for this or any number of problems: Street Doctor at Northampton CC or if an emergency, call 0845 601 1113.

Speedwatch
Speedwatrch has arrived! Over the next few weeks you will see villagers hanging around in bright yellow jackets noting the speed of traffic as it passes through our village. This is the first phase in the SpeedWatch campaign that aims to educate those drivers that use Brixworth and Welford Roads that 30mph means 30mph. Offenders receive a letter from the Police pointing out the error of their ways and will hopefully pay much more attention to the speed limits.

Litter Picking Good
There was an excellent turnout for the 2008 Annual Creaton Litter Pick. The enthusiastic helpers included, Hayley Clark with Fraser, Alison Hamlyn with Dilon and Ruby and a gang of helpers from Courthouse Close – Ellie, Ryan and Jake, Richard and Patsy Hollingum, Julian Hunt with Rufus, Georgina and grandmother Diana, Margaret Jack, Susan Luchetti, Michael Montgomery, Bob Osborn, Cathy Perrins with Olly and Adam, Stan and Andy Perrins, Reg Thomas, Linda Toombs, David Watt and Carolyn Wilson.

14 large bin liners of rubbish were collected, mostly general rubbish. Also uncovered was a charming little antique bottle, but more disturbingly, 50 empty vodka bottles were retrieved from the verge at the bottom of Teeton Lane!

February 2008

Neighbourhood Watch
Councillor Robert Osborn has taken over the reins of the local Neighbourhood Watch and is all set to re-launch the scheme at 7.30pm on Friday February 29th, at the Village Hall. Follow this link for more information about Neighbourhood Watch.
02/08

Drains
Your Parish Council may not always have the excitement of high politics but they do know about drains. The drain on the footpath between Horseshoe Close and The Jetty has been a problem for years. Overflowing, it has been the subject of tug of war between the County Council contractors who would not clear it as the water in it appeared to be coming from a private house, and the Environmental Health people who would not investigate the cause of this water until the drain was cleared. The good news? It has been cleared and appears to have remained so. The bad news? The blockage (if that is what it was) has moved down the hill to the Jetty.
02/08

Street Lights
Another one of those rare situations: for once we appear to have a full compliment of working street lights in the village - unless you know better...
02/08

Lych Gate Light
After extensive research (thanks to Parish Council Clerk Lynne Compton) and a lot of sage-like nodding and sucking of teeth from the Council we have taken delivery of a new light for the lych gate steps. This light is solar powered and will soon be lighting the broad and narrow way.
02/08