Friday brief: University student calls on authorities to take action to ‘stop them looking over their shoulder’
News from across the county this Friday
A university student has told councillors that she and many others are fearing for their personal safety and has called for action.
Final year student Amy Fuzal spoke at the police and crime panel meeting held in Northampton yesterday, telling them the route into town from the university campus close to the county town’s centre has become neglected and unsafe.
She said:
“I’m here today because a route that once symbolised safety, partnership and community between the university and the town has quietly fallen into neglect, yet its importance has never been greater for us. For years, the designated safe route connecting the university to the town centre helped students travel confidently, especially during busy evenings and for different periods. It wasn’t just pathway for us. It was a promise, one that said the council recognised student safety as a priority and that the town welcomed us.
“But as many of us know, that promise has faded. Without maintenance, lighting and clear signage, the route has become invisible, and with invisibility has come something far more concerning, vulnerability. Students, many young, many living away from home for the first time, are now walking routes that they don’t recognise through areas that are poorly lit and without clear guidance.”
She cited 158 reported incidents of violence and sexual in the town centre during September.
She said:
“This is not an abstract number. It reflects real events, real fear and real risk. Students who once felt comfortable walking into town now avoid it altogether, take expensive transport or resort to staying isolated inside. To put this into context, recent university wide polling highlights that 51% of all students at our university feel to some degree, a deep concern for their personal safety.”
She said students deserved to be able to walk home without ‘having to constantly look over our shoulders’.
West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet member for transport Cllr Richard Butler was at the meeting and said that he would do a site visit with the student alongside Northampton councillor Sally Keeble.
At the meeting, the case of Nadine Buzzard -Quashie, who won a court of appeal victory against Northants Police, was mentioned. Ms Buzzard-Quashie had asked the panel to speak at yesterday’s meeting on November 28, but withdrew her request on Tuesday, December 1 citing ‘delay tactics’ and that she had expected a decision on whether she could attend on Monday.
At the meeting chair Mark Arnull said he had not refused her request.
Following the court of appeal case, which saw the chief constable Ivan Balhatchet sanctioned for contempt of court, the police force and the commissioner’s office have commissioned reviews into what happened. During the trial it was revealed the force had given false statements to the court and the chief constable was unaware of the legal action against him until the last minute.
At the panel meeting the police force’s senior assistant chief officer Pau Bullen said the force had now taken its legal services back in-house from a previous East Midlands collaboration.
Ms Buzzard Quashie has told NN Journal she has not yet been contacted by the commissioner’s office regarding the independent review.
Other news
The body of a man who was reported missing earlier in September has been found in Kettering.
Northants police say formal identification is yet to take place however detectives believe the body found in woodland on Saturday, November 29, is Marc Hoodless, 41.
The body was found after a specialist search by officers, who say they are satisfied that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and will be preparing a report for the coroner.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Peters said:
“This is a very sad case, and our thoughts are with Marc’s family and loved-ones who have requested privacy at this difficult time.”
Marc’s family said:
“We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone at Northamptonshire Police and all of the search teams involved for their efforts in the search for Marc.
“This has been a really hard time for all of us but we are grateful for the police’s professionalism and care. We have been treated with dignity since the beginning and for that we are very thankful.”
The leader of North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) has called on government to consider adding Corby to the government’s New Towns programme, in a bid to accelerate housing delivery and attract further investment to the area.
The New Towns taskforce has been charged with crafting a list of places where government can give targeted support to deliver “the next generation of new towns”. Only sites which have the potential to deliver a minimum of 10,000 homes have been considered, with extensions to existing towns or cities allowed under the criteria.
In September, 12 areas were recommended by the group to take forward under the town-building programme, but no sites in Northamptonshire made the shortlist.
NNC leader Martin Griffiths wrote to Steve Reed, the secretary of state for Housing, in November to urge him to consider adding Corby to the list of new towns, with over 10,000 homes either being built or planned around the town in the Local Plan, including a new settlement near Deene.
Cllr Griffiths said:
“Corby has a proud history as a former New Town and continues to be one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. We have a strong track record of delivering new homes, jobs, and regeneration, and we believe Corby is ideally placed to play a leading role in the Government’s ambitions for housing growth and sustainable communities.
“With more than 10,000 homes currently being built or planned, alongside major inward investment such as Nike establishing its UK base here, Corby offers a unique opportunity to accelerate housing delivery and attract further investment.
“Inclusion in the New Towns programme would provide the framework to deliver high-quality homes, essential infrastructure, and green spaces, while supporting economic growth and creating long-term opportunities for local people.
“We are committed to working with Government to ensure Corby continues to thrive and contribute to the success of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.”
The leader of Corby Town Council, Cllr Simon Rielly, has said in response to Cllr Griffiths’ request:
“This is a significant proposal with far-reaching implications for our area, and the Town Council believes it is essential that it is examined openly, transparently and with full community involvement.
“In principle, we welcome opportunities that could bring well-planned investment, high-quality jobs, and genuinely affordable homes for residents. However, any proposal must be founded on clear commitments to infrastructure first, meaningful public consultation, and a long-term, sustainable vision for Corby’s future.
“Road infrastructure must be prioritised from the very outset. For Corby to continue functioning effectively and safely as it grows, major highways improvements and strengthened transport links must form part of the first phase of any New Town approach is not left until later stages.
“Growth must enhance, not undermine, what makes Corby a strong and proud community. This includes protecting vital services, supporting a clean and safe town centre, and ensuring that development respects our environment and existing neighbourhoods.
“At this stage, we have not been presented with detailed proposals. The Town Council will therefore consider any formal bid on its merits once further information is available.
“We will continue to work constructively with North Northamptonshire Council, government partners, and most importantly our residents to secure the best possible outcome for Corby.”
By Nadia Lincoln, local democracy reporter
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Northampton Town Council has supported the new Maggie’s Cancer Centre at Northampton General Hospital with a financial contribution of £100,000 towards the centre’s garden.
The centre opened in Ocrober and provides practical support to people with cancer and their families.
The Mayor of Northampton, Cllr Jane Birch, said:
“Maggie’s provides invaluable support for people affected by cancer and we are pleased to help this significant local project.
“Unfortunately cancer touches many families, so this contribution will benefit the wider community, by providing a calming and relaxing space for contemplation and conversation.”
The garden has been created by internationally recognised garden designer Arne Maynard.
A Northampton football club’s plans to develop land next to its stadium into 19-acres of warehousing has received a mixed reaction, as its supporters’ trust has slammed the scheme.
Concerns have been raised that Northampton Town Football Club’s (NTFC) Sixfields Stadium could be missing a “clear open goal” by not pursuing community and leisure developments for the empty land, which harmonises with the town’s sporting community, instead of the proposed industrial use.
The club submitted plans to West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) earlier this year, earmarking the disused land to the east of the stadium, which was formerly a running track, for 11 units across seven new warehouse buildings.
The NTFC Supporters Trust has raised concerns that, if the project is to go ahead, any future expansion of the stadium will be hemmed in on its eastern side by a development which it says is not in the interest of the local community.
It continues:
“Northampton is almost unique in the country in being the venue for first class rugby, cricket and football but there seems to be no thinking or strategy as to how to maximize the benefits.
“We would ask councillors and planning officers to take a step back and consider whether approval of this application for light industrial use misses a clear open goal in exploring options for this land that include community and leisure developments that have synergy with the football club and the town’s sporting community.
“It seems that warehousing is being allowed to dominate all strategic thinking as regards Sixfields. The county is not suffering from a shortage of warehousing developments but the demand seems almost insatiable within the ‘Golden Triangle’.
“The successful outcome of this planning application will see a very significant depletion in the assets of NTFC for no ascertainable benefit to the club, its supporters or the people of Northampton.”
Cllr John East, Reform UK ward member for Dallington Spencer, has also lodged his own objections to the plans and asked for the decision to be called in to the planning committee for assessment.
He said:
“There would be a loss of amenity to the public, the parking area that is used regularly by the Football ground on match days, as well as the Formula 1 park and ride scheme. It also hosts the amusement fair on a regular basis, which attracts a large number of people to the area.
“The loss of parking area would likely see an increase of on-street parking around nearby residential areas during match days. This is a problem that is commonly seen with the nearby Franklin Gardens stadium, in which residents in the St James area are plagued by spectators parking around residential areas.
“Sixfields is a leisure area where people can enjoy hospitality and leisure facilities. The introduction of industrial units with HGV vehicular traffic is likely to deter people to the area and would have a negative impact on business during what is already a difficult time for the hospitality and leisure sectors.”
However, according to the planning portal, more than a hundred letters of support have been received from members of the public, compared to just 17 objections and five comments.
National Highways also currently has a holding objection to the development while it completes further reviews of trip distribution and traffic assessments on major roads. It is not clear when the plans will go to committee for determination.
Northampton Town Football Club has been approached for comment.
By Nadia Lincoln
Northants police former chief constable Nick Adderley is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. He is charged with fraud and misconduct in public office, relating to accusations he lied on his CV when applying for the top role.
🎁 Oundle’s annual Christmas market is happening tomorrow (Dec 6) from 10am to 5pm at the town’s market place.
❄️ Lamport Hall also has a Christmas market this weekend and next. Tickets are £5 for adult, with under 18s going free. There will be more than 100 stalls.