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Graham Croucher's avatar

If they have to be moved at all, and maybe they should to reach a wider audience, surely the ideal location should be around the "new" Market Square. This will bring a sense of history to the square which is currently missing and these statues can be enjoyed by the wider audience. Sadly, this is another casualty of the folly of the West/North Northants Unitary set up and the politicisation of what is essentially a large parish council with the big unitary bullying its smaller counterpart.

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Jacky Bright's avatar

This has indeed arisen becaue of the 'artifical construct' of 2 authorities. I still think of Northampton as my 'county town', as Alan Moore says 'at the heart of English history, the heart of English geography, and the heart of English trouble.' I am not on the whole, a great one for statues, but these do reflect the real history of our county. When I visit, I can easily wander up to see them - and show them to visitors who know little of our history. However, I have absolutely no say in this decision as I live in North Northants. This is not right.

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Lepiped's avatar

I agree that these memorials need to be in the town centre and the suggestion that they be in the "revamped" market square should ensure that they will be seen, admired and vandalised for the next 6 years before the next re-development. The current location is dark and dreary and does nothing for projecting their importance in our heritage.

As for our new MP. My assessment for her performance to date

10/10 for self promotion a la Andrea L

00/10 for constituency problem work ditto.

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Anne Lee's avatar

'Cultural vandalism' is an apt description for what North Northants Exec did to the Kettering Heritage Quarter: Alfred East art gallery closed for years now. museum closed and Kettering's artefacts to be transferred to the Arc near Chester House, the Faraday fountain left in disrepair, the main Library roof languishing unprotected for another winter because the order of the tiles was delayed and the temporary cover was scrapped. Not to mention the mindboggling 'Cornerstone' rebranding.

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Jayne West's avatar

The statues need to stay together.

They are a group piece. Surely the market square is the right place if they have to move. Please come to the meeting at the Guildhall on Friday 18th at 6pm

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David Brede's avatar

As a new organisation with a troubled parentage from its bankrupt forebear I guess West Northamptonshire Council are eager to erase history of what went on before.

Remodeling the market square, chucking the Town Council out of the Guildhall so it can become a hotel or whatever.

What next?

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Tiberious's avatar

Bet those kicking up a fuss about this have kept quite about Starmer and Reeves removing paintings from No 10 & 11 Downing street

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Anne O'Brien's avatar

If they cannot be left in situ they must be re-sited somewhere to remain easily accessible to public. I’ve walked classes of school children up from the museum specifically to explore their history. How about on the market place?

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John Roberts's avatar

WNC seems to be very undemocratically governed. Far too much is decided without debate at public meetings. They have already spent thousands on a new crematorium and chosen the site entirely in secret.

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Rosemarysturge@gmail.com's avatar

I am not sure if I'm paying to support NN or not. I get a subscribed tick but I can't spot an amount on my bank statement.

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NN Journal's avatar

Hi Rosemary. Will have a check. Thanks for reading.

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Carol Tilley's avatar

I said it once I will say it again leave the statues where they are, this useless council will do anything to destroy our town and it's heritage,we have some lovely old buildings in the town and they have all been neglected. Please don't destroy anything else.What the town needs is a deep clean and our old buildings restored I once read in the Chronicle and Echo you want people to visit the town who's going to want to see Northampton in the mess it's in and besides there's nothing here to visit for local people let alone visitors this town is a *******it's finished

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