Wellingborough teen launches campaign for bike track in memory of Dylan
Wellingborough teen launches campaign for bike track in memory of Dylan
Plus Weekley Hall Woods decision deferred and Northampton stories brought to life on stage
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A teenage boy from Wellingborough is calling for a dirt bike track to be opened on land close to where 16 year-old Dylan Holliday was killed earlier this month.
Callum Guest, 15, was a friend of Dylan and believes the track would give young people in the Queensway area of Wellingborough something to do.
“Dylan loved bikes, so this would be in memory of him. Knife incidents are becoming too common, it’s something you’re always aware of.
“There’s nothing to do around here, I think something like this would keep people out of trouble. Drop the knives and pick up a bike!”
A possible site for the track has been identified between Shelley Road and Park Farm Industrial Estate.
The campaign is being supported by Rev Ben Lewis from St Marks Church in Queensway, who is helping Guest to set up a working group to push this forward. The plans are also being backed by local councillors.
“I’ve had a number of conversations with partnership agencies in the area and I think this is something we can all get behind,” Cllr Matthew Binley said.
“I have found out that the land is owned by North Northants Council so we’ll be trying to move this forward.”
The working group will meet for the first time next week.
Planning decision at Weekley Hall Woods deferred
A decision on a planning application for a proposed warehouse development at Weekley Hall Woods has been deferred after a heated meeting last night.
Planners recommended that councillors sitting on Kettering’s planning committee should approve the proposals.
However, a decision was deferred partly due to a lack of a masterplan and the need for more environmental mitigation.
Chants and singing could be heard throughout the meeting from a large group of campaigners who gathered outside to protest against the plans.
The Save Weekley Hall Woods group were angry that they had been denied the opportunity to speak.
“The new unitary council has introduced some rules which restrict the number of Third Party Objectors allowed to speak to only one,” Group Member Steve Esler said.
“This is supposed to be issued on a first come, first serve basis. We know that the allocated Objector was not the first person to apply to speak.
“Also under the new rules, the Chair has the discretion to allow further speakers. Having spoken to him directly I was assured that an additional speaker would be permitted if genuine planning concerns could be evidenced. This evidence has been provided and yet we received confirmation no further speakers are permitted.”
Northampton stories brought to life on stage
A theatre production examining the impact of Northampton becoming a New Town in 1968 will open at Royal & Derngate from 22 - 25 September.
60 Miles by Road or Rail tells the stories of people who moved to Northampton under the government’s New Towns Act and the impact on people living here.
“The play is a fun, funny and fast approach to an important chapter in Northampton’s local history,” writer Ryan Leder says.
“It seeks to ask big questions about the town’s history and current political landscape, as well as the divide that exists throughout the town. Ultimately, I hope the play encapsulates Northampton’s identity, while also questioning if that’s the identity we want to have.”