Page 27 - Phonebox Magazine July 2016

£30 for this offence, Police Of cers can issue a ne of up to £1,000 plus driving licence points. This safety concern will be discussed at the next Council meeting.
St Peter & St Paul churchyard wall
The old stone wall of St Peter and St Paul’s churchyard is deteriorating and in need of repair. The wall is MKC’s responsibility, but OTC has received a letter asking it to contribute towards the repair. Tony Evans, noting that MKC has been looking after the churchyard since 1994, felt the wall was unsafe and carried the danger of a rock falling on a vehicle or, worse, a person. He asked if a site visit could be arranged to show MKC
the problem. Peter Geary felt that this letter broke protocol in that individual MKC of cers shouldn’t write directly to Parish Councils and that, as a result, OTC should reply to a person higher in the MKC management structure in order to progress the matter.
WEEE and textiles bank
MKC has asked if it can place a Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and textiles bank in the car park to the rear of the Library on West Street. Councillors were concerned about the location, and a small group will visit various possible sites in the town to see if a more suitable one can be suggested for a three month trial of the bank.
Swimming Steps
As reported before, the Swimming Steps are in the process of being repaired. Due to some recent spells of heavy rain, the works are taking longer than expected, but should still be completed before Riverfest, due to take place on Sunday 3rd July.
The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 4th July in the Council Chamber in the Olney Centre. Members of the public are always welcome to attend and, if they wish, speak at the start of the meeting, or at any point that the mayor decides is appropriate.
English Regional Transport Association
NHelp save the Northampton-Bedford railway trackbed
orthampton (Population approximately 200,000) is half way between London and Birmingham off the West Coast
Main Line (WCML) and Bedford (Population approx. 150,000) on the Thameslink/ Midland Main Line, half way location is Olney (population 6,500 but with a 5 mile catchment of villages adding up to 33,000). There is a 20 mile gap between Northampton and Bedford.
Bedford has services to Luton Airport, Luton and London, Gatwick Airport and Brighton, Northampton to Birmingham via Rugby. The two towns stare at each other, but the gap means awkward travels by lengthy bus rides (1.5 hours each way with congestion) and the service is not commensurate to the timetable of the railway. Different operators means different and not transferable ticketing and changes means delays and cost. Traf c queues form on the A428 into Bedford, whilst Northampton suffers gridlock with A14 (Felixstowe-
Thrapston) A45 to Northampton/M1.
We are seeking reopening of this rail link. This missing 20 mile gap in the rail network would link 4 airports (Gatwick, Luton, Coventry and Birmingham), mean one train, one ticket, and offer more joined-up options. Applications like the Blisworth Rail Freight Depot do not seem to understand that south of Rugby capacity is at a premium. Meanwhile because of the congestion Northampton uniquely faces, having major trunk roads and a motorway converging in an urban cordon, means congestion in a development context will compound. Only a rail link to Bedford, offering direct, fast services to Luton Airport and Cambridge ultimately can offer the
quality of choice to lure people out of their cars and get lorries off the roads and back onto the rails where they belong. ERTA Media Spokesperson said “This scheme (Bedford-Olney-Northampton dubbed ‘The Cobbler Line’) needs professional support, interest and champions. We should not let a strategic corridor be assassinated by piecemeal developments of dubious worth and I therefore ask you to help us get the of cial and strategic support we need. If opponents of Blisworth put their shoulders to supporting reopening the rail link to Bedford, its chances of success would be increased. We invite people to join ERTA and do just that.”
July 2016 | Phonebox Magazine 27