Eastfield
D M Acock - Conservative - Response awaited
S Collins - Liberal Democrat - Response awaited
U E Gravesande -Labour
If elected what will you do to speed up the planning process to ensure the Central Area Action Plan and Sixfields Area Action plan are given some urgency / priority?
What do you feel a professional football / sports team brings to a town / community?
What will you do to enact NBC’s policy of maintaining and helping professional league football in Northampton?
It is Labour’s clear policy to give league football every chance of success in Northampton. In this election we are putting forward policies that will give us a more prosperous and successful town after the wasted and failed years of a Tory led Council. Any successful town needs a successful league football club which has a secure future.
If elected on May 3rd our first priority would be given to establishing a strong working partnership with Northampton Town Football Club and its supporters. We would work with Cobblers in an open and honest way. It is a disgrace that the Conservatives along with the Liberal Democrat opposition have been unwilling to do this as they have kept the decision-making and planning process away from those most affected. We will change this negative approach by forming a partnership that would benefit all.
We fully recognise that the planning and development process can be complex. However, by the Council not showing stronger leadership, and at every turn attempting to divert the blame away from themselves, the process has not moved forward as it should have.
Labour is committed to providing strong and decisive leadership to accelerate the process. This commitment was demonstrated recently when I submitted a motion to full Council, with the approval of an officer from GOEM. If the motion had been debated and passed the Central Area Action Plan and Sixfields Area Action Plan would have been given priority. The Conservatives along with the Liberal Democrats refused to debate let alone support our motion for reasons best know to themselves. If elected Labour will continue to pursue the terms of this motion.
For the Cobblers to have any chance of success then the local Council must give it every opportunity. The Labour Group on the Council have seen the Conservatives led by Tim Hadland hold the club back. When there did seem to be movement on this matter the Liberal Democrats decided at a critical time to call it in for further scrutiny. Indicating, in our view, a serious lack of commitment to the club and the citizens of Northampton.
Labour wants to see a successful league football club that can look forward and be confident that its future is secure. If Labour is elected we will work to achieve this.
J Hawkins - Liberal Democrat - The following response has been received;
My general response to your questions is summed up by the statement issued by Councillor Tony Woods, Leader of the current group of Lib Dem Councillors. Our detailed plans are available at www.northamptonlibdems.org.uk.
My more personal response in terms of Eastfield Ward is as follows;
If elected I will do everything in my power to ensure that the Central Area Action Plan and the Sixfields Area Action Plan are kept to the fore as matters of urgency. I will ensure that my voice is heard on the issue in the Lib Dem group and is given appropriate priority at Cabinet/Shadow Cabinet level.
As a person who has had a career in education and is a School Governor I am particularly aware of the value of professional sports in Northampton and in our local community in Eastfield. For the past three years I have been actively involved in promoting community projects - the establishment of the community shop at 79 Broadmead Avenue is an example. I am particularly keen that the question of sports and football facilities in Eastfield Park is given proper co-ordination. I have tracked the issue of Section 106 funding and am fully aware of this item and its place on the agenda of the new Neighbourhood Management Board. I want to promote pride in our professional teams as fully as possible. Our sportsmen are fine models for our youth. Links from major clubs through to local community groups will be vital in bringing about the change in youth culture that is essential for safer and healthier communities.
As a Ward Councillor I would expect to act as a powerful link in the communication network between your organisation and the wider organisation of the Council.
B N Kirby - Labour - The following response has been received
As a Labour candidate in Eastfield in the forthcoming Borough elections you will doubtless have received the letter from Les Marriott regarding Labour’s policy on this issue, which I support.
However I thought it worth sending a few lines to assure you of my personal support for a thriving and successful football team in the Town. Until a couple of years ago, when work and Council work meant it was not a viable option, I was a season ticket holder at the Cobblers and I continue to support them and follow them with interest.
As someone who took his family to both the Cobblers appearances at Wembley I recognise the tremendous lift it gave to the Town at that time and there is no doubt that successful sports teams can do much to raise the profile Northampton around the country. I also appreciate the good work that the Cobblers have been involved in by bringing football to children throughout the community.
I think we have to move away from a council that only knows how to discourage and say no to things and move towards a council that has a vision of a thriving and a prosperous Town and acts positively to support that vision.
I therefore support the Cobblers in their efforts to build a successful team as an important part of the progress for the future of Northampton.
A J Lochmuller - The Green Party - Response awaited
A J Wright - Conservative - The following response has been received;
Thank you for your letter requesting my views regarding the Sixfields issue,the future of league football in Northampton and what does professional football bring to the town.
My personal thoughts are as follows:
1. as a new candidate I do not know the full facts regarding the on- going saga of Sixfields expansion but I believe it should be resolved as soon as possible. I cannot understand why this issue has dragged on so long, but if I am elected I intend to ask for some answers and hopefully speed up the planning descision to get to a satisfactory conclusion.
2. successful spots e.g football,rugby and cricket raise a towns profile and helps to bring investment and revenue into the town's communities.
3. The best approach to encourage sustainable football in the town is to get Sixfields sorted out and let private investment get on with developing a successful club (as Keith Barwell has done with the Saints) but football must stand on it's own feet and be self sufficient and not susidised by the counciul tax payers.
regards Alan Wright
