Village News

Time to get walking again!

With Spring on its way we start to think about getting out to walk in the beautiful English Countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?

Walking in Northamptonshire https://www.walkinginengland.co.uk/northants has loads of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group all the information is there in one place.

John Harris (who maintains the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Northamptonshire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.

With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So home or away, check out the websites and get walking!

Waste & Recycling Collections 2022

Christmas waste and recycling arrangements across West Northants

With the festive season fast approaching, West Northamptonshire Council is advising residents of the arrangements for waste and recycling collections over the Christmas and New Year period.

Waste and recycling collection crews will be working throughout the festive season to make sure services are delivered on time and with no delays.

Downloadable Christmas and New Year bin calendars will be available from the Council’s website at www.westnorthants.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-waste by the end of November.

But in the meantime, here are the main things to remember:

  • Waste and recycling collection days in the South Northamptonshire and Northampton areas will not change over Christmas and New Year.
  • Collections in the Daventry area which were due to take place on Monday 26 December, will take place on Saturday 24 December instead.
  • Garden waste collections will be suspended from 24 December until 6 January across West Northants.

Real tree collections

Crews will collect real Christmas trees between 9 and 20 January.

Residents in the Daventry and South Northants areas should put real Christmas trees out on the day that garden waste is due to be collected in their area. You do not need a garden waste subscription to put out your real Christmas tree.

In the Northampton area real trees should be put out next to recycling bins, and those on sack collections can present trees beside their recycling boxes and green sacks on their collection day.

Please ensure any trees over 6ft tall are cut in half, so they will fit into the lorries safely.

Additional recycling

Additional recycling can be put out in clear plastic bags or boxes alongside recycling bins and boxes, or can also be taken to the nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre.

These are open as usual throughout the festive period except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, when they will be closed. Centres will also close early on Christmas Eve, at 2pm.

Find out more

People can find out more information about waste and recycling collections here

Daventry Area Community Transport (DACT) – Volunteer Recruitment

Urgent appeal for volunteer drivers in our community – volunteer numbers have HALVED since the pandemic. Please help if you can!

Daventry Area Community Transport (DACT) provide a community transport service for elderly and vulnerable people to get them to and from their medical and wellbeing related appointments.  The door-to-door service is a crucial lifeline for those who are unable to access suitable public transport.  It also enables people to maintain independence in their own homes and reduce their reliance on family, friends and neighbours for lifts.  

DACT also operates a free home-to-town transport service each Friday for over 65s in Daventry.  The Dial-A-Ride scheme provides a friendly, flexible and helpful service to elderly and vulnerable people who would otherwise be isolated and unable to independently access shops and other activities in the town centre. For many it is their only trip out of the house each week.  Local volunteer drivers are crucial to the continued operation of this much needed service.

DACT minibuses are also used for DACT Days out, a programme offering a wide range of day trips to museums, stately homes, pub lunches, the seaside and other places of interest.  These popular trips are crucial in helping combat loneliness and isolation and enable the elderly and vulnerable to make new friends and have a fun day out.  DACT also hire the minibuses out for ad hoc bookings by affiliated groups from around the area and drivers are often needed for these bookings too.

If you are recently retired, work part-time or from home, volunteering for DACT as a driver would be a great way to help in your community.  Drivers are needed 7 days a week and at weekends.

A DBS is required, and drivers are paid mileage or an allowance for each journey made.  All journeys are booked in accordance with the volunteer’s availability on a weekly basis, so whatever time you can give, whether a few hours or several days a week, will make a difference. All minibus drivers must complete MiDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme) training which DACT provide inhouse.

For more information about becoming a volunteer driver send us a message or call 01327 701665 during office hours. 

info@dact.uk.com  www.dact.uk.com  https://www.facebook.com/DaventryAreaCT

A Nation Mourns – Books of Condolence

Books of condolence will be available from Friday 9 September to mark the saddening news of the death of Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of her other realms and territories, Queen, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith.

An online book of condolence is available on the Royal Family’s website. The book of condolence will also be available inside the Great Hall at the Guildhall in Northampton, The Forum in Towcester and Lodge Road in Daventry.

Opening times are as follows:

Northampton Guildhall: 8:30am to 6pm (Saturdays 9:30am to 5pm)

Towcester Forum: 9am to 5pm

Daventry Lodge Road: 9am to 5pm

Please be aware that during peak periods there may be queues.

Closing of the book of condolence

The book of condolence will be closed on the day after the Queen’s funeral.

Once closed, the books of condolence will form part of West Northamptonshire Council’s archive so that future generations are able to easily gain access to them and find out the way in which national events are marked.

The books of condolence may also be displayed in the museum along with other memorabilia as an exhibition.

Books of Condolence