New park at battle site in council's new strategy

The monument pinpoints the location where Oliver Cromwell defeated the king's men in the Battle of Naseby near the village

A council could create a new park at the site of a historic battle as part of its new strategy aimed at improving green spaces.

West Northamptonshire Council has suggested the park would be situated where Oliver Cromwell defeated the king's men during the Battle of Naseby in 1645.

There are also suggestions of creating a Brackley Country (Linear) Park, Houghton Linear Park and an Eastern Northampton Park.

The council also wants to add better toilet facilities at its parks, new cafes and offer more activities such as boat hire and an alpine coaster in certain locations.

Marefair Heritage Park would be the first project delivered under the strategy.

It will see the Chalk Lane car park turned into a green space later this summer.

Other suggested parks will need to go through feasibility studies to assess funding, demand and what facilities are needed.

Nigel Stansfield, Reform UK cabinet member for environment, recycling and waste, said: "Let me be clear, we may not achieve everything in this strategy.

"If we don't aim high, we risk achieving nothing at all."

The previous Conservative administration had also created a strategy for parks in the district, which suggested the country park at Naseby.

Work is taking place to transform the parking area at Marefair Heritage Park into a green space

In 2026, the council also hopes to explore options to install cycling and mobility aid hires for visitors.

During the cabinet meeting on Wednesday the leader of the Labour group, Sally Keeble, raised concerns around a lack of prioritisation for parks in urban areas.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Stansfield said he agreed certain parks had been neglected and that it needed to be addressed.

He continued: "We're very lucky we have 153 parks in west Northamptonshire and we couldn't name every single park within the strategy.

"I'm very much about spreading what money we can through all our areas.

"With having a proper strategy, we will be able to get investment into the parks - without the strategy, it's very hard."