BBC Local Live: Northamptonshire

Summary

Updates on Friday, 3 February 2017
Tresham College merges with Bedford College
'Very rare' problem closes A6 between Rothwell and Desborough until March

Live Reporting

Local paper round-up: Cut to council tax support and fish deaths compensationpublished at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live
Elsewhere in Northamptonshire:
- A bid to cut the amount of council tax support to around 10,000 of Northampton's lowest owners by six per cent has been approved at the Guildhall despite claims it would drive those on a shoestring budget towards debt - reports the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, external.
- The Northamptonshire Telegraph writes:, external Anglian Water donates £100,000 after sewage spill in Corby brook kills 500 fish
- The Mayor of Daventry joined special guests at the relaunch of a hotel following a £2 million makeover say the Daventry Express, external.
Bin lorry driver filmed on mobile phonepublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
The footage was captured by a colleague who said he raised the problem without result.
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Weather: Largely cloudy with rain at timespublished at 12:49 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
BBC Weather
It'll be a cloudy, grey and murky afternoon, with outbreaks of light rain and drizzle for many. In addition low cloud will shroud the hills, creating widespread hill fog over high ground.
Top temperature today of 7C (45F).
There are more details on the BBC Weather website.
Investigation into bin man caught on camerapublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online
The waste truck was being driven through the Leicestershire countryside towards Market Harborough, with the driver admitting he was "daydreaming".
FCC Environmental, which operates the service, said a "full investigation" was under way.
Bin lorry driver filmed on mobile phonepublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Greig Watson
Reporter, BBC News Online
A bin man has been filmed using his mobile phone while driving down country lanes in Leicestershire at speed...
This footage was captured by a colleague who said he had raised the problem with employers without result.
Cobblers aiming to sign a striker and defender on deadline daypublished at 11:26 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Caroline Densley
BBC Radio Northampton sport
Northampton Town manager Justin Edinburgh says he is hoping to sign a defender and striker before the transfer window closes at 23:00 today, telling me that he "hopes to have two players, at least, in the building today".
Image source, NTFC
So far the Cobblers have brought in forward Luke Williams from Scunthorpe, and Keshi Anderson from Crystal Palace, both on loan, and defender Neal Eardley from Hibernian for free, while midfielder Lawson D'Ath has left for Luton.
Edinburgh, who look over a fortnight ago, said they are "working hard to make [transfers] happen" and revealed they had missed out on some of their targets so far.
However, he believed that January is "not the best window to do business".
Trains: Disruption between Milton Keynes and Watfordpublished at 11:23 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Sarah Jenkins
BBC Local Live
A broken down train between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction is causing disruption to journeys between the two stations.
Trains may be cancelled or delayed by up to 20 minutes. Southern services will not run between Milton Keynes Central and Watford Junction.
Disruption is expected until 12:00.
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Abbey restoration nears completionpublished at 11:14 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Over budget and hit by delays, but the restoration of Delapre Abbey in Northampton is nearing completion.
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Worry over 40 mile round-trip for patients if hospital is cutpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter
Returning to the public meeting in Brackley last night...
Chris Cartmel, a town councillor, told me he worries that if services at the Horton Hospital in Banbury are reduced or it gets closed then residents of south Northamptonshire will have to travel "over 20 miles away" for medical treatments.
Image source, PA
Dr Phillip Stevens, a GP in Brackley said he accepted some acute services, such as stroke care, should be at the John Ratcliffe Hospital in Oxford or Northampton General Hospital, but the Horton should "provide a basic range of safe services which are accessible to our patients, which historically they have done".
Owners of Nene Park to meet with MP and others over demolitionpublished at 10:47 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live
The Connservative MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, Tom Pursglove, has revealed that the demolition of Nene Park has been temporarily halted while a meeting between himself, the site's owner and other interested parties is arranged.
Bulldozers were due to move in on the former home of Rushden & Diamonds in Irthlingborough this month after the owners said it was a fire hazard.
Mr Pursglove has raised the issue of the stadium, which has been empty since 2012, in the Commons and also wrote to East Northamptonshire Council.
In the reply from the authority, external, the chief executive, David Oliver, said he had spoken to the owner of Nene Park, Keith Cousins, and he had agreed to a meeting and the work on the site would be halted until then.
Mr Oliver also says the council is working with AFC Rushden & Diamonds to find a permanent home for the club for next season.
Nene Park demolition haltedpublished at 10:40 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Breaking
The demolition of the former home of Rushden and Diamonds, Nene Park in Irthlingborough has been halted pending a meeting with the site's owner and "interested parties".
More to follow.
Care home fees "significantly increasing"published at 10:32 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter
Northamptonshire County Council says it is "significantly increasing" the fees it pays to care homes.
It comes in response to the Northamptonshire Association of Registered Care Homes statistic that two-thirds of care home owners are unhappy at low fee rates and a lack of consultation - and they're not signing new agreements.
But Conservative councillor Bill Parker, who is responsible for adult social care, said "we are significantly increasing the amount of money we pay to care homes".
The county council has re-opened the tendering process to allow more providers to sign up to take residents funded by the authority.
Care homes refuse to work with county councilpublished at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter
Two thirds of care homes in Northamptonshire have refused to sign a new agreement to work with the county council, according to a care home organisation.
The Northamptonshire Association of Registered Care Homes (Norarch), external says business owners are unhappy at low fee rates and a lack of consultation.
Norarch spokesman Glenn Hurd (pictured) said "unfortunately this will mean more bed-blocking" in local hospitals.
Northamptonshire County Council, external says it is re-opening the tendering process to allow more providers to sign up to agree to take residents funded by the authority.
Girl has 'one in a million' disorderpublished at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Nine-year-old Heidi Cooke's condition has similar symptoms to Parkinson's disease.
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Hospital changes 'ensure patient safety'published at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter
Health bosses say changes to a hospital that serves south Northamptonshire will "ensure patient safety and the best care from staff".
More than 50 people attended a public meeting in Brackley last night about plans to see stroke services and some critical care at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury move to Oxford.
Campaigners are angry about the plans.
Image source, OUH
Image caption,
The Horton General Hospital in Banbury also serves people in South Northamptonshire.
But the Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: "The changes being proposed are to ensure patient safety and the best care from staff with the right skills, all day every day."
A consultation is under way and the CCG says it will hold a public meeting in Brackley on 27 February to hear the views of local people.
Anger in Brackley at plans for hospital cutspublished at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Sam Read
BBC Radio Northampton politics reporter
More than 50 people have attended a public meeting in Brackley about plans to cut some services at a local hospital.
The meeting was organised by people opposed to changes at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury, which serves part of south Northamptonshire.
The plans could see stroke services and some critical care patients from the Horton move to the John Radcliffe in Oxford.
But the Banbury hospital could see investment in other areas.
Image caption,
Between 50 and 60 people attended a public meeting in Brackley last night.
Campaigners say the changes will leave long journeys to Oxford or Northampton for patients and could be followed by more services being removed.
But the Oxfordshire Clinincal Commissioning Group says the changes will ensure patient safety.
Delays through Milton Keynes on London Midlandpublished at 08:25 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
A broken down train is causing delays on London Midland this morning...
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Stags to make three more signingspublished at 08:17 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Charlie Slater
BBC Radio Nottingham sports reporter
Meanwhile at Mansfield, manager Steve Evans is hoping to add three more to the six he's already signed this window.
Northampton's Alfie Potter and Oxford's Alex MacDonald are among the names linked with the club.
Weather: Misty and dull with outbreaks of rainpublished at 08:14 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Kate Kinsella
BBC Look East weather
It will be and overcast and dull day across the BBC East region with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, which may turn heavier at times.
It will feel fairly chilly under the thick cloud with a high of 6C (43F).
Here is my full forecast...
There are more details on the BBC Weather website.
Welcome backpublished at 08:00 Greenwich Mean Time 31 January 2017
Pete Cooper
BBC Local Live
Good morning.
We are back with live updates for Northamptonshire.
Today we'll be looking at care homes in the county and hospital cuts which could affect people in south Northamptonshire.
Plus today is transfer deadline day, so will Northampton Town manager Justin Edinburgh be bringing in any new players? If he does you'll find out here later.
Image source, Getty Images