Contact & Community Info
The attached Contact and Community Postcard has been delivered to all houses (February 2026).
Police & Fire Commissioners February 2026 Newsletter
/in News/by ClerkPlease find a link to the Newsletter here or see the attachment below
Newsletter – February 2026 – Northamptonshire Police & Fire Commissioner
Shared Lives
/in News/by ClerkPlease see the attachment
West Northants Local Plan
/in News/by ClerkWest Northamptonshire Local Plan consultation
Local Plan consultation offers a chance to shape West Northamptonshire’s future
People who live and work in West Northamptonshire are being invited to take part in an important consultation that will help shape how the area grows and develops over the coming decades.
West Northamptonshire Council has launched an eight-week consultation on its new Local Plan, which opened on Thursday 29 January. The Local Plan will guide key decisions on where new homes are built, jobs located, how town centres are regenerated, how transport and infrastructure are planned, and how green spaces and local character are protected.
As demand for housing, employment land and services continues to increase, the Local Plan will play a central role in managing growth and directing investment. Taking part in the consultation gives communities a genuine opportunity to influence decisions that will affect everyday life now and in the future.
The consultation runs until 27 March and a series of public drop-in events are being held across West Northamptonshire to help people find out more and share their views:
- Monday 2 February – Moulton Community Centre, Moulton, NN3 7AX (1:30–4:30pm)
- Friday 6 February – The Forum, Towcester, NN12 6AF (12–5pm)
- Tuesday 10 February – Wootton Community Centre, Wootton, NN4 6ED (2–7:30pm)
- Wednesday 11 February – Middleton Cheney Village Hall, Middleton Cheney, OX17 2LT (12–4:30pm)
- Thursday 12 February – Mercure Hotel, Daventry, NN11 0SG (3–6:30pm)
- Thursday 19 February – Grosvenor Centre, Northampton, NN1 2EW (12:30–4:30pm)
- Wednesday 4 March – Long Buckby Community Centre, Long Buckby, NN6 7QB (3–7:30pm)
- Wednesday 11 March – Brackley Town Hall, Brackley, NN13 7AB (12:30–6pm)
All feedback received will be reviewed and used to shape the next stage of the Local Plan. A further draft plan is expected to be published in 2026, before being submitted for independent examination. Once adopted, the Local Plan will guide planning decisions across West Northamptonshire through to 2043.
Full details of the consultation and the online survey are available on the West Northamptonshire Council website at www.westnorthants.gov.uk/consultations
This is a key opportunity to help shape the future of West Northamptonshire, and everyone is encouraged to take part and have their say.
Northants Police, Fire & Crime Commissioners December 2025 Newsletter
/in News/by ClerkPlease click on the link to see the latest Newsletter from the PFCC
Newsletter – December 2025 – Northamptonshire Police & Fire Commissioner
Age UK Engage Magazine Winter 2025
/in News/by ClerkThe Winter edition of Engage Magazine is now available.
You can read the flippy online version here.
Christmas Party Sat 13th Dec 2pm-4pm
/in News/by ClerkPlease see the attachment for full details
PFCC Public Confidence Survey
/in News/by ClerkNorthamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Danielle Stone has launched an online consultation to ask how much people are willing to pay to support their Northamptonshire police and fire services next year (2026/27). Please help my completing the survey.
Waste and recycling arrangements this Christmas
/in News/by ClerkWaste and recycling arrangements this Christmas
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.
Collection changes
The public holidays will affect households on a Thursday or Friday bin collection this year, as follows:
Daventry area
- Collections due Thursday 25 December will take place on Saturday 27 December
- Collections due Friday 26 December will take place on Sunday 28 December
- Collections due Thursday 1 January will take place on Saturday 3 January.
South Northants area
- Collections due Thursday 25 December will take place on Saturday 27 December
- Collections due Friday 26 December will take place on Monday 29 December
- Collections due Thursday 1 January will take place on Saturday 3 January.
Northampton area
- Collections due Thursday 25 December will take place on Saturday 27 December
- Collections due Thursday 1 January will take place on Saturday 3 January.
Garden waste
Subscribers are advised there will be a short break in the garden waste collection service, which will be suspended from Monday 22 December through to Sunday 4 January. It will resume its usual schedule from the week beginning Monday 5 January.
Household Waste Recycling Centres
Recycling centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, and will close early on Christmas Eve, at 2pm.
With those exceptions they will be open from 10am to 4pm as usual, offering a great way to dispose of a range of materials, from excess household waste, to recycling and larger items that can’t be collected as part of your kerbside collection service.
Please remember if you are visiting any of our sites on or after 3 November 2025, you must book a slot in advance. Find out more information about the booking system
Additional recycling
If you have more recycling than your bin can handle, you can put it in clear plastic bags or boxes and present it alongside your recycling bins or boxes. You can also take this to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre
Real tree collections
Crews will collect real Christmas trees from Monday 5 January through to Friday 16 January. You do not need a garden waste subscription to take advantage of this.
Residents in the Daventry and South Northants areas should put real Christmas trees out on the day garden waste is due to be collected in their area.
In the Northampton area trees should be put out next to recycling bins, while those on sack collections can present trees beside their recycling boxes.
Please ensure trees over 6ft tall are cut in half so they fit in the lorries safely. They can also be taken to your nearest Household Waste Recycling Centre
Food waste
Food waste bins will continue to be collected on their usual weekly schedule. Please remember you can recycle leftover raw and cooked foods, including veg peelings, egg shells, out-of-date food, plate scrapings, solid fats, meat and fish bones.
Do not put in any liquids and don’t forget that when it comes to lining your caddy – any bag will do! Find out how to make the most of your food waste collection service
Keep on top of collections
Downloadable bin calendars with information about waste and recycling arrangements for your area will be available from the Bins, Recycling and Waste pages of West Northamptonshire Council’s website in November.
You can check your collection day and set up alerts on your mobile by downloading the free West Northamptonshire Council app from the Apple or Google Play stores
Find more information about collections together with top tips for reducing your waste and recycling more this Christmas on the Council’s waste and recycling pages
Bonfire Night Advice
/in News/by Clerk
Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to follow advice and have fun safely during the Halloween and Bonfire period. Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service would always recommend only attending organised firework and bonfire displays but urge members of the public that are planning on holding their own display to do so safely to avoid causing fires and injuries.
If you are planning on having your own bonfire, please follow the below safety advice and protect your yourself, your families and your homes from fire:
- Build bonfires well away from houses, garages, sheds, fences, overhead cables, trees and shrubs
- Ensure that built bonfires are stable, and won’t collapse outwards or to one side
- Do not use flammable liquids to light the fire
- Don’t burn aerosols, tins of paints, bottles or any foam filled furniture
- Before lighting the fire, check that no wildlife, pets or children are hiding inside of it!
While your fire is lit keep buckets of water, the garden hose or a fire extinguisher closer just in case of an emergency, and after it has burnt down, pour water on the embers before leaving to ensure it is fully out.
It is always recommended to have one person responsible for lighting a bonfire. That person, and any helpers, should wear suitable clothing such as a substantial outer garment made of wool or other low flammable material and strong boots or shoes.
In the past three years, between October and November, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service attended 42 fires caused by bonfires.
Fireworks can be fun and beautiful, but they can also cause devastating injuries to people and damage to property if they are used in the wrong way.
To keep yourself safe, always remember the following:
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully
- Always light fireworks at arm’s length, using a safety firework lighter or a fuse wick
- Keep a bucket of water handy or other water sources such as a garden hose
- Never go back to a firework once lit, put them in your pocket or throw them
- Always read the instructions for safe disposal of fireworks. After a display, collect used fireworks with care by dousing and then submerging them in water for 24-48 hrs, remember to SOAK IT, BAG IT, BIN IT.
Darren Carson, Prevention Team Leader at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “While the number of fires we attend during this period is reducing year by year, we still want to urge people to follow safety advice to keep themselves, their families and their homes safe.
“It is a fun time of year and we want people to enjoy fireworks and bonfires, but we really encourage members of the public to only go to an official display and avoid having them in back gardens.
“If you do have your own display or bonfire and it gets out of control, or you see any unattended fires, please always call 999 and ask for the Fire Service.”