Local Plan deadline, weekend results, and Bite Street's last days

Hello Towcester & NN12.

You shouldn’t spend Wednesday morning hunting council notices, club fixtures and ticket pages. That’s what The Waffle is for — we dig around so you get one short local read with the useful bits in one place.

This week: the Local Plan’s 29 September Government deadline, weekend RESULTS for Saints and both Towcestrians hockey sides, Saints at home on Friday, and Bite Street’s last weekend of the season. Reply with a tip if we’ve missed your street, then invite someone in NN12 to subscribe to The Towcester Waffle.

Here’s what matters.

West Northamptonshire Council is resetting work on its future Local Plan after the Planning Policy Committee rejected the draft Regulation 19 plan and chose to restart under the 2026 national framework.

The Government has since intervened. WNC says it has until 29 September to set out any exceptional circumstances arguing that intervention isn’t appropriate, and must keep reporting monthly rather than simply withdrawing the plan. The GOV.UK intervention letter is public.

In plain English: that deadline is about who sets the next wave of homes, jobs and roads across West Northants — including Towcester and NN12 — and whether WNC keeps a stronger say in that plan or the Government steps in harder. Miss it, and more of that map can be decided outside the town. The BBC has a clear explainer if you want the longer read.

No newer WNC exceptional-circumstances reply was published before we locked this issue. If you care where homes, jobs and roads land next in NN12, 29 September is the date to watch.

Northampton Saints beat Black Lion 93–10 in a club friendly at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday 18 September — a fifteen-try night under the lights, and a warm-up for the Gallagher PREM opener.

Next up at home: Northampton vs Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday 25 September at 7.45pm — the PREM season opener at Franklin’s Gardens. Just the fixture for now; kick-off as listed on the BBC page.

Men’s 1sts lost 1–3 at home to Leicester Westleigh 1 on Saturday 19 September (1.30pm kick-off) in Midlands Open Men’s Division 5 East. A tough afternoon at Towcestrians Sports Club.

Next: away to Mansfield 1 on Saturday 26 September at 2pm.

Ladies 1sts lost 2–3 at home to Rugby & East Warwickshire 2 on Saturday 19 September (3.15pm) in Midlands Women’s Division 2 East. Narrow defeat after a full afternoon.

Next: away to Stratford 1 on Saturday 26 September at 12.30pm.

Towcestrians RFC 1st XV are listed at home to Market Bosworth on Saturday 26 September. Kick-off’s still TBC on the club page — check nearer the day.

Applications are open for school places from September 2027. Year 7 secondary closes midnight 31 October. Reception and junior closes midnight 15 January. County-wide, but every NN12 parent with a child moving up hits these dates.

Content warning: this item covers suicide prevention.

The Orange Button Scheme launched across Northamptonshire around 10 September — people wearing an orange badge who’ve completed accredited suicide-prevention training. They aren’t counsellors. They listen without judgement and help point you to the right support if you, or someone you care about, is struggling.

WNC Cabinet endorsed the Northamptonshire Suicide Prevention Strategy 2026–2031 on 16 September, with Orange Button kept as a key countywide action. Look for the badge in everyday places; the scheme page covers how to become a holder if you’ve got eligible training.

The neighbourhood team’s Police Pop-up Surgery is at Watermeadows, Towcester, on Saturday 26 September, 9am–11am. Drop in if you want a face-to-face word with the local team. They’ve asked people to let them know if you plan to attend — that ask is on the Town Council event page.

Towcester Town Council is pointing people to Northants Police’s Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) recruitment. The window’s open; enquiries via [email protected] or 101 ext 342401 if that path interests you.

SNVB Networking Lunch — Wed 23 Sep, 11.30am–1.30pm, Riverside Centre, Islington Road, Towcester, NN12 6AU. For the volunteer sector. Refreshments and light lunch; register with [email protected].

Live Comedy Night at the Mill — Thu 24 Sep, 8pm, Towcester Mill Brewery. £16; about 19 tickets left when we checked. Phil Walker and Jay Handley (Funhouse). Over 18s.

Bite Street — Fri 25–Sun 27 Sep, Bell Plantation, Watling Street (NN12 6GX). Last of the season. Ticketed; children under 10 free. Hours: Fri 5.30–9.30pm; Sat 1–9.30pm; Sun noon–4.30pm.

Whittlebury Comedy Night at Forge Coffee — Sat 26 Sep, Forge Coffee, The Paddocks, Whittlebury Park, NN12 8QH. Doors 6.30pm, show 7.30pm. £12.50 (fees may apply on TicketLab). Distinct from Thursday’s Mill comedy.

Silverstone Open Studios — free Northants & Rutland Open Studios group show through Sun 27 Sep at Silverstone Methodist Chapel (Chapel Rooms), Murswell Lane, Silverstone, NN12 8UT. Usually 10am–4pm; Sunday 11.30am–4pm. Six local artists and makers; Towcester’s Caroline Swan is showing A Love Letter to Towcester (and more of her work). Meet the artists, buy direct, family-friendly — refreshments 11am–3pm. Distinctive local art about our town, just down the road. Venue details.

Towcester Farm Vets TB meeting — Mon 28 Sep, Towcestrians Sports Club, NN12 8AW. Refreshments 7pm, talk 7.30pm. Sarah Tomlinson and Lindsay Heasman. Free. Book on 01327 350239 (option 3) or [email protected].

Coffee Cake and Keepsakes — Wed 7 Oct, Hobbs Coffee Bar, Swinneyford Road, Towcester. £20 (adults only need a ticket; children free — squash or water for little ones). A cosy morning for mums: one hot drink (coffee or tea), a slice of cake, and a mini photoshoot with Sophie Last Photography — one digital image to keep. Book via Studio Ninja.

The Met Office Towcester forecast for the rest of the week: Wednesday about 21°C / 6°C with sunny intervals; Thursday 20°C / 7°C and sunny; Friday 23°C / 10°C and sunny; Saturday 20°C / 9°C with sunny intervals; Sunday 20°C / 13°C with sunny intervals.

Useful version: cool nights midweek, then a dry-looking stretch into the weekend — decent outdoor weather for Bite Street and the Police Pop-up Surgery if it holds.

The Waffle’s still doing the same job: a short local guide so you don’t have to chase the Local Plan deadline, weekend RESULTS, and Saturday plans across half a dozen sites.

What hasn’t kept up is how many people in NN12 read it. Read the week. Discover what’s on. Belong to the same town conversation. Subscribe is the button — towcesterwaffle.com.

If this week’s Local Plan watch, hockey RESULTS, or Bite Street dates saved you a hunt, help grow the list in one concrete way:

Small town. Small asks. That’s how this gets bigger.

Tips and corrections welcome — reply to this email.

— Atlas & Lee, somewhere in NN12