A43 overnight, council answers the minister, Saints win

Hello Towcester & NN12.

This week: National Highways refreshes the white lines at the A43 Abthorpe roundabout overnight on send night; the council answered the minister on the Local Plan on Monday, and Regulation 19 is still due by no later than Monday 5 October; David Lloyd wants views on a club north of Spine Road (drop-in Thu 8 Oct); Saints opened their Gallagher PREM defence 59–26 over Newcastle and head to Bristol on Sat 3 Oct; and Towcestrians posted a 38–14 rugby win plus both hockey RESULTS. Still in the diary: Support in Education at the Family Hub Thu 1 Oct (before Open Mic at the Mill that evening), Craft Club and the Handmade Fayre Sat 3 Oct, Oktoberfest Sat 10 Oct, and Rotary’s CYCLE4Polio plus the Cwmbach Choir on Sat 24 Oct. 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.

National Highways is refreshing the white lines at the A43 Abthorpe roundabout overnight from 8pm Wednesday 30 September to 6am Thursday 1 October. Lane closures on the Abthorpe Road roundabout — no full closure, and no diversion planned. If you’re out late on send night or early Thursday, expect slower running rather than a blocked junction. The programme can slip for weather.

Matthew Pennycook’s direction still stands. West Northamptonshire Council has to start Regulation 19 consultation on the emerging Local Plan by no later than Monday 5 October, for at least six weeks, and submit it for examination by 31 December 2026.

The council wrote to the minister on Monday 28 September, ahead of the 29 September deadline for any exceptional circumstances. That’s the council’s case against intervention, published on Tuesday 29 September. The Government will now consider those representations. Ministers haven’t published a decision.

The council argues that progressing the current draft could create greater risks and delays if concerns raised in consultation are later upheld at examination. It says the assessment of alternative growth options, and the capacity of the local electricity grid, need further work before final decisions on where development goes.

Cllr Mark Arnull, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said: “We have responded robustly and constructively to the Government’s request, setting out why we believe intervention is not necessary.”

If you live here, this is still the map of the next homes, jobs and roads, Towcester and NN12 included. The date to watch is still Monday 5 October.

David Lloyd Leisure wants feedback on a premium health, racquets and wellness club on land north of Spine Road and east of Long Morris, Towcester, NN12 6GZ.

The online consultation runs from Thursday 24 September to Thursday 29 October. There’s a drop-in too: Thursday 8 October, 4pm–8pm, at Towcester Methodist Church, Brackley Road, NN12 6DH.

Their materials say the land was originally earmarked for mixed employment use and a restaurant on the frontage, with little interest in those coming forward, and that the club would mean 80–100 new full-time equivalent jobs. They also say they’re preparing a planning application for West Northamptonshire Council. If you use that side of town, or you want a view on the record while they’re still asking, don’t leave it to whoever else fills in the form.

Email [email protected] or call 0800 080 3171.

Northampton Saints beat Newcastle Red Bulls 59–26 at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday 25 September, opening the Gallagher PREM title defence. Half-time was 31–14.

James Pater and Tommy Freeman each ran in a hat-trick. George Hendy, Alex Coles and Ollie Sleightholme scored the other three. Newcastle still got four tries — Christian Wade twice, then Cam Jordan and a late Werner Kok — and left with a losing bonus point. Freeman told BBC Radio Northampton there’s loads more in them, and the set piece still wants tightening.

Next: Bristol Bears away at Ashton Gate, Saturday 3 October, kick-off 3.05pm.

Towcestrians beat Market Bosworth 38–14 at home on Saturday 26 September. Kick-off was 3pm, first game of the season in Counties 1 Midlands East (South). Six tries at Greens Norton Road. That’s a proper start.

R Cashman, E Harry, J Oliver, L Sanger, J Brown and A Haynes scored. H West kicked three conversions, E Harry one.

Men’s 1sts beat Mansfield 1 5–1 away at Nottingham Kingsway Park on Saturday 26 September. Push-back was 2pm, Midlands Open Men’s Division 5 East. Five away, and Mansfield only got one back.

Next: home to West Bridgford 3, Saturday 3 October, push-back 3.15pm.

Ladies 1sts drew 1–1 with Stratford 1 away at King Edward VI School Astro on Saturday 26 September. Push-back was 12.30pm, Midlands Women’s Division 2 East. A point on the road.

Next: home to University of Nottingham 5, Saturday 3 October, push-back 1.30pm.

Support in Education — Thu 1 Oct, 12.30pm–2.30pm, Towcester Family Hub, The Forum, Moat Lane, NN12 6AD. Drop-in for parents facing challenges around a child’s education: attendance, home education, unmet needs, or suspensions. If it’s your first time, register with Family Hubs before you arrive.

Open Mic at Towcester Mill — Thu 1 Oct, music from about 7pm, Steam Room (first floor), Towcester Mill Brewery, Chantry Lane, NN12 6YY. Free; no tickets; turn up. Hosted by Lewis. All abilities welcome, and you don’t have to play. Flavour Trailer burgers, hot dogs and fries, 5–9pm.

Towcester Handmade Fayre — Sat 3 Oct, 10am–4pm, Towcester Town Hall, 86 Watling Street, NN12 6BS.

Saturday Craft Club — Sat 3 Oct, 10.30am–midday, Towcester Library (The Forum, Moat Lane, NN12 6AD). Children’s drop-in craft; no booking.

Towcester Racecourse Oktoberfest — Sat 10 Oct, 7pm–midnight. Beer-keller night with oompah band, DJ until midnight, games, food and bar. £30 pp, or 10 for £250. Adults 18+. Free parking on site.

Rotary CYCLE4Polio — Sat 24 Oct, 8am–4.30pm, Towcester Leisure Centre (Milton Way, NN12 6UW). Sponsored cycle day: £5 for a 25-minute slot, sponsorship welcome, 34 places. Forms from Leisure Centre reception, or email [email protected].

Rotary presents the Cwmbach Choir — Sat 24 Oct, St Lawrence Church, Towcester. The Welsh male voice choir’s back. Doors 6.15pm, start 7pm. £15 each, including free interval refreshments. Tickets from Towcester Rotary, John Sidwick on 01327 352851, or FOOTWORKS, 136 Watling Street, Towcester.

Book Bingo — free for library customers aged 18+. Pick up a card at Towcester Library (LibraryPlus, The Forum, Moat Lane, NN12 6AD). Six themed reading challenges, a stamp per square. Finish all six, plus the feedback questionnaire, and you’re in the draw for a £50 book token. The Library Explorer bonus is a second entry. Runs until 13 March 2027. National Year of Reading, with National Lottery funding through Arts Council England.

The Met Office Towcester forecast for the rest of the week: Wednesday about 24°C / 10°C with a wet, breezy start then brighter afternoon; Thursday 19°C / 9°C and sunny; Friday 21°C / 8°C with sunny intervals; Saturday 20°C / 8°C with sunny intervals; Sunday 19°C / 9°C and sunny.

Useful version: damp and breezy first thing Wednesday, then a clearer, cooler stretch into the weekend — decent for Open Mic on Thursday and the outdoor bits of Saturday if it holds.

There's a consultation open on a David Lloyd club north of Spine Road — drop-in Thursday 8 October, 4pm–8pm, at Towcester Methodist Church if you want a face-to-face word, or the online form runs through Thursday 29 October. The news piece above has the links.

Here's my take.

A second leisure centre of sorts, at the other end of town from the one we've already got on Milton Way, is a real chance for more of us to meet up, get active, and bump into our neighbours. That part's good. More places to gather usually means a bit more community, not less.

But it won’t be the same kind of place. Milton Way is the town’s community leisure centre. This would be a private club — commercial, membership, a different job. I’m not pretending those are interchangeable. If you care about the open, town-facing side of sport and wellbeing, that difference matters.

I'm still excited about the sport, racquet especially. Padel's been growing fast elsewhere, and from where I sit there isn't a court within about twenty minutes of us. If that lands here, I'll use it.

What sits less easily is the land. Their materials say it was earmarked for mixed employment — including a restaurant on the frontage — and that those uses haven't really come forward. Overwriting that earmark, especially another restaurant and the broader employment idea, is a shame. Empty offices and empty shops would be worse, though. They say the club would still mean jobs: 80–100 full-time equivalent, just a narrower, more focused set. I'll take that claim as theirs.

So where does that leave me? Selfishly, I'm OK with it. From a community point of view, I'm saddened and a bit disappointed. Both can be true at once — and that's why the consultation's worth filling in while they're still asking.

Tips and corrections welcome — reply to this email.

— Atlas & Lee, somewhere in NN12