A5/A43 works to run 19 months, and a deadline tonight

Good morning from somewhere in NN12.

The A5 and A43 roadworks due to start this month aren't a fortnight's nuisance: the traffic order says they'll run for about nineteen months. That's the kind of detail that's easy to miss when council notices, club sites and Facebook pages all say a little each. The Waffle does the legwork so you don't have to: this week, the works, a SEND deadline that closes tonight, the Saints and Towcestrians results, and a busy Saturday in the diary.

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Roadworks on the A5 and A43 around Towcester were due to start on Monday 5 October and will run for roughly nineteen months, according to the temporary traffic order. It's National Highways' improvement and traffic-calming scheme, separate from the Taunton Way and Wood Burcote works the council ran in September.

What to expect: short stretches of the A43 near the Taunton Way and Towcester roundabouts have temporary 50mph and 40mph limits, and sections of the A5 (Taunton Way to Towcester roundabout) and the A43 (Taunton Way to Tiffield Road) will close at different times. Diversions run via Cowpastures Lane and Taunton Way, and via the A421 and A422. Access to homes and businesses is kept open. Closures happen at different times, so if you're driving through at a fixed time, check before you set off.

West Northamptonshire Council's roadworks list shows off-peak closures for carriageway repairs on Brackley Road and the A43 Oxford Road in Towcester from Thursday 29 to Friday 30 October. It doesn't give hours or a named diversion, so leave extra time if you're heading that way. Tews End Lane in Paulerspury is closed for CCTV works on Friday 30 October, 9.15am to 3.15pm, with a diversion via Grays Lane. And Brackley Road closes again on Monday 9 November, 9.15am to 3.15pm, for drainage work between Park Street and Gilbert Scott Court.

Anglian Water's temporary usage ban is still in force across its region. That means no hosepipe for watering the garden, washing the car, cleaning the patio or filling a paddling pool until it's lifted. Check your supplier if you're not sure who serves your address.

The founders of Fabrice at 169 Watling Street are rebranding the Towcester restaurant as Fig & Vine Café Brasserie Tapas, according to a post from Fig & Vine's own Instagram. The post says they've separated from Fabrice in Milton Keynes and that two new locations are coming; it doesn't say where. We don't yet have a date for the new name or any menu changes, so watch their page for that.

West Northamptonshire Council's Warm Homes Local Grant has used up its allocation for 2026/27. You can still apply: applications go on a waiting list in order of receipt, and the council will contact people after 1 April 2027, once next year's funding is in place. Other energy-efficiency funding is listed here.

Saints beat Cardiff 28–12 at Franklin's Gardens on Sunday night in the opening round of the Champions Cup, leading 14–0 at half-time. Tries came from James Pater, Toby Thame, George Hendy and Fraser Dingwall. The Guardian points out they were the only Premiership side to win in the opening round, one win from eight.

Next: Leicester away on Saturday 24 October, 3.05pm in the Premiership, then Gloucester at home on Saturday 31 October, 5.30pm.

Towcestrians beat Nuneaton Old Edwardians 34–26 at home last weekend. That's three wins from four in Counties 1 Midlands East (South), which puts them fourth on 12 points.

Next: Long Buckby at home this weekend. The club hasn't posted a kick-off time, so check the fixtures page before you go.

You have until midnight tonight, Wednesday 21 October, to comment on West Northamptonshire Council's draft SEND and Inclusion Strategy 2027 to 2030, the three-year plan for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. If you're a parent, carer or professional, this is the draft itself, so it's the chance to say whether the six priorities match what you see. The survey is in the consultations section of the council's website, and other formats are available if you need them.

West Northamptonshire Council is reviewing its healthy lifestyle services: help with stopping smoking, losing weight, cutting down on alcohol, managing stress and staying active. You can respond through the council's consultations page until Wednesday 18 November.

West Northamptonshire Council has relaunched its Community Transport Grant Programme with the remaining £101,000 after earlier awards of £72,000 to voluntary car schemes and other community transport groups, including in areas Ability CIC used to serve. Applications close at 10am on Monday 23 November. If a group you're part of relies on community transport, pass this on.

A new round of Welcoming Spaces funding is open to community organisations and town and parish councils that offer safe, welcoming places to meet and find support. Grants run from £1,000 (Bronze) to £3,000 (Gold). Email [email protected] for the guidance pack and form; applications close on 6 November.

There's a lot on this Saturday, so here it is in time order:

Live Comedy Night at the Mill: Thu 29 Oct, 8pm, headlined by Jonny Awsum and Mike Gunn, at Towcester Mill Brewery.

Jazz Cocktail and Dance Night: Fri 30 Oct, 7.30pm to 9.30pm (doors 7pm), Tove Valley Centre, Northampton Road. Towcester's own Swing-Steps Big Band and the Songbirds, with cabaret-style tables and a bar. Free parking; tickets on Eventbrite.

Halloween for families:

Walter Hayes Trophy: Sat 31 Oct and Sun 1 Nov, Silverstone. Check the event page for tickets and times.

Forecast checked on Tuesday 20 October, from the Met Office, Towcester.

The useful version: take a coat to Saturday's hockey and the cycle day, and Sunday looks like the brighter bet for Kinky Boots and a walk.

Count it up. On Saturday 24 October there's a cycle day at the leisure centre from 8am, a craft fair at the Town Hall, children's crafts and a climate talk at the library, a pumpkin trail along the canal at Stoke Bruerne, two Strictly Towcester shows, a Welsh male voice choir at St Lawrence's and pumpkin picking in the dark at Wappenham. That's before the sport: the men's hockey 1sts and the ladies 1sts are both at home, and Saints are at Leicester.

What strikes us is the range. Sequins and ballroom in one hall, handmade cards and pottery in another. Small children gluing paper fish in the morning, a choir from the Welsh valleys filling the church at night. Some of it's free, some of it's for charity, and almost none of it needs you to leave NN12.

There's something in there for toddlers, teenagers, crafters, cyclists, sports fans and anyone who just likes a good sing. And look at who's behind it: Rotary twice, a dance school raising money for three charities, local makers, and library staff and volunteers.

For a small market town, that's a lot of people putting on a lot of things on one October Saturday. We think that's worth noticing.

And then the clocks go back early on Sunday morning, so you get the extra hour to recover.

— Atlas & Lee, somewhere in NN12