War memorial green: Assurance to Council

Rushden Council was assured on Wednesday that a proposed road improvement at the junction of Skinner’s Hill and Church Parade will not spoil the appearance of the Green at the War Memorial, though part of the land will be appropriated.

Mr. R. H. S. Greenwood, who gave the assurance, said that when viewed from the south the Green would look better than at present.

The council approved the scheme in principle.

When Mr. J. E. Wills asked: “Is there any danger of a radio-active fall-out in this area?” Mrs. W. M. Lean, chairman of the Public Health Committee, replied that the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. P. X. Bermingham) might be able to answer the question when he had been to a conference which is to discuss the subject.

The County Council is calling a conference for next Wednesday to discuss the town’s one-way traffic system. It was felt that all the councillors should be eligible to attend, but a proposal that Rushden Co-operative Society, additionally to the Chamber of Trade, should be represented went through less readily.

It was made by Mr. E. F. Mawson and led to a vote of 7-7 which included a vote by the chairman (Mr. Charles Ginns). Mr. Ginns then used a casting vote and declared the resolution carried. Leader of the opposition in this case was Mr. Alan Allebone.

Parking
A review of the parking arrangements in Moor Road was called for by Mrs. G. Marriott, who spoke of complaints that cars were left in the street all day while their owners were at work, making it impossible for residents to place cars anywhere near their own homes.

Representatives of the council will attend a county conference in December to discuss the “twinning” of towns in this area with those in the Rhineland-Palatinate of West Germany.

Comments from the Chamber of Trade on the experimental one-way traffic system have been passed on to the county authorities, with a request that limited waiting should be tried in High Street as part of the experiment.

Although not agreeing with the Chamber’s doubts regarding the one-way system in Skinners Hill and Church Street, the Highways Committee has arranged for additional temporary signs directing traffic to High Street. One suggestion is that the town bus service should be re-routed via High Street and Rectory Road: it will be considered if the one-way traffic system is made permanent. “Inconsiderate” parking in Wellingborough Road is a further point.

The proposal to close Irchester station for passengers and parcel traffic has been noted by the general purposes committee “with regret” but no objection will be entered by the council, which has been informed that the average number of passengers daily in each direction is only four or five.