One of the most corrupt councils in 30 years. Let’s summarise:
* Took bribes to not approve a site for a Coca-Cola bottling plant in the 70s so it could go to Milton Keynes. Eventually opened a small distribution hub but it only employed 50 people.
* Took bribes to not permit Ikea to open a site there “because some neighbouring councils complained” so that it could also go to Milton Keynes. That was 600 Jobs passed up on in the area.
* Continued to raise Parking in the town center at record rates, with some car parks being so expensive that the town center retail staff started to quit en-masse because it was cheaper NOT to go to work there.
* Launched continued development plans for old facilities and warehouses to be turned into housing. Cost millions and money going missing hand over fist.
* Loaned £10m to the owner of the Northampton Town Football Club, a known crook, who spent NONE of the money on the stadium as promised in the agreement. Still never recovered all of it, though the guy did finally go to prison for fraud.
* Shut down a world-renowned skatepark calling it unprofitable and turned down mutliple offers to buy it. Was turned into flats and sold for pennies on the pound. Then spent more money to make an outdoor skatepark in another part of town after enough campaigning finally worked. But it’s nothing like the original Radlands
* Bought a fucking crazy oversized council for £53m, then went bankrupt and had to sell it only 4 months after opening it.
* Jacked up business rates on the high street to make quick cash and killed off the street as more of the locals were going to Milton Keynes because guess what, there’s a FUCKING MASSIVE IKEA THERE.
You cannot make up how much money has been pissed up the walls to line the councillors pockets.
Live in Northampton and can confirm the town centre is a depressing shit hole.
We would rather drive to MK if we ever do in person shopping.
I’m Northampton born and bred, but fled home for a life in London aged 18 in 1978. Barely been back since. Very recently, I came across a friend I hadn’t seen for 40 years and went up to visit. I made a point of arriving early, parking up, and taking a walk around the centre for a couple of hours. It was INCREDIBLY depressing. Has to be one of the most degraded centres in the whole country. Masses of empty retail, and those that remain are tatty and lo rent. A horrible atmosphere. I was shocked.
It was never a go-ahead town, but in my youth, the centre was great. Really good shops, busy, wonderful market square. Now it’s like something from eastern Europe. I can’t see it every recovering.
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One of the most corrupt councils in 30 years. Let’s summarise:
* Took bribes to not approve a site for a Coca-Cola bottling plant in the 70s so it could go to Milton Keynes. Eventually opened a small distribution hub but it only employed 50 people.
* Took bribes to not permit Ikea to open a site there “because some neighbouring councils complained” so that it could also go to Milton Keynes. That was 600 Jobs passed up on in the area.
* Continued to raise Parking in the town center at record rates, with some car parks being so expensive that the town center retail staff started to quit en-masse because it was cheaper NOT to go to work there.
* Launched continued development plans for old facilities and warehouses to be turned into housing. Cost millions and money going missing hand over fist.
* Loaned £10m to the owner of the Northampton Town Football Club, a known crook, who spent NONE of the money on the stadium as promised in the agreement. Still never recovered all of it, though the guy did finally go to prison for fraud.
* Shut down a world-renowned skatepark calling it unprofitable and turned down mutliple offers to buy it. Was turned into flats and sold for pennies on the pound. Then spent more money to make an outdoor skatepark in another part of town after enough campaigning finally worked. But it’s nothing like the original Radlands
* Bought a fucking crazy oversized council for £53m, then went bankrupt and had to sell it only 4 months after opening it.
* Jacked up business rates on the high street to make quick cash and killed off the street as more of the locals were going to Milton Keynes because guess what, there’s a FUCKING MASSIVE IKEA THERE.
You cannot make up how much money has been pissed up the walls to line the councillors pockets.
Live in Northampton and can confirm the town centre is a depressing shit hole.
We would rather drive to MK if we ever do in person shopping.
I’m Northampton born and bred, but fled home for a life in London aged 18 in 1978. Barely been back since. Very recently, I came across a friend I hadn’t seen for 40 years and went up to visit. I made a point of arriving early, parking up, and taking a walk around the centre for a couple of hours. It was INCREDIBLY depressing. Has to be one of the most degraded centres in the whole country. Masses of empty retail, and those that remain are tatty and lo rent. A horrible atmosphere. I was shocked.
It was never a go-ahead town, but in my youth, the centre was great. Really good shops, busy, wonderful market square. Now it’s like something from eastern Europe. I can’t see it every recovering.