Not Shoes But What? (Part 2)

It would make a nice ‘Spoons for St James! Or the council could keep a bit of the shed and provide a gorgeous depot and exhibition centre for the Heritage Group’s bus fleet and their recently collected ephemera which could then go back home.

West Northamptonshire Council is taking steps to purchase the former St James Bus Depot and ensure the large brownfield vacant site benefits from regeneration to meet the needs of our local community.

Since West Northamptonshire Council was made aware of Church’s Shoes’ intention to sell the site, the Council has been working closely with them. As one of the last remaining brownfield sites in Northampton, it is important for local businesses and the local community to make sure that the best regeneration and economic potential of the area is realised.

WNC has engaged with Church’s to agree on the purchase of the building and is now looking at the future viability of the site through a feasibility study to ensure that any future development meets the needs of our residents and while maintaining the historic character of this landmark.

The council has explained why it bought a bus depot for £3.3million without a democratic vote. A decision as big as this would normally go before a cabinet meeting, but this has not. Instead it was green lighted by Conservative councillor Andre Gonzalez de Savage …

… chair of the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Quite how one man can decide to spend over £3 million of council taxpayers’ money “under emergency procedures” is yet one more mystery of the democratic process of the UK. (See also Rishi Sunak cancelling a huge chunk of HS2!)

The St James depot site is set to be converted into ‘high-quality’ homes, according to WNC.

So not the high quality social housing that the town needs?

Explaining this decision, a WNC spokesman said the acquisition of the site will ‘enable the regeneration of a large brownfield site within West Northamptonshire’, ‘support the regeneration and economic wellbeing of West Northamptonshire’, and ‘deliver a housing scheme to address the needs of the local community’.

That would be the wealthy Conservative voting community, then, Andre?

Chair of St James’ Residents’ Association, Graham Croucher, has criticised WNC’s handling of the scheme.

Mr Croucher said: “Published a day after the announcement of depot purchase, the leader’s report mentions nothing of preserving the building frontage nor consultation with stakeholders.

“The report thereafter is contradictory within itself and it is not clear what will actually be developed on the site. It would seem none of the figures quite add up yet, with demolition and clean up costs an unknown quantity to add to the overall costs. The fact that scrutiny was unable to be done on the purchase, and therefore the costs, will be of concern to some, given some previous purchase deals.

There is a very large and very empty hole where the Greyfriars bus station once stood!

“Heritage, despite the council’s assertions, seems to be a low priority in favour of as yet an unspecified content of development. The report completely ignores the historical aspect of this site. We urge the council to provide a robust, meaningful consultation with local stakeholders and historical groups. Listen to residents.”