Category: Holcot Hub

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Roadworks; Poplars Lane, Holcot; 20 to 22 April

Gigaclear will be working on Poplars Lane from Monday 20 April through to Wednesday 22 April.

Causeway one describes the work as causing a “temporary obstruction (15-minute delay)”.

Not really sure what that means. But I assume that – in spite of using the word “temporary” – the obstruction will actually be there all the time during this two-day period. Resulting in a 15-minute delay for anyone choosing this route (and an increase in traffic on both Main Street and Sywell Road). Oh, joy…

I may be wrong in that interpretation, but this screengrab shows roughly where it’ll be. And you can get full details here.

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Roadworks alert; A34, Kettering Road

There are roadworks planned from tomorrow (17 April) through to the end of Tuesday 21 April. What is described as “carriageway pre-surface dressing patching” will be carried out between the Sywell Road roundabout and the Hannington crossroads.

There will be delays, especially at peak times.

This screengrab gives you an idea of location, but you can get full details here.

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Ha, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive

We have two defibrillator units in the village, but if there was an emergency, would you know what to do; how to use them?

St John Ambulance is offering a FREE demonstration on how to do effective CPR and how to use a defibrillator. 

It can be a scary thing, but a brief introduction and the opportunity to ‘have a go yourself’ helps to overcome this fear. There is no fee, but any donations on the day will be gratefully accepted. 

In order to set this up in the village hall, we need to know how many people would be interested in coming.

If you are interested, please email editor@holcotvillage.co.uk

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Holcot Hotspot is now hibernating…

Well, sort of. In plain English, this means that the Holcot Hotspot will not run again until later in the year. I’m guessing this’ll be in October or thereabouts.

But more exact details will emerge nearer the time and will be posted on this website.

In the meantime, you have six months or so of balmy summer weather (should that be ‘barmy’?) to hone your skills in indoor bowls, table tennis, dominoes and the like before putting them to the test next time around.

And to that end, “May the Force be with you”*

* Bit of a non-sequitur but, hey, I’m struggling!

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Fallen tree

Out on a walk this morning and came across this fallen tree blocking our way. It’s on the cross-fields route between Brixworth Road and the cricket ground.

We managed to navigate around it by going off-piste. But that entailed walking up the bank, through the undergrowth, avoiding barbed wire, stepping across the little water run-off drain, and down the other side. (Not to mention the man-traps, poisoned darts and enormous spiders…)

So unless you’re going to channel your inner Indiana Jones, probably best avoided for the time being*.

* Polly Wilson is aware and will arrange removal

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Live music; HOBO; The White Swan; Sunday 19 April; 3.00pm to 6.00pm

Just when you thought you’d seen the last of them, the boys from HOBO are back.

With two octogenarians, two septuagenarians and one (mere child) in his early 60s, they aren’t exactly in their first flush of youth. But they’re hanging on by their fingertips.

With a stonking song list ranging from the 50s through to the late 80s – including groovy new tunes – they’ll be struttin’ their stuff at the White Swan on Sunday 19 April.

Timed to fall between lunch and suppertime, they’ll do their best to get all the right words and music in the right place at the right time…

So come on down and make the old boys happy!

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Green Hill Solar Farm: Stuart Andrew, MP, speaks up for local residents

Whether for, against or ambivalent, this article – with its supporting video – is worth looking at.

In particular, between the 5:15 and 5:45 points in the video, Stuart reiterates the opinion held by many residents who support the concept of solar power, but oppose the proposed sites.

That opinion being, that solar panels should be placed on the roofs of warehouses*, industrial units, storage facilities, shopping malls, covered car parks and the like. And not, as is currently proposed, on greenfield and viable agricultural land.

Find out more here.

* According to 2022 data from the Office of National Statistics, there are 3,200 transport and storage premises in West Northamptonshire, with a further 2,700 in North Northamptonshire. So, 5,900 flat roofs. Each of at least 300,000 square feet (source: Savills). 300,000 square feet = almost 7 acres. So, 7 x 5,900 = 41,300 acres.

With this sort of acreage already available, should anyone really be talking about using greenfield and viable agricultural land for solar-energy generation?