Letter published in the Chronicle & Echo today;

Can I reassure Chron readers that there are no plans to 'concrete over the Racecourse' or to change the character of the Racecourse from what it is already, a fantastic and wide open space in the heart of our town. The Friends of the Racecourse masterplan is a brave attempt to make the park an even better place to relax, enjoy sport, walk the dog, keep fit or have a cup of tea. It has developed through a lengthy process of asking users of the park how they use it and what they would like to see on it, with an exhibition at the balloon festival, leaflets, many articles in the Chronicle and Echo and a website www.healthylivinghub.org.uk.

The plan comprises a set of proposals that will be presented the Borough Council's cabinet on June 2nd. People have rightly said there needs to be more consultation before those plans are adopted, and the council will do that over the coming months. If they do not meet the objective of making the Racecourse a safer and more welcoming place that more people of all ages will want to visit and enjoy, then the masterplan will fail. For an idea of how the park may improve, I urge people to take a visit to Victoria Park in St James, to see how a park can be transformed while retaining its essential green character.

Love them or loathe them, The new spheres on the Racecourse are not simply sculptures, but when complete will include information boards about the Racecourse, its history and the facilities it has to offer. That is the sort of information that people do ask for, and the spheres will inform people in a rather more imaginative and innovative way than the has been done in the past.

For many years, people have said that it is time to make more of The Racecourse. Now, at last, thanks to the huge effort of Friends of the Racecourse, we have some ideas to work on.


Cllr. Richard Church

Portfolio holder for Regeneration

Northampton Borough Council