Ian A McCord

They tried twice. They broadcast our hand to the developer. Then they quietly waved away the public hearing. The Inspector allowed the appeal and now the houses will be built. West Northants Council (WNC) didn’t just mishandle the Drovers Way planning appeal — they undermined it. Two attempts, same destination: the appeal Inspector allowed it, […]

It feels like déjà vu. A few years ago, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) launched a Planning Department Improvement Plan. Fast forward to 2026 and we have another one—so it’s worth asking: what will actually change, and how will we measure it? A plan can be a useful starting point, but only if it’s more than

FINAL Keep Parking Free jan 26 – SD 480p click for video The Administration published their draft budget just before Christmas.  The draft included a proposal to charge for parking in Towcester and Daventry. Brackley will also have charges but only after a new long stay car park is opened. I disagree with this proposal.

The revelations that the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police Ivan Balhatchet has been found in contempt of court, mean just one outcome is acceptable – his resignation. This latest chief constable, up to no good, finding comes on top of the last chief constable, Nick Adderley, who was found to be liar and cheat with

Let’s call this what it is: sabotage. West Northants Council Planning Department isn’t just bending the rules—they’re breaking them, and they’re doing it in broad daylight. The Drovers Way application is a masterclass in how to undermine logic, policy, and the very people the council is supposed to serve. Here’s the situation: an application for

Today (Tuesday 21 Oct 25) the Strategic Planning Committee by a 10 – 0 vote REFUSED the very defective planning application for this site. Up until May, I was the ward member for this site and was familiar with its mad ideas and magical thinking. The problems that this proposal created were not resolved despite

West Northants Council met on Wednesday 25 September. The Conservative opposition used their Opposition Priority Business to highlight the topic of the migrant hotels. Council agenda and all business is here.  I did not object to the motion, what I found objectionable was their revisionism of recent history and hypocrisy in asking the new Reform

Residents may be aware that there was a report of a young girl being sexually assaulted in Deanshanger on Saturday 20 Sept. I have been in contact with the police on this matter to establish the facts. They have responded:- “Detectives investigating a report of a girl being touched inappropriately by a man on a

I came across Emma in the line of my council work. Her daughter had a bleed on the brain.  To raise money to fund medical research into these conditions Emma ran from Cosgrove to London along the Grand Union Canal IN ONE DAY.  If you can spare a donation I know she would be very

Newsletter Sept 25 for blog Newsletter is being distributed – link above should be to a pdf document with live links I have a hard copy going out in next few weeks. If you want to help distribute (just one road) it will be appreciated.