Stop Northampton Borough Council from selling off our shops

Sign the petition to call on Northampton Borough Council to stop the sell-offs.

The Council plans to sell 15 shops which it says are "surplus to requirements." But they're not "surplus" for us - they're essential.  In Northampton East they're a lifeline  -  the only community facilities we have on many of our estates. 

Northampton Borough Council has neglected these estates, and the facilities over the years, when they should have been regenerating them. Northampton East has seen no real infrastructure regeneration or renewal since the Development Corporation left over 30 years ago. Now they're planning to sell off the properties for more housing - with only some restrictions on the ground floor use. 

At least one of the shopkeepers had been trying to buy his property - but the council messed him around for years, with high rents, lack of maintenance, no security and no improvement or signposting in the area. 

We call on Northampton Borough Council to bring forward a regeneration plan that secures the future of these shops - with a dowry if necessary -  as part of an overall regeneration and upgrading of the infrastructure of the area. Our local shops are community assets.

You can read more about the council's plans here