The 18 tenants in the bottleneck lost no time in petitioning the council once the “notice of proposal” in developing the 2,200 square yards of vacant land was posted.

  An “Echo and Argus” reporter who visited the objectors was soon acquainted with their main contention: that there is very little pathway already – on one side of the road only, in fact, and only wide enough for one person to walk along at a time.  There are two blind corners, and the road is only wide enough for one-way traffic.  The noise of heavy traffic passing by already vibrates the doors, and with a school just round the corner, the danger to children, already prevalent, would be aggravated.

  “Many transport drivers think this road is the continuation of the diversion from Skinner’s Hill to Kettering,” said one householder, “and the lorries tip over you as you walk along the pavement.”

  Another comment was: “There are notices prohibiting heavy traffic at both Wellingborough Road and College Street, but they are so faded no one really sees them.  Lorries come along here to deliver goods to three factories nearby.”

  “It is not the cars we are worried about so much as the heavy lorries,” said a woman.  “We have too many now, and it is the children we are worried about.  The children barely have room to walk along as it is.”

  “The wideness of the opening from Wellingborough Road is deceptive,” was a further opinion.  “There is no speed limit at all, and there ought to be one of ten m.p.h.”

  Meanwhile, the children continue to romp in the wilderness of the land proposed for a car park – land overgrown with vegetation and head-high with weeds.  At one time it was reserved for proposed trade union offices.

  “We should welcome the council clearing the spot,” was the parting remark.  “A children’s playground now …..”