Accommodation for Police Cases
Important Discussion In Rushden — “The Vaccination Craze”

A matter of some importance was raised at the meeting of the Rushden Urban Council on Wednesday by Mr. F. Knight, who asked if they as a Council could request the clerk to write to the County Council with regard to the prospective building in Rushden of a police-station. He understood that the land was purchased some months ago and that the plans had been approved. Under the new Vaccination Act a considerable amount of work devolved upon the magistrates. People from Rushden had had to go to Higham Ferrers and Wellingborough for their certificates, whereas, if the building of the police-station had been proceeded with

Rushden Applications

might have been heard there and thus save a great deal of time and money to the people who applied for the certificates, besides saving the manufacturers a great deal of inconvenience. Last Monday week several factories had to be closed owing to the number of workpeople who went over to Higham Ferrers. If there had been a police-station in Rushden the magistrates would in all probability have seen their way to deal with the applications in Rushden. Though in the future there might not be so many applications, yet there would be some, and he thought they should urge the County Council to proceed with the erection of

Mr. P. Cave said he thought the plans did not provide for a room large enough to be used for such a purpose.

Mr. Spencer said he hoped that in future the people would not apply for the exemption certificates. It was not on his advice that the people applied. He thought the Council might ask that a new petty session division should be formed. Altogether apart from this vaccination craze, he thought it would be better if all their police business could be done at Higham Ferrers rather than Wellingborough.

Mr. Wilkins suggested that they might ask for the Rushden Vestry-hall to be used as

An Occasional Court House

Mr. Cave thought the erection of the police-station at Rushden should be hurried on, but at the same time ought to ask that the Vestry Hall should be applied as a court-house so that police business could be done in Rushden.

The Chairman: They would not take all the Rushden cases here.

Mr. Wilkins: If there was an occasional court-house here they would probably take the vaccination exemption certificates here.

Mr. Wilkins embodied his suggestion into motion that the authorities should be asked to arrange for an occasional court-house in Rushden.

Mr. Cave seconded and the motion was carried.

Mr. Spencer said he did not see why Rushden should not have the privileges extended to smaller towns.

New police station to be built on paddock
THE RECTORY Paddock, in Rushden town centre, will disappear in the next few years. It has been chosen as the site for a new police station.

The news came as a shock to the rector of Rushden, the Rev. Michael Wilson, who knew nothing of the plans until told by the "Evening Telegraph."

When first contacted Mr. Wilson said there were no plans to build on the paddock. "There was talk a few years ago, but it all came to nothing," he said.

But the "Telegraph" contacted Northamptonshire County Council where officials readily confirmed that plans for a new police station were well advanced.

Mr. Wilson said: "The paddock is used by the parish for garden parties and social occasions like that, it is a great asset.

Trouble

"This will be a great loss. There is nowhere else we can use."

The police have been pressing for a new station for some years and a police spokesman said this week: "We have been after this for some time, but there was trouble in finding land. There is no doubt that the present station is outdated and that we reed new premises."

The present station, in North Street, is just under 100 years old. Rushden Urban Council has asked that part of the land in Rectory Road be reserved for a car park.

Note: The land was eventaully used to build houses in Wheatcroft Gardens. A new Police Station was eventually built around the corner from the old one - in Shirley Road.