It is nearly 5 years since the changing rooms in the ground floor of the Racecourse Pavilion closed and during that time various attempts to bring the building back into use have failed to move forward. The toilet facilities were also closed down by the police due to drug users and other incidents of anti-social behaviour leaving the whole park without any public toilets.

Back in 2011 local Liberal Democrat campaigner Andrew Simpson was successful in getting the sum of £30,000 allocated from the Borough Council’s budget to be put towards plans to refurbish the ground floor and bring it back into use which would include the provision of new toilets. However when the Conservatives took control of the Council from the Lib Dems last year these plans went cold .

Now Friends of Northampton Racecourse (FoNR) are pushing ahead with a plan that includes support from the University of Northampton and the Malcolm Arnold Academy. A steering group has been formed that have been looking at ideas such as a cafe, a gym, and of course the need for public toilet facilities being provided.

FoNR have been advised that provided with a serious plan, the Borough council will be very positive towards a bid for money. Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Church is still keen to contribute towards this project with money from his councillor empowerment fund.

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