These plans sound wonderful, but neglect one very important factor - local people.
We already have some excellent restaurants in Kettering. Anyone who hasn't tried Ichiban, Luis, Bella Sicilia, Raj, or Mangiamo should give them a try - they are all good. Sadly they're grossly underused, both in the daytime and on weekday evenings.
LOCAL people need to get off their backsides and SUPPORT their local shops and restaurants instead of constantly moaning and rubbishing the town.
Comments like Martin Hammond's, when referring to Kettering, "Mostly at night people come in to the town to get plastered" only serves to put people off. He is supposed to be a "public servant" - he's hardly serving the cause of the people of Kettering by making such comments. Yes, SOME do come to get "plastered" - but in my experience it is by no means "most". I have never had a trip to a restaurant spoiled by such behaviour, as most are accessed away from the main drinking area of the town. Indeed, apart from Saturday nights and some Fridays, the town is generally quiet - almost a ghost town nowadays! It would be interesting to know how many of our restaurants Martin Hammond and the rest of the council big-wigs use on a regular basis, and whether such comments come from experience or are perpetuation of negative heresay?
I fear that the council's plans will either fail, or inflict the same fate on the restaurant sector as has already happened in retail: replacement of good family run restaurants employing skilled and imaginative chefs with multiple chains offering "ready meals" re-heated by "microwave jockeys".
Another factor not mentioned is the changes to population demographics recent and planned housing "development" is bringing about. An increasing proportion of residents are commuters, who simply use Kettering as a cheap dormitory and aren't here to use our shops and restaurants as they spend their money elsewhere.
To revitalise Kettering, the creation of plenty of well-paid a

... and diverse jobs in the town centre combined with a university and skills training is vital, rather than relocating out of town as the council plans to do. These moves must go hand-in-hand with planned revitalisation of the commercial centre, unless it is to be yet another waste of time and money.

I think that it is fantastic that finally the council have used some inituative and have began improving both Corby and Kettering. It is true though that it would be nicer if some of the developments were more for the benefit of the local people as apposed to potential residents.

I think the emphasis to creat a town that people from London would like to live in is ridiculous to be honest! Ok a few more affluent people in the area may seem good but to be honest how will this benefit the locals in the long run? House prices could increase and those of us who wish to buy a house in this area in the near future would suffer greatly. Stop being so obssessed with creating a town for commuters and focus on us for a change, the people who have lived in these towns for their entire lives.

Superbly put, 'Mark Winspear'.