Category: Newcastle

Refurbishment of an 18th century Grade II Listed road bridge in South Staffordshire has been completed.
The scheme at Wodehouse Lane Bridge, A463, Gospel End, Wombourne, is the second and final phase following initial work last year.
It took just under seven weeks to complete, with final works finishing two days ahead of schedule. Staffordshire County Council invested £350,000 in the whole scheme.
Work on the masonry arch bridge will improve and protect the structure for future years. This phase included further strengthening, waterproofing, drainage improvements and resurfacing.
The bridge is an example of one of the many ageing structures in Staffordshire that need proper funding for ongoing preservation and maintenance. Staffordshire County Council’s Roadmap to a Better Network details the issue of ageing structures, and how the county council is calling for better funding from Government so these structures can be saved for the future.
Daniel Cecil, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Support Member for Highways (Operations South) said:
Wodehouse Lane Bridge is a historical asset to Staffordshire and so this refurbishment scheme had to be carried out in keeping with its Grade II Listed status.
We’re pleased it’s now complete and the work has been slightly ahead of schedule.
It’s been a comprehensive project and has taken place in two phases, strengthening and maintaining the bridge structure for generations to come. We’d again like to thank people for their understanding while work has been undertaken.”

Plans have been put forward to build more than 200 homes in the Staffordshire countryside.The outline application for Fisherwick Road, on the outskirts of Whittington, east of Lichfield, has been submitted by developers.Under the proposals, a 230-home estate with public open space, access roads and other infrastructure would be built.The application is expected to be considered by planners at Lichfield District Council at a later date.Documents lodged with the council said the project would “deliver much needed market and affordable homes in a sustainable location”.Planning documents state the proposals include areas of public open space alongside the new homes, with further details on landscaping, appearance, layout and scale to be decided as part of future applications.The application has been submitted in outline, meaning the principle of development is being considered at this stage rather than the final design.Residents and other relevant consultees will be able to comment on the plans before they are determined by the council.

“The event is a celebration of the Staffy Trail’s achievements and of Staffy, Staffordshire’s new visitor mascot, which has inspired thousands of people to explore the county over the past few months,” a spokesperson said.The trail was officially launched on 1 May, which has been marketed as Staffordshire Day for the past 10 years.”Staffy has become a fantastic ambassador for Staffordshire, helping us showcase everything that makes our county special,” said Robin Hall, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for economy and skills.”The trail may be ending, but Staffy’s story is only just beginning, and he will continue championing Staffordshire as the nation’s playground for years to come.”

A POLICE officer has been dismissed without notice following a gross misconduct hearing.

An investigation by Staffordshire Police’s Anti-Corruption Unit found that PC David Maggs sent unwanted and inappropriate messages to a colleague and whilst off duty and touched a colleague in an unwanted and inappropriate manner.

A four-day hearing found that his actions amounted to gross misconduct.

PC Maggs has been placed on the College of Policing’s Barred List, which prevents him from working in policing and other law enforcement bodies again.

Deputy Chief Constable Caroline Marsh:

“The behaviour demonstrated by David Maggs fell far below the high standards we expect of all our officers and staff, both on and off duty.

“His actions were wholly unacceptable and represented a serious breach of the trust placed in him as a police officer.

“Everyone who works for Staffordshire Police has the right to feel safe, respected and supported in their workplace. We are committed to fostering a professional culture where inappropriate behaviour is challenged and where anyone who experiences or witnesses misconduct feels able to come forward.

“I would like to thank the colleagues involved for their courage in reporting this matter.

“Where officers are found to have committed gross misconduct, we will take robust action to hold them accountable.”

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Hospitality chain Pepe’s Piri Piri wants a 2.30am weekend licence. The branch opened on Newcastle-under-Lyme High Street last month and is the fast-food chain’s 255th UK outlet.Now it has lodged a premises licence application to open until 2.30am on Saturday and Sunday mornings. It also wants to open until 1am during the rest of the week.Newcastle Borough Council is consulting residents and businesses until Wednesday 5 August.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementTo view the application call the council on 01782 717717 to make an appointment. To comment on the application, email here.Get even more North Staffordshire exclusives – and it is free

The news that Staffordshire’s local councils will be scrapped and replaced with two new super authorities has not gone down well in the north of the county.From 2028, the proposed North Staffordshire Council will replace, and amalgamate, the three areas of Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands.Steve Reed, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, said replacing the current “inefficient” system would deliver savings by reducing “wasteful” duplication and improving public services.The Reform leader of Newcastle Borough, Jonathan Gullis, however, described the plan as a “shameful betrayal”, and even the town’s Labour MP Adam Jogee was scathing of the announcement saying it was “utterly unacceptable”.It also went down like a lead balloon in Leek, where Staffordshire Moorlands’ Tory MP Dame Karen Bradley said she would fight the decision, which she said was “plain wrong”.This response from the market towns comes as no surprise, as politically there have been petitions, even protests, opposed to any “joining up” with Stoke-on-Trent.The opposition is based on concerns around the loss of identity, or prioritising local and rural communities.But the biggest worry seems to be whether this will result in taxpayers in the Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle-under-Lyme becoming “burdened” with the millions of pounds of debt racked up by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.According to one of the city’s Labour MP’s, that may not be the case.Stoke-on-Trent central MP Gareth Snell claimed that in other areas that had been through similar reorganisation, they had had debt written off by government.Snell said he planned to write to government to ask for debt relief, to give the new North Staffordshire authority the “strongest possible start”.”If you’re going to reset the way local government works, reset base funding so we’re not going into it with a millstone round our neck,” he argued.The MP also defended the proposal – he explained that joint-boundary working was already in place for many services, like buses, colleges and schools.”The idea that Stoke is some sort of leper colony which has to be avoided and boxed off is frankly very insulting to my constituents,” he added.There is a question too, over what this means for council tax, which in other areas has been harmonised – so in theory, it could go up or down depending on whether you live in urban Stoke-on-Trent or out in rural Ipstones.While Bradley has said she will fight the forced reorganisation, the Staffordshire Moorlands district council leader Labour’s Mike Gledhill supports it.”Nobody likes change” Gledhill said.”One of the exciting things is the fact that we will have everything under that one-stop council, and that’s where the buck stops – I’m in favour of it.”The council leader also believed that instead of being burdened with paying off Stoke-on-Trent’s debt, a primary concern raised by residents, the new authority would in fact provide financial sustainability.He argued this would be the result, in theory, of cutting costs, such as “the payback of not having as many chief executives, and as many public buildings”.Gledhill also explained it was not simply down to broadening the council tax income stream, but also the business rates and government grants.Staffordshire County Council leader Martin Murray claims the boundaries for the new councils are “politically mapped” [BBC]Meanwhile, in the south of the county, the leader of Reform-led Staffordshire County Council Martin Murray claims the county is not getting devolved power.Murray argues the boundaries have been politically mapped to benefit Labour – and suggests the government had no mandate for reorganisation.While devolution – and more regions getting mayors – was promised in Labour’s 2024 manifesto, completely abolishing the current local council structure, was not, he said.The North Staffordshire authority will cover services for approximately 495,000 people.’Insane’ workloadThe new southern and mid Staffordshire unitary authority will cover a huge area, and will be delivering for more than 650,000 people, and have its work cut out, Murray argues.”We now have a huge amount of work to do to deliver this,” he said.”The workload is insane, but we must ensure no services get lost within this transition.”When asked, Murray did not rule out the idea of looking to legally challenge the government, as has happened over previously announced proposals to reorganise councils in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.But as things stand, the shadow elections for the North and South Staffordshire Councils are due to take place in May 2027, with each new authority running services from 2028.Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.

The work is expected to take three weeks Works to install a new zebra crossing on St Edward Street in Leek will begin on Tuesday (July 21).This means that the road will be temporarily closed.Work includes the installation of the zebra crossing, together with widening of the footpath on the eastern side, new dropped kerbs and tactile paving. The works will also include new belisha beacon poles with integrated lighting, resurfacing on the approaches to the crossing, and new and refreshed road markings.A new uncontrolled crossing facility will also be provided on High Street, adjacent to its junction with St Edward Street, to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians.St Edward Street in Leek | Photo: Staffordshire County CouncilThe works are expected to take around three weeks to complete, with working hours between 7.30am and 4.30pm each day, weather permitting. To carry out the works safely, a temporary road closure will be in place, with a signed diversion in operation.The closure will affect access to St Edward Street from the Sheep Market and High Street junctions. Access will remain available from alternative routes and access to shops and emergency services will be maintained via these junctions where required.Some footway closures will also be needed at times during the works, but alternative pedestrian routes will be provided throughout.Patrick Allen, cabinet support member for highways at Staffordshire County Council, said: “This is an important scheme for the area that will provide a safer and more enjoyable environment for everyone who uses the town centre.“The new designated crossing will also make it much more accessible for pedestrians, especially for people with disabilities and wheelchair users.“Crews will be doing their best to get the work done as quickly and safely as possible and local businesses will remain open as usual during the works. Access to properties and businesses will be maintained wherever possible and, as always, we thank people for their co-operation.”Continue Reading

STAFFORDSHIRE Police has been classed as level two under a new national rating system due to its ‘ongoing performance issues’.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has assigned all 43 police forces in England and Wales to one of four grading levels for the first time.

They range from level one – the default position when no intervention is needed – to level four, which means the force is in special measures.

HMICFRS says the new system will allow forces to access support earlier, and improve public confidence in the police.

Under the old system, Staffordshire Police was in ‘Engage’ – the equivalent of level four – between 2022 and 2024, due to concerns over its investigations and how it identified vulnerable people.

The force is now among 13 that have been assigned to level two – 29 are in the highest level one category.

Only one force, Lincolnshire Police, has been assigned to level three, while none are currently in level four.

Forces in level two are able to access ‘enhanced support’ to prevent any deterioration in performance.

Being assigned to this level can mean that a force has some low-level, non-systemic issues, multiple minor issues or issues that are getting better but require oversight.

Staffordshire Police was rated inadequate in the way it responds to the public in its recent inspection report, with three other areas requiring improvement.

In its publication on the new levels, HMICFRS says this “cause of concern” was a factor in the decision to assign Staffordshire Police to level two.

The report states:

“The force has a number of enduring areas for improvement, particularly in relation to responding to the public, attendance at incidents and improving the quality of investigations. These areas for improvement led to the force entering Engage under our previous monitoring arrangements in 2022.

“Despite the recent cause of concern, the force is making tangible progress.”

Staffordshire Police’s Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs said:

“We welcome the introduction of the new Policing Performance System and the assessment process undertaken by HMICFRS.

“We aspire to be at level one but being placed at level two recognises that while there are areas where further improvement and oversight are required, we are not facing the significant or systemic concerns associated with the higher levels of the framework.

“We have already made positive progress in key areas of performance and remain committed to delivering ongoing improvements for the communities we serve.

“The enhanced support available through level two will help us maintain that momentum, ensuring we continue to address any remaining issues and prevent any deterioration in performance.

“Our focus remains on providing an effective, efficient and victim-centred service. I am grateful to our officers, staff and volunteers for their continued hard work and dedication to keeping Staffordshire safe.”

The new performance level system, which was announced in the Government’s Police Reform White Paper, will make forces more accountable to the Home Secretary.

Where there are performance concerns, the Home Secretary will be able to send in experts to support improvement.

Chief Inspector of Constabulary Michelle Skeer said:

“This strengthened system-wide approach will support all police forces in England and Wales.

“By using a range of data, evidence and insight to identify concerns earlier, the Policing Performance System will provide the correct level of support at the right time. This will assist forces in addressing any performance issues before they get worse and help make our communities safer.”

Staffordshire Police has been approached for comment.

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A Labour MP says the government’s plan to merge Newcastle-under-Lyme with Stoke-on-Trent in a new North Staffordshire council is ‘completely unacceptable’.Adam Jogee, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, spoke out against the final decision on local government reorganisation (LGR) in Staffordshire in the House of Commons on Thursday.Local Government Secretary Steve Reed announced that the existing councils in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire would be abolished and replaced with two new unitary authorities in the north and south of the county. The northern unitary will cover Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme and the Staffordshire Moorlands.This is part of the biggest shake-up of local government in England since the 1970s, which ministers say will support devolution and result in more efficient and effective local services.Mr Jogee told the Commons that the proposals for Staffordshire did not reflect his views or those of his constituents.More than 11,000 people in Newcastle-under-Lyme signed a ‘save our borough’ petition against LGR, while there is cross-party opposition to a merger with Stoke-on-Trent on Newcastle Borough Council.Reform UK council leader Jonathan Gullis called the decision a ‘betrayal’ while Conservative opposition leader Simon Tagg called for a special meeting to discuss potential legal action against LGR.The borough council, while opposing LGR, had proposed a model involving a separate unitary for Newcastle.

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Mr Jogee said: “The announcement today and the proposals in it are completely unacceptable, and I reject them in the strongest terms. There is nothing here that reflects the views that I have consistently put to ministers, nor any acknowledgement of the concerns received by thousands of local people in Newcastle-under-Lyme.”Can I ask the minister, how he thinks we can protect the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme from the debt held by Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent, and why he thinks any of my constituents should have any faith in these proposals that they don’t want.”Mr Jogee also said that it was ‘utterly unacceptable and a disgrace’ for the government to announce the LGR decision on the day before the summer recess, and four days before Andy Burnham is set to become Prime Minister. He suggested that is is ‘not too late to stop and think again’.But Mr Reed insisted that residents in Newcastle would benefit from the changes, and gave assurances that Newcastle’s ‘unique heritage and identities’ would be maintained.He said: “It is very important that we get this process moving, because we will not realise the benefits in terms of economic growth, job opportunities and money in people’s pockets, if we keep delaying it.”We need to get it completed in this parliament and we need to get areas ready for the mayoral devolution that will follow.”Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell said he is ‘broadly supportive’ of the LGR proposals for Staffordshire, but raised concerns that the changes could mean a tax hike for his constituents.At the moment, Stoke-on-Trent residents pay the lowest council tax in Staffordshire, with a Band D household in the city being charged £2,183.12 a year, compared to £2,313,24 in unparished areas of Newcastle.

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Mr Snell said: “Is it the expectation that everybody will be harmonised to [Stoke-on-Trent’s] level, or is it expected that my constituents will see a council tax increase to give a council tax cut to some of the wealthiest in the county?”Mr Reed said council tax levels would set by the new unitary authorities.Under the government’s timetable, councillors will be elected to the new unitaries next May, with the authorities taking over from the existing councils in 2028.

A Staffordshire charity that has supported people through bereavement and loss for more than four decades has officially received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service at a special presentation ceremony.

Stafford & District Bereavement & Loss Support Service (SDBLSS) was awarded the honour in November 2025, becoming one of just five organisations in Staffordshire to receive the prestigious award, which is regarded as the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary organisations.

The formal presentation took place on Monday 15 June 2026 at Stafford’s Civic Offices, where more than 60 guests gathered to celebrate the charity’s achievement.

Among those attending were His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Staffordshire, Professor Elizabeth Barnes CBE, and the High Sheriff of Staffordshire, Pritpal Singh Nagi MBE DL, along with current and former volunteers, supporters and representatives from organisations connected to the charity.

The Lord Lieutenant presented the King’s Award crystal trophy to Shyamali Fenton, Chair and Trustee of SDBLSS.

The certificate, signed by King Charles III, was presented to Lesley Bailey, the charity’s Company Secretary and Fundraiser.

Volunteers also received King’s Award badges, which they will wear when representing the charity.

Earlier in the month, on Monday 8 June, volunteers Angela Blanchard and Lesley Bailey attended a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in recognition of the award.

The celebration also included a commemorative cake created and donated by Stafford baker Emily, of Emmies Buttercream Beauties, featuring the King’s Award crown logo.

SDBLSS has provided free support to adults experiencing bereavement and loss across Stafford, Stone and the surrounding district for the past 42 years.

The charity thanked its volunteers, support staff, partner organisations and everyone who attended the presentation, recognising their contribution to helping it continue providing free support to local people experiencing bereavement or loss.

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