There was a change in the air and a feeling of pride among Reform Party candidates and members at the Cannock local elections Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 There was a change in the air and a feeling of pride among Reform Party candidates and members at the Cannock local election count.  Cannock Chase Civic Centre Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter After a night of huge success for the party the Reform candidates were looking confident ahead of the count at Cannock Chase Civic Centre – and they had every right to be The day ended with Reform firmly in control of Staffordshire Country Council These cookies are required for the operation of the site and cannot be managed We use Google Analytics to track page visits through the site the route someone took through the site and an approximate location for the user This cookie helps us to understand a user's route through the site This does not record any personal details or monitor anything you type in our forms Almost half the results have been returned overnight with the remaining 32 seats declaring later today The Reform UK Party is leading in the Staffordshire County Council election Ballots cast on 1 May have already been counted overnight in four districts and boroughs while the remaining results will be declared later today All the Council’s 62 divisions are being contested and with each returning one councillor The four district and borough areas returning results overnight were Lichfield Ballots will be counted today for the remaining 32 seats in the Cannock Chase Stafford and Staffordshire Moorlands areas The Conservatives have controlled the county council since winning in 2009 and entered this election holding 53 seats with five for Labour and four for independent councillors More detail about the results is available here These contact details are for journalists and members of the media only: Email: pressoffice@staffordshire.gov.ukCall: 01785 895050 If you are not a journalist or member of the media and have a general enquiry please: Email: contactus@staffordshire.gov.ukCall: 0300 111 8000 Another fantastic evening's football in the Cannock and Hednesford Wednesday 6 a side league this week saw all teams in attendance throughout the night barring two cancellations Malt FC and Norton Wanderers return to action next week Blewitt FC outperformed Victor Moses Lawn in an exciting match ending with a score of 4-2 Wheely Bad FC also secured a solid win with a score of 2-0 against Puyol Pants Down IDEAL FC showed their prowess over Jimmy Sevilla FC with a score of 3-1 ORIENTAL DELIGHT triumphed over Banglasesh FC with a whopping score of 6-2 A close match saw Murder On Zidane's Floor edge out Toby Minton FC 2-1 MABLES SPARTANS left no room for Donk II to maneuver while Diddys Dribblers outclassed LIMES FC with a 4-1 win DOUBLE POGBA AND COKE overpowered Strongbow Unathletic in a 5-2 victory TomBolas FC secured a narrow win over Schlupp Matip with a score of 1-0 The match between Restored V2 and Galacticos ended in a thrilling 5-5 draw Limes FC 2 dominated Baldeaux with an impressive 8-3 victory The match between Rubber Ducks Fc and Demba 9 Ba was a close one with Rubber Ducks Fc walking away with a 1-0 win The Pitmen kept Elite FC at bay to secure a 3-0 win FIVE WAYS had a resounding victory over Under My Cucurella with a score of 5-0 Rosa Parks The Bus and Cals U6s ended their match in a 2-2 draw Funny Innit rounded off the night with a 3-0 victory over Chaddy WFC We wish all teams good luck going into the next round of fixtures with Cannock and Hednesford's premier providers of small sided football Join the Cannock Wednesday 6 a-side league here or call us at +44 333 123 2340 for more information The Museum of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire has closed down after holding a farewell day for visitors over the weekend The local history museum was forced to shut its doors after more than 36 years following Cannock Chase District Council’s decision to cut its £255,643 annual subsidy in order to address a £1.3m budget shortfall Staff at the museum have been made redundant An independent review commissioned last year found that the council’s spend on leisure culture and heritage services accounted for around 15% of its net budget which the local authority said was “much higher than many councils of a similar size” The council said the review was necessary because its leisure culture and heritage service had been severely impacted by the pandemic and had suffered from significant increases in energy prices high inflation and a cost-of-living crisis The review identified the museum as one of two sites that did not “have the same potential to reduce their level of subsidy” as the council's other leisure services It found that the museum building would require more than £290,000 by 2030 in repair and maintenance costs The review said that there was “very limited potential to generate income at the museum and the condition of the building is not helpful in preserving the collections” The Museum of Cannock Chase started out as the Valley Heritage Centre in 1989 and was a popular attraction for school visits The museum had been managed by the Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles charity on behalf of the council since 2012 described the closure as the “most short-sighted decision the council has ever made” Bellingham paid tribute to the museum's staff team in the months leading up to the closure She said: “We all know this was wrong and that this is probably the most short-sighted decision the council has ever made But I’m not going to focus on that right now But what has kept me going is the amazing museum team I’ve had around me “Despite knowing how it was all going to end kept it all going and offering the best possible service until the last day This shows what kind of people they are – true professionals who believed wholly in what the museum was all about They have my sincere thanks and gratitude.” The council has previously said it would prepare a detailed plan for decommissioning the museum Council leader Tony Johnson said earlier this year that provision had been included in the budget for such work Johnson said the council would work to identify ownership of artefacts and would consult with funding partners to identify any requirements for returning unused funds and grants awarded to the museum The council could not be reached for further comment Most Museums Journal content is only available to members Join the MA to get full access to the latest thinking and trends from across the sector We have been working to improve the layout of our website The page you're looking for has most likely been re-homed You can try some of our most popular links, or search our website © Staffordshire County Council document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Cannock residents have spoken of their fear after a man was left in a critical condition after being stabbed "This doesn't happen around Cannock - It's terrifying" - Those are the words of Cannock residents near Hampton Street following a knife-related incident that has left one man in critical condition It comes after emergency services rushed to the scene of Hampton Street at around 11.27pm on Tuesday A man was found with wounds to his neck that were consistent with a stab wound He was rushed to hospital in a critical condition Staffordshire Police officers quickly established a cordon around the scene which included the row of shops on Longford Road with officers launching an appeal for information to establish what happened residents and shopkeepers have spoken of their distress with many saying that the incident 'is rare' in the region Police are continuing to investigate an incident where a man sustained severe stab wounds in a residential area in Cannock Staffordshire Police are continuing to appeal for information following an incident in Hampton Street, Cannock on Tuesday night The incident saw a man, who is believed to have been seen outside of the One Stop on Longford Road shortly before he suffered a serious injury to his neck The man was quickly tended to by West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedics before being transported to hospital Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter A major investigation was quickly launched into the incident with a cordon being placed on both Longford Road and the adjoining Hampton Street overnight before being reduced to just Hampton Street and then lifted completely at around 1pm on Wednesday police Staffordshire Police have said that 'no arrests have been made' at this stage and that they are continuing to appeal for information into the incident Launching the appeal at the time of the incident a Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: "Detectives have been trawling CCTV and speaking to people in the area to find out more about what happened to the man “We understand the man was spotted outside One Stop on Longford Road shortly before he suffered the injury and a cordon has been put in place while initial enquiries continue in the area “We are keeping an open mind and we’re keen to speak to people who might be able to help."  Anyone with any information that can help police with their investigation is asked to get in touch Call 101 or use Live Chat on the force's website Staffordshire Police are appealing for information after a tragic crash where a man sadly died Emergency services were called to the scene of the A449 between the A5 at Gailey and the junction with the M54 at around 8.30pm on Tuesday to reports of a single-vehicle collision On arrival, Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service personnel discovered one patient who was sadly pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics The man's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers An appeal has since been launched by Staffordshire Police, asking anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage to contact them directly via their 101 number, or alternatively via the Live Chat service on their website A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: "We are appealing for information after a man sadly died following a collision in south Staffordshire a man in his 20s was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers." A man is in a 'critical condition' in hospital following a stabbing in Cannock Emergency services rushed to the scene of Hampton Street, Cannock to reports of a stabbing incident on the road a MERIT trauma doctor with a critical care paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car attended the scene who was found to be in a serious condition The ambulance staff administered advanced life support before transporting him to hospital for further care A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of a stabbing on Hampton Street a MERIT trauma doctor with a Critical Care Paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car attended the scene He was found to be in a serious condition and ambulance staff administered advanced life support before transporting the patient to hospital for further care." A cordon was put into place by police The cordon was lifted at around 1pm on Wednesday said: “Detectives have been trawling CCTV and speaking to people in the area to find out more about what happened to the man “We are keeping an open mind and we’re keen to speak to people who might be able to help.” Call 101 or use Live Chat on the force's website Police have launched an appeal following a stabbing in Cannock which has left a man in 'critical condition' in hospital Staffordshire Police launched the appeal following the incident which happened on Tuesday night at around 11.30pm on Hampton Street and saw a man left with stab wounds to his neck He was given advanced life support by paramedics at the scene before being taken to hospital The road remained cordoned off on Wednesday with officers and forensic staff seen working at the scene A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "We are appealing for information after finding a man with a serious injury in Cannock "Officers were called to Hampton Street at 11.30pm last night (Tuesday 29 April) when a man was seen in the area with an injury to his neck "He was assessed at the scene by paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service "The injuries were deemed consistent with a stab wound and the man was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition." “We are keeping an open mind and we’re keen to speak to people who might be able to help "Anyone with any information that can help us with our investigation is asked to get in touch A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called to reports of a stabbing on Hampton Street "He was found to be in a serious condition and ambulance staff administered advanced life support before transporting the patient to hospital for further care." A man has died following a crash near Cannock The collision, involving a blue BMW, took place on Norton Road near to its junction with Hednesford Road in Heath Hayes on Sunday (April 6) evening Emergency services including an air ambulance were called to the scene at around 6.30pm to reports of a vehicle colliding with a wall The driver was taken to hospital but died on Monday morning, Staffordshire Police has confirmed His family are said to be receiving support from specially trained officers A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called to reports of a car that had crashed into a wall near to the junction of Hednesford Road and Norton Road in Heath Hayes at 6.32pm last night (Sunday) a Medical Emergency Response Incident Team trauma doctor with a Critical Care Paramedic and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene Ambulance staff quickly began administering advanced life support on the man before he was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Staffordshire Police has appealed for witnesses of the crash to get in touch A force spokeswoman added: "We are keen to speak to anyone who was travelling in the area with any information or dashcam footage which could help collision investigators or message us using Live Chat on our website "You can also get in touch with collision investigators directly by emailing ciu@staffordshire.police.uk" A series of recent instructions has taken Cannock's Inco Contracts past the £2m revenue barrier in Wales and the South West – just eight months after opening a dedicated office in Cardiff The Staffordshire-based principal contractor which also has offices in the North West and South of England using the company’s proven blueprint of local supply chain management and delivering projects on time and to budget the firm has so far completed several projects for blue-chip clients in Swindon Four new jobs have been created directly and a further 20 in the subcontractors used by Inco Contracts said: “It has been a very strong start to life in Wales and the South West with this arm of the business on course to hit £4m in the first 12 months - surpassing the £3m target we’d originally set “We wanted to show our commitment to the area by investing in a dedicated office in Cardiff placing us in the heart of where lots of regeneration work is taking place and led to new opportunities in commercial “There’s so many opportunities in South Wales and the M4 corridor and there is a genuine need for reputable principal contractors locally We’re doing our best to support the demand.” completes hundreds of projects across the UK every year These often tend to be turnkey in nature and involve the company working alongside architects educational establishments and office space back to life or to the required modern-day standards Services provided range from industrial roof and cladding not to mention heritage and conservation work Adam added: “We have worked really hard to create a strong and expert supply chain the majority of which are based within a 30-mile radius of our Cardiff office “This has given us the immediate ability to take on small whilst also helping us secure landmark contracts That versatility is important when you are launching in a new area and establishing a reputation and footprint.” said: “2025 is set to be our best ever year and our Wales and South West office is certainly driving our expansion.“ Adam and the team have made an excellent start there and now have a strong pipeline of opportunities across many key towns and cities as well as with different clients operating in our three key sectors of commercial “We are keen to continue to invest in this new base and I’m certain that we’ll be doubling the workforce in Cardiff over the next 12 months.” A man was airlifted to hospital with 'potentially serious' injuries after a crash in Staffordshire left a car crumpled Staffordshire Police's roads crime team said officers were called to a crash involving a car and HGV on the A5 in Wheaton Aston on Tuesday morning (April 29) An air ambulance was also called to the scene West Midlands Ambulance Service said a man was treated for potentially serious injuries before being airlifted to Royal Stoke University Hospital A WMAS spokesman said: "We were called to reports of a collision between a car and HGV on the A5 in Wheaton Aston at 11.18am yesterday a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene "He was treated for potentially serious injuries before being airlifted to Royal Stoke University Hospital." Staffordshire Police's roads crime team posted on X yesterday a picture of the crumpled car, along with: "This morning we have attended a 2 vehicle collision on the A5 in @southstaffs, along with @MAACharity."  There was plenty of music and laughter as the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock hosted its last show before closing for the final time Many people have fond memories of attending shows at the much-loved Prince of Wales Theatre - from comedy and music to theatre productions and plays The Prince of Wales Theatre came from humble beginnings in 1984 quickly gaining popularity and becoming a centre for the arts and culture for more than 40 years drawing many people from around the UK to see shows that were being hosted in its halls the tragic closure of the much-loved theatre was announced in 2024 as part of Cannock Chase Council's attempts to close a £1.3 million budget gap for the 2025/26 period On Tuesday (April 29) the theatre hosted its last booked show before dropping its curtain for the final time The Reform UK Party look set for a stunning victory in Staffordshire after winning 24 seats overnight with only eight more needed for a majority The Conservatives, who have controlled Staffordshire since 2009 look set to be ousted - currently they have won six seats In South Staffordshire, Councillor Victoria Wilson managed to retain her Kinver seat for the Conservatives with a majority of 379 The swing towards Reform UK in the county is mirroring the national picture today - the party took the Runcorn and Helsby seat in a tight battle with Labour and  former Tory MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns becoming Reform UK's first mayor in Greater Lincolnshire  More local election ballots are to be counted today for the remaining 32 seats today including in Cannock Chase and Stafford where the counts will start at 10am  All the council’s 62 divisions are being contested  with each returning one councillor The Conservatives claiming election victories in 2013 In total 298 candidates stood in the 62 divisions These are the results for the 2025 Staffordshire County Council election - this page will be updated as the results are declared Andrew Clissett (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Burntwood North Robin Hall  Robin (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Burntwood South Matthew Wallens (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Curborough Matthew Wallens (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Lichfield City North Colin Greatorex (Conservative) has been elected as county councillors for Lichfield City South Tracey Dougherty (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Lichfield Rural East Richard Holland (Conservatives) has been elected as county councillor for Lichfield Rural North Alexander Farrell (Conservative) has been elected as county councillor for Lichfield Rural South Janet Maureen Higgins (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Lichfield Rural West The overall turnout for the Staffordshire County Council Elections Chris Large (Reform) has been elected as county councillor for South Staffordshire Thomas Baker (Reform)  has been elected as county councillor for Cheslyn Hay Village Val Chapman (Conservative) has been elected as county councillor for Codsall  Michelle Woods (Reform) has been elected as county councillor for Great Wyrley and Essington Victoria Wilson (Conservative) has been elected as county councillor for Kinver Craig Humphreyson (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Penkridge James Hodgson (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Perton Marie Shortland (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Wombourne Conservative Party:  CLARKE  Ray Clarke (Con) -  The Museum of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire is likely to close in April due to council cuts According to the BBC's Local Democracy Reporting Service Cannock Chase District Council agreed a package of cuts this week in an attempt to close a £1.3m budget shortfall The plans will see the council cut financial support to the museum and the Prince of Wales Theatre However talks are currently underway with other groups in an attempt to keep the two venues open Council leader Tony Johnson said: “We are working with local groups supporting them to take up the running of the facilities so they can continue to be run by local people for local people even if the council's financial support has to be reduced.” Asked about what plans were in place for artefacts in the museum Johnson said a detailed plan for decommissioning would be prepared He said: “Provision has been included in the budget for such work and the digitalisation of the collection “We do not have current details of the ownership of the artefacts but this will form part of the transition.” Johnson said the council was working with funding partners to identify any requirements for returning unused funds and grants awarded to the museum Abbey House Museum has been given a reprieve after it was threatened with closure under Leeds City Council’s budget plans The council says it is facing “unprecedented financial pressures” and needs to close a £104m gap in its budget The council withdrew the closure proposal earlier this month after a passionate local campaign to save the museum with around 10,000 people responding to the council’s budget consultation The museum will now remain open to visitors as normal and planning for upcoming events and exhibitions will continue the council said savings still need to be made and “alternative options to secure to the savings required are currently being reviewed” Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care said: “The public response to the Abbey House Museum consultation has been incredibly passionate and we’d like to thank everybody who has participated “The overriding sentiment has been that people across Leeds clearly recognise the unique social value of our museums and galleries to their communities and local heritage “We have always been clear that these types of proposals are not ones that we ever want to bring forward But the severe and sustained pressures on our budget have given us no choice but to consider some options which we would never normally look at we are always committed to listening and responding to the views of the public and working to find solutions which fit their needs where we can “It was clear from ward members the strength of feeling locally and this has been replicated from across Leeds in the consultation we’re pleased to say the museum will stay open “What we need now is for people channel the passion and enthusiasm they have demonstrated during the consultation into visiting and engaging with the site as much as possible over the coming months so we can all work to support its future.” Three museums in Bristol have been given a stay of execution by Bristol City Council The local authority was considering closing the Red Lodge Museum Blaise Castle Museum and the Georgian House in order to save £146,000 The proposal would have seen the venues mothballed while councillors explored other ways of running and funding them The council said the three museums earmarked for closure only open two-thirds of the year Blaise Museum receives 18,000 visitors a year and both Georgian House and Red Lodge receive between 8,000 and 9,000 with campaigners warning the move would “obliterate” the city’s culture and turn Bristol into a “cultural desert” The council has now deferred the plan for 12 months council leader Tony Dyer said: “We are recommending deferring the options to introduce savings in the museums service and reduce the amount of funding in the Cultural Investment Programme The proposed deferral would be for twelve months to enable officers and councillors to work with the city to identify alternative options for these important aspects of Bristol’s cultural landscape.” which provides cultural services on behalf of local authorities across Hampshire is to cease operating five venues following Hampshire County Council’s decision to reduce its funding by £600,000 from April 2027 The trust will exit from the operation of Ashcroft Arts Centre and Eastleigh Museum at the end of March this year Andover Museum and the Museum of the Iron Age in Andover (both of which occupy the same building) and Curtis Museum in Alton are at risk of closure in 2026 The trust says: “We are continuing to work with local partners and stakeholders to find a solution to prevent the closure of these venues so that we can meet the needs of local communities.” The trust has already withdrawn from two other heritage sites It pulled out of Bursledon Windmill in April 2024 after the withdrawal of funding by Eastleigh Borough Council as well as the findings of a health and safety report which imposed requirements that would not have been financially viable without further investment The trust exited from the operation of Westbury Manor Museum in Fareham on 31 December 2024 The former home of Buxton Museum and Art Gallery in Derbyshire has been sold for £435,000 Derbyshire County Council closed the museum in June 2024 saying the Peak Buildings property that housed the institution was unsafe due to structural issues caused by dry rot Museum supporters expressed concerns that the council was planning to reduce the size of its museum service following the move The property was listed on Rightmove in November 2024 and sold in January by SDL Auctioneers The council is carrying out a feasibility study to identify suitable alternative premises to house the collections and reopen the museum and art gallery to the public in a new location in the town It said last November: “Working with partners a number of potential locations have been identified in recent months and a feasibility study began to assess what it could cost to convert one of the sites identified into an accessible “The results of the feasibility study and whether a suitable conversion is possible and affordable will be known soon then details will be made public and a decision will be made on whether this is the most suitable location for the new museum.” Some of the museum’s collections have gone into safe storage until a new home is found Other objects will be displayed in alternative venues Supporters of the museum say they will ramp up their efforts to ensure it finds a permanent home following the sale of the building The Reform UK Party has pulled off a stunning victory in Staffordshire after gaining full control of the county council The Conservatives, who have controlled Staffordshire since 2009 have been ousted as Reform took to social media to declare the victory Reform won  49 out of 62 seats having previously never winning a single seat in the county The Tories won 10 after previously holding 53 Greens and Stafford Borough Independents won one seat each Reform's Staffordshire organiser Martin Murray said: "I thank each and every candidate for their willingness to stand up and take part in the democratic process and all those who have worked to make these elections happen "It is humbling to have voters place their trust in us and I can promise that we will work hard delivering essential services for residents while focusing on the future.” The county council's chief executive and returning officer Pat Flaherty said: "Staffordshire County Council’s annual budget is more than £700 million and our work touches everyone’s life in one way or another "It’s vital that local people debate local issues and determine how the county council goes about its business so I was very pleased to see every seat contested by multiple candidates and I thank them all for their time effort and commitment to the democratic process.” In total 298 candidates stood in the 62 Staffordshire divisions incorporating Stafford  Neil Parton (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Brereton and Ravenhill Martin Murray (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Cannock Town Alex Hunt (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Chadsmoor  Jon Pendelton (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for  Etching Hill & The Heath Rhys Mandry (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Hawks Green Paul Jones (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Hednesford North Daniel Cecil (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Norton Canes Robin Hall (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Burntwood South Janet Higgins (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Lichfield Rural West Val Chapman (Conservative) has been elected as county councillor for Codsall Wayne Titley (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Wombourne Paul Williams (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Stafford Central Chris Gilbert (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Stafford North Green Party:   DOOR Victoria Door (Grn) -258 Ann Edgeller (Conservative) has been elected as county councillor for Stafford South East Conservative Party:  CLARKE  Ray Clarke (Con) - 679 Antonia Orlandi-Fantini (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Stafford South West Andrew Mynors (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Stafford Trent Valley Jack Rose (Green Party) has been elected as county councillor for Stafford West & Rural Sean Bagguley (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Stone Rural North Jordan Turnock (Reform UK) has been elected as county councillor for Stone Urban The Museum of Cannock Chase has closed its doors after more than 36 years of educating the UK and the world on Cannock Chase history Staff members and visitors of the Museum of Cannock Chase have said a final farewell on a poignant last day that was full of tears Millions of people have memories of visiting the museum as part of school trips Friday (April 25) marked the last day that the centre will welcome history-hungry visitors through its doors From its humble beginnings as the 'Valley Heritage Centre' in 1989, the Museum of Cannock Chase quickly went on to become a 'must see' location when passing through the region - so much so that it became a regular part of the area's school history trips Now, visitors and staff members have given their final farewell to the centre that has brought them so much joy over its long history service manager at the Museum of Cannock Chase "We have had so many people come here to say goodbye and have a final look around and they have said how much they have enjoyed coming here over the years It really validates what we have all tried to do here." Cannock Chase Country Park is set to benefit from a £10 million county council investment to improve its visitor facilities People are being encouraged to share their thoughts on exciting plans to enhance the visitor facilities at Cannock Chase Country Park.  These improvements are part of a wider £18 million investment by Staffordshire County Council to improve some of the county’s most cherished countryside areas.  The county council is investing £10 million of this funding to improve the overall visitor experience at Marquis Drive showcase Cannock Chase’s status as a National Landscape and promote understanding of the internationally rare habitats and wildlife within the Special Area of Conservation (SAC).  The aim of this investment is to create a space that balances recreation with nature conservation ensuring this iconic landscape is preserved for generations to come.  The county council is asking people to take five minutes to share their thoughts on these plans by completing an online survey.  Their feedback will play a crucial role in shaping the detailed designs which will be shared later this year.  Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture “Cannock Chase is such a special place home to incredible wildlife and beautiful scenery As we plan these improvements at Marquis Drive it’s really important that we hear from the people who love and use the area.  “We want to make sure that everyone can continue to enjoy Cannock Chase while also protecting its rare habitats for future generations Whether you’re a regular visitor or new to the area please take a few minutes to share your thoughts and help shape the future of this amazing landscape.”  The improvements at Cannock Chase form part of a broader £18 million investment in Staffordshire’s countryside.   This includes £7 million to redevelop the Chasewater Innovation Centre and surrounding area making it a top regional visitor destination and £1 million to restore the 92-mile Staffordshire Way improving accessibility and boosting local tourism.  but there is still time for people to have their say on the Cannock Chase project.  Take the Cannock Chase survey here.  Our campaigns fighting for fairness and equality in the entertainment industry and beyond Join together with fellow members to fight for a fairer industry Be part of a movement making entertainment a better place to work Equity is supporting the campaign to save the Prince of Wales Theatre Equity is encouraging members to sign a petition to save the much-loved Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock (Staffordshire) made by Cannock Chase District Council on 24th October is subject to public consultation but poses a significant risk of depriving the local community of a vital arts resource and the loss of work to a wide variety of Equity members The theatre’s closure would lead immediately to approximately thirty job losses the Prince of Wales theatre provides a central hub for the professional and its closure poses a grave risk to tourism and the health of the wider nighttime economy It is a picture we see across so many other small towns across the UK with the threatened closure of vital arts spaces The Council has argued that the potential closure of the theatre (and the museum of Cannock Chase) is due to a £1.3m shortfall in its budget In supporting the campaign to save the theatre Equity’s Midlands official said “The Midlands region faces yet another attack on its vital arts infrastructure following the loss of funding in Birmingham “Too often theatres and the performing arts are seen as the first and easy option to cut by cash strapped local authorities “The Council has not yet fully explored all options to save the Prince of Wales theatre and we encourage all of those affected by the potential closure to support the campaign by signing the petition and completing the consultation survey” Members are encouraged to sign the petition to save the Prince of Eales Theatre here and complete the consultation survey here If you would like to be involved in the campaign to save the Prince of Wales Theatre, please email Ian Manborde: imanborde@equity.org.uk Equity incorporating the Variety Artistes' Federation is an independent trade union Website by The MTM Agency Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture Time is running out to make your views heard on the priorities for protecting and managing Cannock Chase National Landscape over the next five years.  Staffordshire County Council is proud to be part of the Cannock Chase National Landscape partnership dedicated to preserving and improving the natural beauty of the Chase.   The Cannock Chase National Landscape (AONB) Management Plan sets out how the partnership looks after the area.  which will guide the management of this treasured area for the next five years, outlines ambitious goals for nature recovery managing how people use the area for recreation in a way that is sustainable and encouraging the community to get involved in caring for Cannock Chase.   A public consultation on this proposed plan is well underway and people now have less than two weeks left to make their views heard.  Chairman of the Cannock Chase National Landscape Partnership, said: “Our draft Management Plan provides a clear framework to safeguard Cannock Chase for future generations As the smallest mainland National Landscape this beautiful area faces significant pressures from its urban surroundings.  “The plan focuses on nature recovery and ensuring responsible enjoyment of the Chase.  “We need your views to get this right we want to know if our ambitions are realistic and if we have identified the right actions to care for this special place.”  “Cannock Chase is an internationally significant landscape and this is your opportunity to help shape its future.  “The new management plan for 2025-2030 will guide how we protect and enhance the Chase’s unique beauty Your feedback is essential to ensure our ambitions and actions reflect the priorities of the community.  “Please take part in the consultation before it closes this month - your voice will help safeguard this treasured landscape for future generations.”  The deadline to take part in the consultation is Monday 27 January 2025 The management plan will then be reviewed and finalised before it is taken to be adopted at the National Landscape Joint Committee meeting in March.  For more information and to take the online survey, click here.  The county council is also carrying out a separate consultation on a £18 million programme to upgrade Cannock Chase and Chasewater Country Parks and improve the 92-mile Staffordshire Way trail.  To find out more, visit Countryside investment - Staffordshire County Council.    Motorway drivers in the Stafford and Cannock area are facing delays this evening after a broken down vehicle further north Recovery is underway between Junction 17 for Sandbach and Congleton and Junction 16 for Crewe It is causing a knock on effect for drivers between Junction 13 for Stafford South and Junction 12 for Cannock where congestion is being experienced Recovery of the vehicle is expected in the next 30 minutes according to https://www.motorwaycameras.co.uk/Traffic tobacco and vapes are amongst items seized at shops in Cannock and Hednesford by Staffordshire County Council’s Trading Standards service Working with Staffordshire Police and immigration teams Trading Standards officers and specialist search dogs made the discoveries following reports about the illicit goods from the public.  19,460 cigarettes 194 vapes and 10.25 kg of hand rolling tobacco were seized.  In one shop the dogs detected items hidden in a concealment hidden behind a storage heater and a concealment built within a table The raids were part of Operation Joseph and Operation CeCe both national initiatives to crack down on the illegal import and sale of tobacco and vape products Cabinet Member responsible for Trading Standards at Staffordshire County Council “Our officers continue to tackle the sale of illicit tobacco and illegal vapes and it’s great to see another successful result “The supply of these illegal goods is closely linked to organised crime and helps fund their operations  The items can also be dangerous to people’s health and affect legitimate traders so it’s good to get them off the streets.” “The trade in illegal tobacco harms local communities and affects honest businesses operating within the law “Having removed 46 million illegal cigarettes 12,600kg of hand rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale the National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC continues to successfully disrupt this illicit trade.”  Since the start of Operation CeCe in 2021 and Joseph in 2022 Trading Standards officers in Staffordshire have removed over 1.5 million cigarettes from sale over 32,000 vapes and over 320 kg of hand rolling tobacco.  The seizures have a total retail value of around £1.3 million People can report the sale of illicit, illegal or counterfeit goods on the Trading Standards webpage or the confidential helpline on 01785330356 A raffle featuring a range of prizes is set to help raise funds to support a big final show at a Cannock theatre The Prince of Wales Theatre is hold the fundraising raffle as a way of supporting the "The Final Curtain Call...For now" show on Saturday a show which will see members of local amateur dramatics societies performing to a sold out audience The raffle will see prizes including a Gin hamper, hair vouchers, a chocolate hamper, an M&S voucher and bottles of wine on offer for winners, with tickets available to buy from the box office at the theatre for £2 each or £5 a strip and all proceeds being donated to the Cannock Chase Theatre Trust A spokesman for Prince of Wales Theatre said: "We are holding a fundraising raffle on Saturday, April 26 to support The Final Show at the Theatre, in which many members of our local amateur dramatics societies will be performing we are extending the sale of raffle tickets to all raffle tickets can be purchased direct from the box office from Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 1pm everyday "Tickets are £2 each or £5 a strip for cash only and prizes available include Gin Hamper "All proceeds will be donated to Cannock Chase Theatre Trust." Residents have spoken of their fears for high demand on school and GP places after a developer lodged plans for almost 150 new homes near Cannock Cameron Homes wants to build 130 dwellings and create public open space carry out groundworks and install infrastructure on land south of Landywood Lane between the villages of Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley However, the housebuilder's latest proposal to South Staffordshire Council is attracting concerns among residents who claim the area is already bursting at the seams with health and education services under pressure  Pam Gregory, said:  "I've had a letter through my letterbox about the application. I live on Landywood Lane where there are already too many houses and they have two or three cars each. The schools and health services can't cater for it and the roads are too narrow." Pauline Kelsey, of Streets Lane also in Great Wyrley added: "This whole area is former mining land An under threat Cannock theatre has been given a boost with a grant from an industry body The Prince of Wales Theatre is earmarked for closure at the end of April after Cannock Chase Council said they could no longer support it through its budget the national advisory and advocacy body for theatres has announced the third round of grants to be awarded through its Resilient Theatres: Resilient Communities programme with the Church Street venue to receive £7k 836 being handed out to ten venues who are all on the organisation's Theatres at Risk Register 2025 Other venues to receive grants which are partly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund include Morecambe Winter Gardens Margate Theatre Royal and Derby Hippodrome The grant programme aims to help the restoration reopening or revitalising process for Theatres at Risk through funding expert support with focuses on increasing organisational resilience improving skills and engaging more people with community and heritage projects A spokesman said work funded in this round includes condition surveys fundraising and audience development strategies CEO of Theatres Trust said: " All the theatres on our Theatres at Risk Register are special buildings that have real potential to bring joy and opportunities to their communities "We are thrilled to support ten of these fantastic theatres with essential strategic projects that willlay the foundations for their revival We look forward to supporting them through this journeyand seeing the progress they make." You can try some of our most popular links, or search our website. Cannock Chase Council previously said it wanted to close the Prince of Wales Theatre in a bid to "safeguard funds for other services" Following a meeting on Wednesday 12 February a campaigner told ITV News Central: ''Unfortunately the council are still on for closing both the Museum and Theatre they are encouraging local community groups to take it on people are needed to come forward with business proposals for both of these much loved venues The Green Party and Conservative Party put forward an alternative budget which was voted against.'' "Good news in the doom and gloom" Councillor Tony Johnson said the council had been speaking to Alex Norris Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Ministry of Housing regarding the district council’s plans to regenerate Cannock Town Centre He said: “We discussed the Levelling Up bid and the Government are happy with what we are proposing and encouraging Civil Servants to give us support - and have told us they don’t want any money back "And the minister is even amenable to some of the Levelling Up Fund money being used for the theatre there is some good news in the doom and gloom.”He told the council they were having positive talks with local groups interested in taking over the running of the facilities and would be providing expert support for them to prepare a sound business plan Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. Plans to create a new “northern gateway” for Cannock town centre have been approved by councillors – despite concerns that replacing a subway with a new crossing could make traffic issues worse The subway under the A34 Ringway is set to be filled in as part of the town centre regeneration project – a move welcomed as a way to improve safety for pedestrians at night It will be replaced by a street-level toucan crossing in the detailed application approved by Cannock Chase Council’s planning committee on Wednesday (January 15) The proposals given the green light also include a café spoke of existing congestion on town centre roads at peak times at Wednesday’s meeting however She also questioned if traffic studies considered a wide enough area for the impact of a proposed toucan crossing at Ringway She said: “I’m here to ask that the fundamental changes to the road system do not have an irreversible and damaging effect on the road network “Business owners don’t wish to see any worsening of the existing road congestion At the moment people can walk underneath to use a crossing – in future all pedestrian movements will take place at road level “Businesses depend on smooth running road networks Additional congestion could not only have economic implications but could have environmental impacts in terms of noise and pollution.” Cannock Chase Council was awarded £20m from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund in 2021 towards town centre regeneration Proposals include redevelopment of the former multi-storey car park and indoor market hall site to make way for a new cultural hub Cannock’s Prince of Wales Theatre, which is run by Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles was due to be refurbished as part of the ambitious project But it could instead close its doors for good as part of controversial savings measures being considered by the district council which have met with strong objections from thousands of residents and arts supporters Councillor Adrienne Fitzgerald raised concerns about the new disabled access ramps being used for skateboarding – and she also questioned the proposed café addition as well as future theatre provision She said: “I want to understand why we are having another café put in the town centre when we already have four.” Councillor Darryl Mawle asked: “Does it have to be a café or can it be put into another use an operator will want to use it for?” But the committee was told that theatre provision was not part of the application being considered at the meeting The proposed toucan crossing will be an upgrade of the existing pelican crossing And the subway set to be removed had previously been affected by antisocial behaviour A report to the committee said: “One of the key issues within the application includes the effect of greater use of the new pedestrian crossing upon traffic flows along Ringway This was the subject of detailed traffic modelling used to assess whether significant impacts upon traffic movements would result from the proposed removal of the underpass “The Highway Authority are legitimately placed to comment on the validity of the modelling submitted It is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Highway Authority that the effect of the crossing on queuing would not be significant or exceed the threshold of causing severe road network impacts “The existing subway lacks natural lighting with containment imposed by the entrances at either end being the only ways out It is suggested this can lead to people feeling unsafe with a similar matter being mentioned by the Police ALO (Architectural Liaison Officer) who suggests the proposed surface crossing is welcomed as this was one of the findings as part of the Home Office-funded Safer Women at Night scheme.” Councillor Sue Thornley said: “I will be glad when they bring the tunnel down – it’s a filthy place There are beggars and there is urine everywhere.” Councillor Jacquie Prestwood said: “When you have to go through the subway when it is dark – and at winter it is dark at 4pm – you don’t feel particularly safe going through it When it is no longer there I think people will feel safer.” It was a good evening's football overall in the Cannock and Hednesford Wednesday 6 a side league this week with all teams in attendance barring a handful of cancellations owing to the Aston Villa game.In the Premier League Donk II clinched a nail-biting 4-3 victory over NUTMEG CITY who with an impressive 3-0 win over Blewitt FC topped the division with 21 points and 10 wins to their name ORIENTAL DELIGHT displayed their prowess by overpowering FC G&T with a 7-2 score who took the crown with a well-earned 3-1 victory over TomBolas FC accumulating a grand total of 24 points and 10 wins throughout the season.In Division 2 LIMES FC emerged victorious after defeating Demba 9 Ba by a 6-0 margin securing their top spot with 21 points and 10 wins the notable match of Division 3 saw Victor Moses Lawn overpower BPK with a 4-2 score earning the highest honour of the division with 25 points and 12 victories Stuck In The Mud Fc won Division 4 with an impressive 2-0 victory over Rosa Parks The Bus totalling 23 points and 11 wins for the season.As the dust settles on this season of the Cannock Wednesday 6 a side Football league congratulations are in order for all the winners of each division We look forward to the next season with high anticipation balloons and heartfelt messages have been left at the scene of a fatal Cannock crash Tributes are continuing to grow at the scene of a tragic crash on Norton Road that saw a man sadly lose his life The incident took place at around 6.30pm on Sunday, April 6, and saw a blue BMW collide with a wall on Norton Road, Heath Hayes The driver was taken to hospital by West Midlands Ambulance Service personnel tributes dozens of tributes of photographs balloons and heartfelt messages have been placed at the scene near where the crash took place with the man being named locally as the 'kind-hearted' Josh Bradley One of the messages read: "R.I.P Mr Josh Bradley A number of motorcycle helmets also lie at the scene Emergency services were quick on the scene of the crash with Staffordshire Police quickly launching an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident A Staffordshire Police spokesperson said: "We are keen to speak to anyone who was travelling in the area with any information or dashcam footage which could help collision investigators "You can also get in touch with collision investigators directly by emailing ciu@staffordshire.police.uk"  Josh's family are said to be receiving support from specially trained officers at this sad time