while others help us to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used For more information visit our Cookie Policy(Opens in a new window)External Link Icon The 80th anniversary of VE day is being marked through a host of commemorative events in Newcastle-under-Lyme next week Giles' Church in Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre at 8pm Following the service the congregation will walk through to Queens Gardens where a beacon will be lit People are being invited to a range of events at the Brampton Museum on VE Day itself and throughout the next week recall treasured memories and spark lively discussion Reminisce: Recall and Relive will be led by Kath Reynolds and include multi-sensory experiences to evoke memories and give participants a chance to bond while recalling common experiences takes place on Saturday 10 May from 2pm to 3.15pm with Ros Unwin and Jane Pugh They will tell the story of World War Two pilots who’d been trapped in burning planes and soldiers with severe facial injuries who were sent to Albert Ward at the North Staffs Infirmary to receive the most advanced treatments of the day Meanwhile a free exhibition Victory from Home: How we Helped Win the War Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council leader Simon Tagg said: “While every VE Day anniversary is special this year is particularly significant as it marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe we will join the rest of the nation in remembering the sacrifices made and bravery of our services personnel and residents at that time We will mark the occasion through the service at St and with a host of events and activities at the Brampton Museum Through these events people will be able to discover so much about their local area and those who contributed to the war effort and lived through what were incredibly challenging times And we know residents across the borough will be marking the occasion in their own way too.” © 2025 Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Two seats have been won by Reform UK and the Conservative Party in a double by-election for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council which had been held by a Labour and Conservative councillor respectively the Conservative Party now has 25 seats and Labour has 17 As well as the council’s first Reform UK member The Knutton ward was won by Lynn Dean with a majority of 158 over the nearest opponent The Loggerheads ward was won by Andrew Turnock with a majority of 542 Full details of the results are available here. The next full election for the Borough Council takes place in 2026 Capital&Centric has secured planning permission for its major regeneration of Newcastle-under-Lyme The developer proposed three applications to transform the former York Place shopping centre Plans include more than 300 homes and 11,150 sq ft of space for businesses across the three locations which includes repurposing much of the existing fabric of the shopping centre and Midway car park A search is underway to find a contractor to deliver the schemes and work is already taking place to dismantle the shopping arcade and prepare the site for the work to start Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council gave the nod to spend almost £85m on the projects The funding will be recouped by the council after selling the sites to Capital & Centric once complete It also hopes to receive grant funding from Homes England The council also hopes to secure grant funding from Homes England joint managing director at Capital & Centric said: “This is another huge step forward in our plans to give Newcastle-under-Lyme the glow up it deserves It’s exciting overseeing three sites which will transform the town and make it more of a place people want to hang out in and live “The Council has been very supportive of our vision right from the start and we’re very grateful of their continued encouragement to help turn it into a reality.” Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council added: “This marks another milestone in the exciting regeneration of Newcastle town centre “This major investment will change the look and feel of the town centre forever by bringing more people in to live This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Heritage and cultural services in Newcastle-under-Lyme have received a major boost thanks to National Lottery players run by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has received a £99,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to increase access to the borough’s fascinating history and ensure that its precious heritage is preserved for future generations awarded following a successful funding application will help to establish a new supporter’s group – a successor to the popular Friends of the Museum – enable the museum to work with several community groups to host inclusive family-friendly events and extend its popular talk and film show programme to include weekends This latest generous grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund is fantastic news The Brampton Museum – which is home to more than 2,000 years of borough history – holds a special place in residents’ hearts and thanks to National Lottery players we can further enhance its fantastic offer.” the money will fund environmental improvements to the Brampton Park venue – supporting the council’s goal to become carbon neutral by 2030 – and establish a new fundraising campaign to restore the museum’s significant collection of locally made clocks every donation to the fundraiser will be matched by the Heritage Fund up to a maximum of £4,000 Brampton Museum houses 11 long case clocks made between 1680 and 1870 when Newcastle-under-Lyme was a major clock-making town thanks to prominent figures including the Beech Most don’t work and have never been conserved Funding will enable a detailed condition survey It’s hoped to have some of the clocks in full working order by the end of the project in 2027 Several local businesses and groups have already donated to the clock conservation fund chair of the Arts Society of North Staffordshire We are delighted to help Brampton Museum get their magnificent locally made collection of grandfather clocks ticking again These beautiful instruments deserve to be exhibited in working order." More information about becoming a museum supporter, or donating to the clock fund, is available on the borough council’s website The Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has condemned the idea of a single ‘super council’ serving the whole of North Staffordshire Leader Simon Tagg was responding to a report published by Stoke-on-Trent City Council which suggests the creation of a North Staffordshire Unitary Authority the Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough into one single council that would mean the abolition of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and also affect other local authorities This proposal by Stoke-on-Trent City Council is unwelcome and it is noticeably lacking any detail about how this would benefit residents outside Stoke-on-Trent That’s because no-one is able to spell out what the real benefits of such a merger would be for residents rather than talking about the imagined ones Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is debt-free and delivers effective services at the local level for its residents delivering them at low cost while overseeing once-in-a-generation town centre regeneration job creation projects and fighting Walleys Quarry on behalf of residents threatening legal action against its schools and is only just regaining control of its children’s services after six years of Government supervision time-consuming reorganisation and integration is the last thing it – and the communities of Stoke-on-Trent – need.” The City Council report highlights the advantage to the city’s finances of the increased tax income from Newcastle and the Moorlands In Newcastle we believe frontline services should be delivered as locally rather than through more remote super-councils which would see the scrapping of our historic borough There was no demand in Newcastle-under-Lyme for this to happen before the Government’s surprise call for local councils to reorganise and there is none now: people fail to see how effectively being taken over by Stoke-on-Trent benefits them in any way.” Internationally acclaimed illusionist and showman has tonight been crowned the winner of the ultimate accolade in Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s Borough Heroes Awards for his work to acknowledge Astley – who performed trick-riding and equestrianism in the round and first combined clowns tightrope walkers and musicians in 1768 – as a cultural icon The council invited Andrew and other inspirational borough residents who give up their time to make a positive difference for others to a ceremony at Keele in Town after they were nominated for awards in Lifetime Achievement Sporting Hero and new Civic Pride categories The Borough Heroes Awards – one of the legacies from the borough’s 850th anniversary celebrations – was part of the Mayor’s Ball but took place separately out of respect for Mayor Barry Panter who passed away suddenly in February Andrew – who organised circus-themed events in Newcastle during the 1980s and 1990s – spearheaded the successful Philip Astley Project in 2016 securing £250,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for popular events; helped to create “Astley’s Astounding Adventures” in 2018 and played a key role in developing Astley Fest and attracting further cultural funding he unveiled the Philip Astley Centre on Merrial Street providing a lasting venue to celebrate the town’s heritage It means so much to have received this Lifetime Achievement Award especially since it’s on the back of a lot of the work that we’ve done locally as a team to celebrate Philip Astley in Newcastle-under-Lyme It’s also recognition for the achievements along the way and the crazy life I’ve lived.” The first Civic Pride award – named after the council’s new initiative to boost pride in Newcastle-under-Lyme and strengthen its reputation as a place which is clean safe and friendly – went to Rosie Howells for having a lasting impact on Girlguiding in the Westlands As well as helping girls to develop skills and form friendships Rosie has ensured that everyone can take part and set up a new unit enabling guides to take on leadership roles she volunteers countless hours each week and supports the wider network The Borough Heroes Awards is a fantastic way to shine the spotlight on residents who give their time energy and enthusiasm to make a difference to those around them Newcastle-under-Lyme just wouldn’t be the great place that it is to live It’s very humbling to be among those who are doing such amazing things in their communities quietly in the background without any expectation of praise My special congratulations go to all the main winners but everyone who was nominated can feel very proud of their amazing achievements.” Talented Poppy Edwards is adding yet another award to her belt after she won the Sporting Hero category for showing remarkable resilience despite being partially deaf and undergoing numerous surgeries Poppy excels in kickboxing and boxing and has won 15 titles 20 gold medals and other prestigious accolades Adam Pritchard is a “Young Hero” in recognition of the growth and dedication he has shown during his Scouts journey He has progressed from beaver to explorer and continues to support the cub pack as a young leader Freya Follwell and Rachel Hall also received highly commended awards More information will be available via Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s website. This year’s awards are sponsored by Keele University Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) Chesterton-based business TMT First and the University of Staffordshire Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is ready to fight for the Borough's future because it disagrees with the proposed forced reorganisation of Local Government that threatens services to residents A report to be considered by Full Council says that the move to single-tier authorities required by Government in Staffordshire ignores that the current two-tier system of county and borough councils is already delivering good cost-effective services And it notes that the Government’s arbitrary minimum population size of 500,000 for reorganised councils has already been challenged by the Local Government Association while several years of restructuring will bring large up-front costs disruption and a loss of local democratic accountability – with no guarantee of better services for residents Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council it’s only right that we make the arguments on behalf of the residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme and insist that if there is to be change they are given a vote on their future in a local referendum.” written to meet the Government’s deadline for interim reorganisation proposals outlines several possible options for investigation if the move to unitary authority is insisted upon the report makes clear it does not favour a North Staffordshire Unitary Authority combining the Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent nor does it currently support a proposal along the lines of the existing Staffordshire County Council footprint It also suggests that a solution to Stoke-on-Trent’s financial problems may be a return to the pre-1997 situation and reintegrate the delivery of complex services such as education child protection and adult social care back into Staffordshire County Council requiring no need for forced reorganisation What we are doing is evaluating all the proposals and we will keep looking at the evidence about what is best for residents until the November deadline for final submissions." The Borough Council is positive towards the creation of a Strategic Authority spanning Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and which could include neighbouring areas if there are good arguments for their inclusion Strategic Authorities will not be responsible for delivering day-to-day services such as collecting the bins and at a local level there is no demand - and no convincing argument - to rip up the existing system of local government in favour of giving residents something less than they already have.” Three major regeneration projects in the centre of Newcastle are all ready to take their next step Next week Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is expected to approve separate contracts worth £85 million in total to progress redevelopment of The Ryecroft the three developments will bring scores of homes several shops and a hotel to the town centre following the opening of the 455-place Castle Car Park for shoppers and visitors This investment across three key sites will not only change the look of the town centre it will change the feel of it too by bringing in more residents and visitors.” respected developer Capital&Centric will build around 130 apartments in three units while other parts of the site are earmarked for Aspire Housing McCarthy Stone the specialist accommodation providers for over-55s Work is already underway at the former York Place site where Capital&Centric is retaining part of the original structure’s frame That project will create more accommodation and commercial space while opening the area between Merrial Street and Ironmarket where owner Joule’s Brewery plans to create a live music venue the car park has been closed after the opening of Castle Car Park paving the way for Capital&Centric to transform the landmark concrete structure into around 110 new apartments Agreeing these contracts paves the way for significant work on all three sites so that by the end of the year Newcastle’s landscape will be changing for all to see.” Five candidates are standing in two by-elections for seats on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council In Knutton ward the by-election candidates are: In Loggerheads ward the by-election candidates are: the current position is that the Conservatives have 24 councillors and Labour 17 Residents across the borough will also be voting on 1 May for the Staffordshire County Council elections Results from the by-elections will be declared overnight on 1 and 2 May Following a change in the law, everyone attending a polling station for the Borough Council by-elections, or the County Council elections, will need an acceptable form of photo identification. More information about photo identification requirements is available here A new children’s art exhibition in Newcastle town centre celebrates local landmarks that make Newcastle-under-Lyme unique Outstanding depictions of a Queen Elizabeth II statue subway murals and a frog sculpture at Keele roundabout are among 55 winning entries in a Britain in Bloom painting competition – organised by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council – that are now on display at Keele in Town until 16 June encouraged youngsters to think about key places in the borough that provide a sense of civic pride The council’s Green Team had the difficult task of choosing two overall winners from 1,046 entries from 12 primary secondary and special schools across the borough is the overall winner of the under 10s category for her moody version of the Apedale mining wheel while 11-year-old Darcey Pye was victorious in the over 10s section for a colourful representation of the historic Guildhall Even though the borough’s Heart of England in Bloom campaign is now co-ordinated by Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District – after many years of success under the stewardship of the borough council – the council still leads on some core “bloom” activities Our annual painting competition is always a popular event and this year is no exception it’s clear that Newcastle-under-Lyme is home to many talented young people – and fantastic landmarks Everyone should feel very proud of their excellent efforts I hope the winners enjoy seeing their work feature in an exhibition.” Keele in Town is open from 12pm to 4pm on Mondays Thursdays and Fridays and 10am to 4pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays The Borough Mayor presents certificates and prizes to the winners at Keele University on Wednesday will be rewarded for submitting nine winning competition entries The painting competition is sponsored by The Art Studio Gallery in Newcastle Residents in a rural village are encouraged to join in #PrideInNUL events this week Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is leading the co-ordination of services in Loggerheads on Wednesday 19 February in collaboration with Staffordshire County Council It’s the latest instalment of the council’s ongoing Civic Pride initiative which aims to boost pride across the borough and strengthen its reputation as a place which is clean Civic Pride aims to create a strong sense of belonging to It’s a response to feedback from residents and captures a lot of the work that already goes on by the council and its partners – under a unified #PrideInNUL badge – and is also a call to arms for people of all ages to get involved.” Residents are invited to join the council’s Green Team on a litter pick to spruce up the area which includes a visit to a piece of land that the volunteer group is transforming into a magical garden The meeting point is The Loggerheads pub at 10.30am A drop-in session is also taking place at the fire station where households can get advice about a wide range of issues from the borough council One of the council’s priorities is to create healthy we’re committed to working closely with partners to make a positive difference in every part of the borough Civic Pride is a great legacy from the borough’s 850th anniversary celebrations and aims to build on the fantastic community spirit  and pride showed by residents in 2023.” The government minister responsible for local government reorganisation has been re-invited to Newcastle-under-Lyme so he can see for himself the success of the existing two-tier system Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is arguing against forced reorganisation because it says there is no argument so far which shows a new single-authority system would deliver better services for its residents than at present Now the council has written to Jim McMahon OBE Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution making the Borough Council’s case and repeating an invitation for the Minister to see the situation first-hand Residents in The Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme already receive cost-effective efficient services from a locally accountable authority I haven’t heard any argument which shows how forced change from the current system of local government in the Borough will improve what residents experience and it’s illogical that they should be forced to accept something which lowers current levels of service and performance One size doesn’t fit all and I think the Minister ought to see for himself what is actually happening here.” approved by a special meeting of Full Council: We are open-minded about what happens next but are convinced that the next steps should be guided by evidence demonstrating that any proposed change should be in the best interests of residents – and that Borough residents should have the final say in a referendum.” Due to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s position it hasn't signed the interim submission from the Staffordshire Leaders’ Board (SLB) a partnership of Staffordshire County Council Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the eight district and borough councils of Staffordshire The SLB’s interim plan suggest two options These submissions are only interim positions and we will continue working in partnership to see what provides the best result for the residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme.” Residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme can recycle additional types of plastics and cartons at home two years ahead of a legal deadline Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is including “flexible” plastics – loose plastic bags films and wrappers – and food and drink cartons in its borough-wide fortnightly kerbside recycling scheme for the first time from April 2025 as well as cartons because their insides and caps are also made from plastic The Government requires all waste collection authorities to accept these items from April 2027 as part of Simpler Recycling legislation designed to standardise recycling services across the country This policy also includes the delivery of weekly – and separate – food waste collections a service which has been provided by the council to most households since 2010 The changes are being implemented in the borough with minimal financial impact Information stickers will be added to the lids of all blue bins while the updated list of accepted materials will be available on the council’s website and promoted through its social media channels The borough council’s recycling service allows flexibility in accommodating extra materials so it’s pleased to press ahead with the collection of flexible plastics and cartons two years early This decision further strengthens our commitment to being a leading authority in sustainability and circular economy principles having been one of the first councils in the country to provide weekly food waste collections 15 years ago now Increasing what we collect is hugely beneficial in many ways It will further boost recycling performance place greater focus on using sustainable recycling methods to reprocess materials back into valuable commodities – shifting the emphasis away from the household rubbish bin – and contribute to lower carbon emissions and net zero objectives for the council Ultimately it means that we’ll be fully compliant with the mandatory requirements well ahead of time.” Newcastle-under-Lyme has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to recycling and sustainability matters so it’s good news that we’re able to introduce these mandatory changes early – two years before the actual deadline Residents are really keen to recycle and will be happy about the improvements It’s partly down to their good practices – presenting high quality material with low levels of contamination – that we’re able to make this positive move.” The council operates a twin-stream recycling system which separates paper and card from the other materials as well as a separate food waste collection and a chargeable garden waste service This is in addition to the household rubbish bin which is emptied every two weeks The council’s planned extension of the food waste service is now underway and will be completed this year It is also launching a recycling service aimed at businesses mirroring the enhanced household provision to help them comply with the Simpler Recycling legislation An annual event hosted by the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme to raise funds for local charities is this year being dedicated to their memory Barry Panter – who passed away on Saturday 15 February following a road accident – is being celebrated at a charity ball at Keele Hall on Saturday which is going ahead with some slight changes Guests will enjoy a reception and dinner followed by dancing until midnight to live music performed by local mod/indie band The Absconders top table draw and auction. There are a handful of tickets remaining Proceeds will benefit Headway North Staffs and the Salvation Army Panter as his chosen charities when he was invested with the chains of office in May 2024 The charity ball was something that Barry looked forward to ever since he became the Mayor He started collecting tombola prizes straight away and it became a standing joke that it’s physically impossible to enter a room in our house because it’s full of items: a hamper leather wallet and various alcoholic drinks being just a few examples When Barry was in hospital after his accident he kept asking what would happen to the event so I made a promise that I would host it on his behalf and raise some more money for his charities It will be very hard but I’m looking forward to meeting the guests especially those I’ve worked with closely over the past 12 months.” the Borough Heroes Awards – originally part of the charity ball – are now taking place on a separate date The ceremony takes place at Keele in Town in Newcastle town centre on Tuesday 8 April. The deadline for nominations has subsequently been extended to midnight on Sunday The council is once again shining the spotlight on community champions of all ages whose actions have a positive impact across the borough and – for the first time – Civic Pride in a nod to the council’s new initiative to boost pride in Newcastle-under-Lyme and strengthen its reputation as a place which is clean The initiative is one of the legacies from year-long celebrations in 2023 marking the 850th anniversary of the borough’s first royal charter You can nominate someone for an award, or find out more information, here. A spectacular festival of exciting events and in-depth workshops will offer businesses and entrepreneurs a key role in "Shaping the Future" of Newcastle-under-Lyme "Shaping the Future" is Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s first-ever Business Festival and will feature a packed programme of events and workshops with keynote speakers including Keith Brymer Jones The festival will include a business market in the town centre exhibitions and guest speakers at venues around the town 10 March with "Entrepreneurs Launch Day",  the theme of events will change daily Women in Business on Thursday and Open Door Business on Friday Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council said: “Newcastle’s Business Festival is an opportunity to highlight the very best that we have in the borough and make it a strong proposition for businesses working with partners in a range of events and locations across Newcastle-under-Lyme working with our colleagues at Keele University and particularly having a focus on those areas which are going to be of interest to entrepreneurs potential entrepreneurs and growing businesses Booking is now open for the Open Door Business Day and stalls on Entrepreneurs Launch Day with specific festival events and workshops open for bookings soon Gordon Mole added: “It’s really important to us that everybody does get involved Together we’ll celebrate and advance the collaborative efforts of local organisations that are driving progress in Newcastle-under-Lyme and help shape the future of our vibrant community.” The Business Festival is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund A full programme of events, list of guest speakers, booking details and more can be found at www.nulshapingthefuture.co.uk  Four candidates are standing in a by-election for a seat on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council The seat in the Town ward is being contested after the previous councillor stood down Voting will take place in the ward on Thursday and ballots will be counted shortly after polling stations close at 10pm With one person to be elected to the borough council the current position is that the Conservatives have 25 seats and Labour 17 Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has vowed to fight government plans to scrap historic local authority areas which have consistently shown that they are best placed to deliver local services The new Government’s proposed local government reorganisation suggests that Borough Councils like Newcastle-under-Lyme would be abolished in favour of much larger unitary authorities which could see the independence of the Borough end after 852 years But at today’s meeting of the authority members of its Cabinet agreed that the council would: The issue of local government reorganisation has been a recurring threat to the borough independence over the years one which the residents of the borough have fought off many times I am sure the residents will get behind doing the same again this time.”   The Council is currently overseeing the regeneration of Ryecroft along with the opening of a clean safe car park for shoppers and visitors jobs are being created by developing the employment site at Chatterley Valley West and the town centre economy supported by moving public services into one place and by opening up the route to the canal to boost tourism and passing trade With a balanced budget planned for 2025/26 the council has also successfully delivered a review of working practices to make £1.173 million of savings each year without the need for compulsory redundancies Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is a member of the Staffordshire Leaders Board which comprises the eight district and borough councils of Staffordshire The Board wrote to Government in the autumn regarding Local Government reorganisation It said that having worked together successfully for years members wanted to explore how councils could jointly improve transport but felt no need for an elected Mayor in the area A new car park in Newcastle town centre is opening to serve residents workers and visitors – both now and well into the future Castle car park – which replaces the ageing Midway – opens its doors to the public for the first time at 7am on Friday 24 January and is available 24 hours a day based on part of the Ryecroft site on Liverpool Road includes 472 spaces – including 19 for motorcycles – and 39 electric vehicle charging points which will be fully operational from next week Other amenities include automated main doors 22 disability spaces on lower levels and lifts and ramps enabling full accessibility pay-on-return car park is surrounded by trees and hedgerows The transformative project underpins Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s wider once-in-a-generation £30 million redevelopment of the overall Ryecroft site nearby Astley Place and the old Midway car park – led by social impact developers Capital & Centric on behalf of the council – thanks to investment from the previous Government’s Town Deal and Future High Streets Fund following authority-led bids I’m pleased that Castle Car Park is opening safe and well-lit – a major upgrade from the outdated Midway – which will significantly improve people’s town centre experience and support the local economy day and night But this is more than just a car park; it’s a vital addition to help secure Newcastle town centre’s future sustainability as a thriving place for everyone Providing enhanced infrastructure like this underpins the council’s current regeneration which will draw different groups of people into the area.” New affordable housing is planned for the remaining section of Ryecroft and work has started to thoughtfully remodel Astley Place into modern accommodation and retail space with attractive public open spaces between the Ironmarket and Merrial Street which will enable better connectivity between a redeveloped Ryecroft and the High Street 23 January as preparations begin to convert the building into 100 apartments the Ryecroft surface car park closes at 6am on Friday learning and community space in the heart of Newcastle-under-Lyme has officially opened bringing the University into the town centre for the first time Keele in Town will be a gateway where residents community groups and businesses can collaborate with the University and benefit from new learning and support opportunities.  The project was part funded by money from the Newcastle Town Deal: a successful bid by partners including the University and led by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to central Government for funding in Newcastle and Kidsgrove – to improve residents' quality of life and boost economic regeneration.  An event was held at the building this week to officially launch the space and partners including local NHS Trusts and Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group all visiting to celebrate the launch.  Keele’s civic role within the community is one we’ve always been enormously proud of and Keele in Town marks an exciting new chapter in that relationship between our university and the communities we serve bringing us into the town centre for the first time to create opportunities for local people The space will be multifunctional and serve a variety of community needs with Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group using the facility throughout the year to connect with the community and deliver a wide range of entry-level adult courses perfect for those looking to return to study or gain essential new skills for a future career.    Courses delivered by the College from the town centre venue during the early part of 2025 will include English and Maths at a range of levels from basic literacy and numeracy through to GCSE-level The council is proud of its strong links with Keele University Having a world-class higher education establishment on our doorstep already brings many economic and social benefits so I’m looking forward to seeing the positive impact that Keele in Town will have in Newcastle town centre.  As well as transforming an attractive building on the Ironmarket into a mixed-use facility Keele in Town will drive productivity and increase skill levels in Newcastle-under-Lyme – leading to growth and improved quality of life for residents – while bringing different groups of people into the town centre.  Its launch comes as the council’s once-in-a-generation £30 million redevelopment of the nearby Ryecroft site Astley Place and Midway – which is partly funded by the Newcastle Town Deal and combines new homes modern retail space and attractive open spaces – gathers pace to create a sustainable and future-focused place for everyone.”  The new facility builds on the University’s continuing drive to engage with local communities which has also included supporting and collaborating with more than 1,000 Staffordshire businesses since 2016; supporting and playing an active role in community events such as being headline sponsor for the Lymelight Festival; and putting on a vibrant community public arts programme through ArtsKeele continued spending on front-line services and job creation are all part of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s spending plans for the coming year including a maximum 7p-a-week council tax increase for most residents to Full Council for approval in the New Year With a legal requirement preventing councils from borrowing to run day-to-day services the council has balanced its budget and remains debt-free while investing in communities Yet again as the council closest to our residents we are prioritising delivery of the local services that matter to people while working hard to keep our council tax increases as low as possible The vast majority of our residents live in properties in Band A-to-C and if this proposal is approved that means for four out of every five households the Borough Council’s share of council tax increase will be 7p a week or less.” Investment continues in the regeneration of Ryecroft Waste collection and recycling; hygiene inspections of restaurants cafes and takeaways; street cleaning; running both the J2 leisure centre and Brampton Museum; and maintaining parks and green spaces are all delivered by the Borough Council while it also maintains the resources to fund legal action against the operators of Walleys Quarry Specific investment in Kidsgrove includes creating jobs in the area by developing the employment site at Chatterley Valley West supporting the town centre by moving all the public services into one place and by opening up the route connecting the canal to the town centre to boost tourism and passing trade The proposal is that Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s council tax will increase by 1.99% and that includes money set aside to support the Civic Pride initiative: a long-term programme intended to make a positive difference across the whole borough by working with others to create a strong sense of belonging to Deputy Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Cabinet member for Finance Over the last three years our ‘One Council’ improvement programme has produced £1.173 million of savings every year which means we can continue to focus on front line services that matter to our residents.” The proposed weekly increase for 2025/26 is: Two dozen local projects are to receive £1.5 million in funding over the next 12 months On the back of three years of successful delivery of £4.8 million worth of schemes and initiatives Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council made a final successful bid to the government in the last year of its UK Shared Prosperity Fund Now funding will be shared to support voluntary and community groups across the Borough as well as supporting people learning new skills to improve their employability As a local council we are focusing on using this money across a variety of projects that will make a difference to people and the communities they live in.” Funding includes extending commitments to a worker supporting people struggling to access services quickly after discharge from hospital or prison someone working in the community to support those with mental illness and others promoting volunteering opportunities to help group and give individuals experience they can use on their CVs Other money will be used towards developing Navigation House which will open later this year to help vulnerable people stay off the streets supporting Keele University students and graduates using their skills to help develop businesses and a dedicated worker in Kidsgrove helping people back into work the Borough Council has overseen delivery of £4.8 million worth of projects within three key themes of community and place people and skills and supporting local businesses From business enterprise coaching to supporting a homeless hub the network of previous projects has included promoting community hubs at community managed libraries nature recovery in urban spaces and enhancements at amenity spaces including Brampton Park Clough Hall Park and the Trent and Mersey Canal Schemes supporting local businesses included enterprise support a small business space at Kidsgrove Town Hall and advanced digital technology and innovation support for businesses but they have the potential to bring real change across the borough helping to cement a feeling of community and define a sense of place alongside improving opportunities for people and enhancing their skills as well as supporting local businesses.” A full list of recipients for 2025/26 can be found here Services and volunteers are making a positive difference in another village in the borough as part of an ongoing initiative to boost pride in Newcastle-under-Lyme Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is co-ordinating new and existing service provision in Audley today (Thursday 3 April) as part of Civic Pride and residents are encouraged to get involved The scheme – delivered in collaboration with Staffordshire County Council Staffordshire Police and Aspire Housing under a unified #PrideInNUL badge – aims to strengthen the borough’s reputation as a place which is clean the council’s Neighbourhood Delivery Manager After launching late last year in Newcastle town centre in response to residents’ feedback we’re now preparing to hold our sixth Civic Pride event in the borough The initiative is gathering pace and we have further sessions scheduled across the borough our fantastic borough – much like the borough’s 850th anniversary celebrations did – and calls on people of all ages to play their part Working closely and successfully with partners and local groups something which the council has received praise for nationally means that we’re able to make a much greater impact in local communities.” Partners and volunteers are carrying out a litter pick of the local area from 10am to 2pm Anyone wishing to join is asked to meet at the Durber Close community living scheme ST7 8EB (what3words location arranged.tribe.outgrown) A second litter pick – involving pupils from Ravensmead Primary School – is also taking place The council’s Green Team is carrying out some maintenance works to the Minnie Pit memorial garden The garden commemorates a mining disaster in 1918 when 155 men and boys died following an underground explosion at the Minnie Pit A drop-in session is taking place at Audley Library where residents can get information and advice about a wide range of subjects from the council council officers are carrying out Public Space Protection Order patrols and joining neighbourhood walkabouts on a regular basis like this helps us to make places like Audley feel cleaner Successful events have already taken place in Newcastle town centre The next Civic Pride event takes place in Bradwell and Porthill on 8 May Moves to end rough sleeping in Newcastle before 2026 are moving forward Authorisation for work to begin converting a building close to the town centre into a ‘homeless hub’ is ready for approval by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Work will convert former offices at Stubbs Gate to provide safe secure emergency accommodation for rough sleepers Newcastle-under-Lyme Bough Council’s Cabinet member for Community Safety and Wellbeing And then once people have an address it makes it easier for them to receive help from different bodies and organisations setting them on a path to accessing opportunities.” Planning permission for the adaptation of the building with a review of its impact to be carried out after it has operated for a year using money from a successful bid by the council for Shared Prosperity Fund As well as helping vulnerable members of our community in a moment of need this changes the perception of what’s happening in our town centre and makes it less intimidating to some.” Targeting rough sleeping is also shown to reduce pressure on police while also reducing demand for emergency bed and breakfast accommodation The Christmas magic returns to Newcastle town centre on Sunday 24 November as Newcastle-under-Lyme BID hosts their spectacular #LightUpCastle switch-on event 6 Towns Radio’s Dan Townley will bring the festive spirit to life from the main stage located outside The Guildhall for an afternoon and evening packed with live entertainment The young Your Heroes Awards winners will have the honour of lighting up the town in a dazzling display of Christmas lights followed by a laser display and live music.  the High Street and Ironmarket will be transformed into a winter wonderland of holiday performances from local artists schools and community groups as well as a poptastic headline performance from The Big Boyband Reunion Castle Artisan Market adds to the festive fun with stalls offering the very best of local makers bakers and creators – perfect for finding unique Christmas gifts and opportunity to indulge in street food and drinks from local businesses There’s fun for all the family with small fairground rides from Stanworths meet and greet opportunities with Santa and Disney Princesses as well as plenty more surprises the BID's Projects & Marketing Executive As part of the BID’s annual calendar of events we can’t wait to Light Up Castle for another year and host the community in the town centre to kick-start the Christmas season! The lights switch-on is always such an incredible day out and a great opportunity to start Christmas shopping or start the festive celebrations with family and friends As part of the Christmas calendar in the town we also have the Castle Winter Food and Drink Fest following on 14 December.” Free parking is available on all Borough Council car parks courtesy of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council making it easy to join in the celebrations Be sure to follow @newcastlebid on social media for more updates Let's make this switch-on the brightest yet Plans for a ‘once-in-a-generation’ reboot of its town centre have taken a major step forward with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council giving the nod to progress the transformational project there Capital&Centric drew up proposals to reimagine the former York Place shopping centre – now renamed Astley Place – Midway Car Park and Ryecroft into new homes and a range of eateries and shops With planning permission to be determined for each of the three sites the decision at the Full Council meeting agreed the Council’s investment into the regeneration of the town centre paving the way for the social impact developer to start work on the proposals later this year The developer is already underway with dismantling the shopping arcade and prepping the site for the work to start The team are now on the hunt for a contractor to take on the reboot and bring it to life The social impact developer is looking to create more than 300 homes and 11,150sqft of spaces for businesses across the three locations which includes repurposing much of the existing fabric of the shopping centre and Midway car park – reducing costs and saving embodied carbon – to create a vibrant mixed-use town centre aimed at bringing more residents and visitors to the town The plans have also attracted more than £35million of funding thanks to authority-led bids joint managing director at Capital&Centric The Council has been very supportive of our vision right from the start and we’re very grateful of their continued encouragement to help turn it into a reality.” chief executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council added: “This marks another milestone in the exciting regeneration of Newcastle town centre This major investment will change the look and feel of the town centre forever by bringing more people in to live Copyright © 2025 Show House We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Capital&Centric’s plans to transform Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre have taken a major step forward There is no clear argument that reorganising local government in North Staffordshire will benefit residents was responding to a report published by Staffordshire County Council which suggests the creation of a single authority covering the current county council footprint His response also follows agreement by Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Cabinet to endorse a proposal to create a North Staffordshire Unitary Authority I do not agree with the Government’s concept of imposing unitary authorities when councils in Staffordshire are already working well together for the common good How will that cut costs for the average council taxpayer Forced reorganisation will need paying for up-front new or expanded town and parish councils will need funding as will the government-led regional mayors so that’s potentially three layers for taxpayers to fund.” There will be a special meeting of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s Full Council on 19 March to agree the authority’s position before formally submitting its own proposal to Government We have invited both the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Local Government Minister Jim McMahon to visit Newcastle-under-Lyme to see for themselves how the current system works well and to understand the practical problems of imposing ‘super-authorities’ but I am disappointed to say they have not chosen to take up that offer.” A Book of Condolence is being opened in memory of the Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme following his sudden death Councillor Barry Panter passed away at the weekend following a road accident on the evening of Thursday Cllr Panter had represented the Loggerheads ward on the Borough Council since 2016 From Thursday 20 February the Book will be placed in the library area on the ground floor of Castle House and is available all day All mayoral engagements have been cancelled until after the funeral the date of which is still to be confirmed The Union Flag in Queens Gardens outside Castle House will remain at half mast until the evening of Mr Panter’s funeral We would like to give residents an opportunity to express that in a formal way and then we will pass the Book of Condolence to his wife Beatrice.” Councillor Panter was serving as the Mayor of the Borough for 2024/25 and was raising money for the Salvation Army and Headway North Staffordshire during his term in office he left home at the age of 19 to join the RAF he then served on the South Wales Constabulary for 23 years during which the father-of-two received several commendations for his courage and policing work in the community Having first taken an interest in local affairs by joining his residents’ association and serving as a parish councillor and school governor Cllr Panter was first elected to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in 2016 The Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has urged a quicker resolution to the Walleys Quarry closure process in the face of soaring numbers of complaints The Environment Agency has reported receiving 3,878 complaints between January 6 and 12 Over the same period the EA said that the percentage of time Hydrogen Sulphide readings were above the World Health Organisation annoyance level ranged from 37.6 per cent of the week at the Silverdale monitor to 56.4 per cent of the time at the Galingale monitor The Secretary of State for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed OBE should use his legal powers to call this matter in and reach a decision urgently so residents have clarity.” Walleys Quarry Ltd has lodged an appeal against the closure order issued by the Environment Agency in late November The appeal will be heard by the Planning Inspector Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has applied to the Planning Inspectorate to be a ‘Principal Party’ actively supporting the Environment Agency at the hearing by using a substantial amount of evidence gathered by the Council Complaints can be registered with the EA, as the main regulator, by calling 0800 807060, or online at: https://report-walleys-quarry-smell.service.gov.uk/ Complaints can also be registered with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council at: Report a problem or concern about Walleys Quarry – Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council colleagues and representatives from key organisations will come together to remember the late Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is hosting a service of commemoration at St 15 February following a road traffic accident he was raising money for Headway North Staffs and the Chesterton branch of the Salvation Army We were all shocked and saddened to hear about Cllr Panter’s sudden death and our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this very difficult time Panter dedicated his life to public service; he showed desire and enthusiasm for serving residents He was nervous about becoming the Mayor but quickly grew into the role which was great to see I attended several events with him and he carried himself with the poise and posture you'd expect He looked to have order in the council chamber – never afraid to wield his gavel – and quite right too The service of commemoration is an opportunity for everyone to remember Cllr Panter and celebrate a life well-lived.” Residents are welcome to attend the civic event A memorial ball – instead of the usual Mayor’s Ball – took place at Keele Hall on Saturday More than £2,000 was raised for his chosen charities Panter’s funeral took place on Thursday A marvellous new statue commemorating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will be unveiled in Newcastle-under-Lyme this autumn Planning permission was granted last night for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to erect the landmark statue in Queens Gardens in the centre of town Created by internationally renowned Staffordshire sculptor Andy Edwards as part of the Borough’s 850th anniversary celebrations last year the unique design is based upon photographs of the Queen taken during a visit to Newcastle in 1973 to celebrate the borough’s then 800th anniversary the statue will be one-and-a-quarter times life size will stand at ground level rather than on a tall plinth it is unique to Newcastle and something that residents can claim as our own Not only does it commemorate a specific moment in Newcastle’s rich history a day that many residents including myself still remember but as word spreads I think people will want to come from further afield so that they can see it for themselves touch it and take photographs standing next to it Delivering the new statute was a key legacy of our success 850th Anniversary celebration.” The landmark memorial is being funded by two donors owner of Staffordshire-based international manufacturing giant JCB the developers currently working on the multimillion regeneration of Newcastle town centre I am pleased and grateful that both Sir Anthony whose achievements are firmly rooted in Staffordshire which is currently changing the face of Newcastle for the future are able to support the community in this way a sculptor whose work graces many sites around the world and I am delighted that his unique representation of Her Majesty will be standing here for all to see.” As well as the Beatles statue in Liverpool Andy Edwards’s work includes Sir Stanley Matthews in Stoke-on-Trent Sir Alex Ferguson in Aberdeen and ‘All Together Now’ – an installation of opposing soldiers shaking hands over a football to symbolise one of the most famous events of the First World War will be positioned looking across Queens Gardens and will stand close to a statue of Queen Victoria Queen Elizabeth II’s great-great-grandmother which was unveiled by Grand Duke Michael of Russia in November 1903 *More information on Andy Edwards and his work is available at www.cornoviiedwards.com/home www.trucestatue.co.uk and http://www.bronzefoundry.co.uk/WORKSPAGES/BEATLES/Beatles1.html The deadline for Borough Heroes Awards nominations has been extended to midnight on Sunday You can nominate someone for an award, or find out more information, here.  Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is once again shining the spotlight on community champions of all ages whose actions have a positive impact across the borough The council’s popular awards scheme is one of the legacies from year-long celebrations in 2023 marking the 850th anniversary of the borough’s first royal charter The awards ceremony is now taking place at Keele in Town in Newcastle town centre on Tuesday 8 April following the death of Mayor Barry Panter The closing date for entries has subsequently been extended to midnight on Sunday Council Leader Simon Tagg said: “I’m delighted to announce that entries are now being accepted for the latest Borough Heroes Awards The fantastic 850th anniversary celebrations in 2023 recognised all that is good about the borough so it’s great to carry on that tradition by celebrating the invaluable contribution of residents in helping to make Newcastle-under-Lyme such a great place to live “Our communities are the bedrock of this borough and they in turn rely on the inspiring people within them who give their time energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.” Michael Salt was declared Community Champion for his involvement in the campaign against odours from Walleys Quarry Landfill and his volunteering role at Apedale Valley Light Railway “Young Hero” Declan Mason was recognised for his remarkable growth within the Scouts movement and “Sporting Hero” Luisa Mackey received applause for being the driving force behind thriving community organisation Audley Striders Vera Bloor was presented with the Lifetime Achievement accolade for her exemplary service not only for completing 30 years in the police force but also for serving as a magistrate and District Commissioner for Newcastle District Scouts Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG) and Chesterton-based business TMT First 12 March 2025 By Newcastle-under-Lyme BC is set to fight against reorganisation plans set out by Staffordshire CC and Stoke-on-Trent Council district councillors will decide whether to oppose both a county-wide unitary and a Stoke-on-Trent and north Staffordshire unitary council in a full council meeting Newcastle-under-Lyme has a population of 128,000 and councillors will vote to position the council in favour of a unitary covering the current district boundaries and exploring options for either Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands Unitary Council West Staffordshire Unitary Council geography or Newcastle & Shropshire Unitary Council Neither of these options would include its neighbour Stoke-on-Trent Council but would involve either joining Staffordshire Moorlands DC authorities on the M6 corridor such as South Staffordshire DC and Cannock Chase DC or joining with Shropshire The papers propose writing to local government minister Jim McMahon asking to "de-unitarise" the city of Stoke-on-Trent and "its incorporation within Staffordshire before any new creation of unitary councils as a solution to addressing the financial problems and challenges" Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme BC Simon Tagg (Con) said the council is planning to a "fight" against what he believes is "illogical" "forced" reorganisation in Staffordshire and Stoke Cllr Tagg opposes any plans for reorganiation in the region at all as he said: “I haven’t heard any argument which shows how forced change from the current position will improve residents’ lives and it’s illogical that they should be forced to accept something which lowers current levels of service and performance." He said his council is "already delivering low-cost effective services to our community and is accountable to residents at a local level" so "it’s only right that we make the arguments on behalf of the residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme and insist that if there is to be change they are given a vote on their future in a local referendum” Cllr Tagg added that "our minds are not closed" and will be "evaluating all the proposals and we will keep looking at the evidence about what is best for residents until the November deadline for final submissions" He added that while a strategic authority "has merit because it has potential to bring powers and funding from London" but "clearly" the case for "an elected mayor has not been made and given experiences of elected mayors locally would not be seen as a necessary or positive step" Staffordshire has proposed a county unitary, leaving Stoke-on-Trent's the boundaries unchanged. Stoke-on-Trent has suggested a North Staffordshire unitary incorporating  Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands The full council meeting at Newcastle-under-Lyme will take place next Wednesday at 7pm Tagged with: Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion The English devolution white paper outlines ambitions to join up public services,… A champion boxer who only entered politics this year has emerged as… Transport is a top priority for the mayoral race for the West… A six horse race gives candidates confidence More Sponsor Insight Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Capital & Centric has begun the search for a contractor to kickstart its major regeneration of Newcastle-under-Lyme the developer drew up proposals to reimagine the former York Place shopping centre Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has given the nod to spend almost £85m on the projects Work is already underway to dismantle the shopping arcade and prepare the site for the work to start It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of The Mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme It follows a road accident on the evening of Thursday Having first taken in an interest in local affairs by joining his residents’ association and serving as a parish councillor and school governor Cllr Panter was first elected to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council in 2016 to represent the Loggerheads ward shoppers and visitors can enjoy three weekends of free parking in Newcastle town centre during the busy festive period Town centre car parks operated by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council – including the Midway which closes in early 2025 to make way for the new Castle car park – are free to use all day Saturday and Sunday on 21 and 22 December 28 and 29 December followed by 4 and 5 January The free parking is available in addition to the council’s popular £1 after 1pm charge – covering motorists until 8am the following morning – which runs from Monday to Saturday throughout the year The run-up to Christmas is always a busy period in Newcastle town centre as we welcome an extra influx of people who come to do their shopping visit the market or enjoy a festive night out in our many fantastic bars and restaurants One of the council’s priorities is to make the town centre a vibrant and welcoming place for everyone so providing free and low cost parking is one small gesture towards achieving that goal We also extended free parking at the Midway last month to make things easier for families attending the town’s popular Christmas lights switch-on.” which will become the primary town centre car park supports the council’s multi-million delivery of homes offices and shops at the former Ryecroft and York Place thanks to funding from the Newcastle Town Deal Plans are also underway by Capital&Centric to remodel the Midway as housing More information about the council’s town centre car parks, including their location, is available on the council’s website. The Labour Party has retained a seat in a by-election for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council Counting took place after votes were cast on Thursday 23 January for one seat in the Town ward which was previously held by a Labour councillor The result means that of the 44 seats on the authority the Conservative Party has 25 seats and Labour has 18 Winner Sheelagh Casey-Hulme had a majority of 83 over her nearest opponent Full details of the results are available here The next full election for the Borough Council is in May 2026 Some recycling and waste collections over Christmas and New Year are affected by the bank holidays You can check your collection day online. For collections in 2025, subscribe here A new countryside park is set to be created on council-owned land at Keele Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has announced an opportunity to develop a countryside park – called Lyme Park – spanning across the former Keele Municipal Golf Course and featuring vast swathes of woodland and mature trees with appropriate walking and cycling routes including the commemorative and growing Lyme Forest which launched to celebrate the borough’s 850th anniversary As well as enabling residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors and access nature in a formalised and improved setting with new facilities such as car parking it would contribute to the council’s tree planting strategy by protecting a significant part of the popular open space from development and safeguarding biodiversity – keeping it as a green space for future generations – while maximising the natural ability of trees to capture and store vast amounts of harmful carbon dioxide Some of the 69 hectare site is allocated for homes in the council’s final draft of the Local Plan which has now been submitted to the Secretary of State for inspection by an independent planning inspector leaving 66 per cent of the former golf course to remain as a public green space Creating a countryside park at Keele is an exciting prospect Quality public open space is recognised as a valuable amenity for people’s health and well-being which aligns with the council’s priority to create healthy Although the site may not meet the threshold for formal designation as a country park it is intended to apply the principles wherever possible to create a community asset which is accessible for residents and visitors It’s envisaged that initial set up costs could be relatively low as the land already contains clearings we have planted 27,000 trees at selected places across Newcastle-under-Lyme creating valuable carbon capture green spaces and saving 60 sites from development A countryside park on part of this very large site – which closed as a golf course more than a decade ago – would enable the council to protect a significant part of it it would also allow us to control any possible future development by limiting the number of houses built there.” In 2023 – during year-long celebrations marking the 850th anniversary of the town’s first royal charter – 850 lyme trees of varying species were planted on a section of the former golf course in recognition of the original forests that gave the borough its name Another 1,800 native broadleaf trees have since been added Cabinet member for Sustainable Environment The council has adopted a sustainable environment strategy to ensure a sustainable future for Newcastle-under-Lyme that leads to improvements within our communities and a reduction of our own impact on the environment in everything that we do both in terms of habitat protection and nature recovery but also increasing the local tree canopy and locking up carbon through creating new carbon capture woodlands A countryside park at Keele would contribute positively to the ongoing development of this important strategy.”  The sustainable environment strategy outlines an ambitious goal to achieve net zero for the council’s operations and estates by 2030 and the wider borough by 2050 Please note that if the weather is not as forecast next week – and further snow or freezing temperatures happen – the plan will be subject to change Follow us on Facebook for service updates @NewcastleunderLymeRecycles and share information with family and friends If you were scheduled a recycling collection from Monday 6 to Friday please put your blue recycling bin and bag out. We have extra crews catching up on collections throughout the week.  If you don't need a recycling collection you can present it next week on your normal collection day If your collection is due the week starting Monday put your bin out as usual and allow extra time for collection.  If your collection was due from Monday 6 to Friday and we haven't been able to get to you We have extra crews catching up on collections throughout the week If your collection is due the week starting Monday Please put the caddy out on your normal collection day and allow an extra day for collection.  In order to help us empty your containers and get everything back on track we will be unable to accept missed collection reports. Doing this means we can catch up more quickly. If you think we have missed a scheduled collection due on or after Monday some material will now need to be sorted differently so that it can be recycled. We have made a special arrangement with our reprocessor to do this We may not be able to collect the contents separately next week so the food waste will make electricity for this one collection The fully separated collection of food waste restarts on Monday on your usual weekly collection day.  as usual we will take cardboard in bag-sized bundles or boxes. If your blue bin is full please put out the extra material in a box. A plastic box is ideal. If you have an old recycling box that would be perfect. If you don’t have a plastic box we will accept the material in a cardboard box. Please do not put any overflow from your blue bin into plastic bags as we cannot accept them. Remember that even under normal circumstances you can put extra material out this way Newcastle residents can get their first glimpse of the new Queen of Queens Gardens when the statue of Queen Elizabeth II is unveiled on Friday The new statue has been commissioned by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to mark the town’s 850th anniversary in 2023 The cost of the statue has been met by two donors Staffordshire digger maker JCB and Capital&Centric the developers currently working on the multi-million pound regeneration of Newcastle town centre The design is based on photographs of Her Majesty taken during her visit to Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1973 when she joined celebrations for the town’s 800th anniversary will stand virtually at ground level rather than on a tall plinth The sculptor Andy Edwards has done a remarkable job and I’m excited to see how residents react to having such an iconic memorial at ground level Anyone wanting to see the unveiling at 11am is invited to gather on the Ironmarket side of Queens Gardens Local sculptor Andy Edwards has a series of acclaimed works behind him including the famous Beatles statue at Pier Head As well as representatives of the sponsors some pupils from St Giles & St George’s CoE Academy will be taking part in recognition of the fact the school once stood where Castle House now stands The Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has responded to the news that the operators of Walleys Quarry have gone into liquidation We understand residents will be concerned by this news and while the Environment Agency remains the lead regulator of this site we will offer both the EA and liquidator any support we can within our powers to keep this landfill under control.” Although the situation appears to have improved in recent weeks it’s vital that we keep raising this issue and if residents are affected by emissions they should continue to report them.” Complaints can be registered with the EA by calling 0800 807060, or online at: https://report-walleys-quarry-smell.service.gov.uk/ Three weekends of free car parking are planned for Newcastle town centre during the festive period Town centre car parks will be free all day Saturday and Sunday on 21/22 December And the Midway car park opening hours will be extended on Sunday 24 November to coincide with the town centre lights being switched on And on other days parking will only be £1 after 1pm – including at night-time The run-up to Christmas is always a busy time in Newcastle town centre with the shops The Council is committed to promoting the town centre and making it a welcoming place for all ages day and night so throwing open the car parks is one small part of that.” Specific events will be promoted nearer the time but as well as the family excitement of the Lights switch-on confirmed events include specialist markets and a brass band playing in the open air to provide a traditional atmosphere which will then close in the New Year as the brand new Castle Car Park opens for use in early January well-lit multi-storey will become the main town centre car park underpinning the multi-million delivery of homes offices and shops at Ryecoft and York Place Proposals are also underway by Capital&Centric to redevelop the Midway car park as housing the first time such a conversion has been undertaken line dancing and theatre classes – as well as community litter picks – are just some of the activities taking place in the Kidsgrove area from Tuesday 30 January as part of an ongoing initiative aiming to boost pride across the borough and strengthen its reputation as a place which is clean “Civic Pride in Newcastle-under-Lyme” – which launched late last year with a successful week of action in Newcastle town centre – is a response to feedback from residents It captures a lot of the work that already goes on by partners under a unified #PrideInNUL badge and is also a call to arms for everyone the borough council is working alongside Staffordshire County Council Staffordshire Police and Kidsgrove Town Council to co-ordinate events aimed at residents of all ages – from babies to retired people – in Talke The three-day campaign begins with an open day at Maryhill Family Hub involving craft sessions and financial well-being coaching Other venues include Kidsgrove Town Hall and the town’s library Daily drop-in sessions are also taking place at the Victoria Hall where visitors can get information and advice from the council A full timetable is available on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s website It’s great to follow the successful launch of Civic Pride with an interesting line-up of events There’s something for everyone and I hope it encourages more residents to join in the fantastic opportunities available on their doorstep This is the start of a long-term programme designed to make a positive difference by helping to create a strong sense of belonging to We know that when we work together with residents and communities outcomes for everyone are improved which is why we’re focusing on further enhancing our approach to collaborative working.” Cabinet member for Community Safety and Wellbeing active and safe communities is one of our main priorities This means ensuring that everyone enjoys a safe environment and access to a wide range of facilities and activities to support and improve their health and quality of life the latest Civic Pride programme encourages residents in Kidsgrove to be active in their community through the enjoyment of healthy and fulfilling activities with the hope that these have tangible and lasting benefits for them.”