/ Politics

Bid to turn barn into gospel hall rejected
Appears in: / Headline/ Planning/ Politics
A CHRISTIAN fellowship’s bid to convert a barn into a gospel hall has been turned down by Lichfield councillors. Kerry Ashdown - Local Democracy Reporter More than 100 people objected to the change of use...
Local Tamworth MP slams the European Super League plans as by the elite, for the elite and of the elite
Appears in: / Entertainment/ Headline/ Leisure
LOCAL Tamworth MP Christopher Pincher reassured football fans on Sky News to that he will support the Government’s actions to protect domestic and grassroots football in England. This comes after 12 breakaway European clubs announced...
Tributes paid to outgoing Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
Appears in: / 999/ Headline/ Politics
TRIBUTES have been paid to Staffordshire’s outgoing Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner a month before he is due to stand down from the role. Kerry Ashdown - Local Democracy Reporter Matthew Ellis, who was voted...
Hundreds of candidates stand for county council elections
Appears in: / Headline/ Politics/ Staffordshire
NEARLY 250 people are standing as candidates in this year’s Staffordshire County Council elections. With the deadline for nominations passed, 243 people are standing for election to 62 county council seats in 60 divisions. County...
Concerns Staffordshire residents are unable to self-isolate
Appears in: / Headline/ Health/ Politics
AROUND 50 people a week in Staffordshire have been referred to police because of concerns they may not be self-isolating after coming into contact with Covid-19, it has been revealed. Kerry Ashdown - Local Democracy...
New staffing structure approved ahead of Assembly Rooms re-launch
Appears in: / Headline/ Politics/ Staffordshire
PLANS to reopen Tamworth Assembly Rooms and stage events in the town later this year have moved forward. Kerry Ashdown - Local Democracy Reporter Plans to reopen Tamworth Assembly Rooms and stage events in the...
Council to recruit 3-person Future High Streets Fund project team at cost of £451k
Appears in: / Headline/ Planning/ Politics
MORE than £450,000 is set to be spent by Tamworth Borough Council on employing three people to oversee town centre regeneration work. Kerry Ashdown - Local Democracy Reporter A programme manager and two project...
Reopening North Warwickshire’s High Streets Safely
Appears in: / Business/ Headline/ North Warwickshire
NORTH Warwickshire Borough Council has said it has been working hard with local businesses and retailers to produce an action plan in respect of safely reopening the high streets on Monday 12 April. The council is...
Changes to housing development plans approved
Appears in: / Headline/ Planning/ Politics
A REDESIGN of part of a massive new Tamworth housing development has been given the green light. Kerry Ashdown - Local Democracy Reporter Two apartment blocks will be replaced by houses as part of the...
New housing service launched in Lichfield
Appears in: / Headline/ Planning/ Politics
A BRAND new service, Lichfield District Homes will promote social housing vacancies across Lichfield District Lichfield District Council has launched Lichfield District Homes, a new choice-based lettings system for advertising local social housing. The service...
Foot clinic’s treatment room plans passed despite conservation area concerns
Appears in: / Headline/ Planning/ Politics
A FOOT treatment centre’s plans to build an accessible new room for disabled patients have taken a step forward – despite concerns the development could harm the appearance of a Tamworth conservation area. Kerry Ashdown...
Aldi to move into part of town’s former John Lewis branch
Appears in: / Headline/ Planning/ Politics
DISCOUNT supermarket giant Aldi is set to move into part of Tamworth’s former John Lewis branch after plans to divide the store into two units were approved by councillors. Kerry Ashdown - Local Democracy Reporter...
Mixed use plans for Gungate backed
Appears in: / Headline/ Planning/ Politics
MORE than 200 people have had their say on how they would like Tamworth’s Gungate site to be regenerated – and many have backed a mix of uses as the way forward. Kerry Ashdown -...
Second bid for £3.9m history centre funding submitted
Appears in: / Community/ Planning/ Politics
Staffordshire County Council has submitted its latest bid for £3.9m National Lottery funding to create a history centre in Stafford – and is hoping to prove second time lucky in June. Kerry Ashdown -...
Tamworth campaigners ask our MP to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
Appears in: / Environment/ Headline/ Politics
LAST Friday (26 March), the Tamworth Climate Action group joined a UK wide event to raise awareness about the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill. Harry Broadhurst The Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill (CEE bill) has been written...
At least £700 pay rise for Birmingham councillors likely
Appears in: / Headline/ Politics/ West Midlands
A PAY rise of between £700 and more than £3,000 is on the cards for Birmingham city councillors, if recommendations from an independent panel are approved. Mark Cardwell - Local Democracy Reporter The recommendations...
Tributes paid to retiring County Councillors
Appears in: / Headline/ Politics/ Staffordshire
A VETERAN County Councillor first elected to serve Staffordshire more than 35 years ago is one of 13 members set to depart the authority in May. Kerry Ashdown - Local Democracy Reporter Hednesford’s Derek Davis, who...
Councillors to consider hundreds of views on Gungate plans
Appears in: / Community/ Headline/ Leisure
COUNCILLORS will be meeting next week to consider the views of more than 200 Tamworth residents and businesses that were put forward as part of a consultation on the future of the Gungate site in...
Crews out in force to fix weather related potholes
Appears in: / Headline/ Politics/ Staffordshire
HIGHWAYS crews in Staffordshire have taken to the roads in force to fix an estimated 11,000 weather-related potholes across the county. The spring blitz is being supported by an additional £5 million being invested...
£69 million highways investment approved
Appears in: / Headline/ Politics/ Staffordshire
DOZENS of highways improvement projects to ease traffic flow, improve safety and support cycling have been approved. Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet today approved plans targeting road safety and sustainable transport schemes, including the upgrade of...
School refurbishments given the green light
Appears in: / Education/ Headline/ Politics
MORE schools in Staffordshire will be refurbished to ensure they provide the best environments for learning and can cope with any future demand for places. In plans agreed by Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet, scores of...
Tamworth reaches 10,000 community tests milestone
Appears in: / Headline/ Health/ Politics
THE people of Tamworth are being praised for their efforts and urged to keep up the hard work as 10,000 rapid Covid tests have been taken in the borough. Community testing in Tamworth has...
Household Waste Recycling Centre management returns in-house
Appears in: / Environment/ Headline/ Politics
DAY-to-day management and running of Staffordshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres is being brought back in-house. It will remain business as usual for the public at all Staffordshire County Council’s recycling centres when the current outsourced...
Easter support on its way for low-income families
Appears in: / Education/ Headline/ Politics
LOW-INCOME families eligible for support during the Easter school holidays should have been contacted by now. Staffordshire County Council is providing eVouchers worth £15 per child per week and online access to a range of...
Councillor seeks reassurance about quality of family food parcels
Appears in: / Headline/ Politics/ Staffordshire
A SENIOR councillor has called for reassurance that food parcels being sent out to disadvantaged Staffordshire families during the school holidays will contain healthy ingredients following criticism of provisions in other parts of the country...
Staffordshire tops national performance table for Covid vaccinations
Appears in: / Headline/ Health/ Politics
THE number of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent residents receiving the Covid-19 vaccine is set to pass 500,000 this week – and a target to offer all adults their first dose by the end of July...
Additional Restrictions Grant scheme applications re-open in Tamworth
Appears in: / Business/ Headline/ Politics
THE Additional Restrictions Grant Schemes has now been relaunched and are open for business applications. Under the new criteria, businesses which have suffered a significant fall in demand can apply for grant support if they can...
Millions of pounds earmarked for highways investment
Appears in: / Headline/ Politics/ Staffordshire
DOZENS of highways improvement projects are being lined up for the coming year as part of £69 million expenditure on roads and bridges in Staffordshire. Alongside regular highways maintenance and huge projects such as the Stafford...