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Cannock Chase District Council’s Labour-led administration voted tonight to impose a maximum 2.99% increase on council tax for the coming year. The move, approved during a heated full council meeting, comes as residents grapple with soaring energy bills and inflation, raising questions about the priorities of the current leadership. The tax rise, which is the highest amount without having a referendum, is expected to generate additional revenue for the council’s budget. Howev

🚧🚦Major Roadworks and Temporary Traffic Lights in Cannock Chase the surrounding area over the next 2 weeks – 22 th  February 2026 – Unless specified otherwise, all listed dates are in February🚦🚧  ⛔️ Watling Street, Norton Canes - Night Closures (21:00 - 6:00) between Chruchbridge, Bridgtown, and the Turf Island, Norton Canes, from the 16th until the 6th of March, by National Highways for maintenance works. ⛔️ Church Road, Norton Canes – Closed between Norton Green Lane an

Emergency services responded swiftly this morning after a multi-vehicle collision snarled traffic on the northbound M6, closing two lanes and causing significant delays for commuters between Cannock and Stafford. The incident occurred shortly before 11:10 a.m. between junctions 12 and 13, where police received reports of a crash involving "a number of vehicles." Staffordshire Police officers attended the scene, confirming no injuries were reported. Clearance operations wrappe

Staffordshire County Council has appointed Reform UK Councillor Sean Bagguley to the pivotal role of Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, overseeing the authority’s budget, contracts, and performance metrics.   The move comes after former cabinet member Cllr Chris Large stepped down due to a family bereavement. Bagguley, who represents the Stone Rural North division, was elected to the council in May 2025.  Prior to his cabinet appointment, he served on the audit and sta

Stafford residents are being asked to have their say on whether the town should establish its own town council, as the area remains the only unparished part of Stafford Borough amid major upcoming changes to local government. The consultation, launched by Stafford Borough Council, follows concerns that the planned abolition of the current borough council in 2028 — as part of government-driven local government reorganisation in Staffordshire — could leave residents in the town

All May 2026 Local Elections, Including Cannock Chase & Tamworth, to Proceed After Reform UK Legal Challenge   In a dramatic reversal announced today, the UK government has scrapped plans to postpone dozens of local council elections scheduled for May 7, 2026. The move comes just weeks after the postponements were confirmed, following a High Court challenge by Reform UK, which accused ministers of undermining democracy. The about-face affects around 30 councils across England

🚧🚦Major Roadworks and Temporary Traffic Lights in Cannock Chase the surrounding area over the next 2 weeks – 15 th  February 2026 – Unless specified otherwise, all listed dates are in February🚦🚧    ⛔️ Watling Street, Norton Canes - Night Closures (21:00 - 6:00) between Chruchbridge, Bridgtown, and the Turf Island, Norton Canes, from the 16th until the 6th of March, by National Highways for mainteneance works. ⛔️ Church Road, Norton Canes – Closed between Norton Green La

A 41-year-old man from Northumberland has been arrested following a shocking stabbing on a coach travelling along the M6 Toll this morning. Staffordshire Police were called to the scene at around 8:15am on Sunday, February 15, after reports that a passenger had been stabbed in the shoulder. The incident happened on the southbound carriageway of the M6 Toll between junctions T8 and T7, just south of Cannock. The victim, a man, was rushed to hospital by ambulance. His condition

Emergency Incident Unfolds at Blurton Home on Valentine’s Day - photo from Stoke-on-Trent Live. Emergency services rushed to a residential property in Blurton this afternoon following reports of an incident at a house on Newbury Grove. The response began around 12:30 PM, with Staffordshire Police, paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service, and firefighters from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service arriving at the scene. The house was quickly cordoned off with police ta

Reform UK Delivers Balanced Budget for Staffordshire Amid Opposition Chaos at County Council Meeting Reform UK’s acting leader, Councillor Martin Murray, successfully steered Staffordshire County Council through a full council meeting today, securing approval for a sensible 2026/27 budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy spanning 2026 to 2031. The session, held at County Buildings in Stafford and broadcast live online, was marked by unnecessary disruptions from Conservative

In a significant escalation of efforts to combat high-harm criminal activities, Staffordshire Police have announced the arrest of over 350 individuals as part of their ongoing Operation Target. This crackdown focuses on disrupting serious and organised crime networks involved in drug supply, illegal firearms, cyber-crime, and human trafficking across the county. The operation, which involves planned raids and intelligence-led investigations, has resulted in 121 of those arres

Rugeley Residents Invited to Shape Town Centre’s Future Cannock Chase District Council is launching a community consultation to gather ideas on revitalizing Rugeley town centre, with a special market stall event set for next week. On Thursday, February 19, from 10am to 3pm, representatives from consultants JTP will staff the stall in Rugeley town centre on behalf of the council. Locals, businesses, and visitors are encouraged to drop by and share their thoughts on what they a

The Staffordshire Police, Fire & Crime Panel held two pivotal meetings today, addressing key issues in public safety funding and leadership. In the morning session, the panel approved a modest increase in the council tax precept for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, while the afternoon confirmation hearing resulted in the appointment of Glynn Luznyj as the new Chief Fire Officer. The day’s proceedings began at 10:00am with a focus on the fire and rescue budget. Staffords

🚧🚦Major Roadwors and Temporary Traffic Lights in Cannock Chasethe surrounding area over the next 2 weeks – 9 th  February 2026 – Unless specified otherwise, all listed dates are in February🚦🚧    ⛔️ Watling Street (A5), Bridgtown – Night Closures (9:00 pm until 6:00 am) from the 3 rd of February until the 11 th of February. Closed between Eastern Way (Orbital Islands) and Poplar Lane (Four Crosses). This closure is by Highways England for Maintenance Works.  ⛔️ Eastern W

Say No to the UK government forcing unitary councils - https://c.org/myCb8LgmXW A vocal campaign by Staffordshire Moorlands Reform UK councillors has sparked intense local debate over the UK Government’s proposed Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The group accuses Whitehall of driving a “blatant centralisation power grab” that threatens local democracy, increases costs, and leaves communities feeling ignored during a cost‑of‑living cr

Heavy Rain Causes Flooding Across Staffordshire, with Roads, Parks and Cars Submerged Persistent heavy rainfall over the weekend has led to widespread flooding throughout Staffordshire, affecting towns, villages, and rural areas, with reports of submerged cars, flooded streets, and inundated parks. The deluge has overwhelmed drainage systems, raised river levels and prompted multiple flood alerts from the Environment Agency as saturated ground struggled to absorb more water.

By Staffs News Team Date: February 07, 2026 As Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent navigate the ongoing government-driven push for local government reorganisation, with five official proposals now under consultation and a decision expected this summer, Staffs News has taken a fresh look at the county's map. We believe a clean, logical division into three unitary authorities  would strike the best balance: strong enough to deliver efficient services and attract investment, while

Photo from Stoke Sentinel Localised flooding has disrupted parts of Staffordshire after persistent heavy rain, prompting the Environment Agency to issue multiple flood alerts and the Met Office to maintain weather warnings across the region. North Staffordshire has been particularly hard hit, with reports of submerged roads, surface water flooding, and rising river levels in areas including Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and surrounding rural districts. Drivers have fa

Staffordshire Police are urging residents to remain vigilant and review their home security following a series of incidents where thieves broke into key safes, resulting in at least one vehicle being stolen in the Stoke-on-Trent area. The warning was issued on Friday, February 6, after multiple key safes were forcibly accessed overnight and in the early hours. Key safes—commonly used by homeowners, carers, or family members to store spare house or car keys outside properties—

Staffordshire Police have arrested two men after officers seized a significant haul of cocaine and cannabis during proactive operations in Tamworth on Friday, February 6. The arrests came as a result of targeted policing efforts aimed at disrupting drug supply in the area. Officers acting on intelligence or observations conducted the operation, leading to the discovery and recovery of a large quantity of Class A cocaine and Class B cannabis. According to a statement from Staf