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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

Dispersal Order Issued in Lichfield City Centre to Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour Picture from Staffordshire Police Staffordshire Police have put a dispersal order in place across Lichfield city centre this weekend to proactively address rising anti-social behaviour, particularly involving groups of young people. The order, under Section 34 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act, came into effect at 3 pm on Friday, 6 February 2026 and will remain in force until 3

Job Losses Announced at Iconic Wedgwood Factory in Barlaston Job losses have been announced at the historic Wedgwood ceramics factory in Barlaston near Stoke-on-Trent, dealing another blow to Staffordshire's famous pottery industry. Parent company Fiskars Group confirmed that roles are at risk at the Barlaston site with a formal 30-day consultation process now underway involving staff and trade unions. The exact number of redundancies has not yet been disclosed, but the compa

Government Launches Public Consultation on Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent LGR The UK Government has opened a public consultation asking people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent for their views on how local councils should be reorganised. The consultation began on 5 February 2026 and will run for seven weeks, closing at 11.59pm on 26 March 2026. It follows proposals put forward by councils last November as part of a national drive to replace two-tier council systems wi

In a significant advancement for support services, Staffordshire County Council has successfully eliminated the backlog of educational psychology assessments required for children and young people’s Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), reducing waiting times from six months to none. The council’s Educational Psychology Service has dramatically decreased the number of children awaiting assessments, from over 400 in March of last year to fewer than nine currently. New refe

Stone, UK – February 4, 2026 – Investigative and preparatory activities for a significant road repair project in Stone’s town centre are scheduled to commence next week, setting the stage for extensive improvements this summer. The upcoming works encompass drainage assessments, CCTV inspections, and road surface evaluations, all aimed at refining the design for the primary structural maintenance initiative. This main project will target the town centre ring road, encompassing

Staffordshire County Council has announced that Councillor Chris Large is stepping down from his role as Reform UK group leader and as cabinet member for finance and resources following a family bereavement. Large, who represents the Brewood division in South Staffordshire, was appointed to replace the previous group leader, Ian Cooper, who resigned in December amid a social media controversy. He had been expected to assume the full council leadership role at the next meeti

Stoke Air Ambulance Charity Faces Criticism Over Misleading Fundraising Claims A local charity aiming to provide an air ambulance service for Stoke and north Staffordshire has been ruled to have broken fundraising rules by misleading the public about its capabilities. The Fundraising Regulator found that Stoke Air Ambulance CIO gave the impression it operated a working helicopter service, despite having no aircraft, no base, no medical staff and no approval from the Care Qual

Groundwork is set to advance next week on a crucial development site in Stafford, paving the way for a transformative regeneration project aimed at introducing new homes and businesses to the area. The land, owned by Staffordshire County Council and located off Doxey Road, is integral to the Stafford Station Gateway initiative. This collaborative effort between Stafford Borough Council and the county council seeks to revitalize the region around the railway station. Originall

Emergency services responded to reports of a sudden death at a residential address in Attwood Street, Kidsgrove, this morning. Police and paramedics from West Midlands Ambulance Service were called to the scene shortly before 11:30 a.m. following concerns for a person's welfare. A man was pronounced dead at the property by attending paramedics. Forensic officers arrived in the early afternoon as a standard procedure to examine the circumstances. Staffordshire Police have conf

Staffordshire Police have arrested a 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman following the discovery of a significant amount of illegal drugs at a property in the village. Officers from the South Staffordshire Local Policing Team executed a warrant at an address off Wolgarston Way shortly after 9:30 am on Tuesday, February 3, acting on intelligence received about potential drug supply activity. During the search, police recovered approximately 200 snap bags of cannabis, alon

Staffordshire, UK – February 3, 2026 – In a pointed letter to local MPs, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, Peter Mason, has strongly refuted reports suggesting the authority received an additional £54 million in government funding for road maintenance, calling such statements “false and misleading.” The clarification comes amid ongoing debates over the county’s vast highway network, which spans nearly 4,000 miles and is valued at over £7 b

In a key meeting yesterday (Monday February 2nd), Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Ben Adams, successfully presented and gained support for a proposed increase in the policing precept, aiming to bolster local law enforcement resources despite ongoing national debates over policing restructuring. The Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel convened on Monday, February 2, at 10:00am in the Oak Room at County Buildings, Stafford, for a session that focused h

STONE, Staffordshire, February 2, 2026, Local roads became safer today after a police checkpoint in Stone revealed a series of serious driving offenses, as part of Staffordshire Police’s ongoing Operation Lightning initiative. The Staffordshire Road Harm Prevention Team conducted the operation this morning, stopping vehicles and identifying numerous infractions that pose risks to all road users. According to a post from the team, the checkpoint resulted in: three overweight v

County Councillor Craig Humphreyson (Penkridge) has released a detailed update, written on behalf of himself and County Councillor Chris Large (Brewood), on the ongoing closures and repair efforts at two significant canal bridges affecting local highways in Penkridge and Brewood. The information comes directly from the Canal & River Trust (CRT), Severn Trent Water (STW), and Staffordshire County Council (SCC) following a multi‑agency meeting held on Friday 30 January. Brewood