Kerry Ashdown

1 week ago | bbc.com | Kerry Ashdown

Town bemoans 'terrible' high street bank closuresKerry AshdownLocal Democracy Reporter, StaffordshireLDRSRob Furmston and Allan Clarke said they were unhappy about the bank closuresShoppers and business owners have bemoaned the "terrible" loss of two high street banks and the impact it could have on their town. The Halifax and NatWest branches in Leek, Staffordshire, closed on 4 June and Monday respectively with both firms citing the ongoing trend of customers moving to online banking services.

1 week ago | expressandstar.com | Kerry Ashdown

Members of South Staffordshire Council’s planning committee raised concerns about “clustering” of affordable homes on the site, housing mix and open space provision at their May meeting and sent the proposals for land west of Orton Lane back to developer Bellway Homes. On Tuesday, the application returned to the committee, with changes including a previously proposed four-bedroom home being substituted with a three-bed property and three affordable home plots being moved to the east of the site.

1 week ago | stokesentinel.co.uk | Kerry Ashdown

Staffordshire County Council has ended the latest financial year £5.3 million in the black despite rising care costs and other economic pressures. The authority has also faced greater difficulty in recruiting staff for adult social care, as well as an increase in the number of children in care during the past year. But it has not only been able to stay within its £747m budget for 2024/25, but ended the year with a £5.3m underspend.

1 week ago | expressandstar.com | Kerry Ashdown

A sea of new faces gathered around the cabinet table at Stafford’s County Buildings on Wednesday (June 18), as all members were newly elected to the county council just a few weeks ago. Councillor Ian Cooper used his inaugural leader’s update to reflect on the new administration’s first six weeks at the authority, as well as highlighting the ongoing issue of SEND support and care funding it has inherited from the previous Conservative administration.

1 week ago | expressandstar.com | Kerry Ashdown

Planning permission has previously been granted for KFC and Starbucks drive-thrus at the site off Milestone Way, but the consent has expired for the chicken restaurant branch. Now a new planning application has been submitted to Lichfield District Council, which includes the KFC unit. Changes to the approved Starbucks are also proposed under a separate application so it can integrate into wider plans for the site.