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Kerry Ashdown

Local Democracy Reporter covering Staffordshire

December 4, 2025

Supporting image for story: Council agrees to invest more than £1m in improving play areas in Stafford amid calls for rural facilities to be given more attention

Council agrees to invest more than £1m in improving play areas in Stafford amid calls for rural facilities to be given more attention

Supporting image for story: Students quiz Stafford MP during UK Parliament Week as Government considers lowering voting age

Students quiz Stafford MP during UK Parliament Week as Government considers lowering voting age

December 3, 2025

Supporting image for story: Campaigners for Cannock’s Prince of Wales Theatre to stage peaceful protest ahead of council meeting

Campaigners for Cannock’s Prince of Wales Theatre to stage peaceful protest ahead of council meeting

December 2, 2025

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire Fire service to buy four new vehicles for use in 2026 as spending given green light

Staffordshire Fire service to buy four new vehicles for use in 2026 as spending given green light

Supporting image for story: New hotel and 100 homes included in plans to transform Stafford town centre

New hotel and 100 homes included in plans to transform Stafford town centre

December 1, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to turn former Lichfield pub into business or community space submitted among this week's planning applications

Plans to turn former Lichfield pub into business or community space submitted among this week's planning applications

November 28, 2025

Supporting image for story: Cannock’s former Prince of Wales Theatre is earmarked for demolition under regeneration plan

Cannock’s former Prince of Wales Theatre is earmarked for demolition under regeneration plan

Supporting image for story: Stafford nightclub’s premises licence to be reviewed after stabbing

Stafford nightclub’s premises licence to be reviewed after stabbing

November 26, 2025

Supporting image for story: Councillors agree to relax door rule previously imposed on Staffordshire vehicle repair business

Councillors agree to relax door rule previously imposed on Staffordshire vehicle repair business

Supporting image for story: 'This is a lifesaving asset': Plans for homes on Staffordshire village field used for air ambulance landings thrown out

'This is a lifesaving asset': Plans for homes on Staffordshire village field used for air ambulance landings thrown out

Supporting image for story: Plans come forward for urgent structural works to 'dangerous' listed building in Stone town centre

Plans come forward for urgent structural works to 'dangerous' listed building in Stone town centre

November 24, 2025

Supporting image for story: Councillors call on Government to set out policy on renewable energy developments as South Staffordshire farmers targeted for their land

Councillors call on Government to set out policy on renewable energy developments as South Staffordshire farmers targeted for their land

Supporting image for story: Battery energy storage site approved for South Staffordshire farmland just 50 metres away from a similar facility

Battery energy storage site approved for South Staffordshire farmland just 50 metres away from a similar facility

November 21, 2025

Supporting image for story: South Staffordshire pub can keep outdoor seating area – but mural set to be painted over

South Staffordshire pub can keep outdoor seating area – but mural set to be painted over

Supporting image for story: Battery energy storage site planned for farmland next to former Rugeley Power Station

Battery energy storage site planned for farmland next to former Rugeley Power Station

November 20, 2025

Supporting image for story: Councillors agree to halt transformation work ahead of local government reorganisation in Staffordshire

Councillors agree to halt transformation work ahead of local government reorganisation in Staffordshire

Supporting image for story: More than £125,000 of Government funding allocated to community projects in South Staffordshire

More than £125,000 of Government funding allocated to community projects in South Staffordshire

November 19, 2025

Supporting image for story: 'I’m not comfortable with the blurring of accountability' - Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner reflects on abolition of his role

'I’m not comfortable with the blurring of accountability' - Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner reflects on abolition of his role

November 17, 2025

Supporting image for story: Quieter fireworks planned for Stafford's Christmas light switch-on event

Quieter fireworks planned for Stafford's Christmas light switch-on event

November 16, 2025

Supporting image for story: Stafford fast food restaurant can continue delivery until 3am after being granted new premises licence

Stafford fast food restaurant can continue delivery until 3am after being granted new premises licence

Supporting image for story: Urgent treatment centre plans for Stafford's County Hospital and 87 other Staffordshire planning applications

Urgent treatment centre plans for Stafford's County Hospital and 87 other Staffordshire planning applications

November 15, 2025

Supporting image for story: Council brings back free festive parking for two Staffordshire towns on three December dates - here's when

Council brings back free festive parking for two Staffordshire towns on three December dates - here's when

November 14, 2025

Supporting image for story: Stafford councillors back plans for new unitary authority - here's why

Stafford councillors back plans for new unitary authority - here's why

November 13, 2025

Supporting image for story: Health bosses are already seeing increased demand for hospital services in Stafford, meeting heard

Health bosses are already seeing increased demand for hospital services in Stafford, meeting heard

November 11, 2025

Supporting image for story: 'If you haven’t got your health, you’ve got nothing' - Councillors react as West Midlands Ambulance service faces worst hospital handover delays in England

'If you haven’t got your health, you’ve got nothing' - Councillors react as West Midlands Ambulance service faces worst hospital handover delays in England

November 4, 2025

Supporting image for story: Petition calls for road safety improvements on busy South Staffordshire street

Petition calls for road safety improvements on busy South Staffordshire street

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire County Council’s new administration halts sale of county farms

Staffordshire County Council’s new administration halts sale of county farms

November 3, 2025

Supporting image for story: New premises licence sought for Stafford fast food restaurant

New premises licence sought for Stafford fast food restaurant

November 2, 2025

Supporting image for story: 'It is essential': Call for Cannock Chase Council meetings to be broadcast online

'It is essential': Call for Cannock Chase Council meetings to be broadcast online

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire councillor reveals right of way application backlog stretching back 20 years

Staffordshire councillor reveals right of way application backlog stretching back 20 years

October 31, 2025

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire County Council urged to rethink local government reorganisation proposals

Staffordshire County Council urged to rethink local government reorganisation proposals

October 30, 2025

Supporting image for story: Three southern Staffordshire councils team up for new local government reorganisation proposal

Three southern Staffordshire councils team up for new local government reorganisation proposal

October 29, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for 510 new homes on edge of Stone are lodged

Plans for 510 new homes on edge of Stone are lodged

October 28, 2025

Supporting image for story: County councillors unite in opposition to local government reorganisation

County councillors unite in opposition to local government reorganisation

Supporting image for story: Plans for 71 new homes in Eccleshall

Plans for 71 new homes in Eccleshall

October 27, 2025

Supporting image for story: 'They're not getting answers' - Stafford MP quizzes housing estate maintenance company CEO in Parliament

'They're not getting answers' - Stafford MP quizzes housing estate maintenance company CEO in Parliament

October 26, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans to convert Stone barn into place of worship among this week’s other Staffordshire planning applications

Plans to convert Stone barn into place of worship among this week’s other Staffordshire planning applications

October 25, 2025

Supporting image for story: Government funding awarded to South Staffordshire projects - including sports club and services for the blind

Government funding awarded to South Staffordshire projects - including sports club and services for the blind

October 24, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for 100 new homes on edge of Staffordshire market town approved

Plans for 100 new homes on edge of Staffordshire market town approved

Supporting image for story: Councillors approve plans for 135 Penkridge homes after earlier application went to appeal

Councillors approve plans for 135 Penkridge homes after earlier application went to appeal

October 22, 2025

Supporting image for story: Stafford Borough Council ends latest financial year in the black

Stafford Borough Council ends latest financial year in the black

October 21, 2025

Supporting image for story: 'We must say no': Petition against over-development of Eccleshall presented to cabinet members

'We must say no': Petition against over-development of Eccleshall presented to cabinet members

Supporting image for story: Reform Staffordshire County Council withdraws from electric vehicle infrastructure consortium

Reform Staffordshire County Council withdraws from electric vehicle infrastructure consortium

October 20, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for 70 new homes on green belt land north of Stone with 50% affordable housing - full details here

Plans for 70 new homes on green belt land north of Stone with 50% affordable housing - full details here

October 19, 2025

Supporting image for story: Councillors pay tribute to two children found dead at Stafford home amid murder investigation

Councillors pay tribute to two children found dead at Stafford home amid murder investigation

October 18, 2025

Supporting image for story: Plans for 140 new homes in Stone and this week’s other applications

Plans for 140 new homes in Stone and this week’s other applications

October 17, 2025

Supporting image for story: Demolition of Cannock shopping centre approved - but Prince of Wales Theatre is safe

Demolition of Cannock shopping centre approved - but Prince of Wales Theatre is safe

October 15, 2025

Supporting image for story: Cannock Chase Council set to invest £2.3m in leisure improvements

Cannock Chase Council set to invest £2.3m in leisure improvements

October 14, 2025

Supporting image for story: Save Eccleshall campaigners fighting plans for hundreds of new houses in their Staffordshire market town step up their campaign

Save Eccleshall campaigners fighting plans for hundreds of new houses in their Staffordshire market town step up their campaign

October 13, 2025

Supporting image for story: 16 former Staffordshire county councillors with almost 300 years of service between them made Honorary Aldermen

16 former Staffordshire county councillors with almost 300 years of service between them made Honorary Aldermen