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Kerry Ashdown

Local Democracy Reporter covering Staffordshire

February 28, 2026

Supporting image for story: Date set for public hearing on controversial Staffordshire waste incinerator appeal

Date set for public hearing on controversial Staffordshire waste incinerator appeal

February 27, 2026

Supporting image for story: Cannock Chase councillors vote against bid to broadcast and record meetings for residents who can't attend in person

Cannock Chase councillors vote against bid to broadcast and record meetings for residents who can't attend in person

Supporting image for story: Final 2026/27 council tax bills for Cannock Chase approved following criticism

Final 2026/27 council tax bills for Cannock Chase approved following criticism

Supporting image for story: 65 new homes planned for 'grey belt' on the edge of the Black Country and this week’s other Staffordshire applications

65 new homes planned for 'grey belt' on the edge of the Black Country and this week’s other Staffordshire applications

February 26, 2026

Supporting image for story: Total council tax bill for Stafford residents approved - full details here

Total council tax bill for Stafford residents approved - full details here

Supporting image for story: Farmer who once counted Ozzy Osbourne as a neighbour will become Stafford’s next mayor

Farmer who once counted Ozzy Osbourne as a neighbour will become Stafford’s next mayor

February 23, 2026

Supporting image for story: Four homes approved for former Staffordshire builders merchant site

Four homes approved for former Staffordshire builders merchant site

February 22, 2026

Supporting image for story: 'Zero tolerance for grooming gangs' - Staffordshire County Council agrees its first Community Safety Strategy

'Zero tolerance for grooming gangs' - Staffordshire County Council agrees its first Community Safety Strategy

February 20, 2026

Supporting image for story: Next stage of work to regenerate land near Stafford Railway Station

Next stage of work to regenerate land near Stafford Railway Station

Supporting image for story: Residents lose battle to stop 150 new homes in Coven as plans approved

Residents lose battle to stop 150 new homes in Coven as plans approved

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire hospital bosses hear of six-week radiology report backlog

Staffordshire hospital bosses hear of six-week radiology report backlog

February 19, 2026

Supporting image for story: Relocation of council offices and the Prince of Wales Theatre discussed in Cannock Chase Council budget meeting

Relocation of council offices and the Prince of Wales Theatre discussed in Cannock Chase Council budget meeting

Supporting image for story: 'It is going to cause chaos': New homes approved for Wombourne despite bus stop and flooding concerns

'It is going to cause chaos': New homes approved for Wombourne despite bus stop and flooding concerns

Supporting image for story: Plans for 140 new homes on 'open space' in Staffordshire town amongst this week’s applications

Plans for 140 new homes on 'open space' in Staffordshire town amongst this week’s applications

February 16, 2026

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire County Council approves 3.99% tax hike from April as Reform's first budget passed

Staffordshire County Council approves 3.99% tax hike from April as Reform's first budget passed

February 15, 2026

Supporting image for story: Stafford Borough Council approves 2.99% tax rise - despite calls for lower amount

Stafford Borough Council approves 2.99% tax rise - despite calls for lower amount

February 13, 2026

Supporting image for story: Protesters claim they were barred from attending Staffordshire County Council meeting

Protesters claim they were barred from attending Staffordshire County Council meeting

February 12, 2026

Supporting image for story: Ambulance handover delays easing at University Hospitals of North Midlands

Ambulance handover delays easing at University Hospitals of North Midlands

February 11, 2026

Supporting image for story: Plans to build new drive through restaurant and electric vehicle charging hub in Staffordshire

Plans to build new drive through restaurant and electric vehicle charging hub in Staffordshire

Supporting image for story: New chief fire officer selected in Staffordshire

New chief fire officer selected in Staffordshire

February 9, 2026

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire town council awards grants to eight organisations

Staffordshire town council awards grants to eight organisations

February 8, 2026

Supporting image for story: Council allocates final money from Government pot to support young people into work and boost swimming facilities in South Staffordshire village

Council allocates final money from Government pot to support young people into work and boost swimming facilities in South Staffordshire village

February 6, 2026

Supporting image for story: Cannock Chase Council grants retrospective approval for its own play area

Cannock Chase Council grants retrospective approval for its own play area

Supporting image for story: Councillors approve demolition of Cannock town centre building for regeneration

Councillors approve demolition of Cannock town centre building for regeneration

Supporting image for story: Empty listed building in Stafford town centre could reopen as dental surgery

Empty listed building in Stafford town centre could reopen as dental surgery

Supporting image for story: Cannock Chase Council proposes 2.99 per cent tax rise

Cannock Chase Council proposes 2.99 per cent tax rise

February 5, 2026

Supporting image for story: Calls to broadcast Staffordshire council meetings rejected by cabinet members

Calls to broadcast Staffordshire council meetings rejected by cabinet members

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire’s crime commissioner raises concerns about future funding of services after major reforms to policing announced

Staffordshire’s crime commissioner raises concerns about future funding of services after major reforms to policing announced

February 2, 2026

Supporting image for story: Council leader warns opponents after losing Cannock town centre regeneration vote

Council leader warns opponents after losing Cannock town centre regeneration vote

February 1, 2026

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire residents facing 5.22 per cent increase in police tax bill

Staffordshire residents facing 5.22 per cent increase in police tax bill

Supporting image for story: New home plans in Staffordshire countryside thrown out by councillors

New home plans in Staffordshire countryside thrown out by councillors

January 31, 2026

Supporting image for story: Plans for 61 new homes in Stafford among this week’s applications

Plans for 61 new homes in Stafford among this week’s applications

January 30, 2026

Supporting image for story: Bungalow plans approved for Stafford village pub car park

Bungalow plans approved for Stafford village pub car park

Supporting image for story: 73 new homes approved for South Staffordshire field - despite flooding concerns

73 new homes approved for South Staffordshire field - despite flooding concerns

January 29, 2026

Supporting image for story: Plans for up to 750 new homes in Staffordshire approved

Plans for up to 750 new homes in Staffordshire approved

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire councillor 'overhears patients giving out private information' at GP receptions

Staffordshire councillor 'overhears patients giving out private information' at GP receptions

January 28, 2026

Supporting image for story: South Staffordshire residents' council tax rise on the cards as authority faces its own demise

South Staffordshire residents' council tax rise on the cards as authority faces its own demise

January 27, 2026

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire council awards grants to community groups and businesses

Staffordshire council awards grants to community groups and businesses

January 25, 2026

Supporting image for story: Council tax rise on the cards in Stafford – but car parking and garden waste charges to be frozen

Council tax rise on the cards in Stafford – but car parking and garden waste charges to be frozen

January 24, 2026

Supporting image for story: 'Ignoring them would be a failure' - Vote on Cannock town centre regeneration lost as members speak out against theatre demolition

'Ignoring them would be a failure' - Vote on Cannock town centre regeneration lost as members speak out against theatre demolition

January 23, 2026

Supporting image for story: Staffordshire County Council leader speaks out about election delay requests

Staffordshire County Council leader speaks out about election delay requests

Supporting image for story: Cannock Chase Council leader explains decision to request election delay

Cannock Chase Council leader explains decision to request election delay

Supporting image for story: Staffy unveiled to showcase Staffordshire as the “nation’s playground”

Staffy unveiled to showcase Staffordshire as the “nation’s playground”

January 22, 2026

Supporting image for story: Council leader calls for urgent meeting following announcement of plans to run rail line from Birmingham to Manchester through Staffordshire

Council leader calls for urgent meeting following announcement of plans to run rail line from Birmingham to Manchester through Staffordshire

January 21, 2026

Supporting image for story: Apartment plans for former Staffordshire church

Apartment plans for former Staffordshire church

Supporting image for story: Plans submitted for 620 new homes Staffordshire farmland

Plans submitted for 620 new homes Staffordshire farmland

December 16, 2025

Supporting image for story: 'This is about ensuring we don't change the nature and character of our communities' - Eccleshall councillor calls on county council to support rural residents

'This is about ensuring we don't change the nature and character of our communities' - Eccleshall councillor calls on county council to support rural residents

December 15, 2025

Supporting image for story: 'I feel we have been let down' - Cannock Chase councillors call for cabinet to rethink Prince of Wales Theatre demolition decision

'I feel we have been let down' - Cannock Chase councillors call for cabinet to rethink Prince of Wales Theatre demolition decision

December 10, 2025

Supporting image for story: Stafford nightclub can keep premises licence after stabbing and 'security personnel using violence'

Stafford nightclub can keep premises licence after stabbing and 'security personnel using violence'

December 9, 2025

Supporting image for story: Councillors set to approve application for mosque and community centre in Staffordshire

Councillors set to approve application for mosque and community centre in Staffordshire