Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox settlement
The Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme is a local government district with borough status in Staffordshire, England.
It is named after the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, where the council is based. The borough also includes the town of Kidsgrove and several villages and surrounding rural areas lying generally to the west of Newcastle itself. Most of the borough's built-up areas form part of The Potteries Urban Area.
The neighbouring districts are Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Shropshire and Cheshire East.
History
The town of Newcastle-under-Lyme was an ancient borough, established in the 12th century. It is known to have been granted a charter (since lost) around 1173 by Henry II.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The earliest surviving charter dates from 1235. The borough was formally incorporated in 1590 under a new charter from Elizabeth I.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The borough was reformed in 1836 to become a municipal borough under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which reformed many boroughs across the country. The municipal borough was enlarged several times, notably in 1932 when it took in what had been the Wolstanton United Urban District, covering the parishes of Chesterton, Silverdale and Wolstanton, and at the same time also absorbed the parish of Clayton from Newcastle-under-Lyme Rural District.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The modern district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 covering three former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref>
The new district was named Newcastle-under-Lyme after its largest town.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref> The district was granted borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Newcastle's series of mayors dating back to 1318.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Governance
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Staffordshire County Council. Parts of the borough are also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref><ref name=electionmaps>Template:Cite web</ref>
Political control
The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2021.
The first elections to the enlarged borough council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>Template:Cite web (Put "Newcastle-under-Lyme" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=change>Template:Cite news</ref>
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Party name with colour | 1974–1979 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 1979–2002 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 2002–2004 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 2004–2006 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 2006–2012 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 2012–2017 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 2017–2021 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 2021–present | |
Leadership
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Newcastle-under-Lyme, with political leadership provided instead by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1974 have been:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Composition
Following the 2022 election, and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=Thorncliffe>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Template:Party name with colour | 25 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 17 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 1 | |
| Template:Party name with colour | 1 | |
| Total | 44 | |
The next election is due in 2026.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>
Elections
Template:Also Since the last boundary changes in 2018 the council has comprised 44 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. The wards are:<ref>Template:Cite legislation UK</ref><ref name="E05">Template:Cite web</ref> Template:Div col
- Audley
- Bradwell
- Clayton
- Crackley & Red Street
- Cross Heath
- Holditch & Chesterton
- Keele
- Kidsgrove & Ravenscliffe
- Knutton
- Loggerheads
- Madeley & Betley
- Maer & Whitmore
- May Bank
- Newchapel & Mow Cop
- Silverdale
- Talke & Butt Lane
- Thistleberry
- Town
- Westbury Park & Northwood
- Westlands
- Wolstanton
Premises
The council is based at Castle House on Barracks Road in the centre of Newcastle. The building was purpose-built for the council as a shared facility with Staffordshire County Council and the police, and opened in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Prior to that the council was based at the Civic Offices on Merrial Street which had been completed in 1967 for the old borough council.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Clear
Demography
| Comparative census information | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2001 UK Census | Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme | England |
| Total population | 122,030 | 49,138,831 |
| White | 98% | 91% |
| Asian | 0.6% | 4.6% |
| Black | 0.2% | 2.3% |
| Christian | 78.5% | 72% |
| Muslim | 0.5% | 3.1% |
| Hindu | 0.2% | 1.1% |
| No religion | 13.1% | 15% |
| Unemployed | 2% | 3.3% |
In the 2001 census, the borough was recorded as having a population of 122,030 with 51.5% being female. In terms of religious affiliation, 78.5% identified themselves as Christian, 13.1% having no religion, 0.5% Muslim, 0.2% Hindu or other and 0.1% stating Jewish or Sikh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In terms of economic occupation, 61.2% were classed as economically active, with 22.6% working in manufacturing, 18.5% in wholesale or retail, 11.6% in health/social work, and 11.6% in financial and other business related activities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Education
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Newcastle-under-Lyme was chosen for the campus of University College of North Staffordshire, established in 1949 at Keele Hall in the village of Keele, two miles from the town centre, and which was granted full university status as Keele University in 1962. Keele University Medical School is based in the grounds of the University Hospital of North Staffordshire at Hartshill in Stoke-on-Trent, about a mile from the centre of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Media
In terms of television, the area is served by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central broadcasting from Birmingham. Television signals are received the Sutton Coldfield TV transmitter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the Fenton relay transmitter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, Kidsgrove is served by BBC North West and ITV Granada, broadcast from Salford. Television signals in the town are received from the Winter Hill TV transmitter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Stoke, Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire, Greatest Hits Radio Staffordshire & Cheshire, 6 Towns Radio and HitMix Radio, a community based station that broadcast from Newcastle-under-Lyme.
The Sentinel is the local newspaper that covers the area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Towns and parishes
An area roughly corresponding to the pre-1974 municipal borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme (less the parish of Silverdale, created in 2002) is an unparished area; over half the borough's population live in this area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The rest of the borough is divided into eleven civil parishes.<ref name=electionmaps/> The parish council for Kidsgrove has declared that parish to be a town, allowing it to take the style "town council".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The parishes are: Template:Div col
- Audley Rural
- Balterley
- Betley
- Chapel and Hill Chorlton
- Keele
- Kidsgrove
- Loggerheads, Staffordshire
- Madeley
- Maer
- Silverdale
- Whitmore
Freedom of the Borough
The following people, military units and organisations and groups have received the Freedom of the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Individuals
- Gordon Banks: 23 February 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Fred Van Buren and Connie Greta Van Buren 29 April 2019.<ref>https://www.babababoon.co.uk/freedom-is-magic-for-the-van-burens/</ref>
- Jim Worgan 2021. <ref>https://www.thehitmix.co.uk/2023/04/03/04-03-23-newcastle-borough-heroes-winners-staffordshires-future-electric-vehicle-charging-network/</ref>
- Emma Darwin
- Vera Brittain
- Aaron Ramsdale
- Hugh Dancy
- Lemmy Kilmister
Military units
- The Staffordshire Regiment: 1973.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Organisations and Groups
- The Royal Stoke University Hospital: 22 May 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Arms
1951
1975
References
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