Residents, communities, farmers, landowners, and businesses across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are being invited to have their say on plans to restore and protect the area’s natural environment.

With its partner authorities, Staffordshire County Council has launched a public consultation on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), a long-term plan to support nature’s recovery and create a greener, healthier future for the county.

The strategy sets out priorities, outcomes, actions, and targets for improving habitats, protecting wildlife and enhancing natural spaces for nature and people. It has been developed in partnership and consultation with councils, environmental organisations, farmers, landowners and other key stakeholders from across the area.

People are encouraged to first explore the draft strategy and interactive maps to understand the proposals in more detail.

Feedback can then be shared through a short online survey, helping to ensure the final strategy reflects the views of people and organisations across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Detailed comments can also be made through the interactive maps.

The consultation is available through the Let’s Talk Staffordshire platform, making it easy for people to get involved.

Hayley Coles, Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for communities and culture, said:

This is a really important moment for nature in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

We want as many people as possible to look at the strategy and tell us what they think, before we focus more on delivery.

Whether it’s local green spaces, wildlife or the places we enjoy every day, your views will help shape how we protect and improve them for the future.”

People can explore the strategy and share their views by visiting: staffsandstokelnrs.co.uk.

Time to share views for Stafford Borough future plan

PSTN Landline Switch off

By January 2027, the UK’s old copper phone network will be switched off, area by area. For older or vulnerable residents, particularly those with telecare alarms or no mobile phone, it can be confusing and potentially risky if they’re not prepared in time.

Please refer to the attached a plain-English checklist as a guide to help with this process:
Phone switch off Checklist – May 2026

For more information visit:
www.phonely.co.uk/uk-digital-landline-switchover

For any residents who have questions, a UK team is available on freephone 0800 112 5000.

Liquid 11/Phonely are providing support to elderly/vulnerable residents and they work closely with organisations focused on protecting older and vulnerable people.  Below is some information about the support they have provided:

– We ran a joint pilot with Greater Manchester Police and Friends Against Scams (National Trading Standards) to protect residents from scam calls
– We were featured on BBC Morning Live’s Scam Safe Roadshow to raise awareness of phone scams
– We are a Neighbourhood Watch partner
– We work alongside Age UK to support older adults

Our aim is simply to raise awareness before residents are caught off guard.

Please be aware of the following:

• Is your home phone ready for the switch-off?
• The UK’s old copper phone network is being switched off by January 2027, and some areas are already being affected.
• If you or someone you know relies on a home phone, particularly for a telecare alarm, medical device, or burglar alarm, it is important not to wait to be contacted.Phonely has produced a free plain-English checklist covering everything residents need to check. Download it from their website or call the UK team free on 0800 112 5000.

   

  phonely.co.uk/uk-digital-landline-switchover

Residents in Stafford Borough are being reminded of changes to household food, recycling and waste collections because of the May bank holiday weekend.

There will be revised collections in the borough for the green, blue, brown bins, and food waste, from the bank holiday Monday (4th) to Saturday 9 May 2026.

Residents are being urged to check the rescheduled dates at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/collectiondays.

Bins and food caddies should be out by 7am on the revised days.

Stafford Borough Council have provided the following information to all Parish Councils and leaflets will be issued to all householders shortly:

You will be aware that a weekly collection of food waste will shortly be introduced for Stafford Borough residents.

Please see below some key information about the service you may find helpful to deal with any resident enquiries you may receive:

• The food waste caddies will start to be delivered from Monday 16 March 2026 to approximately 60,000 properties, the delivery process will take approximately 3-4 weeks.
• Each property will receive an internal kitchen caddy, an external kerbside caddy, a roll of caddy liners and an information leaflet on how to use the service.
• From Monday 13 April 2026 the food waste collection service will begin.  Residents should put their food waste caddy out each week on the same day as either their waste or recycling bins.
• The food waste will be collected by a separate vehicle to resident’s other bins – food waste should be presented by 7am and the caddy left out until it has been emptied.  It is a good idea to mark the external food waste caddy with the house number or name.
• The food waste will be taken to a local Anaerobic Digestion Facility which produces bio gas which is used to generate heat and electricity for the National Grid and also a bio fertiliser for use on local farms.
• Food waste services for flats with communal bin stores will be rolled out later in May/June 2026.

Please see a copy of the information leaflet that is being delivered to all households.

Food Waste Leaflet A5 March 2026

Further information can also be found at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/food-waste

Please be advised that the above matter had been reported to SCC on 7.2.2026 and urgent action requested.  The matter had also been followed up with our SCC Cllr Andrew Mynors.  

On 12 Feb 2026, the Parish Council received the response below from Amey, on behalf of SCC: 

Report Details

Report Logged: 07/02/2026
Request Type: Drain Flooding
Location: GREAT HAYWOOD ROAD, TIXALL
Enquiry Ref: 4477077
Current Status: Work Raised

Update

A non-urgent works order has been raised to address the issue.

Although remedy works are needed, this defect does not pose an immediate risk to public safety.

Your issue is important to us and we completely understand that it may be causing frustration. Our main focus is keeping the public highway safe, which means we must prioritise the most urgent issues on our network first. As a result, some lower-priority matters, like the one you’ve reported, may take longer to address than we’d like.

We’re unable to provide a specific timeframe for resolving non-urgent issues, but please know the work will be scheduled as soon as possible.

You will receive an email update when the work has been completed.

Photos

Further information

You can view the status of all your reports by logging in to your customer account and viewing your dashboard. You can also check on the progress of your report online at Staffordshire Highways ReportIt.

For more information on how we respond to commonly reported highway issues and to view frequently asked questions, please visit the ‘ReportIt Explained’ page on the Staffordshire Highways ReportIt homepage.

Kind Regards,

The Highways Team, in partnership with Amey