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Newcastle-under-Lyme
Non-metropolitan district and borough
Newcastle-under-Lyme market day and high street
Newcastle-under-Lyme shown within Staffordshire
Region	West Midlands
Non-metropolitan county	Staffordshire
Status	Non-metropolitan district
Admin HQ	Newcastle-under-Lyme
Incorporated	1 April 1974
Government
• Type	Non-metropolitan district council
• Body	Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
• MPs	Adam Jogee (Labour) Karen Bradley (Conservative) Gavin Williamson (Conservative)
Area
• Total	211.0 km (81.5 sq mi)
• Rank	142nd (of 296)
Population
• Total	125,297
• Rank	191st (of 296)
• Density	590/km (1,500/sq mi)
Ethnicity (2021)
• Ethnic groups	List 92.9% White 3.8% Asian 1.6% Mixed 1% Black 0.7% other
Religion (2021)
• Religion	List 51.8% Christianity 38.9% no religion 1.8% Islam 0.6% Hinduism 0.1% Judaism 0.2% Sikhism 0.4% Buddhism 0.4% other 5.8% not stated
Time zone	UTC0 (GMT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+1 (BST)
ONS code	41UE (ONS) E07000195 (GSS)
OS grid reference	SJ8463746024

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. The earliest surviving charter dates from 1235. The borough was formally incorporated in 1590 under a new charter from Elizabeth I.

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.

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:

• Kidsgrove Urban District
• Newcastle-under-Lyme Municipal Borough
• Newcastle-under-Lyme Rural District

The new district was named Newcastle-under-Lyme after its largest town. 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.

Governance

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Type
Type	Non-metropolitan district
Leadership
Mayor	Barry Panter, Conservative since 15 May 2024
Leader	Simon Tagg, Conservative since 5 December 2017
Chief Executive	Gordon Mole since 8 July 2024
Structure
Seats	44 councillors
Political groups	Administration (25)   Conservative (25) Other parties (19)   Labour (18)   Independent (1)
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
Last election	5 May 2022
Next election	7 May 2026
Meeting place
Castle House, Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1BL
Website
www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk

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.

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:

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:

Composition

Following the 2022 election and a subsequent change of allegiance in November 2023, the composition of the council was:

The next election is due in 2026.

Elections

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:

• 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. 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.

Demography

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. 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.

Education

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 and the Fenton relay transmitter. 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.

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.

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. The rest of the borough is divided into eleven civil parishes. The parish council for Kidsgrove has declared that parish to be a town, allowing it to take the style "town council".

The parishes are:

• 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.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (July 2020)

Individuals

• Gordon Banks: 23 February 2018.

• Fred Van Buren and Connie Greta Van Buren 29 April 2019.

• Jim Worgan 2021.

Military units

• The Staffordshire Regiment: 1973.

Organisations and Groups

• The Royal Stoke University Hospital: 22 May 2021.

Arms

1951

1975

References

1. The statutory order naming the district includes the hyphens, but the council itself omits them in its corporate branding.

1. ^ UK Census (2021). "2021 Census Area Profile – Newcastle-under-Lyme Local Authority (E07000195)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
2. Jenkins, J. G., ed. (1963). A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 8. London: Victoria County History. pp. 24–39. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
3. "History of Newcastle". Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. Archived from the original on 21 March 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
4. Report of the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire into the Municipal Corporations in England and Wales: Appendix 3. 1835. p. 1951. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
5. "Newcastle under Lyme Chapelry / Civil Parish". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
6. "The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1972/2039, retrieved 17 November 2023
7. "The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 1973/551, retrieved 31 May 2023
8. "District Councils and Boroughs". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1974. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
9. "The history and role of the mayor". Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
10. "Council minutes, 15 May 2024". Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
11. "Top officer starts work". Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
12. "Local Government Act 1972", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1972 c. 70, retrieved 31 May 2023
13. ^ "Election Maps". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
14. "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
15. "Newcastle-Under-Lyme". BBC News Online. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
16. "Council minutes". Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
17. "Set for new role at Newcastle". Evening Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 4 March 1974. p. 16. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
18. "Council houses for sale soon?". Evening Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 19 May 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
19. "Tribute to work of late leader". Evening Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 4 October 1984. p. 7. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
20. "Council leader in shock defeat". Evening Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 6 May 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
21. "New leader comes in fighting..." Evening Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 11 May 1994. p. 4. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
22. Boothroyd, David (17 November 2023). "Scottish Labour steels seat". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
23. "The Newcastle-under-Lyme (Electoral Changes) Order 2017", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2017/1079, retrieved 28 December 2023
24. "E07 Non-metropolitan District: Newcastle-under-Lyme: Related: E05 Electoral Wards/Divisions in Newcastle-under-Lyme". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
25. Corrigan, Phil (23 July 2018). "Take a look around new £15.4m council HQ and library which has finally opened after a 9-month delay". Stoke-on-Trent Live. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
26. "£500,000 centre a milestone for Newcastle". Evening Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 20 September 1967. p. 7. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
27. "Newcastle-under-Lyme Social Profile" (PDF). Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
28. "Newcastle-under-Lyme Economic Profile" (PDF). Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 21 January 2007.
29. "Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
30. "Full Freeview on the Fenton (Stoke-on-Trent, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
31. "Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. May 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
32. "The Sentinel". British Papers. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
33. "Newcastle-under-Lyme". City Population. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
34. "Parish councils contact information". Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
35. "Gordon Banks given freedom of Newcastle-under-Lyme award". BBC News. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
36. https://www.babababoon.co.uk/freedom-is-magic-for-the-van-burens/
37. https://www.thehitmix.co.uk/2023/04/03/04-03-23-newcastle-borough-heroes-winners-staffordshires-future-electric-vehicle-charging-network/
38. "Former Stoke City kit man given Freedom of the Borough". Signal1. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
39. "Royal Stoke awarded Freedom of the Borough for 'selfless work' during pandemic". 22 May 2021.
40. "Armorial Bearings". WhatDoTheyKnow. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
41. "Armorial Bearings". WhatDoTheyKnow. Retrieved 2 October 2024.

External links

• Newcastle-under-Lyme borough council
• Newcastle-under-Lyme local life
• The Potteries
• Historic chartered accountants based on Chesterton
• Keele University
• Local Information from The Sentinel newspaper
• Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service

53°00′40″N 2°13′44″W / 53.011°N 2.229°W / 53.011; -2.229

v t e Districts of the West Midlands Region
Herefordshire	Herefordshire
Shropshire	Shropshire Telford and Wrekin
Staffordshire	Cannock Chase East Staffordshire Lichfield Newcastle-under-Lyme South Staffordshire Stafford Staffordshire Moorlands Stoke-on-Trent Tamworth
Warwickshire	North Warwickshire Nuneaton and Bedworth Rugby Stratford-on-Avon Warwick
West Midlands	Birmingham Coventry Dudley Sandwell Solihull Walsall Wolverhampton
Worcestershire	Bromsgrove Malvern Hills Redditch Worcester Wychavon Wyre Forest

• Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme
• Non-metropolitan districts of Staffordshire
• Boroughs in England