Latest news with #Newcastle-under-LymeBoroughCouncil
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Offer to 'share expertise' over station upgrade
Railway bosses say they are willing to share their expertise on historical coal mining beneath a station in Staffordshire to enable improvement works to move forward. It comes after a row between the local MP and leader of the borough council over the planned work at Kidsgrove Railway Station. Bosses at Network Rail said the previous scheme was hampered due to poor underground conditions caused by uncharted mine workings. The current project is now at an impasse while funding for exploratory works is being argued over by the politicians. Council leader Simon Tagg recently called on MP David Williams to ensure funding was still in place for the plans - which include parking for 200 cars and a new transport interchange - but said he had not received a direct response. The MP had claimed Tagg was attempting to deflect responsibility on the issue. He said Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council had failed to properly budget for the scheme, having been previously aware of historic coal mining in the vicinity of the station. "It is regrettable that they now resort to finger-pointing rather than putting forward a serious solution," Mr Williams said. Tagg also claimed bosses at Network Rail, which owns and manages most of the railway infrastructure in Great Britain, were blocking the scheme. They had demanded a fully funded restoration plan prior to giving the go-ahead for the work to begin, he said. Tagg added that he felt this was unrealistic, as Kidsgrove Town Deal Board, which is overseeing the scheme, would not be able to predict costings until the work had begun. Network Rail bosses said they had previously faced historic mining issues in the area. "During our work to build new lifts to make Kidsgrove station accessible for all, the multi-million-pound project was hampered by poor underground conditions caused by previously unknown historic mine workings," they said. "Having overcome those challenges, we are now offering our knowledge and expertise on what lies beneath the station for a separate council-led scheme to build a new car park and expansion of the station facilities on the site. "Due to risks from previous coal mine shafts, additional ground investigation is needed before improvements can safely begin, which our colleagues at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council are leading on." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Delays 'risk derailing station improvement work' Colourful projections light up Victorian tunnels Mining works could derail station upgrade - MP Chancellor announces £1bn for 45 areas of England Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Barry Panter: Mayor killed in crash was 'dedicated to community'
The mayor of Newcastle-under-Lyme, who died following a car crash last week, had a "truly admirable" dedication to the community, an MP has said in Panter had been a Conservative on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council since 2016, and was elected mayor last raised money for the Salvation Army and Headway North Staffordshire during his term in praise by Stoke-on-Trent South MP Dr Allison Gardner, Labour, has been echoed by other MPs across Staffordshire. Newcastle's MP Adam Jogee, Labour, said his thoughts and prayers "go out to all who knew him, and who, like me, will miss him".The MP for Stoke-on-Trent North David Williams, Labour, said he first met Mr Panter at a fundraising event, and found him to be an "incredibly decent person".Stafford's MP Leigh Ingham, Labour, stated she was sending his family "courage and peace during this time of sorrow".The crash happened on Thursday evening. Mr Panter had chaired a meeting of full council the evening before, leaving fellow members borough council said the RAF veteran, who also served with South Wales Constabulary, moved to North Staffordshire in 2002 and was first elected to represent the Loggerheads Tagg, leader of the authority, said the thoughts of the council were with Mr Panter's wife Beatrice, his family and friends. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
