Visiting Specsavers on Castle Walk (19 December 2025) Just before the festive break, I was pleased to visit Specsavers on Castle Walk to congratulate the team on winning the Professional Services Award at the LoveNUL Business Awards. The LoveNUL awards celebrate the people and businesses that power our local economy – and this recognition is a real testament to the professionalism, care and dedication shown by the Specsavers team here in Newcastle-under-Lyme every day. During

Yesterday, following widespread disruption caused by icy and untreated roads across Newcastle-under-Lyme, I wrote again to Staffordshire County Council to raise serious concerns about how winter gritting and road safety were handled. I had already raised concerns about winter gritting and preparedness ahead of the festive season, precisely to avoid the situation many residents have experienced. You can read that earlier update here: Snow Across Newcastle-under-Lyme: Gritting

Ahead of the festive season, I wrote to Staffordshire County Council to ask what preparations were in place for winter weather and gritting across Newcastle-under-Lyme. While none of us can control how much snow falls, we can plan properly and respond properly. That is why I raised these concerns in advance, rather than waiting until severe winter weather arrived. On 18 December, I received a response from the Chief Executive of Staffordshire County Council outlining the Coun