Staffordshire Moorlands residents invited to have their say on future local priorities

Residents across the Staffordshire Moorlands are being invited to take part in online engagement sessions to help shape future priorities for their local communities.

Staffordshire Moorlands residents are being invited to share their views on the future of their local communities as part of new locality planning work across the district.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is holding a series of online resident engagement sessions to help develop new Locality Action Plans for different areas of the Moorlands.

The plans are intended to set out a shared picture of what each area needs now and in the future, helping to identify local priorities and guide how investment, services and partnerships are shaped at a local level.

Residents, community groups and local organisations are being encouraged to take part and share their experience of living and working in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

The sessions will look at what is working well in local areas, what could be improved, and what “good” should look like for communities in the future.

No specialist knowledge is needed to take part. The council says the sessions will be informal, facilitated discussions held online via Microsoft Teams, with each one lasting 60 minutes.

The feedback gathered will directly inform the priorities in the Locality Action Plans, alongside input from community groups, businesses and other stakeholders.

Staffordshire Moorlands locality areas

The engagement sessions cover six locality areas across the district.

These are North Moorlands, covering Heaton, Horton, Leek, Longsdon and Rushton, Northwest, covering Biddulph, Bagnall, Brown Edge and Endon with Stanley, Southeast, covering Alton, Cheadle, Checkley, Draycott in the Moors, Farley and Forsbrook, and Southwest, covering Caverswall, Dilhorne and Werrington.

The Rural Moorlands area includes communities in the Peak District, including Alstonefield, Blore with Swinscoe, Butterton, Fawfieldhead, Grindon, Heathylee, Hollinsclough, Ilam, Leekfrith, Longnor, Onecote, Quarnford, Sheen, Tittesworth, Warslow & Elkstones, Waterhouses and Wetton.

There is also a Semi Rural & Churnet Valley area, which includes Bradnop, Cheddleton, Consall, Cotton, Ipstones, Kingsley and Oakamoor.

Residents who are unsure which area or ward meeting to attend can use the postcode search tool on the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council website to identify their ward boundary.

Engagement session dates

The online sessions will take place throughout June and July.

The first session is for the Semi Rural & Churnet Valley area, including Bradnop, Cheddleton, Consall, Cotton, Ipstones, Kingsley and Oakamoor, and will be held on 16 June at 6pm.

The Rural Moorlands, Peak District session will take place on 18 June at 6pm, followed by the Southwest session for Caverswall, Dilhorne and Werrington on 24 June at 6pm.

The North Moorlands session, covering Heaton, Horton, Leek, Longsdon and Rushton, will take place on 29 June at 6pm.

The Southeast session, covering Alton, Cheadle, Checkley, Draycott in the Moors, Farley and Forsbrook, will take place on 30 June at 6pm.

The final listed session is for the Northwest area, covering Biddulph, Bagnall, Brown Edge and Endon with Stanley, and will take place on 1 July at 6pm.

How to take part

Residents over the age of 18 from all communities and backgrounds are being encouraged to register their interest.

Places are limited to allow for meaningful discussion, so registering an interest does not guarantee a place. Attendance details will be confirmed with participants in advance.

Those who cannot attend one of the online sessions can still share their views by completing the online survey through Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Organisations are also being asked to circulate the opportunity through their networks so that as many local voices as possible can be heard.

Anyone with questions about the Locality Action Plans can contact democratic.services@staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

Find out more and register your interest: Residents Locality Action Plans, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council