Stafford & district · Local news you can trust
The average Stafford home sold for £258,024 in July, a third monthly fall. Two Staffordshire districts are now falling over the year; Stafford is up 3.2%.
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Planning
Stafford Planning Committee Loses Powers on 31 October
From 31 October most Stafford planning applications must be decided by officers, not councillors. The council called it a serious loss of democracy.
Council
Stafford Council Merger Paused: May 2027 Election Back On
Stafford Borough Council's abolition is on hold. The May 2027 borough election now goes ahead on existing wards, three days after joint committees were set up.
Local Info
Stafford Roadworks: M6 Southbound Shut 25 and 28 Sept
The M6 southbound closes between junctions 15 and 14 overnight on Friday 25 and Monday 28 September. Radford Street and Bishton Lane stay shut too.
Council
Stafford Council Handover: 6 Boroughs Share 6 of 12 Seats
Staffordshire County Council took six of the 12 seats on the body planning Stafford's replacement. Three days later the government paused the whole programme.
Bonfire Night
Stafford Fireworks 2026: Showground, Sun 1 Nov, £12 Adult
Stafford's big display is Sunday 1 November at the County Showground. Gates 4pm, fireworks 7pm prompt, £12 adults and £3 children, advance tickets only.
Christmas
Stafford Christmas Lights 2026: no date yet, Stone 19 Nov
Stafford Borough Council has not published a 2026 switch-on date. Stone's is confirmed for Thursday 19 November, 5pm, lights on at 7pm on the High Street.
Christmas
Stafford Panto 2026: Aladdin, 4 Dec to 3 Jan, from £22.50
Aladdin runs at Stafford Gatehouse Theatre from Friday 4 December to Sunday 3 January, 42 performances, seats £22.50 to £37.50, relaxed show 19 December.
Christmas
Stafford Christmas Market 2026: Sat 12 Dec, Market Square
Stafford's Christmas market is one Saturday, 12 December, 9am to 3pm in Market Square, free entry. Stone runs three more, on 28 November, 13 and 19 December.
Community
Stafford Regeneration: 7 Photo Books, 4 Years, 55 Students
Fifty-five Stafford College students spent four years photographing the town centre rebuild. The seven books go to Stafford's libraries and sell for the hospice.
Transport
Staffordshire Care Leavers Get a Free Bus Pass, Any Time
Care leavers in Staffordshire can now travel free on any bus in the county at any hour, for 12 months. Here is who else travels free, and what changes in 2027.
Local Info
Stafford Bin Days: Christmas Rounds Move Early, Not Late
Christmas week collections across Stafford borough come a day early, then New Year rounds run late. Every changed date, plus the £43.50 brown bin and tip hours.
Local Info
Parking in Stafford: £4.80 All Day, £12.50 at the Station
A day at Doxey Road costs a third of Stafford station's £12.50. Every council tariff for Stafford and Stone, the £1.20 Sunday charge, and two free car parks.
Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire, on the Sow with the castle mound above it and the West Coast Main Line running through. Stone is the borough’s other town, up the road on the Trent and the canal, and beyond them are Eccleshall, Gnosall, Barlaston and the villages towards the Shropshire border.
The Stafford Times reports from the borough’s own record. Stafford Borough Council publishes its planning register, licensing notices, committee papers and budgets; Staffordshire County Council handles roads, schools and social care. We say which of the two a decision belongs to, every time, and we link to the document behind every fact we print.
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Nothing here is guesswork. Every figure links to its source.