Borough council marks Civic Pride milestone with town centre action
A week-long programme of events and activities is taking place during half-term to mark the first anniversary of a growing campaign.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council – working with Aspire Housing, Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District (BID) and Staffordshire Police – is delivering a special edition of Civic Pride in Newcastle town centre from 25 to 31 October.
Civic Pride is a long-term scheme aiming to boost pride across Newcastle-under-Lyme while strengthening its reputation as a place which is clean, safe and friendly. Capturing new and existing service provision under a unified #PrideInNUL banner, it’s also a call to arms for everyone – young and old – to get involved.
The action-packed week begins this Saturday with the Castle Classics car show, hosted by Newcastle BID and The Red Haired Stokie, in Newcastle’s Ironmarket and High Street from 10am to 4pm. Visitors can expect a stunning collection of classic and retro vehicles.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Markets is staging a Record Fair – organised by Cannonball Records – on Sunday, 26 October. There’ll be thousands of records, CDs and memorabilia from dealers across the UK specialising in soul, rock, jazz, pop, folk and more. Hot food and drinks will be available to purchase and free parking is available on council car parks.
Council Leader Simon Tagg said:
We’re incredibly proud to celebrate the first anniversary of our Civic Pride campaign in Newcastle, the place where it all began. It’s bringing communities closer together and helping to develop a stronger sense of belonging to, and pride in, our fantastic borough. It’s really encouraging to see the scheme grow; the launch of the complementary Civic Pride Investment Fund is already making a great impact in local communities.
We’ve visited many neighbourhoods over the past 12 months. This latest series of events is an opportunity to keep the momentum going as we continue working towards a cleaner, safer and more welcoming borough for everyone. As it’s half-term, it’s the perfect time to get the family involved in a number of different ways.”
There are several litter pick and planting opportunities – covering the Dunkirk area, Newcastle town centre and Queen Elizabeth Park – and anyone is welcome to join in. As well as high-visibility patrols and business engagement visits throughout the week, residents can get their bikes security marked and attend drop-in consultation sessions about the Civic Pride strategy and a Public Space Protection Order review.
More detailed information – including locations, days and times – is available on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s website.
Streetscene is carrying out their usual daily street cleansing activities in and around the town centre and a ranger will tackle issues such as graffiti and litter in hard-to-reach areas. The homelessness team will continue to engage with vulnerable people and provide ongoing support at the weekly sessions at the vulnerability hub.
The Civic Pride Investment Fund – containing £22,000 for 2025/26 – is now accepting grant submissions for the third round of funding. Applications can be submitted online, where supporting information is also available, until Wednesday, 31 December.