Accessibility statement
This accessibility statement applies to our website (www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk).
The website is run by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts using browser or device settings
- zoom in up to 400% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using a keyboard or speech recognition software
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible this website is
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- you cannot modify the line height or spacing of text
- most older PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
- live video streams do not have captions
- you cannot skip to the main content when using a screen reader
Feedback and contact information
If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact us by completing the form:
If you need information on this website in a different format, like an accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille, please call 01782 717717.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
Newcastle-under Lyme Borough Council is committed to making our website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
The website has been tested against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA standard.
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.
Non-accessible content
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
Our websites are partially compliant with WCAG 2.2 AA due to the non-compliances and/or exemptions listed below:
- some of our historic PDF files are not accessible. The regulations do not need us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018
- the site was recently tested by the Government Digital Service. A PDF document for holiday swimming timetables was found to be inaccessible due to lack of title, logical reading order, colour contrast and table irregularity. It was decided that the information should be presented on a web page. This was tested and the page was deemed accessible. The link to the document was changed to point to the new page and the PDF was deleted
- we work to limit the publication of PDF documents where possible. If we can, we publish all website content as web pages. This excludes documents in the Modern.Gov system
- our sub-domain sites for planning applications and council meetings have some accessibility issues. We are working with the suppliers of each of these systems to make these accessible. However, this depends on their product roadmaps
- some embedded maps have been flagged as images that lack a text alternative. People using a screen reader cannot access the information. This fails WCAG 2.2 success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content). Unfortunately, while we have investigated possible fixes, we have no control over this
We are working towards identifying non-compliant content. Once this is complete, we will be able to share our plan for making the website fully compliant.
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
PDFs and other documents
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services.
Some third parties own documents hosted on our website. Some do not meet accessibility standards. The accessibility regulations do not need us to fix content owned by third parties.
If you cannot access a PDF on our website, we will do what we can to provide you with an accessible version. Please complete a website feedback form if you cannot access a PDF on our website.
Live video
We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.
What we’re doing to improve accessibility
We are working towards identifying non-compliant content. Once this is complete, we will be able to share our plan for making the website fully compliant.
We use a service called SiteMorse. It scans our website for any accessibility issues.
Our regular testing includes:
- sub-sites. These are services based on a different platform but ‘skinned’ to look like our website:
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was prepared on 27 October 2021. It was last reviewed on 2 November 2026.
This website was last tested on the 8 May 2025 against the WCAG 2.2 AA standard by Sitemorse.
We continuously work to improve any accessibility issues and fix when we are able to.