Thanks to a determined partnership bid, backed by outstanding support from the Kidsgrove community, Kidsgrove was one of only two community rail stations to be awarded ‘Access for All’ funding by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Access for All will fund a £multi-million new station footbridge project that will make access to the station easier for everyone, particularly people with reduced mobility. Since the good news was announced, the Kidsgrove station regeneration team has been busy working to add value to the footbridge project and secure additional funding to completely regenerate Kidsgrove through: New transport interchange : New, larger car park : Improved station facilities. [Read more…]

Rich Stephenson Evans, Community Officer at Tesco Kidsgrove, was approached by the committee of Butt Lane Petanque club for help in refurbishing Congleton Road Community Centre, where they are based, as part of Tesco’s policy of supporting the community.

Following an inspection of the centre it was found to be in need of extensive redecorating internally to sort out cracks and holes in walls. With a team of local Tesco maintenance staff from Crewe and Stoke Trent Vale stores, and from residents George Bunn and Dave Blunt, it has now been transformed to its former glory. Congleton Road Communnity Centre is used by a number of groups who will now benefit from the refurbishment. [Read more…]

Tesco Kidsgrove have again put up a memorial Christmas tree at the entrance to the store where customers can leave messages for loved ones no longer here to celebrate Christmas with them.

The messages are written on a star which is then hung on the tree. Every year the tree gets more popular and last year 1558 star messages were left on the tree which were taken to a local church on Christmas eve to be blessed. A small donation can be made when leaving stars with the money collected going to Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation, last year £1013 was raised.

The County Council and Newcastle Borough Council have announced that they will work together on a number of projects in Newcastle and Kidsgrove. Called ‘District Deal 2’, the collaboration is aimed at boosting Newcastle and Kidsgrove town centres. The main aims include:- The Ryecroft development playing a key part in improving the economic fortunes of Newcastle town centre; Jointly developing a town centre master plan for Kidsgrove and working towards the delivery of a new sports centre and pool in the town. The deal pulls together ideas and millions of pounds’ worth of projects, already underway or being planned, to ensure a joint approach pays dividends for residents and businesses. [Read more…]

Kidsgrove has been named as a winner in the 2015 East Midlands Trains Best Stations Awards. Kidsgrove won the award for Best Small Station following the opening of the new community station cafe ‘A Spotter Tea’ and the involvement of a wide range of external business and local schools to create an improved station environment. The awards, which are now in their sixth year, celebrate the best of the train operator’s 89 stations under different categories, and are made by a panel of judges comprising independent passenger watchdog, Transport Focus, as well as East Midlands Trains’ directors and senior managers. [Read more…]

Roads in the centre of Kidsgrove are undergoing £105,000 improvements. Staffordshire County Council’s highways team are resurfacing part of the A50 Liverpool Road and a section of the B5371 The Avenue, in addition to repairing kerbs and pavements. Work on the seven-week project began on Monday, September 28 and set to be completed by Thursday November 12. Temporary traffic lights will be in place until October 12. Resurfacing of The Avenue will take place overnight (7pm to 7am) on Tuesday October 27, when a section of the road will be closed at the A50 Liverpool Road junction. [Read more…]