Post by Harrier on Apr 22, 2020 17:02:34 GMT
The constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme has existed in some form since 1354. Situated in the far north west of Staffordshire, this seat borders all three of the Stoke-on-Trent constituencies with Crewe and Nantwich to the north and Stone to the south. Most of it is generally considered to form part of the Potteries conurbation, although many residents of the borough consider themselves firming separate from Stoke-on-Trent despite the urban areas merging imperceptibly in many areas.
The constituency consists of the entire former Municipal Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme plus some outlying villages formerly within Newcastle Rural District. It therefore consists of the entire modern Borough less 2 rural wards in the Stone constituency and the entire former Kidsgrove Urban District which lies in Stoke-on-Trent North.
The constituency is a varied assortment of adjacent although often geographically isolated suburbs and villages on the edge of the Potteries, alongside the town of Newcastle itself. The town centre is quite small and most residents rely on the proximity to Hanley (Stoke Central) or the large outlet centre at Talke (Stoke North). In the north of the constituency are the post-industrial areas of Chesterton, Bradwell and Holditch, these are all ex-mining communities situated between the town proper and Kidsgrove. Much redevelopment has occurred in the Chesterton area with new developments dating from the 1990s and early 2000s which have somewhat changed the characteristics of the area. Bradwell is a large council estate and has had its share of troubles with crime and proverty.
Moving south we enter the area of Wolstanton, a very mixed area with numerous linked areas, all quite varied in both social group, affluence and housing types. Porthill and May Bank/Basford are fairly affluent areas in the Wolstanton environs, the latter in particular having many large houses (some might say mansions) along the leafy road, ‘The Brampton’. Wolstanton itself is a hilly suburb, largely of terraces, much like those in neighbouring areas of Stoke. Moving south of the town centre is the very much more affluent group of suburbs. Clayton and Northwood are typical of the many mixed suburbs, each consisting of equal numbers of tidy pre-war semis on leafy avenues and ex-council housing. The ward/area highest up the social ladder is the Westlands, locally synonymous with wealth, this is an well-to-do area with a large number of retired people. Each house is unique and the avenues are wide and tree-lined with some private roads and the most exclusive golf course in the Potteries.
To the west of the town are the ex-mining villages of Knutton and Silverdale, there are new developments on the old Silvery colliery that are changing the area considerably but as yet, they are still largely working-class and dominated by the cottage terraces of the ex-miners. Also to the west is Keele, a small village now dominated by the excellent and growing University and science park there which is now a considerable employer and enjoys academic links with the Royal Stoke Hospital. Finally, the seat comprises of some thinly-populated rural areas stretching to the Cheshire border. Audley, Halmer End, Scot Hay and others are post-industrial mining villages albeit in tranquil and beautiful countryside. Betley and Balterley feel very ‘Cheshire’ being very affluent and dominated by agriculture.
Politically, Newcastle has long been dominated by the Labour Party, hold the seat from Josiah Wedgwood’s defection from the Liberals in 1919 until last December’s gain by the Conservatives. The reasons for the political history are complex, it should be added that this constituency voted 62% leave and 87% white, with 21.5% of the workforce employed in manufacturing. This demographic has slowly trended Conservative in the last decade and nowhere is this reflected better than the Potteries. As the mining and industrial heritage (pottery, iron casting and brick-making being historically dominant) fades away, the workforce here is less unionized than ever and increasing less loyal to Labour. Whether the new-found sympathy for the Conservative Party in the post-Brexit world will be sustained is at yet unknown, but boundary changes are likely to add the heavily rural (and affluent) wards currently in the Stone constituency which would make Labour’s job regaining this seat much more difficult.
The constituency consists of the entire former Municipal Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme plus some outlying villages formerly within Newcastle Rural District. It therefore consists of the entire modern Borough less 2 rural wards in the Stone constituency and the entire former Kidsgrove Urban District which lies in Stoke-on-Trent North.
The constituency is a varied assortment of adjacent although often geographically isolated suburbs and villages on the edge of the Potteries, alongside the town of Newcastle itself. The town centre is quite small and most residents rely on the proximity to Hanley (Stoke Central) or the large outlet centre at Talke (Stoke North). In the north of the constituency are the post-industrial areas of Chesterton, Bradwell and Holditch, these are all ex-mining communities situated between the town proper and Kidsgrove. Much redevelopment has occurred in the Chesterton area with new developments dating from the 1990s and early 2000s which have somewhat changed the characteristics of the area. Bradwell is a large council estate and has had its share of troubles with crime and proverty.
Moving south we enter the area of Wolstanton, a very mixed area with numerous linked areas, all quite varied in both social group, affluence and housing types. Porthill and May Bank/Basford are fairly affluent areas in the Wolstanton environs, the latter in particular having many large houses (some might say mansions) along the leafy road, ‘The Brampton’. Wolstanton itself is a hilly suburb, largely of terraces, much like those in neighbouring areas of Stoke. Moving south of the town centre is the very much more affluent group of suburbs. Clayton and Northwood are typical of the many mixed suburbs, each consisting of equal numbers of tidy pre-war semis on leafy avenues and ex-council housing. The ward/area highest up the social ladder is the Westlands, locally synonymous with wealth, this is an well-to-do area with a large number of retired people. Each house is unique and the avenues are wide and tree-lined with some private roads and the most exclusive golf course in the Potteries.
To the west of the town are the ex-mining villages of Knutton and Silverdale, there are new developments on the old Silvery colliery that are changing the area considerably but as yet, they are still largely working-class and dominated by the cottage terraces of the ex-miners. Also to the west is Keele, a small village now dominated by the excellent and growing University and science park there which is now a considerable employer and enjoys academic links with the Royal Stoke Hospital. Finally, the seat comprises of some thinly-populated rural areas stretching to the Cheshire border. Audley, Halmer End, Scot Hay and others are post-industrial mining villages albeit in tranquil and beautiful countryside. Betley and Balterley feel very ‘Cheshire’ being very affluent and dominated by agriculture.
Politically, Newcastle has long been dominated by the Labour Party, hold the seat from Josiah Wedgwood’s defection from the Liberals in 1919 until last December’s gain by the Conservatives. The reasons for the political history are complex, it should be added that this constituency voted 62% leave and 87% white, with 21.5% of the workforce employed in manufacturing. This demographic has slowly trended Conservative in the last decade and nowhere is this reflected better than the Potteries. As the mining and industrial heritage (pottery, iron casting and brick-making being historically dominant) fades away, the workforce here is less unionized than ever and increasing less loyal to Labour. Whether the new-found sympathy for the Conservative Party in the post-Brexit world will be sustained is at yet unknown, but boundary changes are likely to add the heavily rural (and affluent) wards currently in the Stone constituency which would make Labour’s job regaining this seat much more difficult.
