The function of the Town Council differs from that of Cannock Chase District Council and Staffordshire County Council. For a clear definition, we have separated the responsibilities for you below:
Rugeley Town Council
Telephone: 01889 574074
Small Grants
Rugeley Town Council would like to remind local community groups and local good causes that Small Grants available to be applied for.
Guidelines for use of the grants:
- Improve the Rugeley area, and/or
- Encourage involvement in the Rugeley community activities, and/or
- Improve community facilities in Rugeley, and/or
- Be of benefit to the community in Rugeley, and/or
- Support local charities/organisations, and/or
- Support local youth services, and/or
- Support Fairtrade priorities, and/or
- Support Biodiversity and Climate Change Initiatives.
Further information on Small Grants and the application form is available via
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Rugeley Rose Theatre
The Rose Theatre is a community venue in the centre of Rugeley, which is solely financed and managed by Rugeley Town Council. Home to many local theatrical companies, community groups and school performances, the Rose is a much-loved venue and available for private hire. For further information, call the theatre directly on 01889 584036.
Commenting on Planning Applications
Whilst the Town Council cannot make decisions on planning applications, they are able to comment on them. The Planning Committee sits once a month to look over local planning applications and the comments are passed to Cannock Chase District Council.
Monthly Artisan Markets
The Town Council holds a regular Artisan Market on the first Saturday of each month which is held in Market Square and the surrounding areas.
Thursday Charter Markets
In accordance with the ancient Charter for Rugeley, we have a regular Thursday General Market, held in the Town Centre. Both of our markets are currently managed on our behalf by Bescot Promotions. If you would like to get in touch with them, or reserve a stall at one of our markets, please email info@bescotpromotions.co.uk
Christmas Lights Event
Over the past few years, Rugeley has earned a reputation for hosting a magical Christmas Lights event on the last Friday in November. The town centre is bursting with Christmas Market traders throughout the day, has school carollers, live entertainment, Santa Claus and the official Light Switch-On, usually carried out by a worthy member of the local community. A much-loved date in the diary.
The Charter Fair
The Charter Fair is a Rugeley staple! In 1259, Henry III granted the town of Rugeley a Charter to hold a Thursday Market. This also included the rights to hold an annual Fair on the Vigil, Fest and Morrow of St. Augustine’s.
However, in 1752 the date of the Charter changed to the beginning of June, due to the ‘loss’ of 11 days following the change of the calendar.
The fair gradually developed into a horse fair and then a pleasure fair. In 1851 the fair was described as ‘a very large fair for colts and horses, chiefly of superior breeds. The fair was originally held in Horse Fair, with it spreading down Brook Street and Market Place. Gradually the horse fair ended due to the increasing popularity of cars, the last horse fair was held in 1932 but the pleasure fair still continued.
As part of the Festival of Britain in 1951 the British Legion organised a Carnival Week to raise funds for a headquarters building, this took place in June and became an annual event until 1956.
In 1969 The Round Table used the date to run a Donkey Derby to raise money for charity. This developed into the ‘Round Table Event’ throughout the 1970’s.
The absence of new volunteers meant the demise of the festival. To prevent Rugeley losing its annual event, Rugeley Town Council took over and organised the first ‘Charter Fair’ in 1996 continuing the traditions of a carnival procession and a great day for the town of Rugeley. Along with The Friends of The Charter Fair, Rugeley Town Council are developing the Fair year on year, to become once again the widely supported, historic event that it once was.
Community Engagement
As with many small towns, we are constantly looking at ways to connect with our local communities. Whether that be through our Town Centre, hosting events, encouraging local people to utilise the many, lovely local shops that Rugeley has to offer, events at the Rose Community Theatre, engaging with local community groups and supporting their own events and raising their profiles locally.
Cannock Chase District Council
Telephone: 01543 462621
To speak to representatives of any of the departments listed below, please call the main switchboard number.
- Coordinate and collect Council Tax
- Environmental Health
- Housing benefits
- Planning Applications
- Local Plans
- Arts and Leisure
- Unclassified roads
- Waste Collection
- Tree and List Building preservation
- Elections
Staffordshire County Council
Telephone: 0300 111 8000
E-mail: contactus@staffordshire.gov.uk
- County Strategic Planning – 0300 111 8000
- Education – 0300 111 8007
- Highways and Transport – 0300 111 8000
- Social Care – 0300 111 8010
- Libraries – 0300 111 8000
- Environment – 0300 111 8000
- Footpaths/Rights of Way – 0300 111 8000
- Recycling/Tips – 0300 111 8000
- Country Parks – 0300 111 8000
- Street Lighting – 0300 111 8000
- Staffordshire Registration Services – 0300 111 8001 or registryofficesnearme.com