August 2026.
- Do you know that you can report many issues online and do not need to pass matters to the parish council. This includes highways, rights of way, streetlights, burst pipes and speeding concern. In many cases, the more reports of concern can highlight an issue and sometimes achieve a positive outcome more quickly. You will need an email for them and may need to set up an account on a safe website.
- North Yorkshire Council allows you to report issues on their website. You can report potholes, road conditions, kerbs, issues with street lighting, damaged stiles and condition of footpaths. Just search for Highways, Street lighting, Rights of Way or even check your bin days by going to www.northyorks.gov.uk then using their search tool.
- Yorkshire Water allows you to report burst pipes, concerns about your water supply or damage to drain hole covers. Just go to www.yorkshirewater.com.
- Then there are road concerns - speeding, dangerous driving which need to be reported to the police. All residents can report their traffic concerns at: https://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wsi/watch-schemes-initiatives/community-speedwatch/community-speed-watch/tell-us-about-a-speed-concern/
- Please include photos where possible as this will help with identifying the location of concern. Don't assume that someone else will report an issue - if you see something, please report it!
Tour de Britain - we will have the pleasure of seeing one of the stages of the men's Tour de Britain coming through our village on 5th September. More details will be made available as we have them but it will involve rolling road blocks and parking will be suspended on Brompton Road and Station Road from 8pm on 4th September until the race has passed through our village.
- We hope to have a summer BBQ at the village hall in the afternoon followed by a ticketed music event in the evening. All told, a busy day for the village! Can we ask all villagers to help keep our footpaths and village tidy so that our village looks its best on the day!
- Bus Shelter - the parish council has started a project of tidying the bus shelter. Vegetation is being cut back to create a better space. The inside of the bus shelter is going to be painted to make it brighter and more welcoming. Can we ask that nothing is dropped off there until all the work has been completed. This will make it easier for us to empty the shelter and for it to be painted.
June 2026
Join us on the Parish Council
Have you ever wondered what a parish council is? A parish council is a local authority that
makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish and has an overall responsibility for the
well-being of its local community. As it is the authority closest to the people, parish councils
are invariably the first-place people will go with concerns or ideas.
It’s true to say that on their own, parish councils have limited powers to make decisions. But,
they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the power to influence, those other
organizations that do make the final decisions (in our case North Yorkshire Council).
The most common topics that parish councils get involved with are planning matters (they
are statutory consultees), crime prevention, helping local groups, managing open spaces and
campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.
In this respect parish councils are extremely powerful. The organizations that make the final
decisions know that a parish council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about
something, and its views will be taken seriously.
Newton le Willows Parish Council currently has a vacancy. Councillors are volunteers and as
such are unpaid. We meet approx. every 8 weeks. This year we have set all the dates and
these are listed on our website (https://newton-le-willows-parish-council.yolasite.com/).
Please have a look at the website to give you a taste of what is discussed at meetings.
If you live in the village and are interested in joining us, then please speak to one of the other
councillors or email the clerk at newtonlewillows.pc@gmail.com.
Becoming a councillor can be a rewarding experience as you can make a change in your
community to help improve residents’ lives. A councillor’s role can include developing
strategies and plans for the area, helping with problems and ideas, representing the
community, working with other local community groups, making decisions, and talking to the
community about their needs and what the council is doing.
Our next meeting is on Monday 29 June - everyone is welcome to attend.