Welcome to the website of Betley, Balterley and Wrinehill Parish Council in the rural setting of North West Staffordshire. This site will give you information about the Parish Council and its work as well as more general information about our area, its facilities and organisations.

 

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING (often referred to as the Elector's Meeting)

The Annual Parish Meeting for 2025, will be held on Wednesday, 7th May 2025 at 7.30 pm, in the Main Hall, at Betley Village Hall. 

We look forward to welcoming you all.

 

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH COUNCIL:

The Annual Meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Tuesday, 13th May 2025 at 7.30 pm at Betley Village Hall

Everyone is welcome to attend and we look forward to seeing you.

 

PARISH COUNCIL NOTICE BOARD

The Parish Council has set up a Parish Council Notice Board on Facebook.   You can find it at B,B&W Parish Council Notice Board.  There will be lots of up to date news posted on this page.  We hope that you find it useful.

 

ABOUT BETLEY, BALTERLEY & WRINEHILL

The Civil Parish comprises the neighbourhoods of Balterley, Betley and Wrinehill and is located on the A531 and B5500 about 8 miles north-west of Newcastle-under-Lyme and 6 miles south-east of Crewe, on the boundary of Staffordshire with Cheshire.  It covers 1,073 hectares and has a population of around 1,250.

Betley is first mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) and received a market charter in 1226.  It is likely the village developed as a medieval settlement and by the mid-15th century Betley Old Hall was functioning as a manor house.  The earliest parts of St Margaret's Church - a Grade I Listed Building - are of around 1500 and some of the oldest other buildings date from c.1600.  The village developed as an estate settlement owned by two families: the Betley Court Estate of the Fletcher-Twemlows and the Tollet Estate based on Betley Old Hall and then the later Betley New Hall.

The character of the Parish is predominantly rural with open countryside consisting of low, gently undulating land.  The area is classified as "ancient clay farmlands" in the local landscape character assessment.

The Parish lies within the Green Belt, except for the inset "village envelope" in the centre of Betley. Part of the village of Betley was designated a Conservation Area in 1970 and there are 46 Listed Buildings in the Parish, the majority within the Conservation Area.

THE ROLE OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

The Parish Council is the lowest tier of local government and thus the closest to the residents of the area.  Although it provides few services it has an important role in representing the area, commenting on planning applications and lobbying Newcastle Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council on issues falling within their areas of responsibility.

The Council is made up of 12 councillors: six representing Betley, three representing each of Balterley and Wrinehill.  The Council normally meets monthly (except in August and December) and is supported by a paid Clerk.  No councillors receive remuneration.

There are two Sites of Special Scientific Interest at Betley Mere and the Black Firs & Cranberry Bog site, which also have protection under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.