ARMED FORCES DAY

Raising the Flag – Sunday 18th June 2023 (by Invite only)

Parade – Sunday 25th June 2023 (free entry for all to enjoy)

A well-established event that attracts approximately 1,000 visitors throughout the day. In addition to the presence of the Armed Forces, there will be various other attractions to enjoy including: street performers, a live wartime music stage, a 1940’s field kitchen, WWII re-enactments and fairground rides. See you there!

  Location: Stanley Front Street (DH8 0HU) – Times: 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM

                

Stanley Civic Hall – Diamond Anniversary

 

Stanley Civic Hall has been at the heart of the town and community since her opening on 7th January 1961, accommodating many shows through the Alun Armstrong Theatre, cinema films, weddings, and celebrations, not to mention training courses, a base for community groups and conferences.

The year 2020 will be always known as a challenging year for all, however, the Civic Hall has remained at the heart of the town and community, just as was always intended, upon her opening in 1961. Following her closure to the public because of government COVID restrictions, she had continued to provide space for the operations of Stanley Town Council, whilst the Alnwick Suite and Lumley Room had housed an extended PACT House team.

In December 2021 we reopened and brought back the panto with a production of Beauty and the Beast, we also look forward to relaunching our community cinema programme, and to top it all off, a live events programme. Also not forgetting our private event partners, including MMA contests, Amateur Dramatics and of course our local education conferences.

Do you have any fond memories from across the years? Let us know!

West Stanley Disaster Memorial Sunday 16th February 3.30pm

Every year the town stops and pays its respects to the 168 men and boys who were killed on 16th February 1909, when at 3.45 pm, an explosion ripped through the Burns Pit.

It was a disaster that had a huge effect on the town. Over 300 dependents, the vast majority of whom lived in colliery company houses faced destitution after losing their loved ones.

The log book of the East Stanley Board School stated :

“Many of our children have lost father or brothers. The intense grief is unbearable. In my visits I find that 11 of my old pupils have suffered on Tuesday. The West Stanley Disaster has made an awful havoc among our children”

There will be a Remembrance Event held from 3.30 pm on Sunday 16th February. Songs and poems will be sung and recited and the Craghead Colliery Band will perform, followed by the observance of a silence to remember those who died 111 years ago.

Stanley Town Council budget setting 2018/19

The Town Council set its budget for the forthcoming financial year at last Tuesday’s full council meeting. The Council voted to increase the parish precept (which is the part of the Council tax which funds the Council) by 2.95%.

This means that for a Band A property, the parish precept will increase from £59.92 to £61.69 per year. The Band D rate will go from £89.88 to £92.53.

The Council plans to re-introduce an enhanced warden service for Stanley in 2018 to tackle dirty yards, dog fouling and litter around the area, provide more support for local community groups and village halls, whilst continuing to provide funding for the Stanley advice centre, free high quality events throughout the year, youth services and a range of Civic Pride initiatives. The majority of new services will be funded by reducing the subsidy of the Civic Hall.

Proposing the budget increase, Cllr David Marshall said “If no increase is provided, then the ability to provide the improvement in the service we are planning would not be possible”

Full details of the budget can be found here: 2018-19 Budget (Approved)

Video footage of the Council meeting (and all other meetings) can be found on our youtube channel. Tuesday’s meeting is linked below. The budget discussion starts 15 minutes into the meeting.